The Secret Face of Arhythmias: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a clinical condition accompanied by episodes of respiratory arrest, sleep fragmentation, oxygen desaturation, and excessive daytime sleepiness due to obstructions in the upper airway during sleep. Contrary to popular belief, OSAS is much more common in society. In some patients, we can observe symptoms of OSAS easily; however, some of the patients may not indicate any symptoms. Although the interest and research on the causes of OSAS and the mortality rate associated with cardiovascular disease have increased, this relationship has still not completely understood. The results of several proven trusted clinical trials support the hypothesis that OSAS increases the risk of stroke, arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, bradyarrhythmia, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular arrhythmia), coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest as much as essential or resistant hypertension. In this case report, we wanted to demonstrate OSAS as a cause of arrhythmia in a young obese patient without OSAS symptoms, and an arrhythmia that improved with OSAS therapy

Characteristics of hospitalised COVID-19 patients and parameters associated with severe pneumonia

Background: After the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in China in December 2019, it caused a global pandemic, including Turkey. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of hospitalised COVID-19 patients and assess the parameters related to severe pneumonia. Methods: Included in the study were hospitalised COVID-19 patients with positive naso-oropharyngeal swabs. Patients’ demographics, admission symptoms, laboratory and radiological findings were recorded retrospectively. Results: Of 1013 patients, 583 were males (57.6%) and 430 were females (42.4%), with a mean age of 53.7 ± 17.9. More than half of the patients had at least one comorbidities, the most common of which were hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Cough (59.8%), fatigue (49.5%) and fever (41.2%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Of the hospitalised COVID-19 patients, 84.9% had pneumonia and 83.5% had typical radiological COVID-19 appearances (94.5%: ground-glass areas). The most common laboratory findings were high C-reactive protein (CRP) (73.6%) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (46.2%) levels, as well as lymphopenia (30.1%). Severe pneumonia was present in 28.1% of COVID-19 patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that advanced age, hypotension, anaemia and elevated CRP and LDH serum levels were independent risk factors for the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia (P = .011, .006, .017, .003 and .001, respectively). Conclusion: This study, as one of the first multicentre studies about characteristics of COVID-19 in Turkey, may guide about disease-related parameters and severity of pneumonia. Age, blood pressure, complete blood count and routine biochemical tests (including CRP and LDH) would appear to be important parameters for the evaluation of the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia

A Comparison of Exercise Tolerance, Measures of Cardiac Response to Exercise and Serum Markers in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective: This study investigates the relationship between cardiac response measures and serum markers with exercise performance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The Importance of Partner Support and Psychological Status in Smoking Cessation

Objective: The habit of smoking is more common in members of a family living in the same house. People with psychiatric symptoms smoke more cigarettes. We conducted a study to examine whether the psychological status of couples and partner support affects smoking cessation success. Methods: The outpatients who started taking a therapy for smoking cessation between July 2014 and January 2015 in our clinic were included in this prospective, single-center study. Each couple was assessed on the basis of the Marital Adjustment Scale (MAS) and Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HADS). The smoking status of the participants was assessed after 6 months, and they filled out the Partner Interaction Questionnaire (PIQ). Results: Of 141 volunteers, 55% joined the smoking cessation program as couples. A total of 55.3% of the participants managed to quit smoking. Further, 42.3% of couples quitted smoking. Nearly 96.2% of couples had the same result regarding smoking cessation. The smoking cessation rate was significantly lower in couples with high anxiety depression scores (participant: p=0.028 and 0.037; partner: p=0.003 and 0.007), smoker partners (p<0.01), and participants with low marital adjustments (p<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent parameters affecting smoking cessation success were support and the smoking status of partners (p<0.001 and 0.021, respectively). Conclusion: Partner support and psychological status were important parameters associated with smoking cessation. The presence of non-smoker partners made quitting smoking easier. Reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms and support of partners may help in smoking cessation

ENCOUNTERED OCCUPATIONAL RESPIRATORY TRACT DISEASES IN THE PRODUCTION OF CERAMIC

It is a serious problem that the ceramists are exposed to substances detrimental to the health in the production of ceramic. In recent years, the developing technology as well as the increase in the number and the diversity of the chemicals and the raw materials used has increased the severity of the detriment. The product of ceramic, contributing greatly to the needs of the humans, requires the ceramicist to deliberately use the facilities of the ceramic design and its technology in order to protect the health of theirs and the people using such products. The measures to be taken are very easy to apply. However, irreversible risks may occur in terms of health when the necessary attention is ignored. In this study, it is aimed to raise awareness about the causes and consequences of occupational respiratory tract diseases that ceramicists may encounter.It is a serious problem that the ceramists are exposed to substances detrimental to the health in the production of ceramic. In recent years, the developing technology as well as the increase in the number and the diversity of the chemicals and the raw materials used has increased the severity of the detriment. The product of ceramic, contributing greatly to the needs of the humans, requires the ceramicist to deliberately use the facilities of the ceramic design and its technology in order to protect the health of theirs and the people using such products. The measures to be taken are very easy to apply. However, irreversible risks may occur in terms of health when the necessary attention is ignored. In this study, it is aimed to raise awareness about the causes and consequences of occupational respiratory tract diseases that ceramicists may encounter

The evaluation of psychological status in newly diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

BACKGROUND: As chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its symptoms may change psychological attributes, psychiatric disorders may be seen in COPD. AIMS: We aimed to assess the effect of taking diagnosis of COPD and using bronchodilator therapy on the psychological status of COPD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a cross-sectional study including newly diagnosed COPD outpatients. Spirometry, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were performed at the first visit (date of new diagnosis) and 6 months later as the second visit. RESULTS: Ninety new diagnosed COPD patients (71 men and 19 women) with a mean age of 61.7 ± 9.8 were included. There were high scores of anxiety in 23.5% and depression in 38.2% (HADS)–52.9% (BDI) patients at the first visit. The symptoms about anxiety reduced to 19%, depression to 33.3% (HADS)/47.6% (BDI) six months later. All the participants who were active smokers had lower spirometric levels (42.9%) at the second visit compared with the first visit levels. There was an improvement in psychological status and quality of life (QOL) (P < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between SGRQ score and forced expiratory volume in 1 s levels (P = 0.045) and positive correlation of SGRQ score with HAD and BDI scores (P = 0.041 and 0.011). Participants who quitted smoking in 6-month period had statistically lower anxiety and depression scores (P = 0.003 and 0.026). CONCLUSION: Depression and anxiety states are frequent among COPD patients. Pulmonary symptoms may regress with the bronchodilator therapy at newly diagnosed COPD patients, which can cause an improvement in pulmonary functions, psychological status, and QOL. Psychological aspects need to be carefully assessed in patients with new diagnosis of COPD

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