Inflammatory Markers in Patients Using Domiciliary Non-invasive Mechanical Ventilation: C Reactive Protein, Procalcitonin, Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio

Aim: Early identification and treatment of infections in patients using domiciliary non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) due to chronic respiratory failure (CRF) can reduce hospital admissions. We assessed C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as indicators of infection/inflammation.Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study, and was performed in 2016 in an intensive care unit outpatient clinic in patients using NIMV. Patients who came to the outpatient clinic with dyspnea, increased sputum, increased prothrombin, and who had hemogram, procalcitonin, and serum CRP, NLR, and PLT/MPV levels assessed, were enrolled into the study. Demographic characteristics, co-morbid diseases, respiratory symptoms, hemogram, biochemistry, CRP, and procalcitonin values in stable and acute attack patients were recorded from patient files. The descriptive statistics and CRP, NLR, and procalcitonin values were assessed.Results: During the study period, 49 patients (24 female) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, n = 24), obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS, n = 15), or interstitial lung disease, n = 10), and having had three inflammatory markers assessed, were included in the study. Their mean age was 67 (SD ± 12). Stable patients vs. those who had an acute attack was 41 vs. eight, and within 7 days of outpatient admission four patients were hospitalized. CRP, NLR, and PLT/MPV values were similar in patients' who had sputum purulence, and an increase in dyspnea and sputum, but procalcitonin was significantly higher in patients who had an acute attack. Procalcitonin was not correlated with CRP, NLR, and PLT/MPV.Conclusions: Patients with CRF had similar levels of CRP and NLR during a stable and acute attack state. Procalcitonin may be a better marker for therapeutic decisions in advanced chronic inflammatory diseases

The effect of bone mineral density on development of Schmorl's nodes in young patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to detect the relationship between the development of Schmorl's nodes (SNs) and bone mineral density (BMD) in young patients

The awareness of chest physicians about nutritional assessment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction: The number of studies that target nonpharmacologic treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) are increasing because no existing pharmacologic treatment modality for COPD leads to significant improvement in lung function. Positive effects can be observed in patients with COPD using nutritional support alone or as an adjunct to exercise. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the awareness of chest physicians about the nutritional state of patients with COPD

Diagnostic Value of Adenosine Deaminase Level for the Differential Diagnosis of Tuberculosis and Malignancy in Exudative Lymphocytic Pleurisy

WOS: 000382877000004Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels in patients with exudative lymphocytic pleurisy for the differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy (TBP) and malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Methods: Data on patients with exudative lymphocytic pleurisy were retrospectively analyzed. The study population comprised 54 patients. Thirty-seven were diagnosed with TBP and 17 were diagnosed with MPE. Results: Significant differences were determined in terms of age and ADA, total protein, albumin, and LDH levels between the TBP and MPE groups. The optimal cut-off value of ADA levels was 35.1 U/L for diagnosing TBP. Sensitivity and specificity were 92% and 100%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess independent variables associated with TBP. Independent predictive factors in the model were ADA (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.06-1.39, p=0.006)], and (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84-1.00, p=0.052)]. The AUC value by the regression equation was 0.979 (p= 50), two different cut-off values (> 13.51 and > 35.1) for each age range were found in all, but one, TBP patients. Conclusion: ADA levels are useful for the diagnosis of TBP in cases where pleural biopsy cannot be performed or that are inconclusive in making a diagnosis of TBP. In this group, reducing the conventional cut-off value and/or performing an age-based approach seems to improve the diagnostic performance of ADA levels

A numerical methodology for monitoring stress distributions and experimental proof of the concept on metal embedded thin polymer-matrix composites using X-ray Diffraction

In this study, a numerical methodology is developed to monitor stress distributions and an experimental technique is investigated to measure stresses on metal embedded polymer matrix fiber-reinforced composite materials using X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. The numerical method successfully predicts the stress distributions using only a few data points with an average accuracies of 11.6% and 11.8%, respectively for tapered and open hole tensile sample geometries. Experimental part of this study investigates different methodologies to measure stresses on surfaces of polymer composites materials of thin walled structures by XRD. For this reason, metallic materials were integrated onto the surface and near-surface of polymer matrix composites in three different configurations as in the forms of metal foil, metal powder, and metal wire mesh. In-situ experiments of measured and applied stresses revealed metal powder embedded composite materials as a promising material configuration for reliable monitoring of stresses

Conventional markers in determination of activity of sarcoidosis

Aim and background: Currently, there are no objective criteria to determine sarcoidosis activity. The present study aimed to discover a sensitive serum marker that would determine the activity of sarcoidosis and can be used during disease follow-up

Frequency of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Objective: Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of cardio-metabolic risk factors. Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease. The aim of this study was to elucidate the frequency of traditional and novel cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome risk factors in patients with chronic kidney disease. Identification of these risk factors will allow for precautions to be taken earlier to prevent cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome in chronic kidney disease patients

Life advices in patients with tracheostomy: Rational antibiotic use and cerebro-vascular prophylaxis-physiotherapy

Tracheostomy is life-saving procedure in critical care patients which require long-term mechanical ventilation (MV) and an alternative to endotracheal intubation.(1,2) The factors affecting the survival of tracheostomized patients are not clearly known. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting intensive care unit (ICU) and long-term mortality in the tracheostomized patients due to respiratory failure. A retrospective observational cohort study was planned between January 2016-2019 in tertiary ICU. Each patient underwent percutaneous and surgical tracheostomy was included. Demographic characteristics, diagnoses, causes of tracheostomy, comorbidities, Charlson and APACHE 2 scores, culture antibiogram results, ICU day and mortality (1-3 and 12 months) were recorded. In the analysis of the data, appropriate statistical tests and analyzes were used. 115 of 3620 patients admitted to tertiary ICU and underwent percutaneous and surgical tracheostomy due to respiratory failure between January 2016-2019 were included. 75 (65%) of the patients were male and median age was 68±14 years. Hospital mortality was higher in the group with Acinetobacter baumannii growth (p=0.04). According to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, long-term follow-up of Acinetobacter baumanii growth did not affect survival (p=0.938). Patients with cerebro-vascular accident (CVA) had lower survival in long-term follow-up (p [Med-Science 2020; 9(1.000): 1-5

Disseminated hydatid disease treated with albendazole: 15-year experience

Medical therapy is recommended in various situations such as multiple cysts, high risk surgery , presence of small cyst and perioperative phase in the treatment of hydatid cyst. Present study was designed to determine the features of disseminated hydatid cyst cases, outcome of albendazole treatment , diagnosis and management of complications and patients outcome. Methods: 21 patients who had the diagnosis of hydatid cyst based on clinical, radiological, and pathological findings with multiple hydatid cyst in a single organ and/or more than one organ were retrospectively analyzed. The mean age was 34±17.9 (range, 7-71) and F/M was 17/4. Hydatid disease was detected as multiple cysts in the lung in four patients, as multiple cysts in the lung and pleura in one case, and as multiple organ involvement in 16 cases. The most common presentation was the involvement of both lung and liver. The most common symptom was cough. Four asymptomatic patients were detected during family screening. In six patients, Albendazole was started before the operation and the remainders were started after the operation. Cure was achieved in eight patients at the end of medical and/or surgical treatment. Convenient medical treatment with albendazole treatment in appropriately selected patients is an effective treatment option with minimal side effects in hydatid cyst disease. [Med-Science 2018; 7(4.000): 935-9

Relationship Between Circulating Betatrophin Levels and Insulin Resistance in Prediabetic Subjects

WOS: 00020980510631