Cryptogenic and secondary organizing pneumonia: Clinical presentation, radiological and laboratory findings, treatment, and prognosis in 56 cases

OBJECTIVES: Organizing pneumonia is an important disease that is associated with non-specific clinical findings and radiographic appearance. Our aim was to examine the clinical and radiological features, laboratory findings, diagnostic approach, and response to therapy in subjects with cryptogenic (COP) and secondary organizing pneumonia (SOP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients’ medical records were retrospectively reviewed between 2010 and 2016 in our hospital. We analyzed the symptoms, radiological features, pulmonary function tests, laboratory data, bronchoalveolar lavage findings, treatment, and prognosis. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were diagnosed with COP and 19 patients with SOP. The most common causes of SOP were determined as rheumatologic diseases. The most common symptoms were cough (71.4%) and dyspnea (66.1%). Bilateral symmetrical consolidations were the most prominent radiological appearance in both COP and SOP. The general radiographic findings were not different in COP and SOP. However, pulmonary lesions were located rather in the central (p=0.023) and middle (p=0.001) zones in patients with SOP. Corticosteroid (CS) therapy was administered to 34 (60.7%) patients. Two patients showed deterioration despite CS therapy. CONCLUSION: The clinical and radiographic findings, treatment response, prognosis were similar in patients with COP and SOP

Cryptogenic and secondary organizing pneumonia: Clinical presentation, radiological and laboratory findings, treatment, and prognosis in 56 cases

OBJECTIVES: Organizing pneumonia is an important disease that is associated with non-specific clinical findings and radiographic appearance. Our aim was to examine the clinical and radiological features, laboratory findings, diagnostic approach, and response to therapy in subjects with cryptogenic (COP) and secondary organizing pneumonia (SOP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients’ medical records were retrospectively reviewed between 2010 and 2016 in our hospital. We analyzed the symptoms, radiological features, pulmonary function tests, laboratory data, bronchoalveolar lavage findings, treatment, and prognosis. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were diagnosed with COP and 19 patients with SOP. The most common causes of SOP were determined as rheumatologic diseases. The most common symptoms were cough (71.4%) and dyspnea (66.1%). Bilateral symmetrical consolidations were the most prominent radiological appearance in both COP and SOP. The general radiographic findings were not different in COP and SOP. However, pulmonary lesions were located rather in the central (p=0.023) and middle (p=0.001) zones in patients with SOP. Corticosteroid (CS) therapy was administered to 34 (60.7%) patients. Two patients showed deterioration despite CS therapy. CONCLUSION: The clinical and radiographic findings, treatment response, prognosis were similar in patients with COP and SOP

Investigation of Strain Effects on Photoelectrochemical Performance of Flexible ZnO Electrodes

In this report, the growth of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocrystals with various morphologies, nanoflower, nanosheet, and nanorod, on flexible stainless steel (SS) foils to be utilized as photoanodes in photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar cells has been presented. It has been aimed to provide flexibility and adaptability for the next generation systems with the incorporation of SS foils as electrode into PEC cells. Therefore, physical deformation tests have been applied to the prepared ZnO thin film photoanodes. These thin films have been thoroughly characterized before and after straining for better understanding the relationship between the morphology, straining effect and photoelectrochemical efficiency. We observed a notable increase in the maximum incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) and durability of all ZnO photoelectrodes after straining process. The increase in IPCE values by 1.5 and 2.5 folds at 370 nm has been observed for nanoflower and nanorod morphologies, respectively after being strained. The maximum IPCE of 69% has been calculated for the ZnO nanorod structures after straining. Bending of the SS electrodes resulted in the more oriented nanorod arrays compared to its flat counterpart, which improved both the light absorption and also the photo-conversion efficiency drastically. The finite-difference time-domain simulations have also been carried out to examine the optical properties of flat and bent ZnO electrodes. Finally, it has been concluded that SS photoanodes bearing ZnO semiconducting material with nanoflower and nanorod morphologies are very promising candidates for the solar hydrogen generator systems in terms of efficiency, durability, flexibility, and lightness in weight

Progesterone-Related Issues and Coping Strategies for Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Treatment

Objective:This study aims to identify the problems experienced by women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment due to progesterone use, as well as their coping strategies.Methods:The study included 145 women who were admitted to an infertility outpatient clinic of a university hospital between July 25 and August 8, 2022. The researchers collected data using a questionnaire designed to assess the problems that might arise due to the use of various types of progesterone-containing drugs and coping methods. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics in the SPSS program.Results:The mean age of the women was 30.76±5.53 years, and the mean duration of their marriages was 6.6±4.51 years. Of women 64.8% had primary infertility and 68.3% of women underwent assisted reproductive treatment (ART) at least once before. Women who received intramuscular progesterone treatment during ART frequently experienced pain, swelling, abscess, redness at the injection site. Women who received progesterone treatment vaginally experienced vaginal wetness, drying of the drug in the vagina, lumps, the drug leaving the body, the drug not being completely absorbed, vaginal itching. Women who received progesterone treatment orally experienced sleepiness, nausea, dizziness, headache, fatigue. Women coped with these problems using various methods.Conclusion:The study revealed that women undergoing ART experienced many problems related to the use of progesterone and they attempted to address these issues through their own means. It is necessary to inform patients and to plan nursing interventions to minimize/eliminate these problems

An Evaluation of Periodontal Status and Cytokine Levels in Saliva and Gingival Crevicular Fluid of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

AIMS Periodontal diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD, ulcerative colitis [UC] and Crohn's disease [CD]) have been reported to present with increased salivary and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) concentrations of cytokines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the salivary and GCF levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-17A and their associations with the periodontal statuses of UC, CD and non-IBD patients, and to analyze the interrelationships among these cytokines, IBD conditions, and periodontal diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was performed with a total of 131 patients (62 women and 69 men, mean age 42.96±13.02 years). Patients were divided into three groups: UC, CD, and non-IBD. Periodontal status was defined according to the 2017 World Workshop Disease Classification. Salivary and GCF cytokine levels were analyzed using ELISA. RESULTS UC and CD patients diagnosed as having periodontitis and gingivitis presented with significantly higher levels of TNF-α and lower levels of IL-10 as compared with non-IBD patients (p<0.05). UC patients diagnosed with periodontitis exhibited significantly higher scores of bleeding on probing (p = 0.011) and increased salivary and GCF IL-1β levels as compared with CD patients (p = 0.005, and 0.012 respectively). Considering the active and remission status of IBD, salivary IL-1β was found to be correlated with the parameters representing the severity of periodontal diseases in active UC and CD patients. CONCLUSION(S) In the presence of periodontal diseases, UC and CD patients showed different expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 in oral secretions as compared with non-IBD patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Genetic and phenotypic variation of the malaria vector Anopheles atroparvus in southern Europe

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a growing concern that global climate change will affect the potential for pathogen transmission by insect species that are vectors of human diseases. One of these species is the former European malaria vector, <it>Anopheles atroparvus</it>. Levels of population differentiation of <it>An. atroparvus </it>from southern Europe were characterized as a first attempt to elucidate patterns of population structure of this former malaria vector. Results are discussed in light of a hypothetical situation of re-establishment of malaria transmission.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Genetic and phenotypic variation was analysed in nine mosquito samples collected from five European countries, using eight microsatellite loci and geometric morphometrics on 21 wing landmarks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Levels of genetic diversity were comparable to those reported for tropical malaria vectors. Low levels of genetic (0.004 <<it>F</it>_{<it>ST </it>}<0.086) and phenotypic differentiation were detected among <it>An. atroparvus </it>populations spanning over 3,000 km distance. Genetic differentiation (0.202 <<it>F</it>_{<it>ST </it>}<0.299) was higher between the sibling species <it>An. atroparvus </it>and <it>Anopheles maculipennis </it>s.s. Differentiation between sibling species was not so evident at the phenotype level.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Levels of population differentiation within <it>An. atroparvus </it>were low and not correlated with geographic distance or with putative physical barriers to gene flow (Alps and Pyrenées). While these results may suggest considerable levels of gene flow, other explanations such as the effect of historical population perturbations can also be hypothesized.</p

Primipar ve Mulitpar Gebelerin Prenatal Bağlanmalarını Etkileyen Faktörlerin Değerlendirilmesi

Amaç: Prenatal bağlanma ebeveynler ve doğmamış çocukları arasında gebelik döneminde kurulan duygusal bir bağdır. Çalışma, gebelikte prenatal bağlanmayı etkileyen faktörleri değerlendirerek, gebe-lerin bağlanma konusunda gerekli hemşirelik desteğinin sağlanmasında öneriler geliştirebilmek amacı ile planlanmıştır.Yöntem: Kesitsel ve tanımlayıcı nitelikte olan çalışmanın evrenini, İstanbul ili Anadolu yakasında bulu-nan Kadın ve Çocuk Hastalıkları Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesinin gebe izlemine Ocak - Mayıs 2015 tarihleri arasında başvuran gebeler oluşturmuştur. Örnekleme alınma kriterlerine uyan ve çalışmaya katılmaya gönüllü 303 gebe dahil edilmiştir. Veriler, gebelerin demografik, bireysel ve gebelik özellikle-rinin yer aldığı anket formu ve Prenatal Bağlanma Envanteri ile toplanmıştır. Araştırmadan elde edilen veriler, yüzde, ortalama, Kolmogorov Smirnov, Man Whitney U ve Kruskal-Wallis testleri ile kullanılmıştır.Bulgular: Gebelerin %43,2’si primipar, %56,8’i multipardır. Primiparların Prenatal Bağlanma düzeyi ve multiparlardan daha yüksek bulunmuş ve aralarında ileri derece anlamlı fark olduğu belirlenmiştir (p<0,001). 18-34 yaş aralığında, 1-9 yıllık evli olan, lise düzeyinde eğitimli, çalışan, çekirdek aile yapısın-da olan ve kronik bir hastalığı olmayan primipar gebelerin Prenatal Bağlanma düzeyi mutiparlardan daha yüksek ve aralarında anlamlı fark olduğu bulunmuştur (p<0,005). Obstetrik özellikleri açısından planlı ve doğal yollara gebe kalan, gebeliğe bağlı sorun yaşamayan, gebeliğini sonlandırmayı düşünme-yen ve doğumunu normal planlayan primipar gebelerin Prenatal Bağlanma düzeyi mutiparlardan daha yüksek ve ve aralarında anlamlı fark olduğu saptanmıştır (p<0,005).Sonuç: Anne fetüs arasındaki bağlanma, prenatal dönemde başlayıp, primipar gebelerin, multiparlara göre prenatal bağlanma düzeyi daha yüksek olduğu ve bağlanmayı sosyo demografik ve obstetrik fak-törlerinde etkilediği görülmektedir. Bu sonuca göre hemşire ve ebelerin prenatal bağlanma açısından multipar gebeleri yakından izlemeleri önerilebilir

The Efficiency of Reproduction Health Education Given to Adolescents during the Postpartum Period

Our research, partly experimental and partly prospective, was conducted for the purpose of evaluating the efficiency of reproductive health education given to adolescents during the postpartum period. The study comprised with 120 adolescents aged 15 to 19 (60 experimental group, 60 control group). Follow-up was conducted every 3 months for a total of 12 months, and the study concluded with 55 individuals from the experimental group and 46 individuals from the control group having participated fully, for the full 12 months. At the end of the research, it was found that the reproductive health knowledge of the experimental (103.10 +/- 11.43) and control (99.15 +/- 9.53) groups were similar before education. A statistically significant difference was also found between the total points for the scale determining the reproductive health of the experimental and control groups before and after education (P < .001). The socio-demographic variables affecting the total points for the scale determining the reproductive health-protective behavior of women were evaluated by multiple regression analysis; the most effective variables were found to be age and educational status. A statistically significant difference was also found between the total points for the family planning behavior scale of the experimental and control groups before and after education (P < .001). From this, it was understood that reproductive health education given during the postpartum and follow-up periods has a positive effect on adolescents' developing reproductive health behaviors and on creating knowledge and awareness related to family planning behavior. But there needs to be follow-up and supporting specific for adolescents in the current health system