Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Nurhan Köksal.
A 57-year-old man admitted to department of pulmonary medicine with a history of persistent cough. Computed tomography showed there was a right tracheal bronchus originated from 1/3 distal region of trachea. We reported this case because of the rarity of pulmonary anomaly.
Although the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used after the menopause on the cardiovascular system, bone tissue, mammary gland, endometrium, menopausal symptoms and sexuality has been well known, there are very few studies about the effects of HRT on the pulmonary functions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of HRT on the pulmonary functions. For this purpose the postmenopausal women were randomized into two groups, 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogens + 5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate as a HRT was given to the group I (n= 32), and placebo was given to the control group. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) were performed to the all cases by same technician before and three months after the treatment. FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75 and PEF parameters of the groups were compared. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups considering the age, duration of the menopause and body mass index (BMI) (p> 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups considering FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75 values of initial and the 3rd months measurements (p> 0.05). But PEF levels of the HRT group were significantly different than the initial values three months after the treatment (4.42 +/- 2.6 and 4.84 +/- 1.1) (p= 0.023). There were no statistically significant differences between the other compared parameters of PFT. As a result among the PFT parameters of the postmenopausal women taking HRT, PEF that was used as on obstruction parameter was found elevated. So, we concluded that more detailed and prospective studies were needed about the effects of HRT on PFT.
OBJECTIVE: A plant powder called "Maraş Powder" has been used widely instead of cigarette in the South-Eastern region of Turkey. It was confirmed that this powder has been made of tobacco N. rustica L. Our aim was to investigate whether the use of Maraş Powder is as harmful as cigarette smoking or not. METHODS: Forty-five Maraş Powder users (Group I), 32 persons who smoked cigarette (control-Group II) and 30 healthy persons neither smoking nor using Maraş Powder (Group III) were included into the study. Laboratory investigations, electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed in all participants of the study. For evaluation of the ventricular repolarization parameters, 50 mm/sec ECG recordings were used. Echocardiographic investigation was performed for assessment systolic and diastolic function. RESULTS: No differences were found by means of ventricular repolarization parameters among the three groups (p>0.05). Echocardiographic investigation revealed similar systolic function results in all of the three groups. There was reduced early filling velocity of the left ventricle (p=0.03, p=0.02) and increased filling velocity of the atrial component (p=0.02, p=0.02) in group I and group II. When they were compared to group III, deceleration time was also increased (p<0.01, p<0.01). Isovolumetric relaxation time was higher in group I and group II than that of group III (p=0.02, p=0.03). In group I and group II, total cholesterol (p=0.03, p=0.02), LDL-cholesterol (p<0.01, p<0.01) and triglyceride levels (p<0.01, p<0.01) were found to be higher than those of group III, whereas HDL levels were lower (p=0.02, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: As a result, we thought that Maraş Powder is as harmful as cigarette smoking and it has similar negative effects on cardiovascular system. In our opinion, "Maraş Powder" is a smokeless tobacco use.
Seventy one years old woman admitted to our clinic with the complaints of fever, cough and palpitation. Physical examination revealed a palpable thyroid with a 2 cm in length in its isthmus and large right lobe. Kyphotic patient was tachycardic. Other systems were within normal limits. Chest x-ray performed wide upper mediastinum with calcified nodule approximately 3.5 cm in dimension in the apex of the left lung. Computed tomography revealed thyroid gland lying through the upper mediastinum and a mass 3.5 x 3.2 cm in dimension in the left lobe inferior regio of the gland surrounded with calcification. Thyroid function tests showed hyperthyroidism. Clinically patient had a substernal multinodular goitre. Since the lesion demonstrating egg shell calcification at the apex of left lung in the chest roentgenogram belonged to substernal goitre, the case was accepted interesting and presented below.