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The article discusses a study on the effect of coronary artery revascularization on left ventricular function and the diagnostic value of strain imaging to the detect ischemia before and after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Sixty eight patients with history of coronary artery disease were studied and the CABG operation was performed at the surgeon's discretion. It suggests that using strain rate imaging improves overall systolic left ventricular function after CABG.

The article reports a study investigating the effects of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and non-pulsatile CPB techniques on oxidative stress and the respiratory system. The results revealed that off-pump CABG had less negative effects on the respiratory system and oxidative stress compared to the pulsatile and non-pulsatile CPB techniques. There was no significant difference between pulsatile and non-pulsatile CPB.

Background: We aimed to investigate the effects of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass, and non-pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass techniques on the inflammatory response and the central nervous system in the current study.Methods: A total of 32 patients who were scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery were included in the study. The patients were allocated into three different groups according to the perfusion techniques used during the cardiopulmonary bypass procedure as follows: off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting group (n=10); pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass group (n=11); and non-pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass group (n=11). Serum interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and S-100beta levels were measured preoperatively, and at 0, 6, and 24 hours postoperatively.Results: The postoperative increase in the levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 was significantly lower in the off-pump group compared to the other two groups (p<0.05), while there was no significant difference in tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels between the groups. Postoperative S-100β levels, an indicator of cerebral injury, was significantly lower in the off-pump CABG group compared to the other two groups (p<0.05).Conclusion: We found that off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting had less negative effects on inflammatory response and central nervous system compared to pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass and non-pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The effect of paternal age on fertility remains unclear. This retrospective study aims to examine the impact of male age on semen parameters and the reproductive outcomes of men admitted to an infertility center over a 9-year period. A total of 8046 patients were included in the study. Men were divided into four age groups. The groups were evaluated for semen parameters and reproductive outcome. The 21-30 year group presented lower sperm concentrations in comparison to those aged 31-40 and 41-50, yet shared a similar concentration to those over 50 years of age. Moreover, grades A and B decreased significantly in men aged over 50 years. The highest progressive motility and normozoospermia were observed in the age group 31-40 years while men over 50 years of age had the highest rates of asthenozoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia. Furthermore, live birth results were reported in 5583 of the patients who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and were found highest between 31-40 years of age. To our knowledge, this is the largest study in Turkey focusing on male age-related semen parameters and ICSI pregnancy outcomes. The study demonstrates that age is a significant factor for semen quality and live birth.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has been affecting the world since the end of 2019. The disease led to significant mortality and morbidity in Turkey, since the first case was reported on March 11th, 2020. Studies suggest a positive association between air pollution and SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of ambient particulate matters (PM), as potential carriers for SARS-CoV-2. Ambient PM samples in various size ranges were collected from 13 sites including urban and urban-background locations and hospital gardens in 10 cities across Turkey between 13th of May and 14th of June 2020 to investigate the possible presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on ambient PM. A total of 203 daily samples (TSP, n = 80; PM 2.5 , n = 33; PM 2.5 - 10 , n = 23; PM 10 μm, n = 19; and 6 size segregated PM, n = 48) were collected using various samplers. The N1 gene and RdRP gene expressions were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to real time (RT)-PCR and three-dimensional (3D) digital (d) PCR analysis, dual RdRP and N1 gene positivity were detected in 20 (9.8%) samples. Ambient PM-bound SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed quantitatively and the air concentrations of the virus ranged from 0.1 copies/m 3 to 23 copies/m 3 . The highest percentages of virus detection on PM samples were from hospital gardens in Tekirdağ, Zonguldak, and Istanbul, especially in PM 2.5 mode. Findings of this study have suggested that SARS-CoV-2 may be transported by ambient particles, especially at sites close to the infection hot-spots. However, whether this has an impact on the spread of the virus infection remains to be determined., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The COVID-19-related death rate varies between countries and is affected by various risk factors. This multicenter registry study was designed to evaluate the mortality rate and the related risk factors in Turkey. We retrospectively evaluated 1500 adults with COVID-19 from 26 centers who were hospitalized between March 11 and July 31, 2020. In the study group, 1041 and 459 cases were diagnosed as definite and highly probable cases, respectively. There were 993 PCR-positive cases (66.2%). Among all cases, 1144 (76.3%) were diagnosed with non-severe pneumonia, whereas 212 (14.1%) had severe pneumonia. Death occurred in 67 patients, corresponding to a mortality rate of 4.5% (95% CI:3.5-5.6). The univariate analysis demonstrated that various factors, including male sex, age ≥65 years and the presence of dyspnea or confusion, malignity, chronic obstructive lung disease, interstitial lung disease, immunosuppressive conditions, severe pneumonia, multiorgan dysfunction, and sepsis, were positively associated with mortality. Favipiravir, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin were not associated with survival. Following multivariate analysis, male sex, severe pneumonia, multiorgan dysfunction, malignancy, sepsis and interstitial lung diseases were found to be independent risk factors for mortality. Among the biomarkers, procalcitonin levels on the 3rd-5th days of admission showed the strongest associations with mortality (OR: 6.18; 1.6-23.93). This study demonstrated that the mortality rate in hospitalized patients in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic was a serious threat and that those patients with male sex, severe pneumonia, multiorgan dysfunction, malignancy, sepsis and interstitial lung diseases were at increased risk of mortality; therefore, such patients should be closely monitored., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: In order to determine the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of newly diagnosed treatment-naïve asthma and COPD patients in Turkey, a multicenter study in 2012 was initiated . We aimed to investigate the characteristics and therapies of COPD patients in the original study in more detail., Patients and Methods: This nation-wide, multicentric, non-interventional, prospective, real-life observational cohort study was conducted in 122 centers. The newly diagnosed patients were not receiving any treatment before the recruitment. Their general characteristics, the combined GOLD 2011 COPD categories and exacerbation histories were noted. The patients were followed up with 3 voluntary visits for 1 year. Their adherence to the inhaled treatment according to GOLD 2011 was evaluated during follow-up visits., Results: The study included 776 COPD patients. Their mean age was 59.4±9.1 years, and 11.9% of the patients were female. 35.1% of the patients were in the GOLD 2011 C and D category. 12.6% are frequent exacerbators, and 52.8% had at least one comorbid condition. 71.8% overtreatment rate was detected. Their attendance rates for three follow-up visits became 55.9%, 32.9% and 18.7%, respectively. The adherence rate to the treatment was measured as 81.9%., Conclusion: Although these patients were diagnosed for the first time, the GOLD C and D categories and frequent exacerbator phenotype were found at a high rate. They were usually prescribed an overtreatment regimen. We think that newly diagnosed COPD patients should be evaluated carefully, and best effort should be made to treat these patients in accordance with the recommendations of the major COPD guidelines., Competing Interests: The study is financially supported by “Abdi Ibrahim Ilac San. ve Tic. AS, Turkey.” All authors are members of the advisory board of the study and received payment from “Abdi Ibrahim Ilac San. ve Tic. AS, Turkey” for this. Professor Hakan Gunen reports non-financial support from Abdiİbrahim Pharmaceutical Company, during the conduct of the study; Abdiİbrahim Turkey Pharmaceutical Company paid the publication processing fee, outside the submitted work. Dr Tevfik Ozlu reports personal fees from Abdiibrahim, during the conduct of the study; Prof. Dr. Oznur Abadoglu reports grants from Abdi İbrahim, during the conduct of the study. Dr Bilun Gemicioglu reports Clinical research grants from Sanofi, AstraZeneca, Novartis; Consultancy or lecture grants from Abdi Ibrahim, Deva, Novartis, during the conduct of the study. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Misirligil report grants, personal fees from Abdi İbrahim İlaç San. ve Tic. AS, during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2020 Suerdem et al.)

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the factors that affect asthma control and adherence to treatment in newly diagnosed elderly asthmatics in Turkey compared with younger patients., Methods: This real-life prospective observational cohort study was conducted at 136 centers. A web-based questionnaire was administered to the patients who were followed up for 12 months., Results: Analysis included 1037 young adult asthma patients (age <65 years) and 79 elderly asthma patients (age ≥65 years). The percentage of patients with total control in the elderly and young groups were 33.9% and 37.1% at visit 1, 20.0% and 42.1% (p = 0.012) at visit 2, and 50.0% and 49.8% at visit 3, respectively. Adherence to treatment was similar for both groups. Visit compliance was better in the elderly group than in the young group at visit 1 (72.2% vs. 60.8%, p = 0.045), visit 2 (51.9% vs. 34.9%, p = 0.002), and visit 3 (32.9% vs. 19.4%, p = 0.004). Adherence to treatment increased with asthma control in both groups (both p < 0.001) but decreased with the presence of gastritis/ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux, and coronary artery disease in the elderly., Conclusions: Asthma control and adherence to treatment were similar for the elderly and young asthma patients, though the follow-up rate was lower in young patients. The presence of gastritis/ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux and coronary artery disease had negative impacts on the adherence to treatment in elderly adult patients.

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an important health problem due to ongoing asbestos exposure. Environmental asbestos exposure leads to a high risk of MM in Turkey. The Turkish Mesothelioma Working Group and the Turkish Public Health Institute designed and performed the Turkey National Mesothelioma Surveillance and Environmental Asbestos Exposure Control Program (TUNMES-EAECP). The aim of this study was to analyze the results of the TUNMES-EAECP. Patients diagnosed with MM (code C45.0-C45.9) between 2008 and 2012 were identified. The "from case to the field" method was used to determine the villages with current or previous asbestos exposure. Special public health teams took soil samples from these villages, which were then examined using an X-ray diffractometer. Direct Standardized Average Annual Mesothelioma Incidence Rate (AMIR) and relative risk (RR) of MM were calculated. Finally, a projection on the incidence of MM between 2013 and 2033 was made. The number of confirmed MM cases was 5617 with a male to female ratio of 1.36. Mean age was 61.7 ± 13.4 (20-96) years. The median survival was eight (95% CI 7.6-8.4) months. Asbestos exposure continues in 379 villages, with 158,068 people still living in high risk areas. The standardized AMIR was 2.33/100,000 per year. The risk of MM was higher in males, in both sexes over the age of 40, in asbestos-containing provinces, and in those where the TUNMES was organized. Among the population with continuing asbestos exposure in rural areas, the number of MM cases between 2013 and 2033 was estimated as 2511. As such, the incidence of MM in Turkey is as high as in industrialized countries. Asbestos exposure in rural areas continues to be a serious problem in Turkey, which obviates the necessity for effective preventive measures., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Trigger thumb of childhood, termed congenital trigger thumb, is a pathology of the flexor pollicis longus tendon with an unknown etiology. In this study, treatment outcomes of 47 trigger thumbs of 36 children were evaluated. There were 18 males and 18 females with a mean age of 34 months (9 months-13 years). Average age of recognition of pathology by the family was 20.5 months (0-8 years). In seven of 11 bilateral cases pathology was recognized simultaneously while in the other four, diagnosis was made at different times. We used conservative treatment for all patients under three years of age, which was unsuccessful. Thus, surgical relase was performed in all cases. In the mean follow-up of seven years (range 5-15), contracture and palpable nodules disappeared. In conclusion, we believe trigger thumb in childhood should be treated surgically and that the term "congenital trigger thumb" should be changed to "developmental trigger thumb".

Background and Objectives: Management of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has been an important clinical issue regardless of the treatment modality employed. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of oxytetracycline (OT), Corynebacterium parvum (CP), and nitrogen mustard (NM) in the management of pleural effusion associated with MPM., Methods: One hundred and seventeen patients who had stage-2 MPM or over according to the Butchart staging system and unilateral or bilateral pleural effusion took part in the study. The patients received either OT (35 mg/kg), CP (7 mg), or NM (0.4 mg/kg) through a chest tube for pleurodesis. The association between several clinical parameters and patient survival was also investigated., Results: OT was applied to 59, CP to 29 and NM to 29 cases. A statistical analysis of the results obtained by these agents have demonstrated that OT (30 days, 81%; 90 days, 76.2%) and CP (30 days, 86.2%; 90 days, 79.3%) led to a significantly higher rate of successful pleurodesis as compared to NM (30 days, 48.2%; 90 days, 41.3%; p <0.05). Although the procedure was generally well tolerated by the patients, the NM-treated group experienced significantly more nausea-vomiting (46.1%) and hypotension (35.8%) compared to patients who received OT (nausea-vomiting and hypotension 4.3%; p < 0.001) and CP (nausea-vomiting and hypotension 5.1%; p < 0.001). Furthermore, we found that thrombocytosis, chest pain and weight loss were significantly associated with poor prognosis, whereas epithelial type had a positive effect on survival., Conclusion: These results suggest that OT and CP may be used as effective sclerosing agents for pleurodesis in the control of pleural effusions associated with MPM, without major side effects., (Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel)