Clinical presentations and diagnostic work-up in sarcoidosis: A series of Turkish cases (clinics and diagnosis of sarcoidosis)

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic granulomatous disease. It usually affects the lung. The diagnosis may be problematic since the known causes of granulomatous inflammation must be excluded. This multicenter study aimed to evaluate the clinical presentations and diagnostic approaches of sarcoidosis. The study protocol was sent via internet, and the participants were asked to send the information (clinical, radiological and diagnostic) on newly diagnosed sarcoidosis cases. 293 patients were enrolled within two years. Pulmonary symptoms were found in 73.3% of the patients, and cough was the most common one (53.2%), followed by dyspnea (40.3%). Constitutional symptoms were occured in half of the patients. The most common one was fatigue (38.6%). The most common physical sign was eritema nodosum (17.1%). The most common chest radiograhical sign was bilateral hilar lymphadenomegaly (78.8%). Staging according to chest X-ray has revealed that most of the patients were in Stage I and Stage II (51.9% and 31.7%, respectively). Sarcoidosis was confirmed histopathologically in 265 (90.4%) patients. Although one-third of the bronchoscopy was revealed normal, mucosal hyperemi (19.8%) and external compression of the bronchial wall (16.8%) were common abnormal findings. The 100% success rate was obtained in mediastinoscopy among the frequently used sampling methods. Transbronchial biopsy was the most frequently used method with 48.8% success rate. Considering sarcoidosis with its most common and also rare findings in the differential diagnosis, organizing the related procedures according to the possibly effected areas, and the expertise of the team would favor multimodality diagnosis

Determination of the etiological organism during acute exacerbations of COPD and efficacy of azithromycin, ampicillin-sulbactam, ciprofloxacin and cefaclor

Acute exacerbations, most of which are due to lower respiratory tract infections, cause great morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and most of these are due to lower respiratory tract infections. The aim of this study was to determine the causative organism and the effects of azithromycin, ampicillin sulbactam (sultamicillin), ciprofloxacin and cefaclor monohydrate therapy in COPD. One hundred and six patients with COPD in acute exacerbation were randomized into four groups for empiric antibiotic treatment following lung function tests and sputum examination. The most common strains isolated from sputum were Haemophilus influenzae (30.8%), Streptoccocus pneumoniae (12%) and Moraxella catarrhalis (7.7%). Azithromycin, sultamicillin, ciprofloxacin and cefaclor monohydrate were found to be effective in treating COPD exacerbations

Clinical presentations and diagnostic work-up in sarcoidosis: a series of Turkish cases (clinics and diagnosis of sarcoidosis).

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic granulomatous disease. It usually affects the lung. The diagnosis may be problematic since the known causes of granulomatous inflammation must be excluded. This multicenter study aimed to evaluate the clinical presentations and diagnostic approaches of sarcoidosis. The study protocol was sent via internet, and the participants were asked to send the information (clinical, radiological and diagnostic) on newly diagnosed sarcoidosis cases. 293 patients were enrolled within two years. Pulmonary symptoms were found in 73.3% of the patients, and cough was the most common one (53.2%), followed by dyspnea (40.3%). Constitutional symptoms were occured in half of the patients. The most common one was fatigue (38.6%). The most common physical sign was eritema nodosum (17.1%). The most common chest radiograhical sign was bilateral hilar lymphadenomegaly (78.8%). Staging according to chest X-ray has revealed that most of the patients were in Stage I and Stage II (51.9% and 31.7%, respectively). Sarcoidosis was confirmed histopathologically in 265 (90.4%) patients. Although one-third of the bronchoscopy was revealed normal, mucosal hyperemi (19.8%) and external compression of the bronchial wall (16.8%) were common abnormal findings. The 100% success rate was obtained in mediastinoscopy among the frequently used sampling methods. Transbronchial biopsy was the most frequently used method with 48.8% success rate. Considering sarcoidosis with its most common and also rare findings in the differential diagnosis, organizing the related procedures according to the possibly effected areas, and the expertise of the team would favour multimodality diagnosis

COVID-19 Pandemic and the Global Perspective of Turkish Thoracic Society

It has been more than 3 months now since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Turkey. Globally, the number of confirmed cases and deaths reached 9,653,048 and 491,128 respectively, as reported by 216 countries by June 27, 2020. Turkey had 1,396 new cases, 194,511 total cases, and 5,065 deaths by the same date. From the first case until today, the Turkish Thoracic Society (TTS) has been very proactive in educating doctors, increasing public awareness, undertaking academic studies, and assisting with public health policies. In the present report, social, academic, and management perspectives of the pandemic are presented under appropriate subtitles. During this critical public health crisis, TTS has once again demonstrated its readiness and constructive stance by supporting public health, healthcare workers, and the environment. This review summarizes the perspective of TTS on each aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic and casts light on its contributions.C1 [Kokturk, Nurdan] Gazi Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Itil, Bahriye Oya; Ergan, Begum; Kilinc, Oguz; Simsek, Gokcen Omeroglu; Ucan, Eyup Sabri] Dokuz Eylul Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Izmir, Turkey.[Altinisik, Goksel] Pamukkale Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Denizli, Turkey.[Adiguzel, Nalan; Karkurt, Zuhal] Univ Hlth Sci, Istanbul Sureyyapas Chest Dis Training & Res Hosp, Dept Intens Care Unit Pulm Med, Istanbul, Turkey.[Akgun, Metin] Ataturk Univ, Dept Pulm Med, Sch Med, Erzurum, Turkey.[Akyildiz, Levent] Mem Dicle Hosp, Clin Pulm Med, Diyarbakir, Turkey.[Altin, Sedat; Akyil, Fatma Tokgoz] Univ Hlth Sci, Yedikule Chest Dis & Chest Surg Training & Res Ho, Dept Pulm Med, Istanbul, Turkey.[Arikan, Huseyin] Yuzuncu Yil Univ, Dursun Odaba Med Ctr, Med Intens Care Unit, Van, Turkey.[Ates, Gungor] Sultan Hosp, Dept Pulm Med, Diyarbakir, Turkey.[Ay, Pinar] Marmara Univ, Sch Med, Dept Publ Hlth, Istanbul, Turkey.[Aykac, Nilufer] Gayrettepe Florence Nightingale Hosp, Clin Pulm Med, Istanbul, Turkey.[Babayigit, Cenk] Mustafa Kemal Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Antakya, Turkey.[Bostan, Pinar] Istanbul Bilgi Univ, Sch Hlth Sci, Istanbul, Turkey.[Cinel, Guzin] Ankara Yildirim Beyazit Univ, Sch Med Ankara, Dept Pediat Pulmonol, Ankara, Turkey.[Calisir, Haluk Celaleddin] Yapi Kredi Hlth & Retirement Fdn, Istanbul, Turkey.[Celik, Pinar; Gultekin, Okkes; Havlucu, Yavuz; Yorgancioglu, A. Arzu] Celal Bayar Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Manisa, Turkey.[Cetinkaya, Pelin Duru] Univ Hlth Sci, Adana City Training & Res Hosp, Dept Pulm Med, Adana, Turkey.[Dagli, Elif] Turkish Thorac Soc, Ankara, Turkey.[Demir, Ahmet Ugur] Hacettepe Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Demir, Canan; Sandal, Abdulsamet] Occupat & Environm Dis Hosp, Clin Occupat Dis, Ankara, Turkey.[Dikensoy, Oner] Acibadem Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Istanbul, Turkey.[Edis, Ebru Cakir] Trakya Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Edirne, Turkey.[Elbek, Osman] Kadikoy Florence Nightingale Hosp, Clin Pulm Med, Istanbul, Turkey.[Erdinc, Munevver; Goksel, Tuncay; Gurgun, Alev; Basoglu, Ozen K.; Sayiner, Abdullah] Ege Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Izmir, Turkey.[Eyuboglu, A. Fusun Oner] Baskent Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Gemicioglu, Bilun] Istanbul Univ Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Sch Med, Dept Pulm Dis, Istanbul, Turkey.[Gulhan, Erkmen] Ataturk Chest Dis & Thorac Surg Training & Res Ho, Dept Thorac Surg, Ankara, Turkey.[Gurkan, Canan Gunduz; Yildiz, Tekin] Univ Hlth Sci, Sureyyapasa Chest Dis & Thorac Surg Training & Re, Dept Pulm Med, Istanbul, Turkey.[Karakurt, Sait] Marmara Univ, Sch Med, Dept Intens Care Unit Pulm Med, Istanbul, Turkey.[Kocabas, Ali] Cukurova Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Adana, Turkey.[Kul, Seval] Gaziantep Univ, Sch Med, Dept Biostat, Gaziantep, Turkey.[Nayci, Sibel] Mersin Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Mersin, Turkey.[Ozkan, Metin] Ankara Mem Hosp, Clin Pulm Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Pinarer, Ozgun] Galatasaray Univ, Sch Engn, Istanbul, Turkey.[Salturk, Cuneyt] Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Istanbul, Turkey.[Sen, Elif] Ankara Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Karadag, Bulent Taner] Marmara Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pediat Pulmonol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Toreyin, Zehra Nur] Hlth Sci Univ, Adana City Training & Res Hosp, Dept Occupat Dis, Ankara, Turkey.[Varol, Ayhan] Kepez State Hosp, Clin Pulm Med, Antalya, Turkey.[Yasin, Yesim] Acibadem Univ, Sch Med, Dept Publ Hlth, Istanbul, Turkey.[Bayram, Hasan] Koc Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pulm Med, Istanbul, Turkey