A case of ruptured hydatid cyst with upper lobe localization that imitated active lung tuberculosis

Kist hidatik, Echinococcus granulosus'un neden olduğu sıklıkla karaciğerde olmakla birlikte %1030 olguda akciğerde de görülebilen paraziter bir hastalıktır. Akciğerlerde daha çok alt loblarda yerleşmektedir. Akciğer grafisinde sağ akciğer üst lob posterior segmentte kavitesi olan 49 yaşında bir erkek hasta akciğer tüberkülozu (TB) ön tanısı ile tüberküloz servisine yatırılarak ampirik olarak antiTB tedavi başlandı. Balgam incelemelerinde aside dirençli basil (ADB) üç kez negatif olarak saptanan hastaya bronkoskopi yapıldı. Bronş lavajında da ADB'nin negatif olması üzerine yapılan yüksek rezolüsyonlu bilgisayarlı tomografide akciğer TB ile ilgili bulguları değil rüptüre olmuş kist hidatik ile uyumlu olabilecek bulgular görüldü. Kist hidatik için indirekt hemaglutinasyon testi negatif olan bu hastada kistotomi uygulandıHydatid cyst is a parasitic infestation caused by Echinococcus granulosus. Although liver is the most common site of infection, lungs may also be affected in 10 to 30 % of cases. The cyst is usually located in the lower lobes of the lungs. A 49-year-old male patient with a cavitary lesion in the posterior segment of the right upper lobe, was admitted to the tuberculosis ward with a preliminary diagnosis of lung tuberculosis (TB), and anti-TB treatment was started empirically. Bronchoscopy was performed after three different sputum examinations with negative results for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Bronchoalveolar lavage examination was also negative for AFB. High resolution computed tomography showed findings of a ruptured hydatid cyst, rather than TB. A cysctotomy was performed to the patient whose indirect hemagglutination test result was negatıve for hydatid cyst

Socioeconomic features and predisposing factors in patients with bronchiectasis

Amaç: Bu çalışmada bronşektazili olguların sosyoekonomik özelliklerini ve bronşektazi gelişiminde rol oynayabilecek faktörleri belirlemek amaçlandı. Hastalar ve Yöntemler: Altmış dokuz bronşektazi olgusu (43 erkek, 26 kadın; ort. yaş 53.7±15.6) geriye dönük olarak değerlendirildi. Tüm hastaların bronşektazi gelişiminde rol oynayabilecek faktörler, eğitim düzeyleri, sigara, alkol kullanım öyküleri ve aylık gelir düzeyleri kaydedildi. Bulgular: Olguların çoğunda bronşektazi gelişiminde rol oynayan birden fazla risk faktörü vardı. Pnömoni (%68), kızamık (%32), tüberküloz (%18) en sık nedenlerdi. Olguların %42'si ilkokul mezunu olup, %20'si hiç okula gitmemişti. Olguların %55'inde sigara, %19'unda alkol öyküsü vardı. Aylık gelir düzeyleri ise ortalama 438.2±363 YTL olarak bulundu. Sonuç: Sonuç olarak bronşektazi sosyoekonomik düzeyi düşük olan bireylerin bir hastalığı olarak düşünüldü.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine socioeconomic features of cases with bronchiectasis and to determine predisposing factors which might play a role in the development of this condition. Patients and Methods: A total of 69 cases with bronchiectasis (43 males, 26 females; mean age 53.7±15.6 years) were retrospectively evaluated. Patients, totally in whom the was, predisposing factors for bronchiectasis, cigarette and alcohol consumptions, education and and monthly income levels were recorded. Results: Most of the cases multiple predisposing factors for bronchiectasis. Pneumonia (68%), measles (32%), and tuberculosis (18%) were the most common causes. Forty-two percent of the cases were primary school graduates and 20% never attended school. Fifty-five percent of the cases smoked cigarettes and 19% of the cases used alcohol. The mean monthly income was found to be 438.2±363 YTL. Conclusion: We concluded that bronchiectasis is prominent among individuals with low socioeconomic level

Pulmonary Nocardiosis Induced by Long-Term Use of Steroids on a Bronchiectasis Backgroung

A 45-year-old male was assessed with the complaints of cough, sputum, fever, shortness of breath, tingling and burning in both legs. In his history, he had frequent hospitalizations and steroid use. Respiratory system examination revealed inspiratory and expiratory crackles on bilateral lower-middle zones and expiration rhoncus. Laboratory examination revealed leukocytosis and elevated CRP levels; serology for HIV was reported negative. Computed tomography showed diffuse interstitial pneumonia. Electromyography (EMG) showed lower extremity muscle activation compatible with myopathy. Acid-fast bacilli was negative (three consecutive negative microscopy results) and no reproduction was detected in the culture. Nocardia spp. growth was detected in sputum culture. According to the antibiogram results, he was treated with doxycycline, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole for 6 months. At the end of treatment, the lesions were found to be regressed on computed tomography. In conclusion, considering the high frequency of bronchiectasis in our country, the fact that nocardia may develop due to inappropriate long-term steroid use during an attack should be kept in mind

The Psychometric Properties and Clinical Use of the Turkish Version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Lung (FACT-L) Scale

Objectives:psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) scale and the sensitivity to changes in clinical indicators. Patients and Methods:This study was conducted within the framework of a national multicentre project. Patients with either stage IIIB or IV primary lung cancer diagnosed after April 2010were included in thisstudy. A classical confirmatory approach was used for both the reliability and validity analyses. Internal consistency was tested using Cronbach’s ? value, and the validity analysis was performed using construct validity and clinical validity. Results:276 (92.3%) patients were male and the average age was 60.8 ± 9.4 years. the most frequently observed histological type was squamous cell carcinoma (36.8%), and 61.5% of these stage IV tumours. Cronbachs ? values for the subscales ranged from 0.60 to 0.84. the majority of the FACT-L subscales revealed inter-scale correlation coefficients greater than 0.35. All sub-dimensions, except that of the social/family well-being scale, are able to significantly discriminate between stages IIIB and IV. Significantly lower scale scores were detected in patients with stage IV than stage IIIB. the comparative fit index was 0.917, and the root mean square error of approximation was 0.091. Dyspnoea, haemoptysis, chest pain, weight loss, anorexia, localised pain, and fever symptoms had a significant correlation with the FACT-L, trial outcome index, and lung cancer subscale. Conclusion:Turkish version of the psychometric properties of the original FACT-L scale is regarded as a valid and reliable tool and can be used safely in a clinical context when managing patients with lung cancer in Turkey

The Effect of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing in Education on Early Detection and Prevention of Epidemics: A Faculty Example from Trakya University

Introduction: To ensure the safe continuation of face-to-face education, there is ongoing discussion regarding the routine use of easily applicable tests. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the COVID-19 rapid antigen tests in the early diagnosis of COVID19 cases among university students studying face-to-face. Materials and Methods: Our study spanned a duration of eight weeks and included students from three different departments within a faculty. The first group of students underwent rapid antigen tests twice a week, with positive results confirmed by PCR testing. The second group was visited twice a week, and students displaying symptoms underwent both rapid antigen and PCR tests. The third group was monitored solely through the use of “Hayat Eve Sığar (Life Fits Into Home)” codes. To identify asymptomatic cases and students who did not report their symptoms in the second group, all volunteers on the final day of the study underwent screening using rapid antigen tests. The groups were compared based on the obtained results, and a questionnaire was administered to the students during each visit. This approach allowed for the investigation of factors associated with positive cases. Results: A total of 274 students participated in our study, with 114 (41.6%) in the first group, 96 (35.0%) in the second group, and 64 (23.4%) in the third group. The rate of detecting the cases in the first group was significantly higher than in the second and third groups. Conclusion: The obtained findings indicate that COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, as mentioned, can serve as a screening tool for the early detection of cases and prevention of further spread among students during face-to-face education. These results align with the criteria established by international organizations and epidemiological standards. By screening all participating students, the potential for bias is minimized, enabling the identification of asymptomatic individuals who may unknowingly transmit the virus