[A case of rib tuberculosis and chest wall abscess with multi-drug hypersensitivity reactions]. / Çok ilaca asiri duyarlilik reaksiyonu görülen bir kot tüberkülozu ve gögüs duvari apsesi olgusu.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is the reactivation of the remaining latent organism which spreads during primary infection by the lymphohematogenous way. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis especially in endemic countries for tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) treatment is based on the principle of the combined use of several drugs. As a result of the combination therapy there can be life threatening side effects which can lead to improper use of medications and may also cause drug resistance. In this report, we present an 85-year-old male patient desensitized due to the development of allergy against multi-drugs with rib tuberculosis and chest wall abscess to whom, culture, drug susceptibility and genotypical tests were applied. In November 2012, the patient applied to a medical center with complaints of swelling and pain under the right rib, underwent rib resection and eventually diagnosed as rib TB by histopathological examination. However, the anti-TB treatment was discontinued due to the hypersensitivity reactions in the skin and in addition to the hepatic and renal dysfunction side effects. The patient had widespread redness, rash and pruritus on the body and the laboratory findings were as follows; ALT: 114 U/L, AST: 152 U/L, ALP: 93 U/L, GGT: 26U/L, blood urea nitrogen (BUN): 26 mg/dL and creatinine: 1.7 mg/dL. After the disapperance of the complaints within 3 days of drug discontinuation, isoniazid treatment was initiated. However, the new treatment was also discontinued when the reactions reoccurred. Afterwards, the patient developed hypersensitivity reactions against the combination of streptomycin and ethambutol. The patient refused any further treatment and was discharged from the hospital. The patient was untreated for the last 5 months and admitted to our clinic with a fistulized swelling and abscess in the right chest wall. Bacteria was not detected in the acid-fast staining of the abscess material, however Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from culture by MGIT (Mycobacteria Growth Incubator Tube; BBL MGIT, BD, USA) system. The spoligotyping revealed that the genotype was Haarlem 1. Major drug susceptibility testing against rifampin, streptomycin, ethambutol, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide yielded sensitivity to those drugs. Minor drug susceptibility testing against paraaminosalicylic acid, ethionamide, kanamycin, capreomycin and ofloxacin was found to be sensitive. A regimen of isoniazid 300 mg/day, ethambutol 1000 mg/day and moxifloxacin 400 mg/day was initiated. Rapid oral desensitization against isoniazid and ethambutol were repeated on two consecutive days. The patient continued antituberculosis therapy for 12 months without adverse reactions. The chest wall fistula was closed. Abscess was drained surgically. Clinical and radiological improvements were achieved. The patient remains clinically disease free and continues his regular follow ups. This case is presented to emphasize about the importance of culture and susceptibility testing in extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases and desensitization in drug hypersensitivity reactions.

Nonsevere acute pulmonary embolism: prognostic CT pulmonary angiography findings.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the prognostic parameters of computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiographic findings in nonsevere (hemodynamically stable) pulmonary embolism (PE) patients and to assess the predictive value of these parameters for mortality within 1 month of the initial diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospectively, 67 consecutive patients (28 men, 39 women; mean age, 63.25 ± 18 years) from 2 centers with nonsevere PE diagnosed using CT and a clinical evaluation were included in the current study. Using consensus reading, 2 readers blinded to the patients' clinical outcomes quantified the right ventricle short axis to left ventricle short axis ratio in the axial plane, vascular measurements, reflux of contrast medium into the inferior vena cava and azygos vein, ventricular septal bowing, and clot load using the Qanadli scoring system. The Simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) and pulmonary parenchymal findings were also evaluated. All CT pulmonary angiographic parameters were compared with the risk of death within 1 month using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients survived (88.1%), and 8 patients (11.9%) died because of PE. The sPESI and 2 parenchymal findings (multiple wedge-shaped opacities or consolidation accompanied by a wedge-shaped opacity) were significantly related to mortality. In the univariate analysis, neither the cardiovascular CT parameters nor the clot burden was significant between the survivors and nonsurvivors (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In clinically nonsevere PE patients, the sPESI and significant parenchymal findings were the CT parameters related to 1-month mortality.

Evaluation of clinical and functional parameters in female subjects with biomass smoke exposure.

BACKGROUND: Indoor air pollution and exposure to biomass smoke is a risk factor for pulmonary diseases among women in developing countries. We aimed to assess clinical and functional findings and exposure duration and to evaluate their relationships in patients who used biomass products as fuel and who presented to the clinic due to respiratory symptoms. METHODS: Fifty-five patients who had been referred to the hospital between January 2008 and December 2010 and who met the inclusion criteria were accepted to the study. Data on the place they live, biomass exposure duration, lung function parameters, and arterial blood gases were recorded. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in FEV(1)%, FEV1 (L) and, FEV(1)/FVC existed between the subgroups of duration of biomass exposure (P = .001). FEV(1)% and FEV(1)/FVC were highest in the < 30 hour-years exposure group. In the presence of animal dung use, the odds ratio and 95% CI for the risk of FEV(1)/FVC < 70% was 3.5 (0.88-10.29). Subjects who used animal dung and wood for cooking and heating had severe and very severe FEV(1) stages. CONCLUSIONS: Biomass exposure can have effects on lung function test parameters. Animal dung use is primarily related to risk of deterioration of FEV(1)/FVC, when compared to other biomass fuels. Protective health measures should be taken by assessing the risks in areas where biomass exposure is intense, improving poor design of the stoves and ventilation, and switching to better clean energy sources such as natural gas and solar energy.

Lung cancer and pregnancy.

Lung cancer in the pregnant woman is a very rare and dramatic coincidence with poor prognosis. Treatment depends on the gestational week of the pregnancy, patient's medical status, social, personal, familial, and even religious beliefs. We present a case of adenocarcinoma of the lung in a 34-year-old pregnant patient whose initial complaints were cough, dyspnea, fever and fatigue. She was diagnosed with pneumonia at another hospital, and antibiotic therapy was administered. Meanwhile, at 28 weeks she delivered a preterm low-birth-weight baby. Chest X-ray and thorax CT revealed a mass lesion in the upper left lung lobe. After admission to our clinic, needle aspiration of left supraclavicular lymph node and bronchoscopic biopsy from upper lobe bronchus showed a non-small lung cancer; adenocarcinoma. Brain MRI was normal. PET CT revealed multiple bone metastases. Multidisciplinary Tumor Committee at our hospital referred her to the Oncology Department as an advanced stage IV disease. Chemotherapy was administered with paclitaxel and carboplatin for a total of 12 weeks. Reassessment of the patient revealed new bone metastases and crizotinib was administered since her tumor was found positive for EML4-ALK mutations. The treatment was well tolerated. During a follow up period of 6 months her clinical condition was stable and no adverse events were encountered.

Short-term positive airway pressure therapy response in obstructive sleep apnea patients: impact of treatment on the quality of life.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to assess the compliance of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients of whom we planned positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy by using "Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI)","Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS)","OSAS Symptoms Questionnaire (OSQ)" and, to investigate the early effects of treatment on the quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 30 adult (male/female: 23/7) OSA patients who applied to Sleep Research Laboratory at the University Hospital, complaining of symptoms related to sleep and polysomnographically verified as OSAS with PAP therapy indications were included to the study. Their written consent were obtained. RESULTS: Characteristics of the patients, OSAS symptoms, ESS and SAQLI sores were recorded. After a month, on the second visit, ESS, SAQLI and OSAS symptoms questionnaire had been repeated. All the patients have routinely used PAP devices for a period of a month. PAP therapy provided significant improvements in excessive daytime sleepiness, symptoms questionnaire and SAQLI scores (p< 0.001). There was a significant correlation between apnea hypopnea index (AHI) score and the improvements in emotional functioning (r = -0.374, p= 0.045). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the OSA patients can have remarkable benefits from PAP therapy during the early treatment period. This study increased the awareness of the patients about their illness and their perceived benefits related to PAP treatment. Emotional functioning improved prominantly as the disease's severity increased.

Microscopic bilateral posterior cordotomy in severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with bilateral vocal cord paralysis.

BACKGROUND: Vocal cord paralysis is a rare cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after thyroid gland surgery is one of the leading causes of acquired vocal cord paralysis. REPORT: A 46-year-old woman with OSAS due to bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis was presented. She had thyroidectomy 30 years ago and had a weak, breathy voice. She had been referred with a history of high-pitched snoring, apnea witnessed by her spouse, and excessive daytime sleepiness for the last 5 years. Full-night polysomnography revealed that her apnea-hypopnea index was 72/h and minimal oxygen saturation level was 81%. There was no REM and deep sleep periods. Ear-nose-throat consultation offered an endoscopic bilateral posterior cordotomy operation via microscopic suspension laryngoscopy (MLS) as a treatment option. CONCLUSIONS: Instead of using a nasal positive airway pressure (nCPAP) device, she was treated surgically. Her OSAS resolved completely within 5 months of the surgery. Her phonation was preserved, and symptoms such as snoring and hypersomnolance disappeared. In OSAS patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis, MLS-associated bilateral posterior cordotomy can be a choice of treatment as an alternative to nCPAP application.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and anthropometric obesity indexes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the general body adiposity or regional adiposity was a risk factor in the evolution of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) by examining the relationships between the anthropometric obesity indexes such as waist (WC) and neck circumference index (NC), body mass index (BMI), and OSAS in Turkish adult population, and to access the possible differences by gender. METHODS: The data related to polysomnographic, demographic, and anthropometric indexes of the 499 subjects were examined retrospectively. The patients whose apnea-hypopnea index was ≥5 were determined as OSAS group. RESULTS: The avarage BMI, WC, and NC of the OSAS group (n = 431) were statistically higher than the control group (p < 0.001). According to logistic regression analysis, BMI, WC, and NC enlargement were observed as significant risk factors for OSAS development. Risk coefficients were determined 5.53 for NC, 4.48 for WC, and 2.22 for BMI. Cutoff point values for anthropometric obesity indexes as OSAS determiner were recorded as below: BMI for male >27.77 kg/m(2) and female >28.93 kg/m(2), NC index for male >40 cm and female >36 cm, and WC index for male >105 cm and female >101 cm. CONCLUSIONS: BMI, WC, and NC enlargement were determined as significant risk factors for OSAS development. This was an initial study to determine the cutoff points of which increase the OSAS risk in BMI, WC, and NC index in Turkish adult population.

Comparison of tuberculin skin testing and QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In Tube test in health care workers.

The purpose of this prospective, cross-sectional observational study was to compare the tuberculin skin testing (TST) with QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In Tube (QTF-GIT) for the detection of latent tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers (HCWs). The study included 78 volunteers who are HCWs at the same tertiary care teaching hospital for chest diseases and tuberculosis. Participants with active tuberculosis, immunodefficiency or malnutrition were not included. The TST was administered by the Mantoux method. Peptides representing ESAT-6, CFP-10 and TB7-7 were used as TB-specific antigens in the whole-blood Interferon-gamma (IFN-g) assay (QTF-GIT). There was a statistically significant relation between the number of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) scars and the diameter of TST (p< 0.01). QTF results according to previous BCG vaccinations did not significantly differ (p> 0.05). There was an intermediate concordance between two tests (k: 0.346). QTF-GIT has a sensitivity of 56.14% (both TST and QTF-GIT are positive), specificity of 90.48% (both TST and QTF-GIT are negative); positive predictive value of 94.12% and negative predictive value of 43.18% and accuracy is 65.38%. There was a statistically significant relation between TST diameter and QTF result (p< 0.01). Latent tuberculosis infection prevalance of our study population was 43% according to QTF-GIT test, 73% according to TST and BCG vaccination rate was 87%. In conclusion, TST is affected by previous BCG vaccinations, QTF-GIT is not. We can recommend QTF-GIT test for the detection of latent tuberculosis infection as an alternative to TST in populations with routine BCG vaccination programme.

The evaluation of the Quantiferon-TB Gold test in pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

In our study we evaluated the Quantiferon-TB Gold (QFT-G) test and compared it with tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity in 44 pulmonary and 21 extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases in whom active tuberculosis infection was suspected on clinical, microbiologic and radiologic grounds. QFT-G positivity was 75% in pulmonary tuberculosis and 76.2% in extrapulmonary tuberculosis. TST positivity was 68.2 and 62%, respectively. Although QFT-G positivity was higher than TST positivity, the difference was statistically insignificant (P=0.77). Similar to TST, QFT-G is one of the supplementary diagnostic tests for active tuberculosis disease and latent tuberculosis infection. Its advantage over TST is that it gives a result on the same day and it is unaffected by prior BCG and previous exposure to atypical mycobacteria. In conclusion, we think that, as with TST, a positive QFT-G result can be an adjunct to diagnosis in patients having clinical and radiological data compatible with tuberculosis.