Hüseyin Arpağ

Protective Effects of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Methotrexate-Induced Oxidative Lung Injury in Rats

ABSTRACT Objective: Oxidative stress is one of the major causes of methotrexate induced lung injury (MILI). Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), which occurs naturally in human food, has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this study was to research the potential protective role of ALA on MILI in rats. Methods: Twenty one rats were randomly subdivided into three groups: control (group I), methotrexate (MTX) treated (group II), and MTX+ALA treated (group III). Lung injury was performed with a single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) to groups 2 and 3. On the sixth day, animals in all groups were sacrificed by decapitation and lung tissue and blood samples were removed for histological examination and also measurement the levels of interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and sodium potassium-adenosine triphosphatase (Na+/K+ATPase). Results: In MTX group tissue GSH, Na+/K+ATPase activities were lower, tissue MDA, MPO and plasma IL-1?, TNF-? were significantly higher than the other groups. Histopathological examination showed that lung injury was less severe in group 2 according to group 3. Conclusions: Oxidative damage of MTX in rat lung is partially reduced when combined with ALA.

Pulmonary mucormycosis mimicking an endobronchial mass

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that can infect different regions of the body. This entity may present in rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, and disseminated forms. Although pulmonary mucormycosis is usually seen as an invasive parenchymal consolidation or cavitation, it may rarely present as an endobronchial mass. We describe a case of endobronchial mucormycosis in which the fungal mass was completely removed via rigid bronchoscopy before medical therapy.

Serum telomerase levels in smokers and smokeless tobacco users as Maras powder

Introduction To the best of our knowledge, no previous study regarding the serum telomerase levels in Maras powder users (MPUs) has been founded. The aim of the current study was to investigate serum telomerase levels in smokers and MPUs. Materials and Methods The study was carried out with 98 patients (36 MPUs, 32 smokers and 30 non-smokers). Blood samples were collected, and after having measured the serum telomerase and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of the patients, comparison were made between the groups. Result It has been observed that the serum telomerase and MDA levels of smokers (p< 0.001) and MPUs (p< 0.001) were significantly higher compared to those of the non-smoker control subjects. In addition, the levels of serum telomerase and MDA were observed to be higher in the MPU group compared to those of the smoker group (p< 0.001). Conclusions The levels of serum telomerase and MDA were observed to be higher among MPUs and smokers. In this context, it may be useful to further measure and assess telomerase activity in such patients in order to better determine the harmful effects associated with these habits.

A Case of Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis Diagnosed by Transbronchial Biopsy

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is a rare infiltrative pulmonary disease, in which intraalveolar accumulation of small stones (microliths) consisting of calcium phosphatite occurs. It is an autosomal recessive disorder. The disease occurs as a result of the disruption of type IIb sodium phosphate cotransporter in type II alveolar cells after the mutation of SLC34A2. Majority of patients are diagnosed between age 20 and 40. Here, we present a case of alveolar microlithiasis that was diagnosed with transbronchial biopsy.

Septik Pulmoner Emboli, Olgu Sunumu

Septic pulmonary embolism is a condition characterized by non-specific symptoms such as fever, chest pain, cough and pulmonary infiltrates that developing secondarily to any infectious source. It is a phenomenon which has predisposing factors such as congenital heart disease, iv drug usage, long-term catheterization. It is characterized with abscess and infarct formation in lungs secondarily to hematogenous spread of coagulated blood containing microorganisms from right heart to the lungs. Early diagnosis and broad-spectrum antibiotics are the main factors determining the prognosis of septic pulmonary embolism which has high morbidity and mortality. In our case, patient admitted to our clinic with chest pain, cough, fever and haemoptysis. It has bilateral cavitary lesions in lung scanning. However, it has high sedimentation and C-reactive protein level, primary infection could not detected. In more detailed anamnesis of patient, there was a history of dental abscess treatment. It was diagnosed with septic pulmonary embolism and treated with non-specific antibiotherapy and healed fastly. The aim of this case report is to provide an overview of septic pulmonary embolism, with existing literature.

Chest wall deformities and coincidence of additional anomalies, screening results of the 25.000 Turkish children with the review of the literature

Background: The main subtypes of chest wall deformities are pectus excavatum (PE) and pectus carinatum (PC). Although these are not life threatening diseases, some functional or physico-social disabilities due to the abnormal chest wall structure require treatment. The main stem of the treatment is surgical correction. Since the beginning of the 20 th century various surgical techniques were introduced. In the last few decades some minimally invasive surgical techniques were also described. In the English literature many reports suggest that the vast majority of these abnormalities are PE. But in most of the reports patient groups consist of hospital admissions. The real frequency of this group of disease is controversial. Materials and Methods: In this report, a wide field study was designed to find the real frequency of the chest wall diseases. Total of 25117 children between 6-11 years of age were visited in the elementary schools of Kahramanmaras. The team members were a thoracic surgeon, a pulmonologist and a pediatrician. Results: A careful physical examination revealed that a total of 255 patients had different degrees of chest wall deformity. We found that PC (90.58%) was the most frequent type of deformity in contrast with the previous reports suggesting PE as the most frequent type. In our results only 5.49% of the patients had PE and 3.93% of the patients had mixed type PE+PC. The most frequent ECG abnormality seen in 49 cases (19% of cases with deformity) was a negative T wave on V1 derivation and a biphasic T wave configuration on V1-V2 derivations. 8 patients (3.13%) had concomitant scoliosis and 6 patients (%2.35) had different degrees of cardiomegaly. Conclusions: The real frequency of chest wall deformities is an enigma. When PE patients themselves or their family notice the abnormality, they may consider it as a big health problem and admit to a healthcare unit. But in contrast, PC patients mostly do not care about this disorder until adolescence, so admission rate is less then PE. We suggest that the real frequency of the chest wall deformities may be found only by widespread field studies. Moreover, we found more accompanying cardiac disorders in PC group, and this type of screening may allow early diagnosis of some cardiac diseases.