The Effect of Religious Coping on the Satisfaction with Life Among Turkish Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with life-threatening features due to uncomfortable symptoms such as dyspnea decreases satisfaction with life. This study aims to determine the effect of religious coping methods on satisfaction with life in patients with COPD in Turkey. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with patients who had COPD for at least a year (n = 149). The positive religious coping levels of the patients were high while their negative religious coping levels were low and their levels of satisfaction with life were below average. A positive correlation was found between the positive religious coping levels and satisfaction with life of the patients (p < 0.05). The patients' age, general health levels, economic status, state of meeting their daily needs and usage of positive religious coping were the factors that significantly affected their levels of satisfaction with life, and these factors explained 38% of the total variance in the patients' satisfaction with life. It is important to evaluate religious coping in increasing the satisfaction with life of COPD patients who receive treatment in health institutions.

Sleep disturbances in patients with lung cancer in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep quality is known to be associated with the distressing symptoms of cancer. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of cancer symptoms on insomnia and the prevalence of sleep-related problems reported by the patients with lung cancer in Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Assesment of Palliative Care in Lung Cancer in Turkey (ASPECT) study, a prospective multicenter study conducted in Turkey with the participation of 26 centers and included all patients with lung cancer, was re-evaluated in terms of sleep problems, insomnia and possible association with the cancer symptoms. Demographic characteristics of patients and information about disease were recorded for each patient by physicians via face-to-face interviews, and using hospital records. Patients who have difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep (DIMS) is associated with daytime sleepiness/fatigue were diagnosed as having insomnia. Daytime sleepiness, fatigue and lung cancer symptoms were recorded and graded using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. RESULT: Among 1245 cases, 48.4% reported DIMS, 60.8% reported daytime sleepiness and 82.1% reported fatigue. The prevalence of insomnia was 44.7%. Female gender, patients with stage 3-4 disease, patients with metastases, with comorbidities, and with weight loss > 5 kg had higher rates of insomnia. Also, patients with insomnia had significantly higher rates of pain, nausea, dyspnea, and anxiety. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients with moderate to severe pain and dyspnea and severe anxiety had 2-3 times higher rates of insomnia. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results showed a clear association between sleep disturbances and cancer symptoms. Because of that, adequate symptom control is essential to maintain sleep quality in patients with lung cancer.

The assessment of the malignant mesothelioma cases and environmental asbestos exposure in Sivas province, Turkey.

One of the most significant diseases related to environmental asbestos exposure is malignant mesothelioma (MM). Sivas province is located in the Central Anatolia where asbestos exposure is common. We aimed to study clinical, demographical and epidemiologic features of the patients with MM in Sivas, along with the history of asbestos exposure. In total, 219 patients with MM who were diagnosed in our hospital between 1993 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of demographical and clinical features. Rock, soil and house plaster samples were taken from the habitats of those patients and were evaluated with optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. The age of the patients ranged between 18 and 85 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.4:1. Most of the patients confirmed an asbestos exposure history. The most frequent symptoms of the patients were chest pain (60 %) and dyspnea (50 %). The gap between the start of first symptoms and the diagnosis date was approximately 4 months in average. The plaster materials used in most of the houses were made up of mainly carbonate and silicate minerals and some chrysotile. Ophiolitic units contained fibrous minerals such as serpentine (clino + orthochrysotile) chiefly and pectolite, brucite, hydrotalcite and tremolite/actinolite in smaller amounts. MM is not primarily related to occupational asbestos exposure in our region, and hence, environmental asbestos exposure may be indicted. Yet, single or combined roles and/or interactions of other fibrous and non-fibrous minerals in the etiology of MM are not yet fully understood and remain to be investigated.

The importance of SII and FIB-4 scores in predicting mortality in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Quick and simple parameters are needed to predict mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In this way, risky patients will have the opportunity to receive early and effective treatment. In this study, we examined whether the Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and systemic immune inflammation index (SII) are associated with mortality in IPF patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed retrospectively. 100 patients diagnosed with IPF were included in the study. Variables between living patients and deceased patients were examined. RESULTS: Out of a total of 100 patients, 67 were divided into the surviving group and 33 into the non-surviving group. In multivariate analysis, high FIB-4 and SII values were significantly associated with an increased risk of death. CONCLUSION: FIB-4 and SII are parameters that can predict mortality in IPF patients. In this way, IPF patients with high mortality risk will be identified earlier and more effective methods will be used in follow-up and treatment.

Pulmonary Physician Consultancy in Emergency Services in Turkiye (PuPCEST) - a cross-sectional multicenter study.

Pulmonology is one of the branches that frequently receive consultation requests from the emergency department. Pulmonology consultation (PC) is requested from almost all clinical branches due to the diagnosis and treatment of any respiratory condition, preoperative evaluation, or postoperative pulmonary problems. The aim of our study was to describe the profile of the pulmonology consultations received from emergency departments in Turkiye. A total of 32 centers from Turkiye (the PuPCEST Study Group) were included to the study. The demographic, clinical, laboratory and radiological data of the consulted cases were examined. The final result of the consultation and the justification of the consultation by the consulting pulmonologist were recorded. We identified 1712 patients, 64% of which applied to the emergency department by themselves and 41.4% were women. Eighty-five percent of the patients had a previously diagnosed disease. Dyspnea was the reason for consultation in 34.7% of the cases. The leading radiological finding was consolidation (13%). Exacerbation of preexisting lung disease was present in 39% of patients. The most commonly established diagnoses by pulmonologists were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19%) and pneumonia (12%). While 35% of the patients were discharged, 35% were interned into the chest diseases ward. The majority of patients were hospitalized and treated conservatively. It may be suggested that most of the applications would be evaluated in the pulmonology outpatient clinic which may result in a decrease in emergency department visits/consultations. Thus, improvements in the reorganization of the pulmonology outpatient clinics and follow-up visits may positively contribute emergency admission rates.

[Nanoparticle: a nightmare for the future]. / Nanopartikül: Gelecegin korkulu rüyasi.

Nanotechnology is a new discipline where 1-100 nanometers long particles are used, with an extensive field of application including physics, chemistry, electronics, energy production, biology, and medicine. Just as in every innovation, the effects of this technology and its products on environment and health are wondered. Lungs are the major port of entry and target of the nanoparticles in human body. This review will discuss, in the light of the literature, the possible adverse effects of nanoparticles on living beings and especially on respiratory system.

[The practice of respiratory disability assessment in a university hospital: the analysis of 136 patients]. / Bir üniversite hastanesinde solunumsal maluliyet degerlendirme pratigi: 136 hastanin analizi.

INTRODUCTION: This study, to examine the outcomes of the respiratory disability assessment in our clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The reports of 136 patients who attended the chest diseases clinic between January 2010 and June 2011 for the assessment of the respiratory disability were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: Of 10.457 patients who presented in 18 months, 136 (1.3%) requested the assessment of the respiratory disability. The patients' average age was 51 ± 12 years and 118 (87%) were male. Farmers constituted 19.8% of the patients and mine and foundry workers 10.7% of the patients. The most frequent symptoms were dyspnea (91.2%) and cough (76.5%). The most frequent radiological pattern was reticular and nodular opacities (38.2%). The workup led to a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 64 patients (47%) and of interstitial pulmonary disease/pneumoconiosis in 19 (14%) patients. No respiratory disease was found in 19 patients. Among 44 (32.4%) patients for whom disability rate was calculated, 8 (18.2%) had an incapacity rate of 60% or higher and 13 had 0%. The disability rates showed positive correlations with age, the duration of the respiratory symptoms and PaCO2 level (respectively r= 0.395, p= 0.008; r= 0.391, p= 0.009; r= 0.790, p< 0.001), and negative correlations with FVC, FEV1 and PaO2 levels (respectively r= -0.681, p< 0.001; r= -0.766, p< 0.001; r= -0.661, p= 0.003). Linear regression analysis showed that high PaCO2 value is a determinant for a high disability rate (r= 0.902, p= 0.014). Furthermore, smokers had higher disability rates than non-smokers (p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: We believe that new evidence-based guidelines that will resolve the medicolegal and social obscurities are needed.

Research Burden of Interstitial Lung Diseases in Turkey - RBILD.

Introduction: The aim of our study is to investigate the etiological distribution of ILD in Turkey by stratifying the epidemiological characteristics of ILD cases, and the direct cost of initial diagnosis of the diagnosed patients. Material-Method: The study was conducted as a multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional, clinical observation study. Patients over the age of 18 and who accepted to participate to the study were included and evaluated as considered to be ILD. The findings of diagnosis, examination and treatment carried out by the centers in accordance with routine diagnostic procedures were recorded observationally. Results: In total,1070 patients were included in this study. 567 (53%) of the patients were male and 503 (47%) were female. The most frequently diagnosed disease was IPF (30.5%). Dyspnea (75.9%) was the highest incidence among the presenting symptoms. Physical examination found bibasilar inspiratory crackles in 56.2 % and radiological findings included reticular opacities and interlobular septal thickenings in 55.9 % of the cases. It was observed that clinical and radiological findings were used most frequently (74.9%) as a diagnostic tool. While the most common treatment approaches were the use of systemic steroids and antifibrotic drugs with a rate of 30.7% and 85.6%, respectively. The total median cost from the patient's admission to diagnosis was 540 Turkish Lira. Conclusion: We believe that our findings compared with data from other countries will be useful in showing the current situation of ILD in our country to discuss this problem and making plans for a solution.

The frequency of chronic rhinosinusitis/nasal polyp in COPD and its effect on the severity of COPD.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of chronic rhinosinusitis/nasal polyposis on the severity of COPD and to find out whether the 'united airway disease' hypothesis is valid for COPD. The study enrolled 90 patients diagnosed and staged according to criteria of an international guideline for diagnosis and management of COPD. The patients in stages I and II were classified as Group 1 and the patients in stages III and IV as Group 2. All the patients were questioned about the presence of major and minor criteria of sinusitis, underwent paranasal sinus computed tomography (PNS-CT) scans, and answered a questionnaire based on a quality of life test for sinusitis (SNOT-20). Sinusitis was present in 48 (53%) patients according to criteria of major and minor symptoms, and in 58 (64%) patients according to Lund-Mackay scoring system of PNS-CT. There was no significant difference in CT score between Group 1 and Group 2 (2.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.1 +/- 0.4, p > 0.05). However, the frequency of minor symptoms was greater in Group 2. SNOT-20 score was significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (28.7 +/- 1.7 and 22.2 +/- 1.9, respectively, p = 0.014). A significant correlation was determined between Lund-Mackay and SNOT-20 scores. The presence of CRS should be assessed in COPD patients, especially in those with severe disease. Further research is needed to disclose possible common immunopathological mechanisms in the pathogeneses of COPD and CRS.

Validity of the CA125 level in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

The aim of the current study was to determine the possible crucial role of cancer antigen 125 (CA125) in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). The CA125 levels of study and control groups were statistically compared. In a total of 146 patients that were included in the current study, 30 had active PTB, 37 inactive PTB, 28 community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), 25 pleural or pulmonary malignancies, and 13 patients exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The mean CA125 levels in PTB, inactive PTB, CAP, and pleural-pulmonary malignancies were 118.46 +/- 248.41, 40.80 +/- 50.95, 47.76 +/- 60.76, and 57.77 +/- 65.59, respectively. For active-inactive discrimination of PTB, with a cut-off level of >35 U/ml, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CA125 were 63, 59, 56, and 67%, respectively. Increased CA125 levels were detected in active PTB in the current results. The current results also show that high level CA125 should be reconsidered in the prediagnosis and/or discrimination of active and inactive PTB patients.

[The effects of long-term oxygen therapy on survey in patients with chronic respiratory failure]. / Kronik solunum yetmezligi olan olgularda uzun süreli oksijen tedavisinin yasam süresi üzerine etkisi.

Long-term (> or = 15 hours) oxygen therapy (LTOT) increases life-span and improves quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic respiratory failure (CRF). However, in our clinical practice, we observed that very few patients are using oxygen therapy 15 hours or more. Furthermore, very few literatures about survival of non- or inadequate oxygen users were found. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of LTOT in patients with CRF. A total of 305 LTOT recommended patients with CRF in our clinic between 1996 and 2001 were found. A hundred and five patients with documented subject characteristics were included the study and followed-up approximately 20 months prospectively. They were divided into two groups whether to take LTOT (group 1, n= 71) or not (group 2, n= 34). Average life-span of the patients was 50 months in group 1 and 39 months in group 2 (p< 0.05). Survival (months) in group 1 was significantly correlated with hrs of oxygen use (r= 0.684, p= 0.001). One more hour oxygen use was statistically significantly correlated with 0.002 months more survival (F= 48.44, p< 0.05) in group 1 in logistic regression analysis. In comparisons, there were significant improvement in the post-treatment blood gas values in group 1 (p< 0.05). There were significant decreases in PFT values in the post-treatment period when compared to baseline values in both groups (p< 0.05). There was a less decrease in FEV(1) values per year in group 1 than group 2 but difference was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). In conclusion our findings revealed that LTOT provides improvement of the life-span of the patients with CRF.

[Symptom prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome in health-care providers in central Sivas]. / Sivas il merkezi saglik çalisanlarinda obstrüktif uyku apne-hipopne sendromu semptom prevalansi.

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is the most common sleep disorder that can lead to serious complications. Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of OSAHS. Unfortunately, PSG studies are expensive, time-consuming, requiring special team and equipment. Therefore, it is possible to determine the cases likely to have OSAHS requiring at least PSG by type A studies. There isn't enough data about the prevalence of OSAHS in Turkey. The aim of this study was to estimate the symptom prevalence of OSAHS in health-care providers in central Sivas. The questionnaire asking demographic features, additional diseases, habits, the symptoms related with OSAHS was performed in total of 1202 health care providers. We also performed Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) to determine excessive daytime sleepiness. Snoring was detected in 267 participants. Snoring rates were 38% and 10.9% in men and in women, respectively. The rate of witnessed sleep apnea in all cases was 4.4% (n=53). Witnessed sleep apnea was reported by 42 of men (8.4%) and 11 of women (1.6%). A total of 338 participants had excessive daytime sleepiness. There was a significant relation between three major symptoms of OSAHS and excessive sleepiness while driving. All three major symptoms were detected in 22 cases (1.8%), of which 21 were males. This study suggested that OSAHS symptom prevalence is quite high helth-care provides in our region and, therefore expanded usage of PSG studies is required.

Prognostic importance of central thrombus in hemodynamically stable patients with pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: The association between mortality and localization of central thrombus in hemodynamically stable patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) is unclear. Sufficient data are not available to help clinicians to select between low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), unfractionated heparin (UFH) and thrombolytics for the management of central thrombus. The present study aims to investigate whether central thrombus in the pulmonary artery affects 30-day mortality rate, and to compare the outcomes of different treatment approaches in patients with central thrombus. METHODS: This multi-central, prospective, observational study included 874 hemodynamically stable patients with PE confirmed by multidetector computed tomography scan. The localization of the emboli was evaluated and categorized as central (saddle or at least one main pulmonary artery), lobar or distal. The primary study outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Localization of the emboli was central in 319 (36.5%) patients, lobar in 264 (30.2%) and distal in 291 (33.2%) patients. Seventy-four (8.5%) patients died during the 30-day follow-up period. All-cause mortality rate was 11.9%, 6.8% and 6.2% in patients with central, lobar, and distal emboli, respectively (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis did not show that hemodynamically stable central thrombus was an independent predictor of mortality. Additionally, mortality rate was not significantly different between UFH, LMWH and thrombolytic therapy groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that central thrombus was not an independent predictor of mortality in hemodynamically stable PE patients. LMWH and UFH were similarly effective in the treatment of this patient group.

A case-control study on the effect of exposure to different substances on the development of COPD.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exposure to different substances on the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: The case group consisted of 74 housewives. These were female patients who never smoked who had a diagnosis of COPD and were seen at the Cumhuriyet University Hospital in Sivas, Turkey, between January 1, 2001, and March 31, 2002. The control group consisted of 74 housewives; this group consisted of healthy women who never smoked who came to the hospital as visitors and who did not have the diagnosis of COPD. The control group was chosen by group matching of the age distribution of the women in the case group and the regions and the neighborhoods where they lived. All of the women in the case and control groups were evaluated with a questionnaire for exposure to wood ashes, biomass, and cigarette smoke in closed areas. RESULTS: No difference was found in the groups for exposure to wood ashes (p > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis resulted in the following odds ratio of COPD estimate for women with > or = 30 years biomass exposure, 6.61 (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 2.17-20.18); for women with > or = 30 years cigarette smoke exposure, 4.96 (95% CI: 1.65-14.86). CONCLUSION: A statistically significant correlation was found between the effect of > or = 30 years of exposure to biomass and cigarette smoke exposure and the development of COPD.

Tiotropium may improve asthma symptoms and lung function in asthmatic patients with irreversible airway obstruction: the real-life data.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Some patients with asthma have poorly controlled disease despite the use of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), long-acting ß2 agonists (LABAs) and antileukotrienes. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of tiotropium as an add-on therapy to the standard treatment with high-dose ICS/LABA on asthma control and lung function in patients with severe asthma. METHODS: Of the 633 asthmatic patients, 64 (10.1%) patients with severe asthma who were add-on treated at least for 3 months were evaluated. Number of exacerbations, emergency department visits, hospitalizations and lung functions of patients belonging to 12 months before starting add-on treatment were compared with those of 12 months after starting add-on treatment. RESULTS: The mean duration of add-on tiotropium treatment was 8.3 ± 0.5 months. For patients with severe asthma that was poorly controlled with standard combination therapy, tiotropium improved asthma control in 42.2%, decreased the number of emergency department visits in 46.9% and decreased the number of hospitalizations in 50.0% of them. The mean baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 s before add-on tiotropium was 57.5 ± 1.9% and forced vital capacity was 74.3 ± 15.6%. However, after 12 months of add-on tiotropium treatment, these rates became 65.5 ± 1.9% and 82.5 ± 15.1%, respectively. The addition of tiotropium significantly improved the percentages of the number of emergency department visits, the number of hospitalizations (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study has suggested that, for patients with poorly controlled asthma despite of the use of ICS/LABA, the addition of tiotropium to standard care may be beneficial.

Relationship between radiological (X-ray/HRCT), spirometric and clinical findings in dental technicians' pneumoconiosis.

INTRODUCTION: Pneumoconiosis in dental technicians' has rarely been evaluated. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinical, functional and radiological impacts of exposure to dust on respiratory functions via chest X-ray (CXR), high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and spirometry in dental technicians. METHODS: Demographic data, respiratory symptoms, spirometry results, CXR and HRCT scans of 32 dental technicians were evaluated. The opacities on the radiological images were categorized based on their intensity. We investigated the relation of radiological scores with clinical, radiological and functional findings. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 31 ± 9 years and mean employment duration was 14 ± 9 years. Twenty-two (69%) technicians had a history of smoking. The most common symptom was phlegm, while dyspnea prevalence was higher in those with an elevated International Labour Office (ILO) profusion score (P < 0.01). Parenchymal opacities were determined in 10 (31%) technicians by CXR and in 22 (69%) technicians by HRCT (P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between ILO profusion score and HRCT score (r = 0.765, P < 0.01). ILO profusion score and HRCT score showed positive correlation with employment duration (r = 0.599, P = 0.01; r = 0.514, P = 0.01, respectively), while exhibiting negative correlation with FVC (r = -0.509, P < 0.05; r = -0.627, P = 0.01 respectively), FVC% (r = -0.449, P < 0.05; r = -0.457, P < 0.05, respectively) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (r = -0.473, P < 0.05; r = -0.598, P = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We believe that a combined approach including spirometry, CXR and HRCT modalities should be employed in demonstrating respiratory disorders associated with exposure to inorganic dusts in dental technicians.

Should Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin be Preferred Over Unfractionated Heparin After Thrombolysis for Severity Pulmonary Embolism?

PURPOSE: The role of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in managing nonmassive pulmonary embolism (PE) is well known. In unstable cases, especially after thrombolytic therapy for massive PE, unfractionated heparin (UFH) is preferred for PE management. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of LMWH after thrombolytic therapy. METHODS: A prospective, observational multicenter trial was performed in 249 patients with acute PE who required thrombolysis. Massive and submassive PEs were categorized into 2 groups depending on whether they were treated with LMWH or UFH after thrombolytic treatment. The primary end point was all-cause mortality during the first 30 days; the secondary end point included all-cause mortality, nonfatal symptomatic recurrent PEs, or nonfatal major bleeding. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 60.7 ± 15.5 years. The PE severity was massive in 186 (74.7%) patients and submassive in 63 (25.3%). The incidence of all-cause 30-day death was 8.2% and 17.3% in patients with LMWH and UFH, respectively (P = .031). Major hemorrhage occurred in 4% (n = 5) and 7.9% (n = 10) of patients and minor hemorrhage occurred in 9% (n = 11) and 13.4% (n = 17) of the cases treated with LMWH and UFH, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LMWH treatment can be used safely in patients with PE after thrombolytic therapy.

The Diagnostic Value of the Correlation between Serum Anti-p53 Antibody and Positron Emission Tomography Parameters in Lung Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Mutations in the p53 gene are the most commonly observed genetic abnormalities in malignancies. The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of serum anti-p53 antibody (Ab) along with the correlation between serum anti-p53 Ab level and quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) parameters such as maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), SUVave, metabolic tumor volume, total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and tumor size. METHODS: Serum anti-p53 Ab level was studied in three groups. Patients who underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT) imaging for staging of previously diagnosed lung cancer constituted the first group, while patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging for evaluation of suspicious pulmonary nodules detected on thorax CT and did not show pathologic FDG accumulation (NAPN=pulmonary nodule with non avid-FDG) were enrolled in the second group. The third group consisted of healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with lung cancer (median age: 62.5, range: 39-77years), 28 patients with NAPN (median age: 65, range: 33-79 years), and 24 healthy volunteers (median age: 62, range: 44-74 years) were enrolled in the study. The serum anti-p53 Ab level was low in healthy volunteers while it was higher in both lung cancer patients and NAPN patients (p<0.05). When serum anti-p53 Ab level and PET parameters were evaluated, there was no significant correlation between serum anti-p53 Ab level and SUVmax, SUVave, TLG, tumor volume and tumor size of patients with lung cancer (p>0.05). Besides, there was no significant difference between serum anti-p53 Ab level and lesion size of NAPN patients (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: It was determined that serum anti-p53 Ab levels are not significantly correlated with PET parameters, and that serum anti-p53 Ab levels increase in any benign or malignant lung parenchyma pathology as compared to healthy volunteers. These results indicate that this Ab cannot be used as a predictor of malignancy in a lung lesion.

Applicability of Xpert MTB/RIF assay for routine diagnosis of tuberculosis: a four-year single-center experience.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosis of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in clinical samples and to compare the results by reference to the diagnostic method, Bactec MGIT 960. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 7407 samples were included from patients not primarily suggesting pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB), collected from patients required to be screened for TB and excluding TB diagnoses since it was a differential diagnosis. Also included were a total of 411 samples from patients primarily suggesting pulmonary or extrapulmonary TB. RESULTS: In the first group, 152 of 7407 samples yielded positive results with the Bactec MGIT 960, 131 (1.77%) were found positive with Löwenstein-Jensen medium, and 295 (3.99%) were found positive with Ziehl-Neelsen staining. In the second group, 24 (5.8%), 17 (4.1%), and 28 (6.8%) of 411 samples were found positive. Xpert MTB/RIF [27 (6.6%) of 411 samples] detected 3 additional samples as positive, and these 3 cases were clinically compatible with TB. CONCLUSION: The Xpert MTB/RIF assay shows superior performance for the diagnosis of TB. Its usefulness in culture-negative patients and the best method for integrating this diagnostic method into current tuberculosis diagnostic algorithms both need further study.

Correlation of right ventricular dysfunction on acute pulmonary embolism with pulmonary artery computed tomography obstruction index ratio (PACTOIR) and comparison with echocardiography.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the pulmonary artery computed tomography obstruction index ratio (PACTOIR) in patients who have been diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) with multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and to research the predetermination efficiency of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) compared with echocardiography (ECHO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients (50 males, 50 females), who had ECHO findings and were diagnosed with APE, were subsequently examined in this study. Patients who had RVD on ECHO, tricuspid regurgitation, and pulmonary hypertension parameters that were completely positive were accepted to have RVD. RESULTS: RVD was identified in 52 patients (52 %) on echocardiography. The PACTOIR value for patients with RVD were evaluated to be significantly higher than those without RVD (41 ± 17 vs 20 ± 12 %, p < 0.001). In the ROC analysis, the PACTOIR cut-off value was 37.5 %, the sensitivity value was 67.3 %, and specificity value was 93.7 % (AUC 0.839, 95 % CI 0.752-0.905). We determined that the patients with RVD and PACTOIR values over 37.5 % can be recognized with a 92.1 % positive predictive value. CONCLUSION: Our conclusions indicated that the PACTOIR rate in RVD diagnosis in patients with APE can recognize the patients with and without RVD.