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Copyright of Konuralp Medical Journal / Konuralp Tip Dergisi is the property of Duzce University Medical School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Konuralp Medical Journal / Konuralp Tip Dergisi is the property of Duzce University Medical School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• The medium- and long-term effects of COVID-19 infection on pulmonary function are still unknown. • The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected healthcare professionals, inflicting a heavy burden on the healthcare systems of countries. • Healthcare professionals with persistent complaints who contracted COVID-19 and returned to work using pulmonary function tests, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) test. The medium- and long-term effects of COVID-19 infection on pulmonary function are still unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the pulmonary functions in healthcare professionals who had persistent complaints after contracting COVID-19 and returning to work. The study included COVID-19-infected healthcare professionals from the Düzce University Medical Faculty Hospital who volunteered to participate. Medical histories, medical records, pulmonary function tests, the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) test, and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were used to collect data from all participants. The study included 53 healthcare professionals, with an average age of 38 ± 10 years (min: 24 years and max: 71 years), including 29 female (54.7%) and 24 male (45.3%) participants. Of the participants, 22.6% were smokers, 35.8% (19 individuals) had comorbidities, and 17% (9 individuals) were hospitalized. The mean length of stay was 9 ± 4 days (mean ± standard deviation). The most prevalent symptoms were weakness (88.7%), muscle aches (67.9%), inability to smell/taste (60.4%), headache (54.7%), fever (45.3%), cough (41.5%), and shortness of breath (37.7%). The mean time to return to work after a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 was 18 ± 13 days. The average time among post-disease pulmonary function, 6MW, and DLCO tests was 89 ± 36 days (min: 15 and max: 205). The DLCO level decreased in 39.6% (21) of the participants. Female participants had a significantly higher rate of decreased DLCO levels than male participants (25% vs. 55.2%, P =.026). DLCO levels were significantly higher in participants with long-term persistent complaints (P =.043). The later the time to return to work, the lower the DLCO value (r = −0.290 and P =.035). The 6MWT distance was positively correlated with hemoglobin and lymphocyte levels at the time of the disease onset and negatively correlated with D-dimer levels. The most prevalent symptoms during the control visits were shortness of breath/effort dyspnea (24.6%), weakness (9.5%), and muscle aches (7.6%). Significant persistent complaints (47.2%) and low DLCO levels (39.6%) were observed in healthcare professionals during control visits at a mean time of 3 months after the COVID-19 infection. Symptoms and spirometry measurements, including DLCO, may be helpful in the follow-up of healthcare professionals who contracted COVID-19. Further comprehensive studies with long-term follow-up periods are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Konuralp Medical Journal / Konuralp Tip Dergisi is the property of Duzce University Medical School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Konuralp Medical Journal / Konuralp Tip Dergisi is the property of Duzce University Medical School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Konuralp Medical Journal / Konuralp Tip Dergisi is the property of Duzce University Medical School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The use of natural gas for heating purposes causes less air pollution than solid fuels. Preventing air pollution decreases hospital admissions due to respiratory infections in children. The aim of the study is to examine the impact of using more clean fuel for heating purpose on hospital admissions with respiratory tract diseases in children. The records of 126.940 pediatric patients who were admitted to Düzce University Medical Faculty Pediatric Emergency Medicine outpatient clinic between 2014 and 2017 were reviewed. The records of children diagnosed with respiratory diseases (n: 46137) were examined. During the same period, air monitoring measurements of the national air quality network were recorded. Of the children, 55.5% were male and 45.5% were female. Most of the children were among the age group of 2-5 years (44%). Between 2014 and 2017, the mean PMlO was observed to decrease (2014: 114.4, 2017:79, p < 0.0001), rate of natural gas usage (2014:52.9%, 2017: 64.2%, p<0.0001) increased, rates of stove usage (2014:47%- 2017:35.7%, p<0.0001) decreased, annual mean air temperature values (2014:13.9-2017:16.7, p<0.0001) increased significantly. When all pediatric emergency admissions between 2014 and 2017 were examined, the number of those diagnosed with respiratory tract disease reduced while the number of general pediatric emergency admissions increased. The use of more clean fuels for heating purposes was observed to decrease the incidence of acute respiratory tract infections significantly in the preschool and school age group children. The use of clean fuel should be encouraged since preventing childhood infections would protect from the chronic lung diseases that may occur during adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Konuralp Medical Journal / Konuralp Tip Dergisi is the property of Duzce University Medical School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Konuralp Medical Journal / Konuralp Tip Dergisi is the property of Duzce University Medical School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of West Indian Medical Journal is the property of West Indian Medical Journal (WIMJ) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents information on the adverse health effects arising in toll collectors due to exposure to diesel exhaust particulates. It informs that the cohort study was conducted by measuring the wall thicknesses and the diameters of the main bronchi, segmental bronchi and posterior basal segments. The study highlights that a positive correlation was observed between the thickness of the right upper bronchus wall and age.

Summary: Epidemiological characteristics of sarcoidosis differ according to geographical distribution. The aim of our study was to disclose epidemiological characteristics in our country. The data was collected from investigators, who sent information on newly-diagnosed patients via internet. In 2 years 198 female and 95 male patients were enrolled to the study (f/m:2.08). Mean age of patients was 44±13 years (17–90). Mean age of male patients was 38±12 while mean age of female patients was 48±13 (p <0.001). 73.4% of patients were nonsmokers (85.4% of females; 48.4% of males; (p <0.001)). About 50% of our 293 patients were housewives. Familial sarcoidosis was found in 3 patients'' first degree relatives. Estimated annual incidence of sarcoidosis for Turkey was calculated as 4 per 100,000 person. According to our study, 2/3 of sarcoidosis patients were women; mean age of patients was 45 and the disease began 10 years later in female patients. 80% of patients were nonsmokers; negative relation between sarcoidosis and smoking was evident especially in women. Familial sarcoidosis frequency was lower compared to other studies in the literature. There was no occupational exposure history in our patients. Our incidence rate, is similar with the results of other European studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study that evaluates the annual changes in forced expiratory flows among toll collectors from 2002-2005 in Duzce, Turkey. It has been reported that diesel exhaust (DE) exposure has long-term effects on lung development in children and decreases the pulmonary function. It investigates that long-term effects of DE on lung function among toll collectors.

We present a case of 63-year-old man who was referred to the emergency department with a right-sided pneumothorax. He had a history of spontaneous pneumothorax for 2 times. The chest computed tomographic scan showed tracheobronchomegaly with an increase in the diameter of the trachea and right and left main bronchus. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed enlarged trachea and both main bronchus with diverticulas. These findings are consistent with a diagnosis of Mounier-Kuhn syndrome. Mounier-Kuhn syndrome is a rare clinical and radiologic condition. It is characterized by a tracheal and bronchial dilation. Diagnosis is made by computed tomography and bronchoscopy. Mounier-Kuhn syndrome should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]