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Purpose: Electrocardiography (ECG) is the first-line diagnostic tool to evaluate cardiac involvement in any disease and COVID-19 patients. The objective of this study is to investigate the ventricular arrhythmia forming effect of COVID-19 and to guide the treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 74 patients (mean age 52.63±17.85 years) under follow-up for asymptomatic COVID-19 and 74 healthy volunteers (mean age 50.71±6.02 years) were enrolled in the study. Heart rate, QRS duration, QT distance, T-wave morphology (Tp-e interval), Tp-e/QT ratio, and index of cardio-electrophysiological balance (iCEB) were analyzed and compared to both groups. Results: The heart rate was higher, and the QT interval was shorter on ECG in the COVID-19 group. QTc interval, Tp-e intervals, and Tp-e/QT ratio were not different between groups. Furthermore, iCEB and iCEB-c values were not different between groups. A significant positive but weak correlation was observed between CRP and troponin values in patients with COVID-19. Moreover, there was no correlation between troponin levels and Tp-e/QT ratio and iCEB in patients with COVID-19. Conclusion: The chronic cardiac effects of the COVID-19 have not been elucidated. Prospective clinical trials with long-term and a high number of patient populations are needed to reveal this. Notably, patients with significantly elevated troponin values should be followed up for long-term development of cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary function tests are a necessary and applicable method in the practice of family medicine. Our aim in this study was to determine the utilization rates of spirometry or peak-flow meter devices among family physicians who work in Turkey and the factors that influence this usage. METHODS: This descriptive study included physicians working in the family medicine system in Turkey. Surveys were sent to physicians via e-mail. When a sufficient number of responses(n=380) were obtained in two months (May 2018-July 2018), the study was terminated. RESULTS: Among the responding physicians, 81.50% (n=310) had a peak-flow meter and 1.50% (n=59) had a spirometer, while11% (n=42) of the physicians had neither of these devices. On the other hand, 66.30% (n=252) of the physicians stated that they did not use the spirometer or peak-flow meter, 6.60% (n=25) used the peak-flow meter, and 3.70%(n=14) used the spirometer. When asked about the reasons for not using the existing devices, the most common reason was that they thought that the tests were not effective in family medicine and the second most common reason was not knowing how to use them. It was found that, 79.70% (n = 303) of physicians requested a course on spirometry and peak-flow meter. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was determined that the usage rates of peak-flow meter or spirometry devices, which are required in family medicine, are very low. In order to provide better service in primary care, more training is needed, both in medical faculties and after graduation.

Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a pandemic, a major global health concern. In this study, it was aimed to compare the clinical, laboratory and computed tomography (CT) findings of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection followed up in our hospital. Materials and Methods: In this study, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive patients hospitalized between 01.03.2020-31.05.2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Computed tomography images of the patients were grouped as typical, indeterminate, atypical, and no pneumonia based on the Radiological Society of North America. After recording patient information on SPSS, clinical and laboratory findings of the patients were analyzed by comparing them to CT findings. Results: Among 237 RT-PCR positive patients, 104 (43.9%) were female and 133 (56.1%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 50.46±17.26 (18-92) years and the mean symptom onset time of the patients was 3.75±2.72 (median: 3) days. Eighty-seven of the patients (36.7%) had contact stories. Twenty-three (9.7%) patients were healthcare professionals. Of the patients, 49.8% had a comorbid disease. The most common referral complaint was cough with 66.7%. The most common treatment that patients received was hydroxychloroquine (96.2%). Anemia was detected in 61 (25.7%) patients, leukopenia in 104 (43.9%), lymphopenia in 25 (10.5%) and thrombocytopenia in 14 (5.9%). High rates were detected for C-reactive protein (CRP) in 221 (84%) patients, ferritin in 190 (80.2%) patients, D-dimer in 144 (60.8%) patients, fibrinogen in 147 (62%) patients and sedimentation (SED) in 172 (72.6%) patients. Headache was detected higher in patients with typical pneumonia findings in thorax CT (p=0.006). A statistically significant difference wasn’t detected between other symptoms and CT findings. Leukocyte and neutrophil counts, SED, CRP, ferritin, D-dimer, fibrinogen, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase (p=0.001) levels were observed to be higher in patients with typical pneumonia findings on thorax CT. Conclusion: Some laboratory parameters, especially acute phase reactants, were found to be higher in patients with typical pneumonia on thorax CT compared to patients without pneumonia. In this viral infection, patients should be evaluated together with clinical, laboratory and CT findings.

Amaç: Çalışmamızda tıp fakültesi ile iletişim fakültesi öğrencilerinde tütün ve tütün ürünleri kullanım sıklığını ve etkileyen faktörleri belirlemek, sigara ile ilgili algı ve tutumlarını araştırmak ve fakülteler arasında karşılaştırma yapmak amaçlanmıştır. Materyal ve Metot: Tıp ve İletişim Fakültesinde 2017-2018eğitim döneminde ilk ve son sınıfta okuyan öğrencilere tütün ve tütün ürünleri kullanma alışkanlıkları ile sigaraya karşı tutum ve algı düzeylerini öğrenmek amacıyla hazırlanmış bir anket uygulandı. Bulgular: Tıp Fakültesinde okuyan öğrencilerin %11,57’si halen sigara içmekte iken, İletişim Fakültesi öğrencilerinin %50,0’ı halen sigara içmekte idi. İletişim fakültesindeki öğrencilerin sigara içme oranı Tıp Fakültesi öğrencilerinden daha yüksekti(p

Introduction. Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread to more than 200 countries worldwide. We aimed to present acute pancreatitis (AP) cases caused by SARS-CoV-2 viral infection. Methods. The study was conducted retrospectively between April 2020 and June 2020 in Necmettin Erbakan University Meram, Medical Faculty Hospital, and 150 hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were included. The degree of acute pancreatitis was determined according to the Atlanta classification. Organ failures of the patients were evaluated in terms of respiratory, cardiovascular, and nephrology according to the modified Marshall scoring (MMS) system, and CTSI (Balthazar score) and Imrie score were determined. Modified Marshall score≥2 was considered organ failure. Results. A total of 29 patients were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. All 29 patients with pancreatitis had respiratory failure during hospitalization. After the diagnosis of pancreatitis, there was no change in respiratory failure. According to the Atlanta classification, 19 patients had mild AP and 10 patients had moderate AP. Patients with acute pancreatitis were scored according to the CTSI (Balthazar score), and there were no patients with ≥6 severe pancreatitis. The CTSI score of 4 patients was 3. In addition, the Imrie score of the patients was determined and 8 patients with Imrie score≥3 were identified. Conclusion. The rate of pancreatic damage in SARS-CoV-2 infection was found to be 19% (n=29) in our study. In our study, we highlight acute pancreatitis as a complication associated with COVID-19 and the importance of pancreatic evaluation in patients with COVID-19 and abdominal pain is demonstrated.

Objective To investigate the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and combined nutritional support therapy on quality of life (QoL) and functional status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods This pre-and post-intervention prospective exploratory study involved 64 patients with stable stage three to four COPD. Oral nutritional support and personalized diet were combined with an intense and comprehensive PR program. Baseline and 8-week follow-up scores were compared for the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), incremental shuttle walking test (ISWT), St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), pulmonary function tests (PFT), PImax-PEmax, arterial blood gas (ABG), respiratory rate (RR), handgrip strength, Borg and modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale scores and fat-free mass index. Results Significant improvements were found in functional status (6MWT: 86.72 m, ISWT: 76.24 m), QoL (SGRQ total: 13.86), PFT, ABG, RR, dyspnoea, upper extremity muscle strength and hand-body composition. Conclusion Nutritional support with comprehensive and intensive PR can significantly improve physical performance, QoL, dyspnoea and body composition in COPD. The improvement in QoL was greater than that reported in previous studies. Because two modalities were combined in this study, future randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm the extent and contribution of these modalities to the outcomes.