Biomedical subjects

Ergun Tozkoparan

Publications and source records attributed to Ergun Tozkoparan.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Serum total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C concentrations significantly correlate with the radiological extent of disease and the degree of smear positivity in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Low serum total cholesterol (TC) concentrations in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) have been demonstrated. It was shown that a cholesterol-rich diet might accelerate the sterilization rate of sputum cultures in PTB patients. It is known that smear positivity might be related to the radiological extent of disease (RED) in PTB patients. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that there might be a relationship between initial serum TC concentrations; the degree of RED (DRED) and the degree of smear positivity (DSP) in PTB patients. METHOD: Eighty-three PTB patients and 39 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum TC, TG, HDL-C, VLDL-C and LDL-C concentrations were determined in all subjects. PTB patients were classified for their chest X-ray findings as minimal/mild, moderate and advanced. Correlations between serum lipid concentrations, DRED and DSP (0, 1+, 2+, 3+, 4+) were investigated. PTB patients and controls were also compared for serum lipid concentrations. RESULTS: Significant differences between PTB patients and controls were detected for serum TC, HDL-C and LDL-C concentrations. On stepwise logistic regression analysis, DRED was found as one of the significant independent predictors of serum TC levels. We also found significant correlations between DRED and serum HDL-C concentrations (r=-0.60, p=0.0001) and between DRED and serum LDL-C concentrations (r=-0.28, p=0.011). There were also significant correlations between DSP and serum lipid concentrations. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that serum TC, HDL-C and LDL-C concentrations are generally lower in patients with PTB than those in healthy controls. In addition, changes in these parameters might be related to DRED and DSP in PTB patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Primary nasolacrymal tuberculosis diagnosed after dacryocytorhinostomy.

Although tuberculosis (TB) is common and well recognized in many countries, unusual presentations of the disease sometimes raise difficulties in differential diagnosis. Primary tuberculosis of the lacrimal sac and the nasolacrimal duct is an extremely rare presentation of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Dacryocystorhinostomy alone is not sufficient for the treatment of these patients and an anti-tuberculous therapy has to be added. Here we present a patient with primary tuberculosis, which is limited to the inferior meatus and filled the entire lacrimal sac on the left side. The patient underwent endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy due to obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct and culture of the granulation tissue, taken from the lacrimal sac revealed mycobacterial tuberculosis. The patient was improved with anti-tuberculous therapy that was added to the surgery. Primary tuberculosis is a rare granulomatous disease of the nasolacrimal system, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis to plan the effective treatment.

Antitubercular Agents↗

PubMed2006

Serum HDL-C levels, log (TG/HDL-C) values and serum total cholesterol/HDL-C ratios significantly correlate with radiological extent of disease in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: In several studies, it was shown that there was a marked decrease in serum levels of HDL-C during infection and inflammation in general. In particular, a decrease in the level of serum HDL-C was also shown in pneumonia. Correlations between inflammatory markers such as acute phase proteins, cytokines and serum HDL-C levels were shown. However, there are no studies indicating a correlation between serum HDL-C levels and the radiological extent of the disease (RED) in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). AIM: We hypothesized that there could be a relationship between serum HDL-C levels and RED in CAP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-controlled study, including 97 patients with CAP and 45 healthy subjects, was performed. Chest X-rays of CAP patients were scored for RED, and correlations were investigated between RED scores, serum lipid parameters, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum albumin levels. RESULTS: The mean serum HDL-C level was lower in CAP patients than in controls. A significant and negative correlation between RED scores (REDS) and serum HDL-C levels was detected (r = -0.64, P = 0.0001). There were also significant correlations between REDS and other lipid parameters. Significant correlations between ESR and serum HDL-C levels and between ESR and other serum lipid parameters were also found. CONCLUSION: It appears that serum HDL-C levels are generally lower in CAP cases than in healthy controls. Serum HDL-C levels and serum albumin levels might decrease and serum total cholesterol/HDL-C ratios and log (TG/HDL-C) values might increase proportionally with RED in CAP patients. These results might have some significance for individuals having long-standing and/or recurrent pneumonia and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Reduced pulmonary function in wind instrument players.

BACKGROUND: Wind instrument playing requires a strenuous respiratory activity. Previous studies investigating effect of wind instrument playing on pulmonary function are equivocal. METHODS: In the present study, 34 male, non-smoker wind players in a military band were compared with 44 healthy non-smoker males by pulmonary function testing. RESULTS: All spirometric values including forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow rate, forced expiratory flow in 25, 50, 75% of FVC, and during the middle half of the FVC were found significantly diminished in wind players. The class of wind instrument, brass or wood, showed no significant differences. FVC was significantly and negatively correlated with duration of practice. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that pulmonary function in wind players might be diminished probably due to development of asthma or constant barotrauma during their playing. This fact should be considered in clinical evaluation of wind instrument players.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Atopy in patients with bronchiectasis: more than coincidence.

Bronchiectasis is common in developing countries, but its precise underlying mechanism can be detected in only about 40% of the cases. The studies reporting the frequency of atopy and its relation to radiological findings and lung function in bronchiectasis are limited in number, and the results are controversial. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between atopy and bronchiectasis by means of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests. Skin prick test, HRCT and pulmonary function tests, including spirometric values of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity) ratio were performed in 121 bronchiectatic patients of unknown etiology and in 68 healthy controls. Atopy and HRCT scores for the severity of atopy and extent of bronchiectasis respectively were determined for each patient. The rate of atopy (48.8% vs 11.8%) and mean atopy score (14.3 +/- 10.1 mm vs 5.5 +/- 2.1 mm) were significantly higher in patients with bronchiectasis than those in controls. Atopic patients had significantly worse spirometric values and more extended bronchiectasis than non-atopics. There is a significant correlation between atopy and HRCT scores (r = 0.54, p < 0.001), indicating that the more severe atopy is the more extended bronchiectasis. In conclusion, we suggest that the rate of atopy is higher in bronchiectatic patients than that in healthy controls. Bronchiectatic patients with atopy have lower spirometric values and higher HRCT scores. Atopy might be considered as a deteriorating and/or a causative or contributing factor for development of bronchiectasis.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Pleural fluid and serum procalcitonin as diagnostic tools in tuberculous pleurisy.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis is difficult because of its nonspecific clinical presentation and decreased efficiency of traditional diagnostic methods. We investigated the use of procalcitonin (PCT) concentration in tuberculous pleuritis diagnosis. METHODS: A prospective clinical study was performed with two different patient groups. A total of 28 patients were included: 18 with tuberculosis and 10 with nontuberculous pleurisy. Serum and pleural fluid PCT concentrations were evaluated before treatment. RESULTS: Serum and pleural fluid PCT concentrations were statistically different between tuberculous and nontuberculous pleurisy groups (P = 0.012 and P = 0.004, respectively), even though they were not elevated in relation to the cut-off level of 0.5 ng/mL. A positive and significant correlation was detected between serum and pleural fluid PCT levels (r = 0.49, P = 0.008). Diagnostic specificity and sensitivity values for serum and pleural fluid PCT in discriminating tuberculous from nontuberculous pleurisy were 80% and 72.2%, and 90% and 66.7% at the 0.081 and 0.113 ng/mL cut-off values, respectively. CONCLUSION: Relative to the current cut-off level of 0.5 ng/mL, PCT concentration is not a useful parameter for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. Because there were PCT levels in patients with tuberculous pleurisy that were below the current cut-off level but were significantly different from those of the nontuberculous group, the use of PCT should be further investigated.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

High resolution computed tomographic features of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare, chronic lung disease with unknown etiology and with a nonuniform clinical course. Nonuniformity of clinical course might be related to the degree of pulmonary parenchymal alterations, which can be revealed with high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). However, HRCT findings of PAM were not fully described in the current literature. AIM: The aim of this study was to interpret and to contribute to describe HRCT findings of PAM and to investigate a correlation between profusion of micro nodules (MN) and pulmonary parenchymal alterations in patients with PAM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten male patients with PAM (mean age: 22+/-3.2) were included into the study. HRCT images were assessed for patterns, distribution, and profusion of pulmonary abnormalities. Dividing the lungs into three zones, profusion of abnormalities was assessed. A profusion score (1-4) was given and the scores of each zone were then summed to obtain a global profusion score for HRCT ranging from 0 to 12. Also a parenchymal alteration score (PAS) was defined with respect to profusion of abnormalities. Chest X-rays were also scored. RESULTS: All of ten patients with PAM had findings of interstitial lung disease in varying degrees on their HRCTs. HRCT findings of patients with PAM were as following: MN, parenchymal bands (PB), ground glass opacity (GGO) and, sub pleural interstitial thickening (SPIT) in 10 patients; interlobular septal thickening (ILST), in 9 patients; paraseptal emphysema (PSA) in 8 patients; centrilobular emphysema (CLA) in 7 patients; bronchiectasis (BE), confluent micro nodules (CMN) in 6 patients; peri bronchovascular interstitial thickening (PBIT) in 5 patients; panacinar emphysema (PANAA) in 3 patients; pleural calcification (PC) in 2 patients. A significant correlation between MN scores and PAS (r=0.68, p=0.031, MN scores and GGO scores (r=0.69, p=0.027) and, MN scores and CLA scores (r=0.67, p=0.034) was detected. We also found significant correlations between HRCT scores and results of pulmonary function tests (PFTs), HRCT scores and chest X-ray score (CXRS) and, CXRS and results of PFTs. CONCLUSION: We conclude that patients with PAM may have all findings of interstitial lung disease in varying degrees as well as MNs on their HRCTs. More importantly, this study suggests a proportional relationship between profusion of MNs and parenchymal alterations in patients with PAM. This study also suggests that the degree of parenchymal alterations closely related with the degree of pulmonary function loss in patients with PAM.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Delay in the diagnosis of Turkish servicemen with pulmonary tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the time between the first appearance of symptoms and the start of treatment among Turkish servicemen with tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with pulmonary TB were enrolled in the study. We surveyed their complaints and education levels, the opportunity to visit a health care facility, and the time elapsed until diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS: Of the study group, 62 (63.7%) reported that they had visited an infirmary as soon as their complaints appeared. The median total delay in diagnosis was 21 days for all cases. Patient delay decreased among patients with hemoptysis (2.1 vs. 6.4 days, p = 0.013) and increased with night sweats (7.3 vs. 3.1 days, p = 0.042). Total delay was not correlated with any symptom. CONCLUSION: We suggest that delays in diagnosis and treatment among Turkish soldiers with pulmonary TB arise from some factors related to both patients and health care facilities, and these factors should be taken into account by military health services.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Tuberculin skin test screening in a military school in Istanbul city center].

To investigate the reason of high incidence of annual patients with tuberculosis (TB) in a military school previously known by screening tuberculin skin test (TST) and finding out the proportion of annual infection risk (PAIR), the prevalance of TB infection and the distribution for each grades. Our study is a cross-sectional epidemiologic study made about TB infection. TST were screened for all students in the school. 5 TU PPD was injected to every student and after 72 hours, the results were evaluated by measuring the diameter of enduration. Test was repeated after 10 days for negative reactions. Age, sex, the number of BCG wound, smoking and dwelling for last 5 years were asked from the students and their answers were recorded. More than 10 mm enduration for cases who had no BCG and 15 mm enduration for cases who had BCG were accepted positive. Chest roentgenogram was taken for each student enrolled into the study. Infection prevalance and PAIR were calculated after tests and measurements. The total number of students was 948. Of 917 (96.7%) were male and 31 (3.3%) were female. The mean age was 19.72 +/- 1.25. The mean of TST was 12.79 +/- 5.96 mm for all students. According to the number of BCG scar, the numbers of students, percentage and the mean of TST were like that 70 (7.3%) cases no BCG scar 8.41 +/- 7.87 mm, 393 (41.4%) students one BCG scar, 11.94 +/- 6.26 mm, 343 (36.1%) cases two BCG scars, 13.74 +/- 5.12 mm, 142 (14.9%) students three or more then three scars, 14.97 +/- 4.11 mm. In the students who had no BCG, TST positivity was 50%. TB infection prevalance of entire school and PAIR were 46% and 3.44% (respectively). In this study, we found that increased number of BCG wound associated with the increased diameter of TST enduration. The proportion of unvaccinated students was similar to the same age population in our country but it showed differences in the distribution of regions. The students who started first grade had serious TB infection risk in their first school year. We think that PAIR values derived from TST conversions done in high risky community by screening annual TST could show all aspects of TB infection risk in those community.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Poland syndrome (a case report)].

Poland syndrome is characterized with unilateral absence of pectoralis major muscle. Its incidence is one in 30000 live births. A 20 years old case with Poland syndrome is presented together with its clinical and laboratory features in this study. The case had anomaly of shortness of right hand fingers and syndactily between second and third fingers in addition to absence of right pectoralis muscle group. There was not another associated anomaly except aforementioned ones. Strength loss in abduction and adduction of right shoulder was detected with Cybex dynamometer. Furthermore decrease in predicted maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures was detected.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The roles of HRCT and clinical parameters in assessing activity of suspected smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (SNPTB) constitutes a major problem in countries with a moderate or high TB prevalence. The value of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), chest x-ray and other clinical findings in determining activity of SNPTB were investigated. METHODS: The study population consisted of 85 patients with suspected SNPTB, of whom 52 were confirmed as active pulmonary TB according to either culture positivity for Mycobacteriun tuberculosis or demonstration of caseous granulomatous inflammation. The remaining 33 patients accepted inactive TB sequel. RESULTS: Cough and expectoration were significantly frequent in inactive group whereas chest pain was detected higher in active patients. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of HRCT in detecting disease activity were 88, 88, 92, 83 and 88%, respectively. Centrilobular nodules, other non-calcified nodules, consolidation and cavity were significantly higher on HRCT in active group. Chest x-ray scores that were graded 1 to 3 showed a linear trend for the disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: HRCT has good diagnostic value in detecting activity of SNPTB, and some clinical findings may help in predicting the activity.

Adult↗