Co-Existence of Tuberculous Meningitis and Pulmonary Tuberculosis in a Denim Sandblaster

Silicosis is a well-known occupational lung disease that was discovered by the ancient Greeks and Romans. In 2001, it has emerged again in an unexpected occupation: denim sandblasting. Exposure to crystalline silica, with or without clinical disease, is one of the most important predisposing factors for the development of tuberculosis; however, there has been no previous report of tuberculosis among cases of silicosis due to denim sandblasting. Herein, we report the first case of a denim sandblaster with silicosis who developed both pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous meningitis

Acute respiratory distress syndrome; A rare complication caused by usage of ruxolitinib

Ruxolitinib-associated acute respiratory distress has rarely been reported, mostly due to discontinuation of treatment. Herein we report a 58-year-old male patient with primary myelofibrosis who presented with malaise and dyspnea 15 days after initiation of the treatment. The patient was diagnosed as mild acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). After excluding other potential causes such as infection and cardiac pathologies, it was considered secondary to ruxolitinib use. The medication was discontinued and 1 mg/kg methylprednisolone was given to prevent cytokine rebound syndrome and continuous positive airway pressure therapy was prescribed for ARDS. Symptomatic improvement and complete radiological resolution was observed. This case suggests that ARDS may develop secondary to ruxolitinib use and ARDS should be keep in mind in the cases with respiratory symptoms who were on treatment

Comparison of reducing effect on lung injury of dexamethasone and bosentan in acute lung injury: an experimental study

WOS: 000330182500001PubMed: 24342001Background: Different medical therapies are employed in acute lung injury (ALI) but there is still a debate about the efficacy of these drugs. Among these therapies steroids are clinically applied and bosentan is experimentally studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of these two drugs to treat inflammation in ALI by histopathological comparison. Methods: The five experimental groups (n = 5 per group) were: saline control (Group I); lipopolysaccharide (LPS) + saline (Group II); LPS + dexamethasone (Group III); LPS + 50 mg/kg bosentan (Group IV); and LPS + 100 mg/kg bosentan (Group V). Bosentan was administered orally one hour before and 12 hours after LPS treatment. Dexamethasone was administered intraperitoneally in three doses of 1 mg/kg; one dose was co-administered with LPS and the other two doses were given respectively 30 minutes before and after LPS treatment. Vasodilation-congestion, hemorrhage, polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration, mononuclear leukocyte (MNL) infiltration, alveolar wall thickening, alveolar destruction/emphysematous appearance, and focal organization were the parameters used as criteria for evaluating inflammation and efficacy of treatment. Results: Compared to the LPS-only group (Group II), dexamethasone treatment (Group III) resulted in significant improvements in vasodilation-congestion, hemorrhage, PMN and MNL infiltration, alveolar wall thickening and emphysematous areas. Treatment with 50 mg/kg dose of bosentan (Group IV) also resulted in significant improvements in hemorrhage, PMN and MNL infiltration, alveolar wall thickening and alveolar destruction. Reducing lung injury and reparative effects of 100 mg/kg bosentan were significant in all parameters. Conclusions: Bosentan is as effective as dexamethasone for treating lung injury in ALI. Bosentan at 100 mg/kg can be recommended as a first treatment choice based on its significant reducing lung injury and reparative effects

Combination and comparison of two models in prognosis of pulmonary embolism: Results from TUrkey Pulmonary Embolism Group (TUPEG) study

WOS: 000335910900010PubMed ID: 24690480Background: Clinical parameters, biomarkers and imaging-based risk stratification are widely accepted in pulmonary embolism(PE). The present study has investigated the prognostic role of simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) score and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) model. Methods: This prospective cohort study included a total of 1078 patients from a multi-center registry, with objectively confirmed acute symptomatic PE. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality during the first 30 days, and the secondary endpoint included all-cause mortality, nonfatal symptomatic recurrent PE, or nonfatal major bleeding. Results: Of the 1078 study patients, 95 (8.8%) diedwithin 30 days of diagnosis. There was no significant difference between non-low-risk patients ESC [12.2% (103 of 754;)] and high-risk patients as per the sPESI [11.6% (103 of 796)] for 30-day mortality. The nonfatal secondary endpoint occurred in 2.8% of patients in the the sPESI low-risk and 1.9% in the ESC low-risk group. Thirty-day mortality occurred in 2.2% of patients the sPESI low-risk and in 2.2% the ESC low-risk group (P = NS). In the present study, in the combination of the sPESI low-risk and ESC model low-risk mortality rate was 0%. Conclusions: The sPESI andthe ESCmodel showed a similar performance regarding 30-daymortality and secondary outcomes in the present study. However, the combination of these two models appears to be particularly valuable in PE. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Approach of pulmonologists in Turkey to noninvasive mechanical ventilation use in acute respiratory failure

Introduction: Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) has been increasingly used worldwide for acute respiratory failure (ARF), especially in patients with chronic lung disorders. We aimed to define the approach of pulmonologists in Turkey to NIV use for ARF management. Materials and Methods: A 38-question survey, developed and tested by authors, was distributed by e-mail to a total of 2.205 pulmonologists in Turkey. Results: Response rate was 27% (n=596). Seventy-one percent of responders were practicing NIV in clinic. NIV use was found to be associated with responder's academic title, age, duration of medical license, type of physician's hospital and its region, patient load, NIV experience during residency, and duration of NIV and intensive care unit (ICU) experience (p 60% of patients with COPD, and success rate in COPD was reported as over 60% by 93% of users. Oronasal mask (median and IQR 90, 80-100%, respectively) and home care NIV ventilators (median and IQR 50, 10-85%, respectively) were the most commonly utilized equipment. Conclusion: NIV use in ARF varies based on hospital type, region and, especially, experience of the physician. Although consistent with guidelines and general practice, NIV use can still be improved and increased

Approach of pulmonologists in Turkey to noninvasive mechanical ventilation use at home for chronic respiratory failure

WOS: 000386262800001PubMed ID: 27266279Introduction: To define approach of pulmonologists in Turkey to noninvasive mechanical ventilation ( NIV) use for chronic respiratory failure ( CRF), the most currently applied technique for home mechanical ventilation. Patients and Methods: A 38-question survey, developed and tested by the authors, was distributed throughout Turkey to 2205 pulmonologists by e-mail. Results: Twenty-seven percent of the pulmonologists responded ( n= 596). Domiciliary NIV was reported to be prescribed by 340 physicians [ 57.1% of all responders and 81% of pulmonologists practicing NIV at clinical practice ( n= 420)]. NIV prescription was associated with physician's title, type of hospital, duration of medical license, total number of patients treated with NIV during residency and current number of patients treated with NIV per week ( p< 0.05). Main estimated indications were listed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( median, 25-75 percentile of the prescriptions: 75%, 60-85), obesity hypoventilation syndrome ( 10%, 2-15), overlap syndrome ( 10%, 0-20) and restrictive lung disease ( 5%, 2-10). For utilization of NIV at home, Bilevel positive airway pressure-spontaneous mode ( 40%, 0-80) and oronasal mask ( 90%, 60-100) were stated as the most frequently recommended mode and interface, respectively. Pressure settings were most often titrated based on arterial blood gas findings ( 79.2%). Humidifier was stated not to be prescribed by approximately half of the physicians recommending domicilliary NIV, and the main reason for this ( 59.2%) was being un-refundable by social security foundation. Conclusion: There is a wide variation in Turkey for prescription of NIV, which is supposed to improve clinical course of patients with CRF. Further studies are required to determine the possible causes of these differences, frequency of use and patient outcomes in this setting