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Biomedical subjects

F Erkan

Publications and source records attributed to F Erkan.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Evaluation of undergraduate training on tuberculosis at Istanbul Medical School.

SETTING: Undergraduate training on tuberculosis at Istanbul Medical School. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether tuberculosis-related questions asked in chest medicine examinations comply with the World Health Organization's (WHO) learning objectives for tuberculosis training, and to investigate students' skills in interpreting radiology and smears with respect to tuberculosis. DESIGN: Tuberculosis questions set for 4th year medical students (n = 838) were compared with WHO objectives (n = 23): 122 students were each asked to interpret 10 chest X-rays which had been read by three experts as 'typical tuberculosis lesions', 'normal' or 'non-tuberculosis lesions'; 114 students were also each given five smears which had been interpreted by an expert as 'negative' or 'positive' with respect to acid-fast-bacilli (AFB), and were asked to interpret them. RESULTS: Questions covered only nine of the WHO objectives. Among 117 types of questions, 91 (77.8%) were about clinical-radiological findings, treatment and drugs; 334 (65.1%) of 513 X-rays with typical tuberculosis lesions, 77 (21.1%) of 364 normal X-rays and 87 (25.4%) of 343 X-rays with non-tuberculosis lesions were identified as tuberculosis (kappa 0.45). Of 369 AFB-positive smears, 149 (40.4%) were evaluated as false negative, and of 185 AFB-negative smears, 48 (25.9%) were evaluated as false positive (kappa 0.49). CONCLUSION: Examination questions set on tuberculosis at Istanbul Medical School do not adequately reflect WHO learning objectives. Students' skills in interpreting radiology and smears suggest that their practical training on tuberculosis is insufficient.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2001

Efficacy of inhaled budesonide and oral theophylline in asthmatic subjects.

The aim of present study was to evaluate clinical, functional, and anti-inflammatory effects of inhaled budesonide and oral theophylline treatments in patients with mild to moderate asthma. The study included 38 patients. After a 10-day run-in period, the patients were randomly assigned into two groups. Group 1 received inhaled budesonide (Pulmicort Turbuhaler) 800 microg/day for 4 weeks. Group 2 received oral theophylline (Talotren tablets, 200 mg twice daily) for 4 weeks. Inhaled budesonide therapy was accompanied by a significant decrease in serum interleukin (IL)-5 levels (p < 0.0005) and blood, sputum, and nasal eosinophil counts (p < 0.005). It produced a significant reduction in daytime (p < 0.01) and nighttime (p < 0.005) symptom scores and an increase in morning (p < 0.005) and evening (p < 0.05) peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory volume in I sec (FEV1) values (p < 0.01). Theophylline therapy was associated with a significant decrease in blood (p < 0.02) and nasal (p < 0.01) eosinophil counts and serum IL-5 levels (p < 0.01). It resulted in significant improvements in daytime and nighttime symptom scores (p < 0.05), and morning PEF and FEV1 values (p < 0.05). These changes were more significant in group I than in group 2. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to post-treatment values. Our results confirm the role of inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of asthma and are consistent with the recommendation that theophylline exerts an anti-inflammatory effect. Further studies should be conducted to determine long-term benefits of theophylline.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1999

Differential expression of proliferative, cytoskeletal, and adhesive proteins during postnatal development of the hamster submandibular gland.

Although the submandibular gland (SMG) plays important exocrine and endocrine roles, little is known about the molecular details underlying its development. Previously, we reported that in the postnatally developing hamster SMG, GPT, the protein product of the first N-glycosylation gene, ALG7, was an in vivo marker for salivary cell proliferation. Here we investigated the proliferative, cytoskeletal, and adhesive changes during SMG postnatal development. The cellular localization and abundance of GPT, filamentous actin, and beta1 integrin receptor were examined using confocal microscopy and immunoblotting. In neonatal glands, high GPT levels marked extensive cell proliferation throughout the tissue. The apical regions of immature salivary cells displayed intense actin staining, while most of the beta1 integrin was diffusely distributed throughout the tissue. As development proceeded, discrete regions of the gland expressed attenuated levels of GPT, an increased organization of actin to the cell cortex, and beta1 integrin to the basal lamina. In the adult SMG, differentiated salivary cells displayed low levels of GPT and actin. While the abundance of beta1 integrin remained unchanged throughout development, in the adult, it was found exclusively in regions where cells contact the basal lamina. These data indicate that SMG development entails regionalized cell proliferation and polarization, and that these processes are temporally and spatially coordinated with the establishment of stable cell-substratum interactions.

Actins↗
PubMed1999

Pulmonary involvement in Behçet disease.

Pulmonary artery aneurysms varying in size and number continue to be the principal feature of pulmonary involvement in Behçet disease (BD). Pulmonary aneurysms have been reported to be associated with cardiac thromboses, mainly in the right heart. Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia has also been seen in the setting of pulmonary artery aneurysms. Aneurysms of the aortic arch and subclavian artery are rarely recognized thoracic manifestations of BD. Noninvasive imaging techniques, such as helical computed tomography and magnetic resonance angiography, are the safer and preferred methods for identifying aneurysms and thrombi. Digital substraction angiography has been found to be inadequate in showing thrombosed vessels. Follow-up computed tomography was performed in the documentation of the aneurysmal healing process. In patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment, intramural thrombus formation occurred and was followed by aneurysmal regression and disappearance. General principles for the treatment of systemic vasculitis are used in the treatment of BD.

Aneurysm↗
PubMed1996

Interferon alfa-2a in the treatment of Behçet's disease.

BACKGROUND: There is no definite treatment for Behçet's disease. New drugs are being evaluated in cases unresponsive to conventional treatment modalities. OBJECTIVE: In this study we investigated the efficacy of interferon alfa-2a on skin lesions in 18 Behçet's disease patients who had predominantly mucocutaneous involvement. METHODS: Eighteen patients with Behçet's disease were treated with interferon alfa-2a at 3 million IU/day in the first week (three times a week), 6 million IU/day in the second week (three times a week), 9 million IU/day in the third week and thereafter (three times a week). Interferon alfa-2a was administered subcutaneously for a total of 12 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of the treatment the efficacy of the drug was found to be good in 9 patients and very good in 7 patients. Interferon alfa-2a is particularly effective in skin manifestations such as genital ulceration and erythema-nodosum-like lesions. It was also found to be effective in systemic manifestations such as fever, diarrhea and eye involvement. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that interferon alfa-2a is a promising drug in the treatment of Behçet's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Bronchoalveolar lavage cytology and immunocytology in pulmonary tuberculosis.

Limited data on the cellular and immunocytologic characteristics of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in pulmonary tuberculosis have been reported. We therefore studied 40 patients with active disease. BAL fluid differential cell counts and lymphocyte subsets were determined. The findings were compared with data from 47 patients with active sarcoidosis and 30 healthy control subjects. The proportion of lymphocytes was increased in both diseases (p < 0.001 versus control subjects) but with no difference compared to one another. The CD4/CD8 ratio was normal in 33 of 40 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in contrast to sarcoidosis, with an increased ratio in 33 of 47 patients. HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes were significantly increased in both pulmonary tuberculosis and sarcoidosis (p < 0.05 versus control group). The proportion of CD57+ lymphocytes was normal in all study groups. We conclude that pulmonary tuberculosis and sarcoidosis are characterized by an increased percentage of lymphocytes in BAL fluid with a similar proportion of activated T cells. In contrast to active sarcoidosis, in which an elevated CD4/CD8 ratio is characteristic, in the majority of pulmonary tuberculosis patients the CD4/CD8 ratio is within the normal range.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Pulmonary vasculitis in Behçet's disease.

Clinical findings of 12 patients with Behçet's disease and lung involvement are presented. Male to female ratio was 11/1, mean age was 35.3 +/- 8.8 yr. All patients had at least four other organ manifestations of vasculitis, either in their history or during the period of lung involvement. The main complaint was hemoptysis of varying degree in 11 of the 12 patients. The chest X-ray films showed unilateral hilar enlargements in six patients, diaphragm elevation in four, horizontally or obliquely oriented linear opacities in three, diffuse, ill-defined infiltrates in upper and lower zones in three, wedge-shaped peripheral opacities in one, and bilateral pleural effusion in one patient. Computed tomography of the chest performed in nine patients revealed aneurysms, narrowings, and cutoffs of the main, lobar, segmental, or peripheral branches of the pulmonary artery and irregular configuration of other pulmonary vessels. Perfusion scans demonstrated defects of various sizes in all patients. Pulmonary angiography performed in only two patients showed amputation of branches of the pulmonary artery and aneurysmal dilatations. The patients were treated with a combination therapy consisting of corticosteroid, cyclophosphamide, colchicine, and antiaggregants, with very good results in the short term.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Exogenous allergic alveolitis caused by mouldy hazel nut leaves].

A 62-year old farmer woman from the northeastern, very rainy part of Turkey has been collecting large amounts of green and brown involucral hazel-nut leaves for subsequent use as fuel. For the last 20 years she had been complaining of cough, respiratory distress and intermittent fever. In the course of years of continual antigen exposure she developed the clinical and x-ray signs of fibrosis of the lung. Bronchoalveolar lavage produced the typical cell pattern of chronic exogenous allergic alveolitis with predominant CD8 cells. Serum analysis yielded high titres of IgG antibodies against mould fungi partly obtained from hazel-nut husk cultures, as well as thermophilic actinomycetes.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1991

[Behçet's disease: a cause of hemoptysis].

Behçet's disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of haemoptysis. Pulmonary manifestations of Behçet's disease, which are due to the vasculitis of pulmonary vessels are quite rare. 8 cases who presented with haemoptysis and subsequently diagnosed as Behçet's disease will be presented. The value of diagnostic methods will be discussed. All patients yielded other manifestations of vasculitis such as aphtous stomatitis, genital ulcerations, cutaneous lesions, iridocyclitis and thrombophlebitis. Chest X-ray films yielded unilateral hilar enlargement in 3, unilateral elevation of diaphragm in 3, round and nonhomogenous opacities in 4 of 8 patients. Thorax CAT was performed in 5 of whom 4 showed aneurysms and irregularities of vessel walls. Pulmonary angiography of 2 patients displayed aneurysm and thrombosis. Perfusion defects of various sizes were evident in 7 patients obtained by pulmonary perfusion scans.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of Zafirlukast on skin prick test.

BACKGROUND: Some anti-allergic and anti-asthmatic drugs should be discontinued before skin prick test. But there is no knowledge about zafirlukast effects on skin prick test. We investigate the effects of zafirlukast on cutaneous response to histamine and specific allergens. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 9 patients suffering from allergic mild asthma or allergic rhinitis and 8 healthy individuals were recruited to the study. All of them took 20 mg zafirlukast twice daily for at least 5 days. Skin prick test was performed before and after treatment by histamine and specific allergens. There was no significant difference between pre- and post-treatment skin prick tests in spite of zafirlukast treatment. CONCLUSION: Zafirlukast does not affect skin reactions against histamine and specific allergens. Diagnostic skin prick test can be performed under zafirlukast treatment.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗