A case of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia with atypical clinical and radiological progress

Eosinophilic lung disease is characterised by eosinophilic infiltration of lung tissue besides peripherical blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid eosinophilia. A 48 year-old male who attended our clinics with cough and sputum lasting for 2-3 months, has been evaluated for micronodular interstitial infiltration bilaterally in all lung areas. Eosinophilia was detected in hemogram but BAL fluid was not diagnostic. Transbronchial lung parenchymal biopsy was compliant with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. No special cause has been found after evaluation and the case was accepted to be idiopathic. Because of unfamiliar clinical, radiological and pathological findings, we decided to present this case.     

Efficacy comparison of combined trabeculectomy with MMC and gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy

International Ophthalmology - To compare the efficacy of gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy combined with cataract surgery (PGATT) and trabeculectomy combined with cataract surgery...     

Prolene mesh migration into the rectum after sacral colpopexy presented with frozen pelvis

INTRODUCTIONPelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common gynecological problem. Repair with synthetic materials such as prolene mesh has become a popular approach in prolapsus surgery. Migration of synthetic materials can cause serious complications.PRESENTATION OF CASEA 69-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of sensation of fullness and a feeling of a foreign material protruding during defecation. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy. Prolene mesh was detected in sacral region but resection of the mesh could not be conducted because of dense adhesions causing frozen pelvis. The migrated prolene mesh was resected transanally.DISCUSSIONGenital prolapse or genital hernia is described as the protrusion of pelvic organs along the vagina. It is one of the common gynecological conditions that affect the quality of life in women. Mesh migration is a well-known clinical pathology.CONCLUSIONMesh migration is a serious complication after sacral colpopexy. Surgical resection of migrated mesh can be difficult due to dense adhesions.     

Cytological and Ultrasound Findings in Indeterminate Lesions of the Thyroid Gland

Objectives

Thyroid nodules are common, and the majority are discovered incidentally on physical examination or imaging studies. Certain features on ultrasound (US) have been traditionally associated with malignant lesions and others with benign lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of US in determining malignancy in thyroid lesions diagnosed as indeterminate or malignant according to the cytological findings on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).

Methods

The records of 270 patients, referred to a single clinic with multinodular goiter were evaluated retrospectively, and 400 thyroid nodules sized larger than 5 mm in diameter were selected for the study. After exclusion of nodules classified as benign according to the FNAB findings, 203 thyroid nodules were included in this study. The nodules were divided into two groups on the basis of the FNAB findings: group 1 consisted of 82 nodules with indeterminate cytology and group 2 consisted of 121 nodules with cytological findings of malignancy or suspicious for malignancy.

Results

The diagnostic accuracy of ill-defined borders was 69.5% in group 1 (indeterminate) and 56% in group 2 (p=0.04). The diagnostic accuracy of solid composition was 50% in group 1 and 73% in group 2 (p=0.01). Positive correlation was demonstrated between ill-defined margins and malignant histology in group 1 (r=0.411, p=0.001), and between microcalcifications and malignant histology in group 2 (r=0.247, p=0.002).

Conclusions

In this study, the only US finding shown to be correlated with malignant histology in thyroid nodules of indeterminate cytology on FNAB was ill-defined margins. More precise US criteria are needed to decide on surgery in patients with thyroid nodules of indeterminate cytology.

     

The effects of environmental tobacco smoke exposure before starting to smoke on cigarette quitting therapies

We aimed to determine the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure before starting to smoke on cigarette quitting therapies and to determine source environment/individuals for ETS exposure. 230 individuals were contacted. We investigated person/s with ETS exposure before starting to smoke, places/duration of exposure, sources of exposure, therapy methods/durations recommended. Training seminar was also assumed as a therapy method. Those who were administered nicotine replacement and/or bupropion for a minimum of one week, 169 patients who only attended the training programme were evaluated. 68 patients who stopped smoking defined as controls, 101 patients who did not were defined as cases. There was no difference between case and control groups in terms of ages at initiation of smoking, ages at initiation of regular smoking, number of cigarettes per-day, total package-year and nicotine dependence score. 218 patients were found to have ETS exposure before starting to smoke. The highest ETS exposure was determined to be indoors (85.7%) and of paternal origin (77.2%). The rates of cigarette smoke exposure of maternal origin were 32.7% in cases, 25.4% in controls (p= 0.009 OR= 2.8). The mother being a smoker was found to increase the risk of not being able to stop smoking by 2.8 times. The number of people causing ETS exposure was higher in cases compared to controls (p= 0.044). ETS exposure have negative effects on the outcomes of cigarette quitting therapies. Indoor ETS exposure is the leading source of exposure. Therefore, indoor ETS exposure should be prevented, mothers should be trained concerning this matter.     

Microbiologic spectrum and prognostic factors of hospital-acquired pneumonia cases

Nosocomial infections are an important cause of preventable morbidity and mortality; they also result in significant socioeconomic cost. Nosocomial pneumonia (NCP) is defined as pneumonia, which occurs 48 hours after hospitalization or after discharge from the hospital. It is the second or third most frequent infection among all hospital acquired infections, and the mortality of NCP is higher than the other hospital acquired infections. Patients, diagnosed as NCP were retrospectively analyzed in order to detect microbiological agent and prognostic factors. We evaluated 173 patients, 67.0% of them were male and 33.0% female. Comorbid diseases were present in 94.2% and a medical procedure had been applied in 75.1% of cases. A single agent was isolated in 79.2% of the cases while a mixt infection was present in 13.3%. In 7.5% of the cases, cultures were negative. Endotracheal aspirates were the most common materials (38.9%) used for detected microorganism and sputum cultures were used in 16.8% of the cases. Most commonly encountered microorganism were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp. and Staphylococcus aureus respectively. NCP developed on approximately 18th day of hospitalization. Overall mortality rate was 45.2%. The effects of diabetes mellitus and chronic pulmonary diseases on mortality rate were analized by logistic regression analysis and it's evaluated that the mortality rates increase 3.7 times with diabetes mellitus and 2.4 times with chronic pulmonary diseases. There was no effect of mechanical ventilation history on mortality.