Attitude and Practice Toward Use of Cigarettes and Electronic Cigarettes Among Pregnant Women: A Questionnaire-Based Survey.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate attitude and practice toward use of regular tobacco cigarettes and electronic cigarettes among pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 1123 pregnant women participated on a voluntary basis in this questionnaire survey. Maternal characteristics, cigarette consumption parameters, and personal opinions regarding the adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy were evaluated. RESULTS: Active smokers composed 12.4% (9.4%: regular tobacco cigarettes, 3.0%: electronic cigarettes) of the study population. Smoking during the current pregnancy, particularly via regular tobacco cigarettes, was more likely for women with smoking during previous pregnancies (56.0% vs. 7.8%, P < .001), previous history of low birth weight infant delivery (16.1% vs. 8.6%, P = .013), premature delivery (16.7% vs. 7.0%, P < .001), and stillbirth (22.8% vs. 11.7%, P = .002). The presence versus absence of smoking during pregnancy was associated with a lower likelihood of being a housewife (70.5% vs. 80.5%, P = .010) and a higher likelihood of having an actively smoking mother (25.9% vs. 11.2%, P < .001) or partner (65.7% vs. 46.9%, P < .001). Regular tobacco cigarette users considered electronic cigarettes to have a higher risk of adverse impacts (11.1% vs. 2.9%, P = .012), while electronic cigarette users considered regular cigarettes to have a higher risk of nicotine exposure (55.9% vs. 13.0%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate being employed, having an actively smoking mother or partner, as well as smoking in previous pregnancies, to be the risk factors for increased likelihood of smoking during pregnancy.

A comparative analysis of errors in inhaler technique among COPD versus asthma patients.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate errors in inhaler technique in COPD vs asthma patients and to investigate the association of poor inhaler technique with patient demographics and clinical variables. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 509 adult patients with COPD (n=328) or asthma (n=181) who were currently using an inhaler device were included in this study. Data on patient demographics, duration of disease, type and duration of inhaler therapy, and assessment of inhaler technique were recorded. RESULTS: Metered dose inhaler (MDI) was the most common type of inhaler used by a similarly high percentage of patients in both COPD (83.2%) and asthma (77.3%) groups. Failure to exhale before inhaling through device (75.8% and 68.5% for MDIs; 73.2% and 71.8% for Aerolizer®/Handihaler®; 53.1% and 66.7% for Turbuhaler®) was the most common error in inhaler technique, in both COPD and asthma groups. Device-specific errors in inhaler techniques were more common in asthma patients as compared with COPD patients, particularly for MDIs (P-values ranged from 0.046 to 0.0005), as associated with female gender (failure to press the buttons on both sides of Aerolizer®/Handihaler®, P=0.006), shorter duration of disease (failure to hold MDI or head in a vertical position, P<0.001, and to keep Turbuhaler® upright, P=0.005), and shorter duration of inhaler usage (failure to hold head in a vertical position during MDI usage, P=0.006, and to keep Turbuhaler® upright, P=0.012). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our findings revealed that errors in inhaler technique in terms of inhalation maneuvers and device handling were similarly common in COPD and asthma patients. Errors in certain device handling maneuvers, particularly with MDIs, were more common among asthma patients than among COPD patients and associated with female gender and shorter durations of disease and inhaler therapy.

Socio-Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Turkish Workers with Pneumoconiosis.

AIM: Pneumoconiosis is caused by inhaling dust. The aim of the study was to analyze 208 cases of workers' pneumoconiosis. METHOD: Patients' files were used for the descriptive study. RESULTS: All patients were male aged 38.82±13 years. The most important symptom was breathlessness. Patients were denim sandblasters (50.5%), dental technicians (12%), coal miners (6.7%), and others. The mean exposure time before pneumoconiosis occurred was shorter in denim sandblasters and teflon kitchenware producers compared to other occupations (5.4±4.2 and 4.5±3.3 years, respectively). Profusion (76.5%) was more than 1/2 by the International Labour Organization (ILO) classification. Pulmonary function tests were negatively correlated with profusion. CONCLUSION: Denim sandblasters and teflon kitchenware producers have less exposure time before pneumoconiosis occurs and they become symptomatic earlier. As Turkish workers suffering from pneumoconiosis are younger, measures to prevent pneumoconiosis must be the priority of the healthcare authorities.

Obesity might be a good prognosis factor for COPD patients using domiciliary noninvasive mechanical ventilation.

Cachexia is known to be a deteriorating factor for survival of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but data related to obesity are limited. We observed that obese patients with COPD prescribed long-term noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) had better survival rate compared to nonobese patients. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective observational cohort study. Archives of Thoracic Diseases Training Hospital were sought between 2008 and 2013. All the subjects were prescribed domiciliary NIMV for chronic respiratory failure secondary to COPD. Subjects were grouped according to their body mass index (BMI). The first group consisted of subjects with BMI between 20 and 30 kg/m(2), and the second group consisted of subjects with BMI >30 kg/m(2). Data obtained at the first month's visit for the following parameters were recorded: age, sex, comorbid diseases, smoking history, pulmonary function test, 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), and arterial blood gas analysis. Hospital admissions were recorded before and after the domiciliary NIMV usage. Mortality rate was searched from the electronic database. Overall, 118 subjects were enrolled. Thirty-eight subjects had BMI between 20 and 30 kg/m(2), while 80 subjects had BMI >30 kg/m(2). The mean age was 65.8±9.4 years, and 81% were male. The median follow-up time was 26 months and mortality rates were 32% and 34% for obese and nonobese subjects (P=0.67). Improvement in 6-MWT was protective against mortality. In conclusion, survival of obese patients with COPD using domiciliary NIMV was found to be better than those of nonobese patients, and the improvement in 6-MWT in such patients was found to be related to a better survival.

Search and Rescue in Mine Disasters: Dos and Don'ts.

Mining is a very hard and risky sector that includes domino effect risks in any adverse event and requires knowledge, experience, proficiency and continuous auditing, and it is very hard and risky. Turkey has not signed International Labour Organization (ILO) contract number 176 yet. This contract is named the 1995 Safety and Health in Mines Convention, and the safe and healthy working conditions are set, and obligations are listed. The most important mistakes are made because these national and international rules and regulations are not carried out. In this chapter, these mistakes are elaborated, and suggestions are made.

Six minute walking distance in kyphoscoliosis patients with chronic respiratory failure.

AIM: To evaluate kyphoscoliosis patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure (CHRF) using the six minute walk test (6MWT) distance (6MWD) and cardio-pulmonary function tests. METHOD: This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary training and research hospital in Turkey. Kyphoscoliosis patients with CHRF on home mechanical ventilation (HMV) followed in a respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) out-patient clinic were enrolled. Patients' demographics were recorded as well as transthoracic echocardiography (ECHO), 6MWD, spirometry, arterial blood gas (ABG) values and high resolution chest computed tomography. 6MWT results were compared with other parameters. RESULTS: Thirty four patients with kyphoscoliosis and chronic respiratory insufficiency admitted to our outpatient clinic were included in the study but 25 (17 M) patients underwent 6MWT (8 patients walked with oxygen supplement due to PaO2 < 60 mm Hg). The mean 6MWD was 274.4 ± 76.2 (median 270) m and median 6MWD predicted rate was 43.7% (inter quartile ratio, IQR, 37.6% to 47.7%). Median HMV use was 3 years (IQR 2-4). 6MWD predicted rate, body mass index (BMI), HMV duration were similar in male and female patients. 6MWD correlated well with age, BMI, dyspnea score for baseline 6MWT (r: - 0.59, p < 0.002, r: - 0.58, p < 0.003, r: - 0.55, p < 0.005 respectively) but modestly with forced expiratory volume in one second, pulse rate for baseline 6MWT, pulse saturation rate, fatigue and dyspnea score at end of 6MWT (r: - 0.44, p < 0.048; r: 0.44, p < 0.027; r: - 0.43, p < 0.031; r: - 0.42, p < 0.036; r: - 0.42, p < 0.034 respectively). 6MWD predicted rate was only correlated with dyspnea score at baseline (r: - 0.46, p < 0.022). The systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPs) in 6 (24%) cases was more than 40 mmHg, in whom mean PaO2/FiO2 was 301.4 ± 55.4 compared to 280.9 ± 50.2 in those with normal PAPs (p > 0.40). CONCLUSION: The 6MWT is an easy way to evaluate physical performance limitation in kyphoscoliosis patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure using home mechanical ventilation. Nearly 275 m was the mean distance walked in the 6MWT, but rather than distance in meters, the 6MWD predicted rate according to gender and body mass index equation might be a better way for deciding about physical performance of these patients. Dyspnea score at baseline before the 6MWT may be the most important point that affects 6MWD in this patient population.

Pressure vs. volume control in COPD patients intubated due to ARF: a case-control study.

To compare volume- and pressure- controlled ventilation (VCV-PCV) as an initial ventilatory mode in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Case-control study conducted in respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) at a large teaching hospital, between January 2002 and January 2004. PCV was applied in 20 COPD patients with ARF more than 24 hours. Their outcomes were compared with those of a control group of 20 COPD patients matched on age, sex, Acute Physiology Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, pH and PaCO(2) at the time of intubation previously treated with VCV. The effectiveness of matching was 99%. Groups were compared according to complication and mortality rates, total duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and length of RICU stay. Mortality and complication rates, and length of RICU stay were similar in groups but, the mean duration of MV was longer in PCV (198 +/- 177 h vs. 79 +/- 56 h, p< 0.003). PCV group spended significantly longer IMV hours for weaning period (138.6 +/- 164 vs. 34 +/- 33 h, p< 0.01), pre-weaning periods of IMV were found similar. These data suggest that both ventilatory approach have similar outcomes in COPD patients with ARF. Randomize-controlled trials are needed to confirm our results.

Evaluation of the weaning process in COPD patients with acute respiratory failure.

Based on our observations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients admitted to our respiratory intensive care unit due to acute respiratory failure suggesting a significant variation in weaning duration (WD), we conducted a retrospective cohort study in such patients. Fifty-nine patients successfully extubated following invasive mechanical ventilation were included. Syncronized intermittent mandatory ventilation plus pressure support ventilation was used as the weaning mode in mostly. Study population was divided into two groups. Group 1: patients with a WD < or = 24 hours (n= 32), Group 2: patients with a WD > 24 hours (n= 27). Groups were compared with respect to demographics, vital signs, arterial blood gases, laboratory values, and the treatment characteristics. The average WD was 13 +/- 8 and 58 +/- 34 hours in group 1 and group 2, respectively (p< 0.001). In the logistic regression analysis, the following factors were found to have a predictive value for a WD > 24 hours: elevated baseline heart rate, alkaline pH at the day of weaning, duration of midazolam infusion, and emphysematous findings on chest X-ray. In conclusion, whether the WD in COPD patients is less or greater than 24 hours is not only determined by the medical treatment administered, but also by the patient and disease characteristics.

Screening Evaluation System--Europe (SESy_Europe) met skin cancer screening.

Skin tumors are the most frequent malignancies in the white population worldwide and have reached the proportion of an epidemic disease. Since non-melanocytic skin cancers can be cured when timely detected, given that still malignant melanoma may have good prognosis if early diagnosed, and considering the key role of primary care in cancer screening advising and implementation, the international PACMeR study group (trial_01.3) adjourned SESy_Europe database in a version comprehensive of skin-malignancies screening indexing. The novel database provides standardized pre-codified translations of 2,331 parameters in eight languages (English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Romanian, Spanish and Turkish) and records the time elapsed from last skin examination, cause and frequency of skins examinations and stratifies skin cancer risk patterns by a systematic registering of risk factors. A comprehensive indexing of skin cancer screening practices among European countries may in fact turn helpful in programming future health policy and tailoring interventions.