COVID-19 Pandemic and the Global Perspective of Turkish Thoracic Society.

It has been more than 3 months now since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Turkey. Globally, the number of confirmed cases and deaths reached 9,653,048 and 491,128 respectively, as reported by 216 countries by June 27, 2020. Turkey had 1,396 new cases, 194,511 total cases, and 5,065 deaths by the same date. From the first case until today, the Turkish Thoracic Society (TTS) has been very proactive in educating doctors, increasing public awareness, undertaking academic studies, and assisting with public health policies. In the present report, social, academic, and management perspectives of the pandemic are presented under appropriate subtitles. During this critical public health crisis, TTS has once again demonstrated its readiness and constructive stance by supporting public health, healthcare workers, and the environment. This review summarizes the perspective of TTS on each aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic and casts light on its contributions.

Look closer to welders' lung.

INTRODUCTION: Welding produces miscellaneous gases and particles that has various impact on respiratory system and long term exposure may result "welders'lung". The aim of this study is to describe the radiological findings of welders' and make an awereness for welders radilogical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical and radiological findings of welders' who had hospital applications with respiratory symptoms between January 2010-January 2017 were evaluated retrospectively. RESULT: A total of 16 male welders with mean age 37 ± 8 years had the mean duration of welding occupation 12 ± 7 years. The most common symptoms were coughing (87%), sputum production (63%) and dyspnoea (63%).Thirteen welders were working in shipyards and 3 in construction business and other workplaces. Three (19%) patients had rhonchi on physical examination and these patients had decreased FEV1/FVC values below 70% on spirometry. Poorly-defined centrilobular micronodules that were not clearly visible on chest radiographs observed on thorax high resolution computed tomography. Bronchoscopy was performed to 7 patients. Iron-positive pigment granules and ferruginous bodies were revealed in 3 patients' bronchoalveolar lavage. CONCLUSIONS: Welders' chest X-ray deserve a closer look. In pulmonary radiology, there may be radiographical findings ranging from small ill defined nodules to groundglass opacites. Physcians should look more careful to welders' chest X-ray and incase of suspicious findings best can be detected on high HRCT. An awareness for the radiological findings will also reduce interventional procedures in these patients hereby, occupational history must be included in daily practice of physicians.

[Is short-course therapy enough at drug-resistant tuberculosis?] / Kisa süreli tedaviler çok ilaca dirençli haricindeki dirençlerde yeterli mi?

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis drug resistance can be assessed by physicians with different approaches on issues such as the choice of treatment protocol and duration of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the treatment regimens and treatment results of patients with non multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) drug resistance implemented in different chest disease clinics in our hospital. The 167 culture-positive patients with nonMDR-TB drug resistance diagnosed between 2008-2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients' age, gender, previous TB treatments, bacteriological cruise, drug resistance patterns and treatment outcomes were analyzed. RESULT: One hundred sixty-seven patients with eligible data were evaluated; there were 117 (70.1%) men and 50 (29.9%) women, mean age was 42.35 (18-90) years, respectively. Among mono drug resistance; H resistance in 75 (44.9%) patients and R resistance in 11 patients was detected. In 19 (11.4%) patients HS resistance was detected as multiple drug resistance. One hudred and twenty-five (74.9%) were new cases. When treatment the results of in all patients evaluated, 136 (81.4%) of the patients achieved treatment success. Sixty-four (51.2%) of the new TB cases treated with "standard treatment protocols for new cases" (2HRZE/4H) and 51 (40.8%) of them treated with "other treatment protocols". Ten (23.8%)of the recurrent TB cases" standard treatment for recurrent cases (2HRZES/HRZE/5HRE) and 9 (21.4%) 33 (19.8%) of them treated with other protocols. The combination of the rthe treatment protocol and descriptive information about the duration of the treatment could not be created as 33 (19.8%) of the cases left without completing their treatment. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the analysis, patients have completed their treatment, there was no significant difference in treatment outcomes. Patients with Non MDR-TB drug resistance should be monitored well and should be careful in terms of MDR-TB.

A comparison of propofol-midazolam and midazolam alone for sedation in endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a new, minimally invasive, bronchoscopic technique used in the evaluation of inthrathoracic lymph nodes.Use of sedation drugs before the procedure differs among centres. There is no standardization about sedation before EBUS-TBNA.We used a policy decision to shift from use of propofol with midazolam vs midazolam alone in a large tertiary hospital to evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety of EBUS-TBNA procedure. METHODS: Files of all the patients who were performed EBUS-TBNA between the dates of September 2010 and May 2014 were surveyed. All the EBUS-TBNA cases were performed under sedation of propofol and midazolam with an accompanying anesthesiologist in the beginning, however, sedation is applied with midazolam without an accompanying anesthesiologist after April 2013 due to changes in sedation policy. The diagnostic yield and complication rates were compared by chi-squared analysis between two groups. RESULTS: The files of 340 EBUS-TBNA performed patients were evaluated. Of the patients 274 eligible patients were analysed. 152 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were analysed in propofol-midazolam (P) sedated group and 122 patients were analysed in midazolam (M) group. There is no statistically significant difference between two different sedated groups in terms of age and gender. Diagnostic value was detected as 77.6% in P group and 85.7% in M group and the difference was not statistically significant. No difference between complication rates of both groups was observed. CONCLUSION: Both sedation-types for performing EBUS-TBNA showed similar diagnostic value and complication rates in our study. Propofol with midazolam application requires with an accompanying anaesthesiologist, therefore, it increases cost. EBUS-TBNA procedures had been performed in safe with no decrease in diagnostic yield under moderate sedation.

Epidemiology and distribution of interstitial lung diseases in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: There is very few data on the epidemiological features of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) in the literature. These studies on this subject suffer from limited number of patients. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological features of ILD in Turkey. METHODS: Fifty-four investigators, 31 centres in 19 cities from six regions of Turkey, participated in the study. Two thousand two hundred forty-five newly diagnosed patients (51.8% females), led by Turkish Thoracic Society Clinical Problems Study Group, enrolled in this prospective study. RESULTS: The mean age was 51.8 ± 16.7 years. The mean age among males was 50.5 ± 18.6 years and 53.0 ± 14.6 years among females (P < 0.001). 23.8% of the cases had ILD with known causes, while 39.4% were in granulomatous group, 23.7% were idiopathic, and 4.4% were in the unclassified group. Overall, histopathologically confirmed diagnosis rate was 40.4%. Sarcoidosis was the most common disease (37%), whereas cases with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) constituted 19,9% of patients. 53% of the sarcoidosis patients were females, and the ratio reaches to 75% under 50 years of age (for this group, IPF ratio is %3). In contrast, sarcoidosis and IPF ratios were equal in males (25%). Sarcoidosis was 8% in men over 50, while IPF was %45. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of ILD in Turkey was computed to be 25.8/100,000.

Biomass smoke exposure as a serious health hazard for women.

INTRODUCTION: Lung diseases caused by biomass exposure cause a significant health hazard particularly amongst women. The present study was designed to investigate biomass exposure in women suffering from lung disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 women [mean (SD) age: 55.13 (17.65) years] hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis or interstitial lung disease were included in this study conducted between September 2008-March 2009 in three chest disease clinics at Sureyyapasa Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital. Data collection on biomass exposure was based on application of hospital-based survey questionnaire including items on occupation, level of education, place of birth (location, region), exposure to biomass fuel fumes for heating and cooking purposes (animal dung, wood, charcoal, dried plant) and years of exposure with animal dung, wood, charcoal, dried plant. RESULTS: COPD in 22% patients, lung carcinoma in 12%, bronchitis in 8%, tuberculosis in 26%, and interstitial lung disease in 17% were the diagnosis for hospitalization. The most identified occupation was housewifery 86%. Active, former and non-smokers composed 6%, 22% and 72% of the population. Birth place was village in 67% patients while districts in 9%. According to regional distribution, the most common place of birth was Central Anatolia region in (29%). Exposure to biomass fuels was identified in all of patients including wood (92%), animal dung (30%), charcoal (23%), and dry plant (23%). Mean (SD) years of exposure was identified to be 52.6 (17.9) years for wood, 40.8 (17.9) years for animal dung, 48.1 (20.8) years for dry plant and 38.5 (21.4) years for charcoal. The most common type of biomass exposure was wood in village (97%), city (79%) and county (89%). CONCLUSION: Findings indicating impact of biomass exposure in women seem to emphasize the need for analytic epidemiologic studies assessment measuring biomass exposure levels-particularly for women and young children.

Multidrug resistant tuberculosis with multiple organ involvement.

Multidrug resistant tuberculosis has been a challenging situation in the clinical practice with respect to appropriate clinical treatment and management of the disease. The likelihood of resistance development is known to be lower in lesions with lesser percentages of the bacterial population. The present paper was designed to present a rare case of pulmonary multidrug resistant tuberculosis with extrapulmonary involvement to emphasize the consideration of genital tuberculosis with possible infertility in patients admitting with a scrotal mass.

Management of and risk factors related to hepatotoxicity during tuberculosis treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatotoxicity is one of the most frequent adverse events occurring during tuberculosis treatment that may negatively affect treatment compliance, clinical outcome. This study was designed to evaluate management, risk factors related to hepatotoxicity during tuberculosis treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hospitalized patients for tuberculosis treatment at Sureyyapasa Chest Diseases, and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital were included, between January 2004 and December 2007. Prevalence of hepatotoxicity, risk factors were evaluated among tuberculosis patients under anti-tuberculosis treatment according to World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. Hepatotoxicity was defined any elevated liver function tests with accompanying symptoms. Age, gender, past history of anti-tuberculosis treatment, extensity of radiological findings, co-morbid disorders and drug resistance were the risk factors evaluated in terms of development and recurrence of hepatotoxicity. RESULTS: Of 1443 patients (38.37 ± 16.74 years; 64.5% were males), 106 (7.3%) was identified to develop hepatotoxicity on an average of 20 days after beginning treatment and lasting an average of 14 days. Hepatotoxicity for once in 78.3% (n= 83) of patients and more than once in 21.7% (n= 23) patients. All anti-tuberculosis drugs was continued at full dosage after the normalization of liver enzyme in 76.4% (n= 81). In recurrence a step-by-step treatment was re-started by exclusion of responsible drug/s. Treatment was administered without modification of WHO regimes in 79.2%. Pyrazinamide was omitted in 15 cases while rifampicin only in one patient. Triple drug regimen with isoniazid, ethambutol and streptomycin was used in six cases. Quinolon was added to treatment only in one patient. Presence of a co-morbidity was determined to be significant predictor of hepatotoxicity development OR= 3.093 (CI= 1.95-4.89; p= 0.000) past history of anti-tuberculosis treatment was significantly associated with recurrence (p= 0.027). There was no hepatotoxicity dependent mortality. CONCLUSION: Hepatotoxicity can be successfully management of hepatotoxicity without second line tuberculosis drugs in ongoing treatment regime.

Occupation and tuberculosis: a descriptive study in Turkish patients with tuberculosis.

INTRODUCTION: The present study was designed to determine the distribution of tuberculosis patients according to their occupations in Turkey. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 757 patients with bacteriologically and histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of tuberculosis and under the tuberculosis treatment were included in this retrospective descriptive study. Medical records of patients admitted to the Ministry of Health Sureyyapasa Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital between the years of 2004 and 2007 were evaluated in terms of patient demographics and the occupations. Occupations were classified into 10 groups according to the International Standardization Classification Occupation (ISCO-88). RESULTS: Males composed 67% of the overall population [mean age (SD) was 41.3 (16.4) years]. Recurrent and newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients composed 81 and 19% of the patients, respectively. The most frequently identified major occupational groups were; craft and related workers (32%), plant and machine operators and assembler (10%), followed by the subgroups of textile, garment and related trades workers (12.9%), motor vehicle drivers (5.8%). The youngest subgroup among the most popular subgroups with a mean age (SD) of 29.5 (11.1) years, was textile, garment and related trades workers while the subgroup of mining and construction laborers was the oldest with a mean age (SD) of 63.9 (7.9) years. In all occupational subgroups, the frequency of males was higher than females. In female patients, the most frequently identified subgroup was, textile, garment and related trades workers while, mining and construction laborers, motor vehicle drives, building frame and related trades workers were composed solely of males. The frequency of newly diagnosed patients was significantly higher than former tuberculosis patients in the occupational subgroups. CONCLUSION: It seems crucial to improve conditions of workplaces with arrangements enabling healthier environment such as adequate ventilation, appropriate living space as well as routine health controls of employees especially for the textile industry.

The outcome of tuberculosis cases with persistent smear positivity at the end of extended initial phase.

INTRODUCTION: To present the treatment outcome in tuberculosis patients with sputum smear positivity in the third month of category 1 treatment regimes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1024 patients with tuberculosis treated in Ministry of Health Sureyyapasa Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital from January 2004 to December 2005 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Categorization and appropriate treatment of tuberculosis was performed according the World Health Organization guidelines. RESULTS: Of overall 1024 patients, 655 (64%) were determined to receive category 1 treatment while sputum smear positivity was identified in 11 of them [2%; mean (SD) age: 46 (17.9) years] in the third month. Continuation phase treatment was initiated in these 11 patients. Sputum conversion was evident in six of 10 cases in the 4th month, in three cases in the 5th month and in one case in the 6th month. None had culture positivity after the 3rd month. Of 11 cases, 10 completed therapy with major drugs in six months and treatment outcome was cure. No relapse was identified after five years later. CONCLUSION: Based on our data we recommend that the continuing phase should be started in cases with positive sputum smear at the end of the extended initial phase.

[The treatment results of retreatment pulmonary tuberculosis patients in our clinic]. / Klinigimizde yeniden tedavi rejimi uygulanan akciger tüberkülozlu olgularin sonuçlari

164 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seronegative pulmonary tuberculosis cases treated in our clinic between January 1997 to December 2005 and included in category two treatment group were evaluated retrospectively. All the cases were male. The mean age was 43.72 ± 12.73 years. The mean duration of disease was 3.96 ± 4.80 years. The patients had used mean 4.62 ± 0.86 types of drugs. The patients were hospitalized for mean 100.54 ± 67.43 days. 23 (14%) patients were defined as treatment failure. 42 (25.6%) patients were relapse and 99 (60.4%) were defaulter. Mean time of conversion was 2.62 ± 1.84 months. Conversion rate was higher in relapse cases (76.2%) compared with treatment failure (56.5%) and defaulter (57.6%). In 140 patients, resistance tests were performed. 73 (52.1%) patients had any drug resistance. 45 (32.1%) patients had multidrug resistance. Among all the patients, 7 (4.3%) patients had died. 48 (29.3%) patients defaulted. 33 (20.1%) had treatment failure. 76 (46.3%) had cured. The cure rate was 65.5% in patients who were in control. 36.4% of defaulters were out of control. This rate was significantly higher than relapse and treatment failure cases (p= 0.014). Cure rate in defaulters (38.4%) were significantly lower than relapses (61.9%) and treatment failures (52.2%). There was a significant relationship between any drug resistance and cure and conversion. There was also a significant relationship between positive second and third ARB and culture and treatment success. As a result, a chance to retreatment regimen can be given in relapses and treatment failures before deciding minor drug therapy because they have higher cure rates than defaulters. Defaulters are hard to cure. They have the tendency to default again and they have higher resistance rates. The multi drug resistance rate in all patients was about 32% and 46.7% of these have cured with retreatment regimen. Bacteriological follow up of treatment outcome is effective in management of therapy.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: an unusual presentation.

A 24-year-old woman presented with chronic cough and noisy breathing. Chest x-ray revealed diffuse irregularity and narrowing of the tracheal lumen. Thorax computed tomography showed irregularity, stenosis, and areas of ossification throughout the trachea and both main bronchia. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed multiple nodules protruding into the tracheal lumen. Histopathology of the nodules confirmed the diagnosis of "tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica." Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica is a rare, benign disease that is characterized by multiple cartilaginous and osseous submucosal nodules protruding through tracheal lumen and large bronchia. The etiology is still unexplained.

Mutations in SLC34A2 cause pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis and are possibly associated with testicular microlithiasis.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare disease characterized by the deposition of calcium phosphate microliths throughout the lungs. We first identified a PAM locus by homozygosity mapping to 4p15, then identified, by a candidate-gene approach, the gene responsible for the disease as SLC34A2 (the type IIb sodium-phosphate cotransporter gene), which is involved in phosphate homeostasis in several organs. We identified six homozygous exonic mutations in the seven unrelated patients with PAM we studied. Three of the mutations were frameshifts, one was a chain termination, one was an amino acid substitution, and one was a deletion spanning the minimal promoter and the first exon. Absence of functional protein product of the gene is compatible with calcium phosphate deposition in alveolar airspaces. We show that impaired activity of the phosphate transporter is presumably responsible for the microliths and that PAM is a recessive monogenic disease with full penetrance. Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is a disease that is more common than PAM. It is often associated with cancer and infertility. Since the gene we identified is also expressed in testis, we searched for mutations in subjects with TM. In 2 of the 15 subjects with TM we studied, we identified two rare variants, one synonymous and the other noncoding, that are possibly associated with the condition.

[Evaluation of a commercial enzyme immunoassay for the detection of interferon gamma levels in active tuberculosis patients and vaccinated healthy subjects]. / Aktif tüoberkülozlu hastalar ve asili saglikli bireylerde interferon gamma düzeylerinin saptanmasinda ticari bir enzim immon yonteminin degerlendirilmesi.

The detection of plasma interferon gamma (IFN-g) levels has an important value for the evaluation of cell mediated immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the plasma IFN-g levels by a commercial enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and to compare the levels between recently diagnosed culture positive lung tuberculosis patients and BCG vaccinated healthy controls. Twenty-three patients with active lung tuberculosis (13 males, 10 females) and 34 BCG vaccinated healthy adults (16 male, 18 female) have been included in the study. The control subjects were questioned about passed tuberculosis infection and/or a contact with tuberculosis patients. No risk factors for exposure to M. tuberculosis were found in the control group. IFN-g levels were measured by QuantiFERON-TB (Cellestis, Australia) kit, and 22 of patients and 17 of control subjects were found to be positive. As a result, the sensitivity of QuantiFERON-TB test was high (95.6%), however its specificity was quite low (50%). In conclusion, QuantiFERON-TB may be used as a supplementary diagnostic test in patients considered to have active tuberculosis, before treatment. As BCG is in routine vaccination programme and the number of active tuberculosis cases is high in our country, this test seems to be invalid for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis. Therefore, more specific tests that are not affected by the vaccine response, are required for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis.

[Evaluation of Nazilli Tuberculosis Dispensary activities executed between June 1996-May 2000: Pre-DOT situation]. / Nazilli Verem Savas Dispanseri'nde Haziran 1996-Mayis 2000 tarihleri arasinda yürütülen çalismalarin degerlendirmesi: DGT öncesi durum.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate Nazilli Tuberculosis Dispensary activities executed between 1st June, 1996- 31st May, 2000 and to compare differences among 12-month-periods. DESIGN: Retrospective analyses of data. SETTINGS: People living in the villages under responsibility of Nazilli Tuberculosis Dispensary. POPULATION: People examined in out-patient clinic as symptomatic cases, for health report or during contact examination, number of mycobacteriological and radiological examinations, and tuberculosis cases detected in each year. MAIN RESULTS: Average number of newly diagnosed tuberculosis patient in every 12-month-period was 105. The average rate for new tuberculosis cases finding was 52.5%. Pulmonary tuberculosis was in 74.8% of all tuberculosis cases. The range of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases in all tuberculosis cases differed from 49% to 71% and a decrease in the rate of cases with no sputum smear from 18% to 3% were observed. The average of bacteriological conversion rate at the end of second therapy month was 70.5%. The average of cure rate in new smear positive patients was 82%. According to drug susceptibility test results, 13 of new smear positive cases and 5 of old cases were multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: Although the treatment success of either new smear positive or old smear positive tuberculosis cases were high, it is necessary to plan strategies for increasing the new case finding rate to 70%, the rate suggested by World Health Organization. The data obtained by this study showed that hopeful results may be achieved by stable staff and team-work in tuberculosis dispensary.