Remzi Altin

Craniofacial differences according to AHI scores of children with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: cephalometric study in 39 patients

BackgroundCephalometry is useful as a screening test for anatomical abnormalities in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS).ObjectiveTo evaluate comprehensively the cephalo metric features of children with OSAS, with or without adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and to elucidate the relationship between cephalometric variables and apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) severity.Materials and methodsThe study population consisted of 39 children, aged 4–12 years, with OSAS. Cephalometry was analysed using 11 measurements of the bony structures, their relationships and the size of the airways. Additionally, adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy were graded.ResultsCranial base angles (BaSN and BaSPNS) were found to correlate with increasing levels of AHI scores (P<0.001). Protrusion of the maxilla (SNA) and mandible (SNB) did not correlate with AHI scores (P>0.05). The length of the mandibular plane (GnGo) and the minimal posterior airway space (MPAS) were inversely correlated with AHI scores (P<0.001). There was positive correlation between MPAS and GnGo (r=0.740, P<0.001), and negative correlation between MPAS and gonial angle (ArGoGn) (r=−0.541, P<0.001). There was significant correlation between cephalometric data and adenotonsillar hypertrophy concerning BaSN, BaSPNS, ArGoGn, GnGoH, BaN-GnGo, MPAS, GnGO and MPH (P<0.001).ConclusionsThere is significant correlation between cephalometric data and AHI score severity in children with OSAS. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy affects the cephalometric measurements adversely. The study clearly mandates the institution of early and effective therapy of adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children with OSAS.

Effect of adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy on cardiac functions in children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background/Aims: We aimed to determine the effects of adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy (AT) on cardiac functions in children with adenoid and/or tonsillary hypertrophy and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) by using echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging facility (TDI). Methods: Twenty-nine children with adenoid and/or tonsillary hypertrophy and OSAS and 26 children with primary snoring entered the study. Cardiac functions were assessed by echocardiography with TDI in both groups. Tests were repeated in the OSAS group 6 months after treatment with AT. Results: Echocardiography showed a decrease in estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure from 31 ± 4.2 to 13.1 ± 2.3 (p < 0.001). In TDI, tricuspid Em and Em/Am increased from 11.0 ± 2.7 to 13.5 ± 2.7 cm/s (p < 0.001), and 1.46 ± 0.52 to 1.82 ± 0.53 (p = 0.004), respectively, following AT, indicating improvement in right ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Similarly, mitral Em and Em /Am increased from 12.3 ± 2.1 to 16.3 ± 2.7 cm/s, and from 1.65 ± 0.51 to 2.30 ± 0.54, respectively (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between postoperative values and control group values. Conclusion: TDI is a technique able to detect diastolic dysfunction unnoticeable by conventional echocardiography. Following AT, we observed improvement in both left and right ventricular diastolic functions using TDI.

Clinical Factors Affecting the Direct Cost of Patients Hospitalized with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of increasing significance in terms of economic and social burden due to its increasing prevalence and high costs. Direct costs of COPD are mostly associated with hospitalization expenditures. In this study, our objective was to investigate the costs of hospitalization and factors affecting these costs in patients hospitalized due to acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Methods: A total of 284 patients hospitalized AECOPD were included in the study. Data were examined retrospectively using the electronic hospital charts. Results: Mean duration of hospitalization was 11.38 ± 6.94 days among study patients. Rates of admission to the intensive care unit, initiation of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) and invasive mechanical ventilation (MIV) were 37.3% (n=106), 44.4% (n=126) and 18.3% (n=52) respectively. The rate of mortality was 14.8% (n=42). Mean cost of a single patient hospitalized for an AECOPD was calculated as

Smoking Prevalence, Behaviour and Nicotine Addiction among Coal Workers in Zonguldak, Turkey

1765 ± 2139. Mean cost of admission was

Sleep disturbance in patients with lichen simplex chronicus and its relationship to nocturnal scratching: A case control study.

889 ± 533 in standard ward, and

Correlation of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-4 and soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels with radiologic and clinical manifestations in active pulmonary tuberculosis.

2508 ± 2857 in intensive care unit (ICU). The duration of hospitalization, a FEV1% predicted value below 30%, having smoked 40 package-years or more, the number of co-morbidities, NIMV, IMV, ICU, exitus and the number of hospitalizations in the past year were among the factors that increased costs significantly. Hospital acquired pneumonia, chronic renal failure and anemia also increased the costs of COPD significantly. Conclusion: The costs of treatment increase with the severity of COPD or with progression to a higher stage. Efforts and expenditures aimed at preventing COPD exacerbations might decrease the costs in COPD.

Antioxidant response at early stages and low grades of simple coal worker's pneumoconiosis diagnosed by high resolution computed tomography

Smoking Prevalence, Behaviour and Nicotine Addiction among Coal Workers in Zonguldak, Turkey: Murat Unalacak, et al. Department of Family Medicine, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Faculty of Medicine, Turkey—To assess the smoking status of coal workers, as coal dust exposure and concomitant cigarette smoking contribute to the increased prevalence of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other pulmonary diseases. A survey was conducted to determine the smoking prevalence, behaviour and nicotine addiction in coal workers. The target population consisted of 475 underground coal workers who lived in Zonguldak city of Turkey, and we reached 389 of them. Each subject completed a detailed smoking history questionnaire (included 56 question). Chest X‐rays and pulmonary function tests were performed to evaluate patients’ related diseases and complications. Smoking status of the workers was as follows; Sixty‐nine never smokers (17.7%), 62 ex‐smokers (15.9%) and 258 current smokers (66.3%). The mean age of starting smoking was similar among ex and current smokers (15.9 ± 4.2 versus 15.0 ± 4.0). The most common reason for starting smoking was smoking interest (50%) and friends’ influence (15.5%). The most frequent reason stated for successful smoking cessation was experience of smoking—related symptoms or development of a medical condition (51%). The most important reason given by current smokers for smoking cessation attempts was increased chance of developing lung cancer, pneumoconiosis and other diseases (22.9%). Nicotine addiction was assessed by the Fagerstroem test. Mild (0–3 points), moderate (4–6) and severe (7 or more) addiction ratios were found to be 39.1%, 44.2% and 16.7 % respectively. Ex‐smokers had the highest prevalence of large and small airway obstruction on spirometry. Smoking prevalence is high in coal workers living in Zonguldak city of Turkey. Most of the smokers know that smoking is dangerous and want to quit smoking. A detailed smoking history during medical surveillance may help the occupational physician to develop a system in which such individuals can be referred to comprehensive smoking cessation programs.

Fourteen-Year Trend of Tuberculosis Dynamics in the Northwest of Turkey

Background: Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC) is a common pruritic disorder resulting from repeated rubbing and scratching. Nighttime pruritus is a common feature in LSC and may disrupt the sleep pattern. The aim of this study is to determine whether there are sleep abnormalities in patients with LSC. Patients and Methods: Fifteen patients with LSC and 15 age-, sex- and body mass index-matched control subjects were enrolled in the study. No participant had any other medical or psychiatric illness. All subjects were evaluated by overnight polysomnography, scratch electrodes, Epworth sleepiness scale and a general questionnaire for demographic data and sleep problems. Results: There were no significant differences in the groups for total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, rapid eye movement (REM) latency, percentage of stage 1 non-REM sleep and REM sleep. The percentage of stage 2 non-REM sleep was higher (P < 0.05) and the percentage of slow wave sleep (stages 3 and 4) was lower in the study group (P < 0.05) than in the controls. The patient group had a mean of 15.9 ± 7.5 arousal index and 22.8 ± 14.1 awakenings compared with 9.5 ± 3.1 and 10.4 ± 3.9, respectively, in the controls (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). Arousals of patients were mainly observed in non-REM sleep. The number of scratching bouts ranged from 6 to 20 per night. Scratching episodes were observed frequently during stage 2 non-REM sleep. Conclusion: Polysomnographic findings of patients with LSC demonstrated that sleep structure is disturbed by arousals and awakenings related to scratching bouts during sleep.

The results of computed tomography guided tru-cut transthoracic biopsy: complications and related risk factors

The precise clinical manifestations of tuberculosis are likely to result from a complex interaction between the host and the pathogen. We took serum samples from a group of patients with a variety of clinical and radiological stages of pulmonary tuberculosis in order to characterize tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) response. We further evaluated whether the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-4 and soluble IL-2R are related with each other, and also evaluated the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-4 and sIL-2R after anti-tuberculosis therapy and relation with radiologic scores. Forty-three inpatients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and 19 healthy controls participated in the study. Patients were divided into four categories radiologically on chest X-ray (minimal, moderate-advanced, far-advanced and with miliary infiltration). Concentrations of TNF-alpha (20.9+/-10/15.4+/-8 pg/ml) and sIL-2R (2569+/-842/1444+/-514 pg/ml) were statistically different between patients and controls (p=0.02 and p=0.0001, respectively). Before chemotherapy there was a positive correlation between TNF-alpha and sIL-2R (r=0.34), but there was no correlation between IL-4 and TNF-alpha, and between IL-4 and sIL-2R (r=-0.23 and r=-0.22). The TNF-alpha level was not statistically different in four groups before and after chemotherapy. Results of this study provided some evidence confirming the previously reported role of TNF-alpha, IL-4 and sIL 2R in the control of tuberculosis, but these cytokines were not found related with disease severity.

Investigation of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome prevalence among long-distance drivers from Zonguldak, Turkey

In miners exposed to coal dusts, coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP) can occur. The purpose of the present study is to better understand the relations between coal dust exposure and activities of blood plasma antioxidant enzymes, namely, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and lipid peroxidation end product malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in coal workers with early and low grade simple CWP diagnosed by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Forty-three coal workers who had profusions of 0/1-2/2 according to ILO 1980 chest X-ray (CXR) classification, 43 coal workers without CWP (control group 1) and 44 healthy subjects (control group 2) who were randomly selected from the population register or recruited from the hospital staff were enrolled. Coal workers were reevaluated by HRCT (Hosoda-Shida classification) due to its higher sensitivity than standard CXR. Then, blood plasma SOD and GSH-Px activities and MDA plasma levels were measured. CWP was found positive in 46 of 89 coal workers by HRCT evaluation. Profusion 0 (P0, CWP not present), profusion 1 (P1, early CWP) and profusion 2 (P2, low grade CWP) were found in 43, 23 and 19 of patients found to have CWP by HRCT, respectively. We had no worker with profusion 3 (P3). Complicated CWP was shown in four of 46 patients and thesecases were excluded as the study was restricted to early and low-grade pneumoconiosis. In respect to the plasma levels of MDA and plasma activities of SOD and GSH-Px, statistically significant differences were found between CWP cases and control groups (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.001 respectively). Statistical differences were also obtained for the plasma activities of SOD and GSH-Px and levels of MDA in relation to HRCT profusions (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these findings suggest an oxidative stress due to increased free radicals and reactive oxygen metabolite production in early stages and low grades of simple CWP diagnosed by HRCT.