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West Africa is a region that has had strong commercial and cultural relations in the past with North Africa, which was ruled by the Arabs. However, narrative African Literature was not much affected by Arabic writing in transforming it into written literature before the arrival of Islam. When Islam came to the region, African Muslims were interested in Arabic, and they specialized in all branches of the Arabic language, especially in Arabic poetry. It was rare to come across a famous scholar who does not have a Divan (poetry collection) or at least does not have an ode for the prophet or anyone else in the regionThese poets, however, were at the same time the scholars of the societies they were living in. Despite all this, some subjects of Arab-African poetry remained undiscovered by researchers and scholars of literature, so we deemed it beneficial to study one of these topics in a literal and rhetorical approach. The topic we settled on is the art of elegy by West African poets in the 20th century.While expressing their perspectives towards life, African literati wrote their poems based on Arabic poems and showed their own poetry skills. It could be argued that the interest of most poets of the region was different in terms of the genres to Arab poetry. They usually started their poems by praising primarily Hazrat Prophet then their sheikhs. In style and importance, there is not much difference between elegy and praise. While Sheikhs and scholars were included in their elegies, we were surprised that they didn't give place to The Prophet (peace be upon him) nor his companions.West African poets followed classical Arabic poets in terms of style and content in their laments and wrote dirges for people, places and animals. They honor deceased persons, be it family members, relatives or friends, scholars, or prominent persons in the community. If the deceased were scholars or saints, they praised them by emphasizing their knowledge, piety, oracles and sufi rank. If the dead was one of the leaders, poets wrote about his struggles to free his country from the malicious colonists in their odes. In addition, innovations seem in odes written for people. On the other hand, poets in their odes expressed their sorrow for the sacred places and scientific centers that were destroyed due to external and internal conflicts, both regionally and globally. Examples of these places include Sokoto, the capital city of the Islamic state founded by Fullânî Osman Dan Fûdî, which was destroyed by the British colonialists, the city of Masina, a scientific center destroyed due to the sectarian differences and clashes, or the Masjid al-Aqsa occupied by Israel.As for the odes written for animals, death of animals did not seem to evoke the feelings of poets in the region. Only a very few poets addressed this issue in their poems. For example, the poet Ahmed ‘iyân Sî who was affected by the death of a cat, and Amir Samba, who was upset about the death of a parrot wrote odes for these pets.Some West African poets expressed their sadness and grief as if they were wailing for the dead in their odes. However, while they expressed their deep grief, they did not leave the doctrines of Islam, immediately remembering that Allah pronounced death on all creations. After lamenting and crying for the dead person in their poems, some poets invited people to stay away from worldly desires and to prepare for the hereafter. Others did not stay away from their country's social and political issues while describing the virtues and outstanding characteristics of the deceased. The poets artistically combine Arabic and African styles which have literally displayed all the contents of odes that express their intense feelings.Part of the findings we arrived at in this study is that there is a concentrated usage of rhetorical structures coupled with indigenous African phrases by African poets in their elegy, such as their analogy to the morals of the person they are praising or eulogizing with the purity of milk, which is an important food for poets from the tribes who are known herdsmen. They used rhetoric widely and while using narrative arts, they mentioned the styles of African languages. As the poets of the region used African poetic styles, odes written in West Africa differed from those in classical Arabic poetry and brought a new and unique tone to African Arabic poetry. In order to highlight these features of the specific African Arabic poetry in this study, we tried to shed light on the types of elegies that the poets in the region tackled and the issues they considered while discussing the values of their dead. Also, the art of eloquence found in some of these elegies and the artistic methods poets derived from the African nature and the realities they lived were examined using an analytical method, in order to depict their mastery in the art of elegy., Batı Afrika, Arapların hüküm sürdüğü Kuzey Afrika ile geçmiş yıllara dayalı güçlü ticarî ve kültürel ilişkileri bulunan bir bölgedir. Buna rağmen sözlü Afrika edebiyatı, bölgeye İslam gelmeden önce yazılı edebiyata dönüşecek kadar Arap yazısından etkilenmemiştir. Bölgeye İslam geldiğinde Afrikalı Müslümanlar, Arapçayla ilgilenmiş ve Arap dilinin tüm dallarında, özellikle de Arap şiirinin sanatında uzmanlaşmışlardır. Bölgenin meşhur âlimlerinden ya divan ya da en azından Hz. Peygamber’e veya başkasına övgü (medih) mahiyetinde kasidesi olmayan bir âlim yok gibidr. Bu sebeple Afrikalı şairler aynı zamanda bölgenin fukaha ve âlimleriydi. Örneğin; birçok şiir divanına sahip olan ve güçlü şairliğiyle bilinen Senegalli Ahmed Bamba el-Hadîm, Senegal’de Müridî tarikatını kuran dinî lider ve fakih biriydi. Bütün bunlara rağmen, Afrika Arap şiirinin bazı konuları üzerinde edebî inceleme yapılmamıştır. Bu nedenle Batı Afrika 20. asır şairlerinin ele aldığı bu konulardan biri olan mersiye sanatı üzerinde incelemenin faydalı olacağıöngörülmüştür.Afrika edebiyatçıları, hayata yönelik bakışlarını ve duygularını ifade etmek için Arap şiirinin klasik vezinleri ile kasidelerini nazmetmişlerdir. Arap şiirinin her türüne değinmiş ve şiirsel yeteneklerini göstermişlerdir. Afrikalı şairlerin Arap şiiri türlerine ilgilerinin nicelik ve niteliğe göre değiştiği söylenmelidir. Onlar genelde teberrük için Hz. Peygamber’e daha sonra şeyhlerine övgülerde bulunarakmedih şiirlerine başlamaktaydılar. Önem bakımından mersiye türüne bakıldığında, medih türüyle aralarında çok fark olmadığı görülecektir. Fakat onların mersiye şiirlerinde şeyh ve âlimlerine yer verirken ne Hz. Peygamber’e ne de ashabına yer vermemeleri bizi şaşırtmıştır.Batı Afrika şairleri, ağıt şiirlerinde stil ve içerik yönünden klasik Arap şairlerini takip etmiş ve insanlar, yerler ve hayvanlar için ağıt yakmışlardır. İnsanlar hakkında nazmettikleri mersiyelerinde ölü ister aile ferdi, akraba veya arkadaş olsun ister âlim ya da toplumda önde gelen biri olsun, onun erdemlerini ve onurlu yönlerini zikretmişlerdir. Ölü, âlimlerden veya evliyalardan ise onu ilmi, dindarlığı, kerameti ve sufî rütbesiyle ile methetmişlerdir. Vefat eden, önderlerden biri ise, ülkesini kötü niyetli sömürgecilerin elinden alıp özgür kılmak için onun sürdürdüğü mücadelelerinden bahsetmişlerdir. Ayrıca makalenin yazarları insanlar hakkında nazmedilen mersiyelerdeyeni bir üslup tespit etmişlerdir. Bu da şairin hayattayken kendi mersiyesini yazmasıdır. Şairler yazdıkları bu mersiyeye er-resâu’z-zâtîdemişler, kendilerini bu mersiyelerde ölmüş gibi hayal edip ölüm anındaki durumlarını ve kıyamet gününde neler olacağını düşünerek kendilerini mersiyeye konu etmişlerdir.Yerler hakkındaki mersiyelerde ise şairler, bölgesel ve küresel düzeyde dış ve iç çatışmalar nedeniyle yıkılan kutsal mekânlara ve ilmî merkezlere üzüntülerini ifade etmişleridir. İngiliz sömürgeciler tarafından tahrip edilmiş Fullânî Osman Dan Fûdî’nin kurduğu İslam devletinin başkenti olan Sokoto şehri, tarikat farklılıklarından dolayı yıkılan ilmî merkez olan Mâsina şehri ya da hala işgalci İsrail’in işgali altında olan Mescid-i Aksa buna örnektir.Hayvanlar hakkında nazmedilen mersiyelere gelince; hayvanların ölümü, bölgedeki şairlerin duygularını harekete geçirmemiştir. Sadece çok az miktarda olan şairler bu konuya değinmişlerdir. Bunlardan biri de kedinin ölümünden etkilenen şair Ahmed ‘İyân Sî ve papağanın ölümüne üzülen şair Amir Samba’dır.Bazı Batı Afrika şairleri, mersiye kasidelerinde ölüler için aşırı derecede ağlayarak üzüntü ve kederlerini dile getirmişlerdir. Fakat ağlayışı sırasında ölümün Allah’ın yaratıklarına takdir ettiği bir hükmü olduğun hatırlayıp İslam öğretilerinin dışına çıkmamışlardır. Bazıları ise, ölüye ağıt yakıp ağladıktan sonra insanları dünyadaki arzulardan uzak kalmaya ve ahiret için hazırlanmaya davet etmişlerdir. Diğerleri ise, ölünün erdemlerini ve güzel sıfatlarını anlatırken ülkelerinin sosyal ve politik meselelerinden de uzak durmamışlardır. Şairler, yanan hislerini ifade eden bütün mersiye içeriklerini edebî bir şekilde görüntülemek için Arap ve Afrika üsluplarını birleştirerek sanatsal yönlerini kullanmışlardır. Varabildiğimiz sonuçlardan biri de, şairlerin belagat sanatlarını çokça kullanmları ve bu sanatları kullanırken Afrika dillerinin üsluplarına da değinmeleridir. Afrika Arap şiirinin taşıdığı bu özellikleri ortaya koymak için bu çalışmada, bölgedeki şairlerin ele aldığı mersiye türlerine ve onların ölülerinin değerlerinden bahsederken değindikleri konulara ışık tutulmaya çalışılmıştır. Yine, onların mersiye sanatındaki ustalıklarına vakıf olmak için veri analiz yöntemi kullanılarak bu mersiyelerin bir kısmında bulunan belagat sanatları ve şairlerin Afrika doğasından ve yaşadıkları gerçekliklerden elde ettikleri sanatsal yöntemleri incelenmeye tabi tutulmuştur., غرب إفريقيا منطقةلها في غابر الأعوام علاقات تجارية وثقافية قوية مع منطقة شمال إفريقيا العربية. إلا أنه مع ذلك لم يتأثر الأدب الإفريقي الشفهي قبل مجيء الإسلام إلى المنطقة بالحرف العربي تأثرًا يصيِّره إلى أدب مكتوب. ولما جاء الإسلام إلى المنطقةَ اهتم الأفارقة باللغة العربيةوتخصصوا في جميع فنونها وخاصة في نظم الشعر العربي. وقد قلَّ أن يوجد عالم من علماء المنطقة المشهورين ليس له ديوان أو على الأقل قصيدة جادت بها قريحته إما في مدح الرسول عليه الصلاة والسلام أو في غيره. وقد كان شعراء المنطقة في الوقت نفسه هم فقهاء المنطقة وعلماؤها، مثل الشاعر السنغالي الخديم أحمد بمبا صاحب الدواوين الكثيرة الذي لا تخفَى على أحد شاعريّتُه القوية، وهو في آن واحد فقيه وعالم وقائد وإمام أسّس الطريقة المريدية في السنغال. ورغم هذا كله، فقد ظلت بعض مواضيع الشعر العربي الإفريقييتيمةلم تحظ من الدراسة والتحليل الفني، فرأينا أنه من الفوائد أن نقوم بدراسة أحد هذه الموضوعات دراسة أدبية، ألا هو فن الرثاءلدى شعراء القرن العشرين بمنطقة الغرب الإفريقي.قام الأدباء الأفارقة بقرض أشعارهم علىنسقأوزان الشعرالعربي للتعبير عن عواطفهم وفلسفاتهم نحوَ الحياة، ولم يتركوا فنًا من فنون الشعر العربي إلا وقد جادت قريحتهم وأظهروا قوتهم الشعرية فيه. ولكن ما ينبغي القول به هو أنَّ اهتماماتهم بهذه الفنون الشعرية متفاوتة كَمًّا ونوعًا. فمثلاً اهتمامهم بفن المدح والرثاء لا يقارن باهتمامهم بفنّ الهجاء؛ إذ هم في غالب الأمر يبتدئون نظمهم بمدح نبيهم ثم شيوخهم تبركًا، وما فن الرثاء في الأهمية عن المدح ببعيد. إلا أن ما يدهشنا في الأمر هو أنشعراء المنطقة في حين أعطوا مساحة كبيرة فينظمهم لرثاء علمائهم وشيوخهم فقد رأينا أن لا أحد منهم –حسب علمنا- خصّص قصيدة لرثاء الرسول عليه الصلاة والسلام وأصحابه الكرام.لقد اتبع شعراء غرب إفريقيا في رثائهم الشعراء العرب الجاهليين والإسلاميين وساروا على دربهم أسلوبًا ومحتوىً، فرثوا الناس والأماكن والحيوانات. فأما ما يتعلق برثاء الناس فقد ذكروا في مرثياتهم محاسن الميت ومكارمه سواء أكان هذا الميت من الأهل والأقارب والأصدقاء أم كان من العلماء والرؤساء، ووصفوا الميّت بصفة العلم والورع والتقوى إن كان من أهل العلم والمعرفات، وذكروا مقامه الصوفي وكراماته إن كان من الأولياء وأهل المقامات، ودعوا له بالمغفرة والرحمة من الله ذي الرحمات. وإن كان الميت من الرؤساء وأهل القيادات ذكروا بطولاتهم ومقاوماتهم التي قاموا بها من أجل تحرير أوطانهم من الأيادي الخبيثات المستعمِرات. بل توصّل الباحثان إلى وجود تجديدات في رثاء الأشخاص حيث قاموا بنظم الرثاء الذاتي فخيلوا أنفسهم أمواتًا فرثوا أنفسهم بذكر أحوالهم عند سكرات الموت وما ينتظرهم بعد الموت يومَ القيامة.وأمارثاء الأماكن فقد رثى الشعراء على المستوى الإقليمي والعالمي المراكز العلمية والأماكن المقدسة التي تخربت بسبب الخلافات الداخلية أو الخارجية مثل مدينة صُكُتوعاصمة الدولة العثمانية الفُلَّانية التي خرَّبها المستعمرون الإنجليز، أو مدينة ماسِينا التي كانت حاضرة للعلم لكنها انهدمت بسبب الخلافات المذهبية الداخلية، أو المسجد الأقصى الذي ما زال يحتله اليهود الغاصبون. وأما ما يتعلق برثاء الحيوانات فلم يحرِّك موتُ الحيوان عواطفَ شعراء المنطقة إلى حدّ كبير سوى عدد قليل منهم الشاعر أحمد عيان سـي الذي أخذته العاطفية في موت الهرة والشاعر عامر صمب الذي تأثر بموت الببغاء.إن بعض شعراء المنطقة أكثروا في مرثياتهم الشعرية البكاء والتحسر على فقيدهم، إلا أنَّهم سرعان ما يتذكرون ربهم فيرضون بقضاء الله على خلقه، فلا يخرجون بذلك عن تعاليم الإسلام في قصائدهم. ووجدنا بعضهم بعد بكائهم على موتاهم يدعون الناس إلىالابتعاد عن الشهوات والزهد في الدنيا والاستعداد ليوم الرحيل. والبعض الآخر أيضًاأثناء ذكرهم محاسن الميت ينتهزون فرصة لذكر القضايا الاجتماعية والسياسية. ولأجل أن تظهر هذه المحتويات التي بمثابة ترجمان لعواطفهم الحارقةمظهرًا أدبيًّا، استخدموا أساليب فنية جمعوا فيها البيئتين العربية والإفريقية.إنَّ مما توصلنا إليها هو أنَّالشعراء الأفارقة أكثروا استخدام التراكيب البلاغية في قصائدهم المرثية ثم أدمجوا فيها العبارات الإفريقية، مثل تشبيههم أخلاقَممدوحيهمبصفاء الحليب الذي هو غذاء مهِمّ عند الشعراء المنحدرين من القبائل المزاولة لمهنة الرعي. لذا فإن كل قارئ لهذه المرثيات حينًا يحس كأنه يعيش مع الشعراء العرب المتقدمين وحينًا آخر يجد نفسه في أواسط البيئة الإفريقية. وإن استخدام شعراء المنطقة الأساليبَ الإفريقية يجعل مرثياتهم مغايرًا للمرثيات التي قيلت في الجزيرة العربية، ويكسبها طعمًا جديدًا ونكهة يتميز بها الشعر العربي الإفريقي. ولإبراز هذه المميزات التي اختصها الشعر العربي الإفريقي، حاولنا في هذا البحث أن نسلط الضوء على أنواع الرثاء التي تناولها شعراء المنطقة والموضوعات التي تطرقوا إليها أثناءَ ذكرهم محاسن موتاهم. وكما قمنا بدراسة فنية بلاغية لبعض هذه المرثيات مستخدمين المنهج الاستقرائي ثم التحليلي من أجل الوقوفعلى مدى تفننهم في هذا الفن واستخدامهم أساليب ذات طابع إفريقي استخلصوها من البيئة الإفريقية أو مما أفرزه واقعهم الذي عاشوا فيه.

Hz. Peygamber’in vefatından sonra, sahabe arasında Müslümanların başına kimin geçeceği konusunda yoğun tartışmalar yaşanmıştır. Ashabtan bir grup, hilafetin Hz. Ali (öl. 40/661) ve onun soyundan gelenlerin hakkı olduğunu savunmuştur. Hz. Ali ve çocuklarını destekleyen siyâsî taraftarlık şeklinde ortaya çıkan bu hareket, zamanla Şîa adında bir mezhep hüviyetine bürünmüş, ardından da bir takım fırkalara ayrılmak suretiyle İslâm coğrafyasının farklı yerlerine dağılmıştır. Bu fırkalardan biri de adını İsmail b. Cafer es-Sâdık’tan (öl. 138/755) alan İsmâiliyye fırkasıdır. İsmâiliyye fırkası, Ubeydullâh el-Mehdî (öl. 322/934) liderliğinde dâîler aracılığıyla kendi nazarlarında, Hz. Ali ve soyunun hakkı olan hilafeti gasbetmiş olan Emevî ve Abbasîlere karşı mücadelesini gizli olarak sürdürmüştür. Berberîlerin desteğiyle Kuzey Afrika’da Fâtımîler adında ilk devletlerini oluşturduktan sonra faaliyetlerini açıktan yürüten İsmâilîler, Berka’dan Atlas Okyanusu’na kadar olan bölgeyi ele geçirmişlerdir. Fatımî Devleti, kuruluşundan itibaren sadece coğrâfî bir bölgeye sahip olma davası gütmekten ziyade Şîa çizgisi üzerinde yürümeyi amaç edinmiş bir mezhep devletidir. Bu yönüyle Abbâsî ve Emevî devletlerinden tamamen farklılık gösteren Fatımîler, hicri III. asrın sonlarından itibaren dâîleri aracılığıyla buradaki propaganda faaliyetlerini artırarak doğudan Mısır, Kuzeyden Endülüs Emevî hilafetini ele geçirmek için yoğun çaba göstermişlerdir. Bu çaba sonucunda ve III. Halife Muiz’in başarılı siyaseti sayesinde Mısır’ı fethetmeye muvaffak olmuşlardır. Mısır’ın fethedilmesinde dâîlerin rolu oldukça büyüktür. Fakat Endülüs’te Sünnî-Mâlikî mezhebi kökleştiği için aynı başarıyı burada gösterememişler, sınırlı sayıda taraftar edinebilmişlerdir. Bununla birlikte bazı ünlü fikir ve edebiyat adamlarını kendi saflarına çekmeyi başarmışlardır. Şüphesiz Fâtımî dâîlerin, Endülüs’teki propaganda faaliyetlerinin en önemli kazanımlarından biri İbn Hânî el-Endelusî’dir (öl. 362/973). Şiî olduğundan dolayı Endülüs’ten ayrılmak zorunda kalan İbn Hânî, Mağrib’e geçerek Fâtımî yönetimine bağlı Mesîle şehrinin valilerinin himayesine girmiştir. Şairin, bu valiler hakkında söylediği şiirler, kısa sürede şöhretini yaymış ve Fatımîlerin başkenti Kayrevan’a kadar tanınmasını sağlamıştır. Câhiliye döneminden beri halife ve emirlerin çoğunun, devlet sınırları içinde yönetimini sağlamlaştırmak, dışarıda ise nüfuzunu yaymak için başvurduğu yöntemlerden biri, sarayda kendilerini ve devlet politikalarını öven, diğer bir ifadeyle reklamlarını yapan şairlere yer vermeleridir. Bu amaçla Halife Muiz’in, şöhretini duyar duymaz el-Mansûriyye’de bulunan sarayına davet ettiği şairlerden biri de İbn Hânî’dir. 350/962 yılında Muiz’in huzuruna çıkan İbn Hânî, kısa sürede Ebü’l-Kâsım el-Fezârî el-Kayrevânî ve Ali b. Muhammed el-İyâdî et-Tûnisî gibi saray şairlerini geçerek Mağrib’in Mütenebbisi diye isimlendirilmiştir. Zamanla Muiz’in en samimi dostlarından biri haline gelen İbn Hânî, halifeden gördüğü değer ve cömertlik karşısında bütün yaratıcı potansiyelini Muiz’in hilafetini savunmak ve İsmâiliyye fırkasının mesajlarını halka iletmek için harcamıştır. Böylece, doğuda ve batıda yayılmacı politika izleyen Fâtımîlerin en güçlü savunucusu ve propagandacısı haline gelen şair, daha önce klasik tarzda söylediği methiyelerine bir yenilik kazandırmış, Fâtımî imamlarını özellikle de hâmisi olan Muiz’i insanüstü sıfatlarla yücelten şiirleri sayesinde büyük bir itibar görmüştür. Doğal olarak Muiz’in izlediği başarılı siyasetin ve şairin savunuculuğunu yaptığı Şiî-İsmâiliyye fırkasının öğreti ve terimlerinin kasidelerine belirgin yansımaları olmuştur. Ayrıca Ehl-i beyt davası ve onların uğradığı haksızlıklar, şairin gönül dünyasını derinden etkilemiş, şair de kendisine gözdağı veren hiçbir tehlikeye aldırış etmeden bu haksızlıkları şiirlerinde dile getirmekten çekinmemiştir. Fâtımî akidesini ve Fâtımî imamda bulunması gereken sıfatları araştıranlar için yazılı ilk kaynak olduğu söylenen bu kasideler, büyük öneme sahiptir. Zira Fatımîler, imamın masum olduğuna, zahir ve batını bildiğine, kıyamet günü kendi dostlarına şefaatçi olacağına inanmaktadırlar. Hatta İmamı beşer üstü bir varlık görüp ona Allah’ın ruhu kılacak kutsiyet ve celallik atfetmektedirler. Dahası hayatın varlık sebebi kılmaktadırlar. Bu ve bununla ilişkili manalar, İbn Hâni’nin şiirlerinde oldukça fazla olup bu şiirler Kuzey Afrika sınırlarını aşıp Endülüs’ten Bağdat’a kadar uzanan geniş bir bölgeye yayılarak İsmâiliyye doktrininin tanınmasını sağlamıştır. Bu çalışma, giriş ve iki bölümden oluşmaktadır. Giriş’te kısaca Şiî-İsmâiliyye fırkasının tarihçesinden, birinci bölümde İbn Hânî’nin hayatı ve şairlik yeteneğinden, ikinci bölümde propagandasını yaptığı Şiî-İsmâiliyye inancının kasidelerine yansımalarından bahsedilecek ve bu şiirlerin tahliline yer verilecektir. Yine Şiî edebiyatına derin etkileri olan Kerbelâ ile alakalı târihî ve siyâsî değeri olan şiirlerin analiz ve değerlendirilmesi yapılacaktır., Intense debates about who will lead the Muslims after the death of the Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH) occurred among the Aṣḥāb (companions of the Prophet Muhammad). A group of Aṣḥāb claimed that the caliphate was the right of Ḥaḍrat ʿAlī and his descendants. This movement, which emerged as political advocacy supporting Ḥaḍrat ʿAlī (d. 40/661) and his children, took on a sectarian identity called Shīʿa by time, was divided into groups, and then spread to different places in the Islamic World. One of these groups is the Ismāʿīliyya which took its name from Ismāʿīl b. Ḏj̲aʿfar al-Ṣādiḳ (d. 138/755). Ismāʿīliyya had believed that the Umayyads and the ʿAbbāsids usurped the right of Ḥaḍrat ʿAlī and his descendants; therefore, they struggled against these dynasties secretly under the leadership of ʿUbayd Allāh al-Mahdī (d. 322/934) and by means of callers. After establishing their first state Fāṭimids in the North Africa with the Berbers, the Ismāʿīlīs carried out their activities openly and seized a region from Barqa to the Atlantic Ocean. The Fāṭimid State based on sectarianism aimed to follow the Shīʿa belief rather than controlling an area since its establishment. In this respect, the Fāṭimids, who differed from the ʿAbbāsid and Umayyad states, made great efforts to capture Egypt and Andalus by increasing their propagandas through callers (dāī) from the end of the third century. Because of this effort and successful policy of al-Muʿizz li-Din Allah the third, they conquered Egypt. The callers played a key role in the Egypt. As the Sunni-Maliki sect had taken root in Andalusia, Ismāʿīlīs could not achieve the same success, and a limited number of people embraced their doctrine. However, they managed to direct some famous intellectual and literary men to their side. Undoubtedly, one of the most important achievements was Ibn Hāniʾ al-Andalusi (d. 362/973). Ibn Hāniʾ, who had to leave Andalusia, as he was a Shiite, went to Maghrib and came under the patronage of the governors of Masila, which depended on Fāṭimid. His poems about governors spread his fame and made him known until al-Qayrawan, the capital of Fāṭimid. One of the methods used by many of the caliphs and amīrs (ruler) to consolidate their rule within the borders of the state and to spread their influence abroad since the Jahiliyya (pre-Islamic period) is that they included poets who praised themselves and the state policies, in other words, made their advertisements in the palace. Ibn Hāniʾ was one of the poets Caliph Muʿizz invited to his palace in al-Mansuriyya as soon as he heard of the poet’s fame. Ibn Hāniʾ came to the presence of Caliph in 350/962 and named as al-Mutanabbī of Maghreb as he became famous than poets such as Abu'l-Qasim al-Fazari and ʿAlī b. Muḥammad al-Iyadi. In time, Ibn Hāniʾ who became one of the sincerest friends of Muʿizz, used all his creative potential to defend the Caliph and deliver the views of Ismāʿīliyya in return for the value and generosity he received from the Caliph. Thus, the poet, who became the most powerful defender and propagandist of the Fāṭimids who pursued an expansionist policy in the East and the West, introduced an innovation to his style of praise contrary to his classical style. Accordingly, he gained great reputation thanks to his poems that praised the Fāṭimid Imāms, especially Muʿizz using expressions attributing him superhuman properties. Naturally, the successful politics followed by Muizz and the doctrine and terms of the Shiite-Ismāʿīliyya party, which the poet advocated, had a distinct reflection on his odes. Moreover, the issue of Ahl al-Bayt (the family of the Prophet Muḥammad) and injustices they suffered, affected the poet’s feelings deeply, and he did not hesitated to express these injustices in his poems without worrying about any danger. These odes reported to be the first written documents including information about the Fāṭimid creed and the traits, which Fāṭimid Imāms were supposed to have, are important resources for researchers. Fāṭimids believed that the imām was innocent, knew everything, and he would intercede his friends on Judgment Day. They even saw him as superhuman and attributed holiness and glory to him that would make him the spirit of God. Furthermore, they regarded that the imām was the reason of life. Similar themes were very common in Ibn Hāniʾ’s poetry. His poems went beyond the borders of the states in the North Africa, spread to a large region extending from Andalusia to Baghdad, and provided recognition of the doctrine of Ismāʿīliyya. This study consists of an introduction and two parts. The introduction part includes brief information about the history of the Shīʿa-Ismāʿīliyya and Ibn Hāniʾ’s life and poetry. The other parts discuss reflections of the Shīʿa-Ismāʿīliyya belief in the poet’s odes and analyses of these poems. Finally, poems having historical and political value related to Karbala, which has profound effects on Shiite literature, are analyzed.

Congenital Lobar Emphysema (CLE) is a rare congenital pulmonary malformation and it is characterized by hyperinflation of one or more lobes of the lungs. The disease is usually encountered in infants aged less than 6 months and it is very rare in adulthood. Herein, we presented a patient with CLE, who received asthma treatment for dyspnoea complaint in adult age but was switched to anxiolytic medications as no benefit was achieved from asthma treatment. The diagnosis of the patient was made clinically, radiologically and scintigraphycally. Although it is a rarely encountered condition, CLE should be considered among the prediagnosis, in patients with localized unilateral hyperinflation on chest x-ray, presenting with dyspnoea in adult age.

A 20-year-old male patient who worked as a salesman was referred to the Department of Chest Diseases due to opacities seen in the upper zones of both lungs on the posteroanterior chest radiography taken for screening in the tuberculosis control dispensary. The patient had no complaint, and the physical examination revealed no pathological finding. His arterial blood pressure was 110/70 mmHg, pulse was 88/min, temperature was 36.7°C, and SpO2 was 97% (oxygen-free). The results of laboratory analyses were found to be as follows: white blood cell count, 8.07×103/μL; eosinophils, 3.46%; hemoglobin, 16.6 g/dL; hematocrit, 47.8%; platelet count, 274,000/μL; complete urine test, normal; sedimentation, 2 mm/hour; C-reactive protein, 1.06 mg/dL; aspartate aminotransferase, 51 U/L; alanine aminotransferase, 78 U/L; and urea, 25 mg/dL. In arterial blood gas, the value of PO2 was 93.7 mmHg, PCO2 was 33.7 mmHg, HCO3 was 21.1 mmoL/L, SaO2 was 97.9%, and pH was 7.38. The patient’s posteroanterior chest radiography revealed diffuse patchy opacities in the upper and middle zones of both lungs (Figure 1). The patient had three negative sputum smear reports for acid-fast bacillus (AFB). There was a restrictive type disorder on the spirometry of the patient, and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) and DLCO/VA was measured as 64% and 98% respectively. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest revealed patchy ground-glass areas with peripheral localization

Background: Angiopoietin 2 (Ang-2) has an important role in tumor angiogenesis. In this study, Ang-2 levels of serum and bronchioloalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) in patients with lung cancer were measured and correlated with clinical and biochemical parameters. Methods: Thirty-five cases newly diagnosed with lung cancer and 18 controls with non-cancerous lung diseases were included in the study. Tumor histology, staging, metastasis, tumor markers, biochemical and clinical parameters were all recorded. Results: Serum Ang-2 levels were significantly higher in the lung cancer group compared to the control (lung cancer median: 2.42 ng/mL [2.19–2.98], control 0.67 [0.31–1.10]; P < 0.001), whereas Ang-2 levels in BALF were lower in the lung cancer group compared to the control (lung cancer median 0.41 ng/mL [0.22–0.79], control 0.67 [0.46–1.03]; P = 0.02). In the cancer group, higher serum Ang-2 levels (r = 0.52, P < 0.001) were associated with the stage of cancer. No significant correlation was observed between BALF Ang-2 levels and non-small cell lung cancer stages and small-cell lung cancer advanced stage (P = 0.793, r = 0.07). Serum Ang-2 levels were significantly higher in distant metastasis (M1) versus no distant metastasis (M0) (M1: 2.57 ng/mL [2.38–2.87], M0: 2.22 [1.49–2.40], P = 0.01). No significant correlation was observed between BALF Ang-2 levels and M1 (r = 0.11, P = 0.53). Conclusions: Serum Ang-2 levels were significantly higher in lung cancer patients and positive correlations were observed between serum Ang-2, tumor stage, and metastasis.

Deskuamatif interstisyel pnomoni (DIP), nadir idiyopatik interstisyel pnomonilerden biridir. DIP, interstisyel inflamasyon ve/veya fibrozis ile iliskili, alveolar bosluklar icinde buyuk miktarlarda makrofaj birikim ile karakterizedir. DIP, esas olarak sigara icme hikayesi olan ucuncu veya besinci dekattaki erkekleri etkiler. DIP, genellikle kronik ilerleyici nefes darligi ve oksuruk ile kendini gostermektedir. Comak parmak DIP’de zaman zaman gorulur. Kortikosteroidler tedavinin temelini olusturur. Biz, comak parmak sikayeti ile ileri tetkik amacli hastaneye basvuran 38 yasinda bir erkek olguyu sunduk. Torakoskopik akciger biyopsisinde DIP ile uyumlu bulgular saptandi. Sistemik kortikosteroidler ile tedavi ve sigara biraktirilmasi hastaligin iyilesmesini sagladi.

Angiopoietins plays an important role in the regulation of inflammation, angiogenesis, and increased vascular permeability which are the main steps in the pathogenesis of malignant pleural effusion (MPE), In our study, we examined the diagnostic value of pleural fluid Angiopoietin 2 (Ang-2) levels in malignant pleural effusion and nonmalignant pleural effusions. Sixty six patients, 13 with transudative, 28 with benign exudative and 25 with malignant exudative pleural effusions (12 proven with PF cytology or pleural biopsy findings, 13 paramalignant (known malignancy and alternative diagnoses were excluded) were included the study. Pleural fluid Ang-2 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Kit (RayBiotech, New York, USA). Pleural fluid Ang-2 levels were higher (p 0,05) (Table 2) In terms of Ang-2 levels, no statistically significant difference was found between paramalignant effusions and malignant effusions proven with pleural fluid cytology or pleural biopsy findings (p>0,05) (Table 3). Pleural fluid Ang-2 levels were found insufficient to make distinction between malignant or benign pleural effusions.

Purpose: This study is a descriptive study which aims to determine the attitude and perceptions of asthma patients about their health and their opinion regarding the success of treatment. Method: The study is carried out without any sampling. The participants are 74 patients who were admitted in a public pulmonary disease clinic between April and June 2010. A revised version of Health Belief Model scale for asthma treatment and another scale, which was developed to determine the opinion and observations of patients regarding the success of treatment, are used for data collection. In addition to descriptive statistics, regression analysis, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests are used in the data analysis. Findings: The mean score of attitudes and perceptions of asthma patients, which is defined with the Health Belief Model and which can affect their responsiveness to treatment, is found out 3,37(±0,38) and the attitude and perceptions of patients are positive. The mean value for success treatment is 2,35(±0,49). Since the treatment is deemed to be more successful as it gets closer to 1 hence it can be said that the opinion of asthma patients regarding the success of treatment is positive. In the study, it is found out that the participants have a high admission rate to hospitals and that there is no significant difference for socio-demographic characteristics in the positive attitude development and in their belief in the efficiency of the treatment that they are receiving, of which both are components of health belief model concept. The findings from regression analysis indicate that the duration of the asthma sickness and the number of people living in the household not only affect the perceptions and attitudes of patients that are investigated by health belief model, but also the effectiveness of the treatment and the number of admissions to the Emergency Room in the last 6 months. Conclusion: In order to prevent long-term complications, the behavior and attitudes of asthma patients, especially the young ones , regarding asthma should be determined and detailed programs should be organized to educate and inform them. Treatment models, which would enable to receive treatment whilst not to cause any problem in their social and professional life’s, should be investigated. [TAF Prev Med Bull 2012; 11(1.000): 87-96]

Background Th1 cytokines, IL-2 and IFN-γ, have critical importance in the CD4 cell driven antimycobacterial activity. Th2 type immune response is a characteristic feature of atopic disorders. Th1 and Th2 cells have been reported to negatively cross-regulate each other in vitro and in experimental animals. Our aim in the present study is to determine whether the atopy affects radiological extent of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and disease severity. Materials and methods A total of 82 male patients with pulmonary TB were prospectively enrolled in the study between March 2005 and March 2006. All patients were evaluated for atopic symptoms and TB related systemic symptoms. Radiological dissemination was scored and cavitation was noted. The skin prick test (SPT) was performed and serum total IgE level was measured. Results The SPTs were positive in 28 of 82 (34.1 %) patients. There was no distinction between SPT-positive and negative patients in terms of pulmonary cavitation and radiological dissemination. The median IgE level of moderate-severe radiologically disseminated TB patients was significantly higher than that of mild radiologically disseminated TB patients (130 IU/ml vs. 58 IU/ml). Cavitary TB patients had also significantly higher median IgE levels (78 IU/ml vs. 46 IU/ml) (p Conclusion This study suggests that SPT-positivity and atopic respiratory phenotype do not affect the formation of cavitation, radiological dissemination and systemic symptoms of pulmonary TB. The high level of IgE in patients with cavitary and radiologically disseminated TB may be a consequence of a dysregulated immune response to infection or reflect disease activity.

Background Wind instrument playing requires a strenuous respiratory activity. Previous studies investigating effect of wind instrument playing on pulmonary function are equivocal. Methods In the present study, 34 male, non-smoker wind players in a military band were compared with 44 healthy non-smoker males by pulmonary function testing. Results All spirometric values including forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow rate, forced expiratory flow in 25, 50, 75% of FVC, and during the middle half of the FVC were found significantly diminished in wind players. The class of wind instrument, brass or wood, showed no significant differences. FVC was significantly and negatively correlated with duration of practice. Conclusions It was concluded that pulmonary function in wind players might be diminished probably due to development of asthma or constant barotrauma during their playing. This fact should be considered in clinical evaluation of wind instrument players.

Background Smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (SNPTB) constitutes a major problem in countries with a moderate or high TB prevalence. The value of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), chest x-ray and other clinical findings in determining activity of SNPTB were investigated. Methods The study population consisted of 85 patients with suspected SNPTB, of whom 52 were confirmed as active pulmonary TB according to either culture positivity for Mycobacteriun tuberculosis or demonstration of caseous granulomatous inflammation. The remaining 33 patients accepted inactive TB sequel. Results Cough and expectoration were significantly frequent in inactive group whereas chest pain was detected higher in active patients. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of HRCT in detecting disease activity were 88, 88, 92, 83 and 88%, respectively. Centrilobular nodules, other non-calcified nodules, consolidation and cavity were significantly higher on HRCT in active group. Chest x-ray scores that were graded 1 to 3 showed a linear trend for the disease activity. Conclusions HRCT has good diagnostic value in detecting activity of SNPTB, and some clinical findings may help in predicting the activity.

Objective: To evaluate the medical records of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in order to determine the inhospital mortality rate. Materials and Methods: Medical records of 22,651 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis admitted to Gulhane Military Medical Academia, Camlica Chest Diseases Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey from 1977 to 1999 were examined. Results: Of the 22,651 patients, 133 (0.58%) died: 117 male and 16 female, mean age 41.5 ± 20.7 years. The mean length of hospital stay was 15.8 ± 25.9 days and it increased yearly (p = 0.004). There was no significant difference in hospital mortality rate of tuberculosis within years. Forty-nine patients had chronic and/or far advanced tuberculosis, 36 of them had concomitant diseases. Thirteen patients had miliary and/or tuberculous meningitis, 3 multi drug-resistant tuberculosis, another 3 had pneumothorax, and 2 empyema. These patients had significantly lower prognostic nutritional index than those patients who recovered from pulmonary tuberculosis (p = 0.025). Conclusion: Inhospital mortality rate of tuberculosis did not change in the last 23 years. We suggest that pulmonary tuberculosis will continue to be a significant cause of death and therefore important health care problem for Turkey in the 21st century.

Dental technicianship is a common health-related occupation especially in metropolitan areas of Turkey. Dental technicians are exposed to ceramic, metal and similar dusts which might lead to pneumoconiosis in occupational environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and factors related with developing of pneumoconiosis among dental technicians. All of 31 dental technicians employed in six laboratories in Istanbul were enrolled into the study. Detailed medical history, physical examination, chest x-ray, high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was performed in all participants. HRCT findings were scored and investigated for relation with duration of practice. Mean age and male/female ratio of the study population were 43,2 ? 9,6 years and 27/4 respectively. Mean duration of practice of the technicians was 25,2 ? 9,4 years. Eight subjects complained of dyspnea and cough and out of whom 4 (13%) had HRCT findings compatible with pneumoconiosis. Additionally, four technicians had pulmonary tuberculosis their occupational practice. We have concluded that dental technicianship might be a significant risk factor for pneumoconiosis. The problem might be greater than thought and preventive measures against dust exposure and pneumoconiosis should be revised in dental laboratories.

A 32-year-old male patient applied with acute respiratory symptoms of cough, sputum production, mild left sided chest pain and fever. He had a history of heavy smoking and alcohol abuse. A chest radiogram showed a thin metallic image overlying the right diaphragma. Computed tomography revealed that there were three needle-shaped foreign bodies located just behind the intercostal muscles, in the right lobe of the liver, and in the right ventricular myocardium. It looked as if he had intentionally inserted the needles through his right anterior chest wall, although he claimed that it was an accident that occurred 5 years ago while trying to remove something in the skin. His recent complaints did not seem to be related to foreign bodies. Since the patient refused any intervention to remove the needles he was discharged after treatment for his respiratory symptoms, which were improved satisfactorily. The case is very interesting and unique for being symptom free for years and being healthy except for mild and transient respiratory complaints possibly not related to foreign bodies. To our knowledge, there has been no similar case described in medical literature so far.

Infections, such as tuberculosis, measles and diphtheria, may decrease the risk of developing atopic allergic disorders. Patients with pulmonary TB having similar allergic skin prick test sensitivity as healthy controls but unable to show vigorous atopic phenotype in their healthy period might be a sign for Th1-Th2 immune interaction.

WOS: 000331300500004, PubMed ID: 22672143, ObjectivesThere is a lack of data regarding whether edentulous subjects should remove dentures during spirometric measurements or not. The purpose of this study is to determine influences of complete dentures on spirometric parameters in edentulous subjects. Materials and methodsA total of 46 complete denture wearers were included in this study. Respiratory functions of the subjects were evaluated by spirometric tests that were performed in four different oral conditions: without dentures (WOD), with dentures, lower denture only and upper denture only. Forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume in 1s and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% were evaluated. The data were analyzed with Friedman, Wilcoxon and paired-samples t tests (=0.05). ResultsSignificant differences were found between spirometric parameters in different oral conditions (p

WOS: 000329493900009 PubMed: 24239221 Background: Over the last two to three decades there has been a marked decrease in certain bacterial infections in Turkey. One of them is tuberculosis. Of note, statistics published by the Turkish Ministry of Health (MoH) show decreasing pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), but on the other hand, increasing extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). The most common form of EPTB is tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis (TCL). The increase in the number of TCL cases despite the decline in cases of PTB is seen as a paradoxical issue. In contrast there has been an increase in the number of oropharyngeal tularemia cases in the last decade in Turkey. The aim of this study was to draw attention to the importance of differentiating between TCL and tularemia lymphadenitis, because these diseases may have a similar histopathological appearance. Methods: Thirty-two cases diagnosed as TCL were identified from the archives of a pathology laboratory (Patomer Pathology Laboratory, Bursa, Turkey). PCR tests for Francisella tularensis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were carried out on the paraffin tissue blocks of these cases. At the same time, statistical data on PTB and EPTB for the period 1996-2010 were retrieved from the MoH and reviewed. Statistics related to tularemia, which has been diagnosed since 1988 and has been increasing in the last 10 years, were obtained from the Department of Zoonoses of the MoH. Results: Six out of 32 (19%) cases who had previously been diagnosed with 'casseifying granulomatous lymphadenitis consistent with tuberculosis' were found to be positive for tularemia by PCR test of the cervical lymph nodes. Conclusions: Oropharyngeal tularemia should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenitis in widespread geographic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including the Asian continent. In particular, if granulomatous inflammation with necrosis is seen histopathologically, tularemia should be excluded before making the diagnosis of TCL. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. All rights reserved.

Anemia of chronic disease is the second most encountered anemia following iron deficiency in patients who develop acute or chronic immune activation. Pulmonary tuberculosis is an infectious disease which results in an inflammatory response frequently causing anemia. We investigated whether prohepcidin can be used successfully to disclose the cause of anemia and to monitor the result of the therapy in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.The study was performed in 40 male patients and 15 healthy controls that had a diagnosis of tuberculosis with a positive sputum smear and did not receive any previous treatment. They were treated for 6 months.The study revealed a significant elevation of prohepcidin in patients with tuberculosis in comparison to those of healthy control subjects. Additionally, prohepcidin levels significantly decreased after treatment in the patient group but remained high in comparison to control group.We conclude that prohepcidin is high in pulmonary tuberculosis and might be a marker for monitoring the response to treatment.

This study investigated the relationship between the atopic phenotype and the development of active tuberculosis. A total of 82 human immunodeficiency virus-negative males with active pulmonary tuberculosis and 88 healthy controls were enrolled into this prospective study. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were measured and skin prick tests performed before initiation of treatment. Skin prick tests were positive in 34.1% of the tuberculosis patients and 39.8% of the controls. Allergic respiratory symptoms were significantly less frequent in skin prick test positive tuberculosis patients (21.4%) compared with skin prick test positive controls (62.9%). Median IgE levels in atopic tuberculosis patients were significantly higher than in atopic controls. The low rate of atopic respiratory complaints seen in the tuberculosis patients, despite having similar allergic skin prick test sensitivities to the controls, could be attributed to a weak T-helper (Th) 2 immune reaction and its effects on Th1–Th2 interaction.

Backgrounds: The histologic features of tuberculin skin test site is not uniform. It may be related to status of tuberculosis. Methods: Forty-eight purified protein derivative (PPD) positive-cases were chosen for the study. Thirty of the subjects had active tuberculosis. As previously reported, the histologic pattern of inflammatory reaction seen in the test site classified into three type: (a) Perivascular (PV)-type, (b) Basal spongiotic dermatitis (BSD)-type and (c) Erythema multiforme (EM)-type. The frequencies of histological patterns in active tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis were statistically analyzed. Results: In active tuberculosis group including 30 patient, 17 (56.7%) EM-type, 9 (30%) BSD-type and 4(13.3%) PV-type inflammation were seen. Among 18 latent tuberculosis, there were 2 (11.1%) EM-type, 7 (38 8%) BSD-type and 9 (50%) PV-type inflammatory reactions. The EM-type inflammation was more common in active tuberculosis group. Bulla formation was seen in seven subjects with active tuberculosis. Conclusion: The histological pattern of PPD reaction site may be an important sign reflecting the nature of the tuberculosis, which may be either latent or active. The bulla formation is an important sign for active pulmonary tuberculosis. Further, detailed immunohistopathologic studies of PPD reaction with large number of cases may give important clues about tuberculosis immunology.

Background: Low serum total cholesterol (TC) concentrations in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) have been demonstrated. It was shown that a cholesterol-rich diet might accelerate the sterilization rate of sputum cultures in PTB patients. It is known that smear positivity might be related to the radiological extent of disease (RED) in PTB patients. Objective: We hypothesized that there might be a relationship between initial serum TC concentrations; the degree of RED (DRED) and the degree of smear positivity (DSP) in PTB patients. Method: Eighty-three PTB patients and 39 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum TC, TG, HDL-C, VLDL-C and LDL-C concentrations were determined in all subjects. PTB patients were classified for their chest X-ray findings as minimal/mild, moderate and advanced. Correlations between serum lipid concentrations, DRED and DSP (0, 1+, 2+, 3+, 4+) were investigated. PTB patients and controls were also compared for serum lipid concentrations. Results: Significant differences between PTB patients and controls were detected for serum TC, HDL-C and LDL-C concentrations. On stepwise logistic regression analysis, DRED was found as one of the significant independent predictors of serum TC levels. We also found significant correlations between DRED and serum HDL-C concentrations ( r = − 0.60, p = 0.0001) and between DRED and serum LDL-C concentrations ( r = − 0.28, p = 0.011). There were also significant correlations between DSP and serum lipid concentrations. Conclusion: Our study suggests that serum TC, HDL-C and LDL-C concentrations are generally lower in patients with PTB than those in healthy controls. In addition, changes in these parameters might be related to DRED and DSP in PTB patients.

We investigated the clinical significance of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a cardiac hormone, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Subjects were 38 patients with stable COPD, of whom 20 had cor pulmonale (CP), and 22 were healthy individuals. Plasma BNP levels were measured and pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) was estimated by echocardiography. Arterial blood gas analysis, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were also recorded. BNP levels of patients with COPD were higher than those of controls (48.2 ± 37.5 and 9.3 ± 3.0 pg/ml). Patients with CP had a higher mean BNP level with respect to those without CP (73.9 ± 35.8 and 21.0 ± 10.2 pg/ml, respectively). BNP levels correlated with PAP ( r = 0.68), partial arterial oxygen pressure ( r = −0.70), FEV1 ( r = −0.65) and FVC ( r = −0.52). We have concluded that BNP determination has a role in the diagnosis of CP in patients with COPD.

A 22 year old patient with dyspnea, cough, chest pain, fatigue, mild fever and swelling of the lower extremities was hospitalized. Physical examination revealed bilateral decrease in respiratory sounds and end-inspiratory fine rales at the left posterobasal area. Circumferences of both legs were increased. During hospitalization period, oral aphthous and scrotal ulceration were appeared. Bilateral multiple peripheral and central pulmonary artery aneurysms at middle zones were found with dynamic computerized tomography of thorax and magnetic resonance angiography of the lungs. Patient was diagnosed as Behcet's disease with lung involvement. Magnetic resonance angiography performed at the sixth month of the treatment revealed a significant regression in aneurysmatic changes, whereas a right ventricular thrombosis had been developed.