Primary Pulmonary Actinomycosis Mimicking Malignancy

The diagnosis of primary pulmonary actinomycosis (PPA) is still an important challenge in clinical practice due to its clinical and radiographic similarity with other infections and malignant diseases. Currently, the diagnosis can be only made histopathologically. A 67-year-old male patient was admitted to our clinic with the complaints of cough and hemoptysis for the past two months. His physical examination was non-specific. An increased non-homogeneous density was observed in the middle zone of the left hemithorax on chest X-ray. Thoracic computed tomography revealed a hypodense mass. Positron emission tomography revealed a hypermetabolic activity in the malignant mass. The patient was diagnosed with pulmonary actinomycosis through transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy. In conclusion, PPA should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with malignancy in the presence of predisposing risk factors

Primary Pulmonary Actinomycosis Mimicking Malignancy

The diagnosis of primary pulmonary actinomycosis (PPA) is still an important challenge in clinical practice due to its clinical and radiographic similarity with other infections and malignant diseases. Currently, the diagnosis can be only made histopathologically. A 67-year-old male patient was admitted to our clinic with the complaints of cough and hemoptysis for the past two months. His physical examination was non-specific. An increased non-homogeneous density was observed in the middle zone of the left hemithorax on chest X-ray. Thoracic computed tomography revealed a hypodense mass. Positron emission tomography revealed a hypermetabolic activity in the malignant mass. The patient was diagnosed with pulmonary actinomycosis through transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy. In conclusion, PPA should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with malignancy in the presence of predisposing risk factors

Retrospective analysis of false positive ratio of our patients with lung cancer at positron emission tomography-CT screen

BACKGROUND: In lung cancer, staging is necessary to give the best treatment to the patient and to estimate the best prognosis. The aim of this study was to compare the pathology results of the lung masses and mediastinal lymph nodes and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity values of positron emission tomography-computerized tomography (PET-CT) and to determine the maximal threshold of maximum standardized uptake volume (SUVmax)

A comprehensive assessment of ambient air quality in Canakkale city: Emission inventory, air quality monitoring, source apportionment, and respiratory health indicators

This comprehensive study aims to examine the relationships between ambient air quality (AAQ) and respiratory health of the participants residing in three different towns of Canakkale city, Turkey between August 2013 and 2014. AAQ measurements for bioaerosols, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), total particulate matter (PM) count, carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) were performed and monthly pulmonary function test (PFT) was applied to volunteer participants residing in the study sites (n = 121) for one year. Additionally, concentrations of air pollutants for PM2.5/PM10, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides, and ozone were gathered from AAQ monitoring stations. To estimate the contributions of the emission sources and their effects on human health in the region, an emission inventory was also prepared in the region and AERMOD modelling system was applied for the year of 2013. Accordingly, the industry was the most polluting sector for NOx and SO2, while road traffic and residential heating were the most polluting sectors for CO and PM10. Factor analysis revealed that organics, combustion, bioaerosol propagation, and ozone accumulation contributed to AAQ, in agreement with AQ modelling results. Can had the worst air quality (industrialized site), which affected the respiratory health indicators of the participants. Generalized linear model estimated that PF of the participants varied according to the residing district, gender, suffering from asthma, and lifelong smoking or environmental tobacco smoke exposure (p < 0.05). Also, PF of the participants were linked with VOCs levels in the Central town, total PM count in Lapseki, and ozone levels in Can (p < 0.05)

A long-term multi-parametric monitoring study: Indoor air quality (IAQ) and the sources of the pollutants, prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms, and respiratory health indicators

Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can cause several respiratory diseases and symptoms. In this study, IAQ of 121 homes located in 3 different towns of Canakkale, Turkey was monitored throughout a year. Target air pollutants were particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), bioaerosols, and Carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as air temperature and humidity. Moreover, pulmonary functions of the occupants were measured on a monthly basis. Also, occurrence of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms and other health related data were gathered from the occupants by a detailed questionnaire. The SBS is a situation related to indoor air pollution in which the occupants of a building experience health or comfort related adverse effects that appear to be associated directly to the time spent in the "sick" building. Results of this study showed that the highest indoor air pollutant levels were observed in Can town and the lowest levels were observed in Central town. Indoor levels of bioaerosols, particulate matter, benzene, Cladosporium spp., and Penicillium spp. as well as pulmonary functions of the occupants showed statistically significant differences between the locations of the homes (p < 0.001). Factor analysis implied that both indoor and outdoor originated sources contributed to IAQ. Even though the predominant SBS symptoms varied seasonally and spatially among the study sites, fatigue, cold-flu like symptoms, and difficulty in concentration occurred frequently. Correlations were found among the occurrence of SBS symptoms, measured IAQ parameters, and personal factors (p < 0.05). Performing more studies from the health and IAQ points of view improve public awareness