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Objective: To investigate the effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the dry eye status in men and to determine whether the hypoandrogenic status has any concomitant impact. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 80 patients with stable COPD and healthy volunteers individually matched on the basis of body mass index (BMI), age, and sex. Ocular surface testing included ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, evaluation of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), tear fluorescein break-up time (TF-BUT), ocular surface staining with lissamine green (LG), Schirmer test with topical anesthesia, and Sirius meibographic analysis of meibomian gland area (MGA) loss. Bioavailable testosterone and free testosterone were measured using the measured total testosterone (TT), albumin, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels. Results: Patients with COPD had lower levels of circulating androgens, decreased TF-BUT, and lower Schirmer score and greater LG staining score, MGD grade, and MG area loss than healthy controls (p<0.01). Forced expiratory volume in 1-second (FEV1), FEV1/forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC), and circulating androgen levels were inversely correlated to the OSDI score, LG staining, MGD grade, and MGA loss and showed positive correlation with TF-BUT and Schirmer score in COPD patients (p<0.01). However, when adjusted for androgen levels, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio were negatively correlated to the Schirmer score (p<0.05). Conclusion: Male COPD patients had worse tear film parameters, and this finding was more notable in patients with lower androgen levels. Hypoandrogenic status in COPD patients attributes to the dry eye status of the patients, irrespective of their FEV1 and FEV1/FVC status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) not only gives information about anatomical features of lung lesions but also about their metabolic activity. This study aimed to determine the mediastinal and parenchymal pathologies of the lung with false-positive FDG involvement and characteristics that could benefit differential diagnosis. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 1,924 subjects that underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT from December 2010 to January 2015. Subjects with a maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) value of =2.5 in the lung tissue, mediastinal lymph nodes with no primary lung malignancy, and a benign pathology result were included. Results: The mean age of the 143 subjects was 61.7±11.0 years. The pathologies anthracosis, granulomatous inflammatory events, and organized pneumonia (OP) were 64 (45%), 36 (25%), and 18 (13%) cases, respectively, in order of frequency. The median SUVmax value of all lesions was 5.2 (min-max, 2.5-37.6). Moreover, mediastinal lymph node involvement was frequent (59%). The median SUVmax value of anthracotic lesions was significantly lower than the median SUVmax value of granulomatous and OP lesions (p<0.001 and p=0.007, respectively). No significant difference in the median SUVmax value was noted between granulomatous and OP lesions. Conclusion: Anthracosis and tuberculosis should be considered as benign causes of mediastinal lymph node positivity in developing countries. 18F-FDG PET/BT is an unreliable method for the differential diagnosis of benign diseases characterized by inflammation. Thus, metabolic activity evaluation is more suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of atopy and allergic rhinitis by prick skin test with multi-test II applicator in patients with asthma. Material and Methods: In this study, 200 patients who were admitted to the Medical Faculty, Department of Pulmonary Disease and who was diagnosed asthma were evaluated prospectively. Pulmonary function test and twelve aeroallergens skin test were applied to patients. Total IgE levels and blood eosinophil counts were also measured. Atopic asthma was defined as the history of asthma with positive skin test. Results: Mean age of patients was 42.4±13.2 years old. 152 (76%) were women; 48 (24%) were men. 120 (60%) were skin test positive. Allergy to pollens (%69.2) was the most prevalent sensitization, followed by allergy to house dust mites, cockroach and molds (%56.7, %41.7, %7.5). Ninety-seven patients (48%) were allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: The results showed that asthma in 60% of the patients had an atopic background in Kayseri. Less than half of the asthmatic patients had associated rhinitis. The most frequent sensitization allergens that were determined by prick skin test with multi-test II applicator in patients with or without rhinitis were pollens in Kayseri. The frequency of house dust mite was second highest, of cockroach was third highest In patients with atopic asthma and allergic rhinitis, prevention should be provided against pollens and house dust mite to control the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) is an idiopathic disease characterized with pulmonary hypertension (PH) caused by the proliferation of numerous capillaries within alveolar walls of the lung. Administration of vasodilator therapy, in contrast to primary PH, is risky due to possible fatal pulmonary edema; therefore, differentiation of PCH and primary PH is of significant importance. Since the clinical features of PCH are vague and histopathologic examination may not be usually feasible due to unstable conditions of the patients, radiological findings may help establish the diagnosis. A 17-year-old girl presented with exertional dyspnea and fatigue. PH was observed with both two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and right heart catheterization. The diffuse ground glass opacifications of both lungs and the signs of PH on computed tomography (CT) raised the suspicion of PCH. The diagnosis was then confirmed with histopathologic examination. We herein report this rare pediatric case of PCH with emphasis on CT imaging findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary hypertension is an important determinant of morbidity and mortality in many diseases, including congenital heart disease and respiratory disease. Fibrosing mediastinitis is a rare disorder caused by proliferation of acellular collagen. In fibrosing mediastinitis, clinical presentation is determined by compression to the vital mediastinal organs. Fibrosing mediastinitis may rarely lead to pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. In this case report, a 16 year old boy with pulmonary arterial hypertension was presented. His right pulmonary artery was completely occluded secondary to idiopathic fibrosing mediastinitis. The patient died after mediastinal biopsy. Herein, we discussed pulmonary arterial hypertension secondary to idiopathic fibrosing mediastinitis in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]