Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent episodes of complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway leading to episodic desaturation. OSA patients often show symptoms of ...anxiety. Our study aimed to examine the presence and levels of anxiety in OSA and simple snoring relative to control subjects and to investigate the correlation between anxiety scores and polysomnographic, demographic, and sleepiness parameters.
The study included 80 OSA, 30 simple snoring, and 98 control cases. Demographic, anxiety, and sleepiness data of all subjects were acquired. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was used to determine the level of anxiety. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to evaluate the sleepiness level of participants. In addition, polysomnography recordings of those in the OSA and the simple snoring group were acquired.
Significantly higher anxiety scores were found in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and simple snoring compared to the control group (p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively). From the polysomnographic data obtained from OSA and simple snoring subjects, the CT90 values (cumulative percentage of the time spent at saturations below 90%) and the AHI showed a weak positive correlation between the level of anxiety (p=0.004, r=0.271; p=0.04, r=0.196, respectively).
Our study concluded that polysomnographic data showing the depth and duration of hypoxia may be more reliable in showing neuropsychological disorder and hypoxia-related comorbidities in OSA. The CT90 value can be used as a measure in the assessment of anxiety in OSA. Its advantage is that it can be measured with overnight pulse oximetry along with in-laboratory PSG and HSAT (home sleep apnea test).
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to detect the prevalence and the factors associated with influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and outcomes of vaccination during 2013-2014 season in patients ...with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Turkey.
METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study performed in 53 different centers in Turkey.
RESULTS: During the study period, 4968 patients were included. COPD was staged as GOLD 1-2-3-4 in 9.0%, 42.8%, 35.0%, and 13.2% of the patients, respectively. Influenza vaccination rate in the previous year was 37.9%; and pneumococcus vaccination rate, at least once during in a life time, was 13.3%. Patients with older age, higher level of education, more severe COPD, and comorbidities, ex-smokers, and patients residing in urban areas had higher rates of influenza vaccination. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, higher education levels, presence of comorbidities, higher COPD stages, and exacerbation rates were associated with both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination. The number of annual physician/outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to COPD exacerbation was 2.73 ± 2.85 and 0.92 ± 1.58 per year, respectively. Patients with older age, lower education levels, more severe COPD, comorbid diseases, and lower body mass index and patients who are male and are residing in rural areas and vaccinated for influenza had significantly higher rates of COPD exacerbation.
CONCLUSIONS: The rates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in COPD patients were quite low, and the number of annual physician/outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to COPD exacerbation was high in Turkey. Advanced age, higher education levels, comorbidities, and higher COPD stages were associated with both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim of this study was to evaluate the percentage and characteristics of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) cases in a Turkish industrial city, Kocaeli (population: 1,203,335) and to illustrate ...its extent as a serious health problem for this city and country.
We investigated the results of microbiologic, radiologic, and histopathologic findings of patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis, retrospectively, who were admitted to four Tuberculous Dispensaries between 1996 and 2000.
Six hundred thirty six cases were diagnosed with EPTB. Three hundred forty five were males (54.2%) and 291, females (45.8%). Mean age of patient cases was 22.5±17.1 years (range, 1–86 years); 41.4% of cases were <15 years of age and 30.9%, between 20 and 39 years of age. Contact history with tuberculosis cases was determined in 242 cases (38%); of these, 194 were <15 years of age (80.2%). The most common form of EPTB was observed to be lymph node tuberculosis (56.3%); of these cases, 256 (71.5%) had involvement in intrathoracic, 92 (25.7%) in cervical, and 10 (2.8%) in axillary lymph nodes. The second most frequent extrapulmonary form was pleural tuberculosis (31.1%). EPTB was diagnosed by histopathologic methods in 229 patients (36.0%) and by microbiologic methods in 27 (4.2%); tuberculin skin test was significantly positive (>10 mm) in 95.5% of patients. When cases were classified according to severity, 87 cases (13.7%) were found severe and 549 (86.3%) as less severe EPTB. Five hundred sixty one cases (88.2%) lived in urban areas and 75 (11.8%), in rural areas.
EPTB is very common in early adulthood in the Kocaeli region, with lymph nodes the most common localization.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
BACKGROUND:
Clarithromycin is an antimicrobial agent that can be used for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations with bronchodilator therapy. However, it has also ...been shown that clarithromycin has antiinflammatory effects by the inhibition of cytokine production.
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the antiinflammatory effect of clarithromycin on serum and sputum interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and leukotriene B4 levels in patients with COPD.
METHODS:
Thirty men with mild to moderate COPD were enrolled in this prospective, single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. None of the patients was receiving systemic or inhaled corticosteroids during the study. Subjects received either clarithromycin or placebo for 14 days. Before and after this treatment period, spirometric tests and arterial blood gas analysis were performed, blood was drawn for measurement of serum inflammatory markers, and sputum was induced.
RESULTS:
There were no statistically significant differences in baseline clinical or laboratory parameters between the groups. After the treatment, the induced sputum total cell counts, and IL-8 and TNF-α levels decreased significantly in the clarithromycin group compared with pretreatment levels (mean ± SD IL-8 1606 ± 367.3 vs 882 ± 143.6 pg/mL, p = 0.001; TNF-α 638.2 ± 287.5 vs 390 ± 235 pg/mL, p = 0.001). Similarly, decreases in serum inflammatory markers were found in the clarithromycin group while there was no significant change in the placebo group.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study demonstrated that the decrease in IL-8 and TNF-α levels might be related to the antiinflammatory effect of clarithromycin. Thus, we suggest that the use of clarithromycin in COPD exacerbations may either treat the infection or help control the inflammation. Future studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of these findings.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a systemic disease characterized by chronic, progressive airflow limitation and airway inflammation. In this study, our aim is to compare the effects ...of inhaled corticosteroids and theophylline on systemic inflammatory markers in COPD. Twenty-nine moderate to severe COPD patients were randomly separated into two groups. In Group 1, inhaled corticosteroids (fluticasone propionate, 1000 meg/day) were added to regular bronchodilator therapy for 8 weeks, and theophylline (400mg/day) was added in Group 2. Pulmonary function tests were performed and serum CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were measured before and after treatment. There was a statistically significant decrease in serum CRP levels in both groups following treatment (ICS group 1.06±1.2 vs 0.49±0.22 mg/dl p< 0.05; THEO group 1.66±2.23 vs 0.59±0.35 mg/dl p< 0.05). There was a significant reduction in serum TNF-α levels in the THEO group (3.82±3.44 vs 1.89±1.33 pg/ml p< 0.05). There was no significant change in IL-6 level following treatment in either group. There was a significant increase in FEV1 in the ICS group while a non-significant increase was noted in the THEO group following treatment. It has been suggested that both ICS and THEO could be used as an anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of COPD. Furthermore, the measurement of serum inflammatory markers is an easy and non-invasive method for the determination and follow-up of systemic inflammation in COPD. Further studies including larger patient population are needed.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
AIM: To determine induced sputum cell counts and interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and leukotriene B_4 (LTB_4) levels as markers of neutrophilic inflammation in moderate ...persistent asthma, and to evaluate the response to inhaled steroid therapy. Methods: Forty-five moderate asthmatic patients and 10 non-smoker controls were included in this study. All patients received inhaled corticosteroid (800 μg of budesonide) for 12 weeks. Before and after treatment pulmonary function tests were performed, and symptom scores were determined. Blood was drawn for analysis of serum inflammatory markers, and sputum was induced. Results: Induced sputum cell counts and inflammatory markers were significantly higher in patients with asthma than in the control group. The induced sputum eosinophil counts of 12 patients (26%) were found to be less than 5%, the non-eosinophilic group, and sputum neutrophil counts, IL-8 and TNF-α levels were significantly higher than the eosinophilic group (neutrophil, 50±14% versus 19±10%, p<0.01). In both groups, there was a significant decrease in sputum total cell counts and serum and sputum IL-8, TNF-α and LTB_4 levels after the treatment. There was no change in sputum neutrophil counts. Although the sputum eosinophil count decreased only in the eosinophilic subjects, there was no significant difference in inflammatory markers between the groups. The symptom scores were significantly improved after treatment, while the improvement did not reach statistical significance on pulmonary function test parameters. Conclusion: Notably, in chronic asthma there is a subgroup of patients whose predominant inflammatory cells are not eosinophils. Sputum neutrophil counts and neutrophilic inflammatory markers are significantly higher in these patients. In the noneosinophilic group, inhaled steroid caused an important decrease in inflammatory markers; however, there was no change in the sputum eosinophil and neutrophil counts.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background: The main treatment in COPD consists of bronchodilator agents. As the severity of disease increases, combined bronchodilators are preferred in place of single agents. Since there is a weak ...correlation between well being and spirometric parameters, additional life quality questionnaires are used.
Objectives: The main aim of this study was to investigate whether different bronchodilator combinations have similar effects on quality of life measures in COPD.
Methods: Sixty male patients with COPD were randomized into three groups. After a two-week run-in period, life quality scores were determined using the Turkish version of St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Group 1 was given ipratropium+theophylline (IP+THEO); Group 2 formoterol+theophylline (FOR+THEO) and Group 3 ipratropium+formoterol (IP+FOR). After a 12-week treatment period, symptom, activity and impact scores were again determined.
Results: When compared with baseline, all component scores and total scores improved significantly (Δ total score: 16, 15 and 17 units in Groups I, II, and III, respectively), but there was no significant change between groups (
p>0.05). Conclusions: According to these results, combined bronchodilator treatments have a significant effect on life quality in COPD, but the effects were observed to be similar between the three different combinations tested.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Background: Recent years' usage of thinner by the young generation as a drug constitutes a serious problem in the society. Due to common usage in the industrial sector, most people are affected from ...the manufacturing process to the consuming phase.
Aim: Because of these reasons, this project has been preferred to research the effects of thinner on oxidant and antioxidant status.
Methods: Totally 46 rats were included in the study. Thirty six rats were separated into six groups with 10 rats in a control group. The first group inhaled thinner for 2 weeks, and the other groups were exposed to thinner for 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks for 1 h twice a day. On the mentioned duration, rats were autopsied. Lung tissues malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined to designate the oxidant–antioxidant balance.
Results: We observed an increase in MDA values both in the acute and the subacute periods. In the chronic period by the consuming of lipid peroxidation products, MDA values decreased and as the oxidative stress continued MDA values again increased. We observed that especially GSH values that has antioxidant feature, decreased until 6 weeks in order to compensate lipid peroxidation products. In the consuming period of lipid peroxidation, the values became fixed and later, these values again increased. There was no relationship between the changing values of MDA and SOD.
Conclusions: Thinner is an agent that causes oxidative stress and inhalation of high doses of thinner causes harm to the respiratory system. As there are few reports in the literature on long-term effects of thinner inhalation, more studies might be necessary.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Objective: The oxidant–antioxidant balance plays an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of exercise, as an oxidative stress factor on ...the oxidant–antioxidant balance and to investigate whether short‐term antioxidant treatment affects lipid peroxidation products.
Methodology: Twenty‐one stable COPD patients and 10 control subjects were included in the study. Symptom‐limited exercise tests were performed by all subjects. Blood was collected before and 1 h after exercise in control subjects and before, 1 and 3 h after exercise in COPD patients, for analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and vitamin E (VE) levels. VE and vitamin C treatments were added to the regular bronchodilator therapy in 10 COPD patients for 1 month. After the treatment period, an exercise test was performed and blood was collected again for MDA, GSH and VE levels.
Results: Baseline GSH and VE levels were significantly lower in the COPD group when compared with the control subjects. There was no statistically significant difference in MDA levels between the two groups. In the COPD group, MDA levels 3 h after exercise were significantly higher than at baseline. In contrast there were no significant differences in MDA, VE and GSH levels in the control group after exercise. VE and MDA levels increased significantly after exercise in COPD patients but there was no difference in GSH levels. Baseline exercise time was significantly lower in the COPD group than in the controls. In 10 COPD patients who were given antioxidant therapy, their exercise time increased significantly and there was no increase in MDA and VE levels after the repeated exercise test.
Conclusions: Antioxidant levels were significantly lower in COPD patients than in control subjects. In these patients, exercise results in more significant oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation than in control subjects and antioxidant therapy may decrease lipid peroxidation following exercise and improve exercise capacity.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective: Withdrawal of corticosteroid is associated with a deterioration of health status in COPD. In this study the aim was to determine whether high dose inhaled corticosteroid improves quality ...of life in patients with COPD.
Methodology: In total, 38 male patients with moderate COPD were included in the study. Baseline quality of life scores were determined using a Turkish version of the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 20 patients who received existing bronchodilator therapy plus inhaled corticosteroid (800 µg budesonide) for 12 weeks, while 18 patients in group 2 received bronchodilator and placebo. The SGRQ was repeated after the treatment period.
Results: All patients were male and mean age was 67 ± 8.2 years. Symptom, activity, impact, and total scores were assessed and a difference of four units with treatment was considered to be clinically significant. Total score and activity score were decreased by six units and eight units, respectively, in the placebo group while symptom and impact scores did not change significantly. Total scores and the three component scores improved significantly in the corticosteroid group compared to the placebo group (Δtotal score: −22 in corticosteroid group, −6 in placebo group, P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Inhaled corticosteroid improved quality of life scores in patients with COPD, without significant improvement in airflow obstruction parameters. Since improvement of health status is one of the important aims in COPD treatment, use of inhaled corticosteroids should be considered from this perspective.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK