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Platelet transfusion is used to prevent bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction. Purpose of investigating demographic characteristics of eligible volunteers as platelet donors and of demonstrating the association of platelet counts with blood groups as well as other factors. We used data of individuals who referred to a blood center in our hospital. Age, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and gender were determined, and than hemogram values such as leukocyte, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet and ABO blood types of those individuals were identified. A statistically significant difference determined for height, body weight, and BMI in both genders. Although BMI was lower in the group of platelet count ≤ 250, it was higher in a group of platelet count > 250. Furthermore, platelet count was more moderate in blood group O Rh-positive but, no significant difference was group O Rh-negative. Platelet count was higher in other Rh-positive blood groups than Rh negatives. BMI is vital in apheresis donors, and individuals with higher BMI values may prefer in case of double dose or more apheresis need. The determination of platelet counts in Rh positives is more elevated than Rh negatives.

Background: Blood transfusion is a life-saving method in emergencies. However, it also carries the risk of pathogen transmission, which is called transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs). All donated blood samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV), anti-human immunodeficiency virus antigens (anti-HIV½) and syphilis using Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test. This study was designed and carried out to determine the seroprevalences of TTIs among blood donors with different ABO and Rh blood groups. Identification of a relation between different blood groups and TTIs was anticipated. Methods: All blood donors data obtained from the Blood Center of Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital between January 2013 and October 2018 are analyzed retrospectively. Serum samples were examined for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV½, and VDRL. Results: HBsAg and anti-HIV½ positivity positivity rates were not statistically different according to ABO blood groups (p>0.05). Anti-HCV positivity rates are partially statistically significant (p0.05). VDRL positivity rates did not differ significantly (p>0.05). Seropositive cases, as reported by Rh type blood group; HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV½, and VDRL positivity rates were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusions: No significant relationship was found among TTIs and ABO and Rh type blood groups. For blood transfusion safety, screening tests should always and carefully be performed.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in a vast number of infections and deaths that deeply affect the world. When the virus encounters the host cell, it binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, then the S protein of the virus is broken down by the transmembrane protease serine 2 with the help of furin, allowing the virus to enter the cell. The elevated inflammatory cytokines suggest that a cytokine storm, also known as cytokine release syndrome, may play a major role in the pathology of COVID-19. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between circulating furin levels, disease severity, and inflammation in patients with SARS-CoV-2. A total of 52 SARS-CoV-2 patients and 36 healthy control participants were included in this study. SARS- CoV-2 patients were scored by the disease activity score. Serum furin, presepsin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean furin, presepsin, and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the peripheral blood of SARS-CoV-2 compared to the controls ( p

Aim: Blood group antigens are the first genetic markers discovered. ABO blood groups which are expressed on red blood cell membranes are reported to be associated with malignancy risk. The present study aimed to investigate whether there is an association between blood groups and patients with lung cancer.Material and Methods: In our study, ıt was reviewed 587 patients with lung cancer whose ABO/Rh blood types were serologically confirmed. Patients were classified according to blood groups (O, A, B, AB), Rh factor (+, −) and histological types of lung cancer as Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). The adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous carcinoma (SC) as subtypes of NSCLC were recorded. The relationship of ABO/Rh blood groups with clinical features, such as age, sex and histological subtype were evaluated.Results: There was no significant association between pathological results and blood groups O, A, B and AB. SCLC patients had significantly higher frequency of blood type B Rh (-) when compared to NSCLC patients.Conclusion: We observed an association between risk of lung cancer and ABO blood groups. Although the Rh factor is not effective by itself, patients with the B Rh (-) blood group may have a higher risk than SCLC. Examining the relationship of blood group subtypes with lung cancer cells at the molecular level would be useful to clarify the relationship between lung cancer and blood groups., Amaç: Kan grubu antijenleri, keşfedilen ilk genetik belirteçlerdir. Kırmızı kan hücre zarlarından eksprese edilen ABO kan gruplarının çeşitli çalışmalarda malignite riski ile ilişkili olduğu gösterilmiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, kan grupları ile akciğer kanseri arasında bir ilişki olup olmadığını araştırmaktır.Gereç Yöntemler: Çalışmamızda ABO ve Rh kan grubu serolojik olarak doğrulanmış 587 akciğer kanserli hasta gözden geçirildi. Hastalar kan gruplarına (O, A, B, AB), Rh faktörü (+, -) ve histolojik akciğer kanseri tiplerine göre [Küçük Hücreli Dışı Akciğer kanseri (KHDAK) ve Küçük Hücreli Akciğer Kanseri (KHAK)] sınıflandırıldı. KHDAK’nin adenokarsinom (AK) ve skuamöz karsinom (SK) alt tipleri kaydedildi. ABO / Rh kan gruplarının yaş, cinsiyet ve histolojik alt tip gibi klinik özelliklerle ilişkisi değerlendirildi.Bulgular: Patolojik analiz sonucu ile O, A, B ve AB kan grupları arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmadı. Çalışmada KHAK'li olgularda B Rh (-) kan grubuna sahip olan hastaların oranı, KHDAK'li olanlardan daha yüksek bulundu.Sonuç: Akciğer kanseri riski ile ABO kan grupları arasında bir ilişki olduğu görüldü. Rh faktörü tek başına etkili olmamakla beraber B Rh (-) kan grubuna sahip olan hastalar KHAK açısından daha fazla riske sahip olabilir. Kan grubu alt tiplerinin akciğer kanseri hücreleriyle moleküler düzeyde ilişkisinin incelenmesi, akciğer kanseri ve kan grupları arasındaki ilişkiyi açıklığa kavuşturmak için yararlı olacaktır.

As the COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to spread around the globe, effective vaccination protocols are under deployment. Alternatively, the use of convalescent plasma (CP) therapy relies on the transfer of the immunoglobulin repertoire of a donor that has recovered from the disease as a means of passive vaccination. While the lack of an effective antiviral treatment inadvertently increases the interest in CP products, initial clinical evaluation on COVID-19 patients revealed that critical factors determining the outcome of CP therapy need to be defined clearly if clinical efficacy is to be expected. Measurement of neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 using wildtype virus presents a reliable functional assay but the availability of suitable BSL3 facilities for virus culture restricts its applicability. Instead, the use of pseudovirus particles containing elements from the SARS-CoV-2 virus is widely applied to determine the activity of CP or other neutralizing agents such as monoclonal antibodies.In this study, we present our approach to optimize GFP-encoding lentiviral particles pseudotyped with the SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Membrane proteins for use in neutralization assays. Our results show the feasibility of pseudovirus production using a C-terminal truncated Spike protein which is greatly enhanced by the incorporation of the D614G mutation. Moreover, we report that the use of Sodium Butyrate during lentiviral vector production dramatically increases pseudovirus titers. Analysis of CP neutralizing activity against particles pseudotyped with wildtype or D614G mutant Spike protein in the presence or absence the M protein revealed differential activity in CP samples that did not necessarily correlate with the amount of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.Our results indicate that the extent of neutralizing activity in CP samples depends on the quality rather than the quantity of the humoral immune responses and varies greatly between donors. Functional screening of neutralizing activity using pseudovirus-based neutralization assays must be accepted as a critical tool for choosing CP donors if clinical efficacy is to be maximized.

To determine the association of various obesity markers with systemic immune-inflammatory index.The cross-sectional study was conducted at Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey, from January 2018 to October 2018 and comprised children aged 6-16 years admitted to the outpatient clinic due to obesity. The patients were evaluated for height, weight, body mass index (BMI), fat percentage (F%), fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM). Waist circumference was measured and neutrophil, platelet and lymphocyte counts and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) were calculated on the basis of haemogram. Data was analysed using Number Cruncher Statistical System 2007.Of the 335 subjects, 203(60.6%) were girls and 132(39.4%) were boys. Univariate analysis of girls showed the effects of BMI, F%, FM, FFM and WC on NLR. FM remained a significant and independent risk factor for NLR (p0.01). The effects of BMI, F%, FFM and WC were not significant in multivariate model (p0.05). Univariate analysis of girls also showed the effects of BMI, F%, FM, FFM and WC measurements on SII. F% remained a significant and independent risk factor on SII (p0.01). The effects of BMI, fat mass, FFM and WC were not significant in multivariate model (p0.05).In this study, the increase of SII, NLR and thrombocyte in terms of weight, BMI, fat percentage and fat mass supports the increase of inflammation due to the increase of fat in obesity. In terms of comorbidities in obesity, SII and NLR suggest that there may be inflammatory biomarkers which can be used in follow-up.

Overweight or obesity is a global and severe healthcare problem associated with many diseases. The rapid increase in the incidence of obesity all over the world devoted the researchers to analyze the parameters associated with obesity and overweight. The aim of the present study was to detect whether any connection exists between the ABO and Rh blood groups and obesity through statistical methods. Body length and body weight measurements of 306 female participants who referred to Sports Physiology and Blood Bank departments of Pendik Training and Research Hospital within Marmara University were obtained. Blood samples were also collected from each participant, and body mass index [BMI], ABO blood group and Rh blood groups were detected. The association of obesity with blood group and Rh blood group types was analyzed by statistical methods. Age, body weight, BMI, fat percentage, fat weight and muscle weight parameters of the participants were found statistically significant. In the logistic regression analysis conducted to detect the effect of ABO and Rh blood groups on obesity, a statistically significant association was found between ABO blood groups and obesity whereas a considerable association was also detected between Rh blood group and obesity. The authors found that the highest rate of the obese individuals was in A and Rh positive blood groups.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been reported to be high among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) flow in the pathogenesis of PH and the prevalence of PH in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and to suggest other possible etiologic factors. Methods: The prevalence of PH was prospectively estimated by Doppler echocardiography in 116 ESRD patients on regular hemodialysis (HD). Laboratory and clinical variables were compared between patients with and without PH (groups 1 and 2, respectively). PH was defined as systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) over 30 mm Hg. Patients with PH underwent further evaluation by 2 pulmonologists. AVF flow was measured by Doppler ultrasonography. Blood tests including arterial blood gases, hemoglobin, serum calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone were determined. Results: PH was found in 25 (21.6%) patients (group 1) with an SPAP of 37.9 ± 2.8 mm Hg. Mean AVF flow was increased (1,554 ± 207.60 ml/min) in group 1. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly different between the 2 groups (55.3 ± 11.5 and 64.4 ± 40, respectively; p < 0.05). Neither significant primary lung disease nor parenchymal lesions were detected in group 1. PH showed a significant difference for cigarette smoking (p < 0.05). In group 1 the prevalence of cigarette smoking was higher. The main etiology of CRF was diabetes mellitus with a ratio of 44% in group 1. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a surprisingly high prevalence of PH among patients receiving long-term HD. PH was related to high AVF flow, low LVEF and cigarette smoking. AVF flow and cigarette smoking are important correctable causes of PH. Early detection is important in order to avoid the serious consequences.

Aim: Miliary tuberculosis (MTB) is a serious and rare form of tuberculosis. Studies comparatively reviewed children and adults with MTB are lacking. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 56 pediatric and 26 adult MTB patients at a university hospital, between 1990 and 2003 Results: The median age at presentation was 3.5 years for children and 38 years for adults. Thirtyeight of all patients of whom 86.8% were children had family history of tuberculosis Presenting symptoms and signs of adult and pediatric patients were loss of weight (51.8% vs. 61.5%), anorexia (76.9% vs. 57.8%), dyspnea (12.5% vs. 57.8%), diarrhea/vomiting (35.0% vs. 27.0%), fever (53.8% vs. 17.9%), hepatomegaly (30.8% vs. 51.8%), pulmonary crepitations (42.3% vs. 42.9) and cough (46.2% vs. 35.7%), respectively. The presenting symptoms/signs and laboratory abnormalities were generally more frequent in adults. Detected laboratory abnormalities were leukocytosis (73.2%), increased sedimentation rate (73.2%), anemia (52.4%), hypoalbuminemia (47.6%), elevated liver transaminases (36.6%), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (50.0%) and hyponatremia (25.6%) in whole study group. The diagnosis was proven microbiologically in 15 (18.3%) patients. Among 56 pediatric cases, there were 8 (14.3%) children with positive BCG scar and only 16 (28.6%) children with positive reaction to 5TU tuberculin test. Radiological findings of all patients, either on chest X-ray or high resolution computerized tomography, were characteristic for MTB. One fourth of patients had accompanying tuberculous meningitis. Predisposing factors for TB were found in 13 patients (15.9%). No patients had HIV infection. Overall 6 (7.3%) patients had died. Conclusion: High rate of history of family contact and low rate of BCG vaccination in our patients with MTB were significant public health problems. Identifying different features in children and adults may contribute to early diagnosis of MTB, which is highly relevant to its outcome

BACKGROUND AND AIM In patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), a pulmonary radiograph may reveal oligemic fields (the Westermark sign) associated with sites of occlusion of the pulmonary arteries, interruption or loss of the artery line (the knuckle sign), and even unilateral hyperlucency attributable to reduced overall lung vascularity. In Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome (SJMS), which develops as a result of bronchiolitis obliterans, unilateral hyperlucency is evident because of emphysema and hypoplasia of the pulmonary artery and its branches. Therefore, SJMS cases with clinical and laboratory data compatible with PE may in fact be confused with PE. The cases of six adult patients who were initially presumed to have PE but on further investigation were diagnosed with SJMS are presented in this report, which thus can serve as a guide for diagnosis of similar cases in future. METHODS We studied six adult patients who presented with dyspnea. Their pulmonary radiographs revealed lobar/unilateral hyperlucency and PE was initially suspected. The pulmonary artery and branches thereof exhibited parenchymal emphysema and hypoplasia, and we thus diagnosed SJMS. RESULTS We studied 4 males and 2 females with a mean age of 51 years (range, 20-73 years). Left lung involvement was evident in five cases. CONCLUSION Unilateral hyperlucency may be a feature of both PE and SJMS. Although these conditions are very different, both present similarly in radiographic terms and may be easily confused when the clinical data and the anamnesis raise a suspicion of PE, causing unnecessary testing and treatment.

Nowadays, with the increase in drug use and drug diversity, the necessity of making people aware of drug use has occurred. At this point, the concept of 'Rational Drug Use' has emerged. 'Rational Drug Use' requires getting drugs pursuant to treatment, at the required dose, and the lowest cost. Although drugs on the market are numerous, many of them have the same functions. These drugs are called equivalent drugs and they have the same pharmacological effect as the original drugs and provide the patient with the same treatment. In this study, especially the equivalent drug use at the lowest cost of rational drug use was examined. The aim of this study is to reveal the cost difference between original drug and equivalent drug that can make the same treatment. As a sample, 4417 prescription data was collected based on their diagnosis codes; 183 individuals from Alsancak Izmir, 1748 individuals from Guzelyali Izmir, 925 individuals from Konak Izmir, 155 individuals from Acipayam Denizli, and 1406 individuals from Esenyurt Istanbul. According to the analysis of the sample data, the most common five diagnosis codes were selected. The percentage rates of diagnosis codes were investigated per region. Also differences between the price of drugs in prescriptions and that of their lowest cost equivalents were investigated. The diagnosis code analysis results show, if lower cost equivalent drugs are used for treatment, not only the same result will appear but also a lower cost will be paid by patients and institutions. The amount of serious figures reached in this sample data show that, if generalized, health cost will decrease throughout the country.

Abdominal tuberculosis (TB) is a rare manifestation, which can be overlooked on long-lasting and non-specific findings unless a high index of suspicion is maintained. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic features of 39 patients hospitalized with tuberculous peritonitis (TBP) in Dicle University Hospital, Turkey between January 1994 and August 2003. Twenty-two patients were male; patient age ranged between 1 and 59 years (mean: 16.2 +/- 14.4 years). There were 21 patients (54%) under 15 years of age. Thirteen children had a history of familial TB and seven adults had prior history of TB. Six (29%) of 21 pediatric cases had bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) scars and results of 5-tuberculin units (TU) tuberculin test were positive in seven children (18%). Of all cases, the most common presenting findings were abdominal pain (95%), ascites (92%) and abdominal distention (82%). Five of the patients had accompanying pulmonary TB, and six patients (15%) had intestinal TB who were admitted to emergency service with acute abdomen, of whom three (8%) had perforation and three (8%) had ileus. Histopathologically 20 cases (51%) were proven on abdominal ultrasonography, and computed tomography revealed most commonly ascites and thickening of peritoneum. No microbiologic evidence was obtained except three positive culture results for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. As a result, TBP should be considered for diagnosis, in patients with non-specific symptoms of abdominal pain, wasting, fever, loss of appetite, abdominal distension and even symptoms of acute abdomen, because early diagnosis and effective treatment will decrease morbidity and mortality.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) is an important problem among health care workers (HCWs), both in Turkey and in other countries. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk ratio and features of tuberculosis (TB) among health care workers (HCWs) at a teaching hospital in southeast Turkey. Methods In a hospital-wide study at Dicle University Hospital, a referral center in southeast Turkey, data from HCWs with TB were collected from clinic and hospital records. The incidence and relative risk (RR) of TB among HCWs between 1986 and 2000 were analyzed and evaluated retrospectively according to TB incidence in the general population of Turkey. Results In this 15-year period, there were 22 HCWs with pulmonary tuberculosis (9 men, 13 women; 4 doctors, 13 nurses, 5 paramedics) out of an average of 734 workers per year over the study period. The mean age of the doctors was 27.1 years; nurses, 20.6 years; and paramedics, 30.5 years. The mean working experience of HCWs was 3.5 years (2.8 years for doctors, 2.8 years for nurses, 6.4 years for paramedics). The mean incidence of TB among the general population of Turkey between 1986 and 2000 was 40.8 of 100,000 persons. The mean incidence of tuberculosis in all HCWs of the hospital was 199.9 of 100,000 persons (RR = 4.9), 127.1 of 100,000 persons in doctors (RR = 3.1), 274.4 of 100,000 persons in nurses (RR = 6.7), and 160.2 of 100,000 persons (RR = 3.9) in paramedics. Conclusion Hospital acquired tuberculosis is prominent among young nurses who work in high-risk departments.

Descending necrotising mediastinitis is a rare but usually fatal infection. It commonly results of oropharyngeal and odontogenic infections. Complete recovery may be achieved by early diagnosis, prompt medical and surgical approach. We are reporting our desending necrotizing mediastinitis case secondary to tooth abscess, and it\'s successfull surgical treatment. A-48-year-old man admitted with fever, exhaustion neck distendion for a week. He had a tooth abscess one week ago. Chest tomography showed neck and mediastinal air and fluid collections. Antibiothreapy was started and urgent surgical management applied. Neck drainage was performed via transcervical approach. Mediastinal drainage was performed via right thoracotomy. Continue mediastinal washing feasibility was done by drainage tubes. Drainage was ended after nonextra drainage and cultural growthless. Vital signs became stable and control tomography showed complete recovery. He was healthfull at the 6th month\'s follow-up. Broad antibiothreapy, surgical management are the main approaches for descending necrotising mediastinitis. The most common surgical procedure is the combination of transcervical approach and thoracotomy. We suggest early and agressive surgical management for the complete recovery., Desendan nekrotizan mediastinit nadir, fakat yüksek oranda fatal seyreden bir durumdur. Sıklıkla orofarengeal veya odontojenik şiddetli enfeksiyonlara bağlı gelişen bir komplikasyondur. Erken tanı, uygun antibiyoterapi ve cerrahi girişimle şifa olasıdır. Diş apsesi sonrası gelişen desendan nekrotizan mediastinit olgumuzu ve başarılı cerrahi tedaviyi sunmaktayız. Olgu, 48 yaş erkek hasta 7 gün önce başlayan sağ 2.molar diş apsesi nedeniyle aldığı medikal tedaviye rağmen boyunda artan şişme, ateş ve genel durum bozulması nedeniyle kliniğimize başvurdu. Toraks tomografisinde boyun ve mediastende yaygın hava ve sıvı koleksiyonu görüldü. Hastaya ikili antibiyotik tedavisi başlandı ve acil operasyona alındı. Servikal girişim ile boyun drenajı, sağ torakotomi ile mediasten drenajı uygulandı. Servikal yoldan mediastene uzatılan drenlerden sürekli yıkama verildi ve göğüs tüpünden bu mayinin drenajı sağlandı. Bakteriel kültürlerinde üreme olmaması ve yıkama mayisine ek drenaj olmaması üzerine drenler sonlandırıldı. Kontrol tomografisinde ve vital bulgularında tam iyileşme gözlendi. Desendan nekrotizan mediastinit tedavisinde geniş spektrumlu antibioterapi, cerrahi yaklaşım gerekmektedir. En sık uygulanan cerrahi servikal yol ve torakotominin kombinasyonudur. Biz erken ve agresif cerrahinin en uygun cerrahi prosedür olduğunu düşünmekteyiz.

Background: Bronchiectasis is described as destruction and the irreversible dilatation of bronchial structure. We wanted to demonstrate our surgical practice and outcome of surgical treatment in bronchiectasis. Methods: We studied records of 60 pediatric patients who underwent surgical resection in our clinic between January 2000 and January 2013. The results were analyzed regarding factors influencing the outcome. Results: There were 32 boys and 28 girls with a mean age of 9.45 years (range 2–15). The most common cause was childhood infection in 25 (41.66%). The mean duration of the symptoms was 42.93 months. Patients underwent 64 operations including 2 staged thoracotomies and 2 re-thoracotomies. Atelectasis was the most frequent complication. Longer duration of symptoms related to postoperative complication. The morbidity and mortality rates were 20% and 3.33%, respectively. The outcome was optimal in 92%. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s less than 60% of the predicted value, hemoptysis and duration of symptoms were found prognostic variables for postoperative morbidity with high ratios of odds coefficients by using Binary Logistic Regression Method. Conclusions: Complete and early resection of bronchiectasis provides a successful outcome. Duration of symptoms and timely intervention have a major impact on the management and prognosis.

Although miliary tuberculosis (TB) is well known, the incidence of miliary TB accompanying paravertebral abscess is extremely rare in adolescent children. We report a case of paravertebral TB abscess and miliary TB in a 17-year-old male initially presenting with fever, general weakness, back pain, sweating, cough, dyspnea and weight loss. The patient was diagnosed as paravertebral TB abscess and miliary TB. The anti-tuberculous drugs were started and the follow-up imaging showed that the lesions had disappeared without surgery. Although seldom observed, TB should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of paravertebral abscess.

Baska bir yerde primer kaynak saptanamayan atipik lokalizasyonlu alti hidatik kist olgusu sunulmustur. Kist hidatik hastaligi tarih boyunca gorulmus paraziter bir hastalik olup, en sik karaciger ve akcigerlere yerlesmektedir. Yumusak doku, kas, diyafragma, miyokard ici, cilt alti ve kosta yerlesimi nadirdir. Diyafragma kaslari arasi ve miyokard ici hidatik kistler operasyon oncesi, cilt alti manibrium sterni uzeri ve sag birinci kosta yerlesimli olgular ise operasyon sonrasi tanilari konuldu. Tum olgularin diger organlarinda hidatik kist bulgusuna rastlanmadi. Hidatik kist ulkemizde endemik bir hastalik olup atipik yerlesimlerin de soz konusu oldugu bilinmelidir. Histo-patolojik incelemeleri hidatik kist ile uyumlu geldi.

Asbestos-related cases admitted to Chest Diseases Clinic of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Medical Faculty generally came from Buyuktatlar, a town adjacent to the Afsin district of Kahramanmaraş city. This led us to screen for lung pathologies due to exposure to environmental asbestos in the town of Buyuktatlar. Six hundred and eighty-five inhabitants older than 30 years living in the town were identified as the study group and 488 persons (71·2%) were accepted for evaluation. Then, chest X-rays of these cases were taken and bilateral pleural plaque, bilateral pleural thickening, reticular lung infiltrations, and costophrenic angle obliteration were evaluated as asbestos-related disorders (ARD). ARD were diagnosed in 56 (11·5%) of the 488 chest X-rays that were assessed and no differences were observed between genders. Twenty-five of the cases were investigated by high-resolution computed tomography. Twenty-four were confirmed as ARD. In addition, chrysotile fiber was found in two of four soil samples taken from the town.

A 25-year-old man presented with symptoms of syncope, cough, headache and hemoptysis. Cranial MR and venography showed thrombus formation in the right transverse sinus and superior sagittal sinus. Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) showed an embolic thrombus in the right pulmonary truncus and lung abscess. The patient was young, and there were no signs of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis or other major risk factors for pulmonary embolism (PE) including cardiac anomaly. The only risk factor we were able to identify was the presence of the prothrombin G20210A gene mutation. Anticoagulant treatment with oral warfarin (10 mg daily) and imipenem (4X500 mg) was started. The patient was hospitalized for antibiotic and anticoagulation therapies for three weeks and was discharged on lifelong treatment with warfarin (5 mg daily).

Coppersmith is a worker who uses copper most commonly for the production of kitchen appliances in Turkey. This is an ancient occupation practiced for centuries in Turkey. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of parenchymal lung diseases among coppersmiths in Kahramanmaras city in Turkey. Thirty coppersmiths were included to the study, and they all signed an informed consent. Demographics, spirometric test results and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans, and blood samples were obtained. Laboratory analysis of the serum samples showed that serum copper levels of the subjects were 0.93 +/- 0.14 mg/L. Serum copper level in control group was found as 0.70 +/- 0.14 mg/L, and it was significantly different between the two groups (p0.05). Of 30 coppersmiths, 17 HRCT findings are abnormal and seen with diffuse parenchymal interstitial lung disease pattern-ten (58.8%) respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease, five (29.4%) nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, and two (11.8%) usual interstitial pneumonia. The most prevalent HRCT pattern was micronodular pattern in workers. This is the first field study reporting the radiologic findings of coppersmiths and effect of the occupation on lung diseases.

Background: Inappropriate anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment, particularly at the beginning of the disease, is a major cause of drug resistance. This survey was performed to evaluate doctors’ approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of TB. Method: The study was conducted in 12 cities, each from a different geographical region of Turkey. A prepared questionnaire about their academic careers and experience in TB and its treatment was distributed to the doctors. Results: The research group consisted of 1,112 doctors. The mean age was 32.7 ± 6.6 years. The results showed that 75.9% of the doctors had insufficient knowledge about TB. The results of the study further showed that chest specialists, female doctors, physicians who work in a first stage hospital, doctors who had previously diagnosed TB and those who had access to a microbiology laboratory had a better level of knowledge about tuberculosis and its treatment than other doctors. Conclusion: A great diversity was seen between daily practice of doctors and national guidelines about TB. Educational programmes conducted by specialists in TB control may help to standardize and increase the knowledge of TB.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare disorder of unknown cause characterized by the presence of multiple submucosal osseous and/or cartilaginous nodules that protrude into the lumen of the trachea and large bronchi. A simultaneous diagnosis of TO and amyloidosis is rarely reported. In this report, a case initially suspected to be asthma bronchiole that could not be treated, was radiologically diagnosed as TO, and also secondary amyloidosis is presented. A 53 years, man patient reported a 3 years history of dyspnea. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) showed an obstructive pattern. Chest X-rays revealed right middle lobe atelectasis. FOB and CT detected nodular lesions in the trachea and in the anterior and lateral walls of the main bronchi. AA amyloidosis was confirmed by endobronchial biopsy. In the abdominal fat pad biopsy, amyloidosis was not detected. Asthma bronchiole was excluded by PFTs. This case illustrates that it is possible for TO and amyloidosis to masquerade as asthma. TO and amyloidosis should be suspected in patients of older ages with asthma and especially with poorly treated asthmatic patients. Although nodular lesions in the anterior and lateral tracheobronchial walls are typical for TO, a biopsy should be obtained to exclude amyloidosis.

Sir, Kartagener's syndrome (KS) is a clinical variant of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) involving situs inversus associated with chronic airway infections [1]. Ciliopathy has now become recognized as a multisystem disease, of which PCD is an important subgroup. Other known ciliopathies include Bardet–Biedl syndrome, polycystic kidney and liver disease, nephronophthisis, Alstrom syndrome, Meckel–Gruber syndrome and some forms of retinal degeneration [2,3]. We report a patient with KS and polycystic kidney disease, presenting with severe renal failure. A 25-year-old woman who presented with fever, weakness, nausea, cough, dyspnoea, poor general condition and respiratory distress was admitted to our hospital. The patient was diagnosed 15 years previously with KS. On physical examination, blood pressure was 120/ 80 mmHg, heart rate was 117 beats/min and respiratory rate was 22 breaths/min. Heart sounds were distant and deep on cardiac auscultation. Bilateral crackles were determined in lungs. Her laboratory findings were as follows: serum sodium 112 mmol/l, chlorine 77 mmol/l, urea 442 mg/dl, creatinine 7.5 mg/dl, haemoglobin 6.5 g/dl, leucocytes 30 000, arterial blood gas pH 7.1, bicarbonate 8 mmol/l, pCO2 22 mmHg, C-reactive protein (CRP) 41 mg/l. Due to poor general condition of the patient, with acidosis, haemodialysis was started. Ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen revealed the situs inversus and polycystic kidney disease. The CT of the abdomen and thorax CT was performed (Figures ​(Figures11 and ​and22). Fig. 1 Bronchiectasis and dextrocardia in thorax CT. Fig. 2 Polycystic kidney in abdominal CT. To our knowledge, this is the first case of KS and polycystic kidney disease reported in the literature. Conflict of interest statement. None declared.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of huge hydatid cysts diagnosed at our clinic. Ruptured cysts have caused severe complications. Perforation of very large cysts is always possible. These can result in fatal complications. We present our surgical experience with large hydatid cysts in this paper. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 191 patients diagnosed as hydatid cysts who were treated surgically. Among these, 67 cases were studied with a dimension of 10 cm or more. Age, gender, symptom, ruptured or intact, dimension, quantity and radiologic findings of the cases were determined. Incipiency of complaint, postoperative morbidity and length of hospital stay for all cases were assessed. Results: The cases comprised 41 females and 26 males. The mean age was 20.20 ± 16.13 (5-52) years. Hospital stay for the huge and ruptured cysts group was 11.21 ± 4.04 days. The huge but unruptured cysts group had a hospital stay of 8.40 ± 2.48 days. All patients underwent thoracotomy. Cystotomy plus capitonnage in 52 (77.61%), decortication in addition to cystotomy plus capitonage in seven (10.6%), cystotomy in six (8.6%), cystotomy plus enucleation in one and primer closure in one were carried out. Postoperative mortality was absent; however, 17 cases were complicated; atelectasis was found in five cases, prolonged air leakage in five cases, apical aseptic pleural space in three cases, empyema in two cases, hemopthisis in one case and diaphragmatic elevation in one. Conclusions: Immediate surgery is of choice in giant cysts. Possibility of complication and longer stay in the ruptured group is higher compared with simple cystic disease.