Evaluation of the effect of comorbid bronchiectasis on quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of comorbid bronchiectasis on quality-of-life in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Method: 103 patients were diagnosed with COPD were included in our study. Spirometric measurements were made. The following measurement tools were used to collect data: 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and Short Form 36 (SF-36) quality-of-life questionnaire. Furthermore, all the patients' high Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) images for the last three years were included in the study. Result: 93.2% of the patients were male, with a mean age of 64.79 +/- 9.35 years. It was found that SGRQ and SF-36 quality-of-life scores decreased by half in all the patients compared to normal ones. The volume/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) values in the first second of forced expiration were significantly lower in the group with bronchiectasis. A significant correlation was found to exist between the patients' mMRC dyspnea scale and CAT scores, 6MWT distances, and all subscales of SGRQ and SF-36. In addition, a significant correlation was also found to exist between FEV1 values and all subscales of SGRQ, and between subscales of SF-36. Conclusion: In our study, when we compared the quality-of-life scores of the patients with COPD and bronchiectasis with those with COPD alone, we found that the quality-of-life of both groups was impaired, but there was no significant difference between them

The association of MMP-13 rs2252070 with non-small cell lung cancer in the Turkish population

Aim: To evaluate the role of MMP-13 rs2252070 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the Turkish population. Method: A total of 95 NSCLC patients and 94 healthy controls were included in this study. The MMP-13 rs2252070 variant was genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The results of the analyses were evaluated for statistical significance. Results: There was no G/G homozygous genotype in the patient or control groups. The prevalence of genotypes of A/A and A/G profiles for the MMP-13 rs2252070 variant was 34.7% and 65.3%, respectively, in patients and 46.8% and 53.2%, respectively, in the control group. No significant difference was found between the patient and control groups in terms of MMP-13 rs2252070 genotype distribution and allele frequency (p= 0.091, OR: 0.605, CI 95%:0.337-1.086; p: 0.199, OR: 1.337, CI 95%: 0.858-2.083, respectively). Conclusions: Our results in this study showed no association between MMP-13 rs2252070 and NSCLC. To fully comprehend the mechanisms underlying NSCLC development, more research is required

Evaluation of both expression and serum protein levels of caspase-8 and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 genes in patients with different severities of COVID-19 infection

Aim: The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of caspase-8 (CASP8) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) gene expression levels and their products on preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods: A total of 40 patients (men, 15 [37.5%]; women, 25 [62.5%]) with COVID-19 infection were included in the current study. The patients were divided into four main groups based on disease severity: mild (n = 7), moderate (n = 10), severe (n = 14), and critical (n = 9). Individuals aged < 18 years and pregnant women were excluded. Patients were classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system (WHO/2019-nCoV/clinical/2021.1). Results: Considering all groups, statistically significant differences were detected among all groups for both CASP82−ΔΔCt (p = 0.006) and MAPK1 2−ΔΔCt values (p = 0.015). Moreover, statistically significant differences were detected between mild and moderate (p = 0.013), moderate and critical (p = 0.018), and severe and critical (p = 0.023) groups for lymphocytes. Conclusion: The CASP8/MAPK1 expression levels and/or its products are essential in preventing injury caused by COVID-19 infection. They play crucial roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis and viability. Furthermore, CASP8/MAPK1 levels can provide information about disease severity

Evaluation of multidrug resistance-1 gene C>;T polymorphism frequency in patients with asthma

OBJECTIVES:Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease characterized by bronchial hyperresponsiveness and airflow obstruction. Genetic and oxidative stress factors, in addition to pulmonary and systemic inflammatory processes, play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asthma. The products of the multidrug resistance-1 gene protect lung tissue from oxidative stress. Here, we aimed to evaluate the association between the multidrug resistance-1 gene C>;T polymorphism and asthma with regard to oxidative stress-related parameters of asthmatic patients.METHODS:Forty-five patients with asthma and 27 healthy age-matched controls were included in this study. Blood samples were collected in tubes with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. DNA was extracted from the blood samples. The multidrug resistance-1 gene polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction and a subsequent enzyme digestion technique. The serum levels of total oxidant status and total antioxidant status were determined by the colorimetric measurement method.RESULTS:The heterozygous polymorphic genotype was the most frequent in both groups. A significant difference in the multidrug resistance-1 genotype frequencies between groups indicated an association of asthma with the TT genotype. A significant difference between groups was found for wild type homozygous participants and carriers of polymorphic allele participants. The frequency of the T allele was significantly higher in asthmatic patients. The increase in the oxidative stress index parameter was significant in the asthma group compared with the control group.CONCLUSIONS:The multidrug resistance-1 gene C/T polymorphism may be an underlying genetic risk factor for the development of asthma via oxidant-antioxidant imbalance, leading to increased oxidative stress

Case Report Pulmonary Cement Embolism following Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimal invasive procedure that is applied for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. During vertebroplasty, the leakage of bone cement outside the vertebral body leads to pulmonary cement embolism, which is a serious complication of this procedure. Here we report a 48-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea after percutaneous vertebroplasty and diagnosed as pulmonary cement embolism

Comparison of Tocilizumab and Anakinra in the Treatment of COVID-19: A Single-Center Experience

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine whether a difference between endotracheal intubation, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, high flow oxygen therapy requirements and 28-day mortality rate in severe and critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients receiving anakinra and tocilizumab treatment. Material and Methods: A total of 70 patients infected with COVID-19, who were treated with tocilizumab and anakinra from April 2020 to March 2021 at Karabük Training and Research Hospital, were recruited in this retrospective study. Data on patient demographics, comorbidities, treatments, clinical outcomes of the patients’ and hemogram findings were retrieved from hospital records. Results: The mean age of the patients was 61.34±11.8 years. Of the 70 patients, 12 (17.1%) were female and 58 (82.9%) were male. Severe and critical COVID-19 cases were evident in 48 (68.6%), and 22 (31.4%) patients, respectively. The mortality rate in 28 days was not statistically significantly different between the tocilizumab and anakinra groups (p=0.999). Both the necessity of high flow oxygen therapy and non-invasive mechanical ventilation were lower in the tocilizumab group than in the anakinra group (p&lt;0.001, and p=0.002, respectively), while there was no statistically significant difference in the necessity of intubation between the two groups (p=0.999). The length of stay was also significantly shorter in the tocilizumab group (p=0.027). Conclusion: High flow oxygen therapy, non-invasive mechanical ventilation requirements, and length of stay were significantly lower than anakinra in the tocilizumab group. Excessive inflammatory response with cytokine storm features causes severe disease course and worsens prognosis in COVID-19

Comparison of pirfenidone and corticosteroid treatments at the COVID-19 pneumonia with the guide of artificial intelligence supported thoracic computed tomography

Aim We aimed to investigate the effect of short-term pirfenidone treatment on prolonged COVID-19 pneumonia. Method Hospital files of patients hospitalised with a diagnosis of critical COVID-19 pneumonia from November 2020 to March 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Chest computed tomography images taken both before treatment and 2 months after treatment, demographic characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients receiving pirfenidone + methylprednisolone (n = 13) and only methylprednisolones (n = 9) were recorded. Pulmonary function tests were performed after the second month of the treatment. CT involvement rates were determined by machine learning. Results A total of 22 patients, 13 of whom (59.1%) were using methylprednisolone + pirfenidone and 9 of whom (40.9%) were using only methylprednisolone were included. When the blood gas parameters and pulmonary function tests of the patients were compared at the end of the second month, it was found that the FEV1, FEV1%, FVC and FVC% values were statistically significantly higher in the methylprednisolone + pirfenidone group compared with the methylprednisolone group (P = .025, P = .012, P = .026 and P = .017, respectively). When the rates of change in CT scans at diagnosis and second month of treatment were examined, it was found that the involvement rates in the methylprednisolone + pirfenidone group were statistically significantly decreased (P < .001). Conclusion Antifibrotic agents can reduce fibrosis that may develop in the future. These can also help dose reduction and/or non-use strategy for methylprednisolone therapy, which has many side effects. Further large series and randomised controlled studies are needed on this subject.WOS:0007077954000012-s2.0-85117142372PubMed: 3462415

High serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP3 may increase comorbidity risk for asthmatic patients

OBJECTIVE: Asthma is known as a chronic inflammatory lung disease which has also systemic features. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) plays a role for asthma pathogenesis. Controversially, IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) blocks asthma development. That is why IGF-I and IGFBP3 are targeted for future therapeutic treatments of asthma. We aimed to investigate serum level of IGF-I and IGFBP3 in patients with asthma. This study was performed in 27 asthma and 23 healthy individuals. Serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP3 were measured by human ELISA assay kits. Serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP3 were significanlty higher in the asthma group than the control group. Significant negative correlation was found between IGF-I and asthma control test (ACT) puan, O-2 saturation, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second/ Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC), Forced Expiratory Flow 25 second/75 second (FEF2575) (%). Significant positive correlation was found between IGFBP3 and IGF-I, systolic blood pressure. Significant negative correlation was found between IGF-I and FEV1 (ml)

The Effects of the Mineral Water Drunk during the Break of the Competition on the Serum Electrolyte Levels

Bu çalışma, müsabaka arası içilen maden suyunun serum elektrolit düzeylerinde meydana getirdiği değişikliklerin incelenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Çalışmaya bölgesel liglerde oynayan 16 erkek futbolcu dâhil edilmiştir. Futbolcular deney (n9; yaş 21.300.83 yıl, ağırlık 72.401.64 kg ve boy 178.200.08 cm ) ve kontrol (n7; yaş 22.500.98 yıl, ağırlık 69.902.27 kg, boy 177.900.07 cm) olmak üzere iki gruba ayrılmıştır. Deney grubu maden suyu kontrol grubu su içmiştir. İçecekler Müsabakanın devre arasında ve kan alımının hemen öncesinde verilmiştir. Araştırma kapsamında sporculardan; müsabaka öncesi, müsabaka arası ve müsabakadan hemen sonra olmak üzere 3 kez ve her seferde 5 cc olacak şekilde kan alınmıştır. Alınan kan örneklerinde Sodyum (Na), Potasyum (K), Klor (Cl) parametreleri incelenmiştir. Tüm değişkenlerin tanımlayıcı istatistikleri yapıldıktan sonra ölçüm zamanının impedans ve reaktans üzerine etkisi tekrarlı ölçümlerde ANOVA ile test edilmiştir. Farkların hangi zamanlarda oluştuğu Bonferroni çoklu karşılaştırma testi, deney ve kontrol grupları arasındaki farklılıkların değerlendirilmesinde ise Independent Samples t-testi kullanılmıştır. İncelenen Sodyum, Potasyum, Klor parametrelerinin kendi aralarında, deney ve kontrol grubu karşılaştırmalarında anlamlı farklılıklar (p 0.05) bulunmuştur. Yapmış olduğumuz çalışmanın sonuçları değerlendirildiğinde; 10C hava koşullarında oynanan Futbol maçında sıvı azalmasına bağlı olarak elektrolit kaybının yaşandığı, devre arası 10C sıcaklığında içilen Maden Suyunun, Doğal Kaynak suyuna oranla elektrolit seviyelerinin korunmasında faydalı olabileceği söylenebilirThis study has been carried out with the aim of examining the changes of mineral water drunk during the break of the football match on the serum electrolyte levels. The study includes 16 male football players performing in the local league. The football players are divided into two as experimental (n9; age 21.300.83 years, weight 72.401.64 kg and height 178.200.08 cm) and control (n7; age 22.500.98 years, weight 69.902.27 kg, height 177.900.07 cm) groups. The experimental group drinks mineral water, while the control group drinks water. The beverages are drunk at the break of the football match and just before the blood samples are taken. In the scope of the study, the blood samples are taken from the players three times as before the football match, at the break of the football match and just after the football match at the amount of 5 cc at every turn. Sodium (Na), Potassium (K) and Chlorine (Cl) parameters of the blood samples taken have been analysed. After the descriptive statistics of all variables have been completed, the effects of the measurement time on impedance and reactance have been tested with ANOVA in the repeated measurements. Bonferroni multiple comparison test have been used in order to determined that at which intervals the differences are occur, and Independent Samples t-test has been used for the evaluation of the differences between Experimental and Control groups. Significant differences have been observed among Sodium, Potassium and Chlorine parameters in the comparison of Experimental and Control groups (p 0.05). When the results of our study are evaluated, it can be said that loss of electrolyte occurs depending on dehydration during the football match played at 10C and Mineral Water drunk at 10C during the break of the football match might be beneficial in order to maintain the electrolyte levels when compared to Natural Spring Wate