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Background: Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is the main determinant of mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). Thus, guidelines recommend the assessment of RVD with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) or computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) among these patients. In this study, we investigated the agreement between TTE and CTPA for the detection of RVD. Methods: This single-center retrospective study included patients who were diagnosed with CTPA and underwent TTE within the fir t 24 hours following the diagnosis. Results: Two hundred fift -eight patients met the inclusion criteria. In 71.3% (184) of them, CTPA and TTE agreed on both the presence and absence of RVD. There was a moderate agreement between the 2 tests (Cohen's kappa = 0.404, P < .001). The agree- ment between right ventricle dysfunction on TTE and the increased right ventricle/left ventricle (RV/LV) on CTPA was fair (Cohen's kappa = 0.388, P < .001). Three patients died due to PE, and another 5 patients required urgent reperfusion therapy. Overall, adverse outcomes occurred in 4% (8) of patients. The sensitivity of modalities in the detection of adverse outcomes was 100%. Transthoracic echocardiography was more specific compared to CTPA (43% vs. 28%). Statistically, flattening/bulging of the interventricular septum on TTE was significantly associated with adverse outcomes. No individual CTPA parameter was related to adverse outcomes. Conclusion: Both CTPA and TTE are reliable imaging modalities in the detection of RVD. However, TTE is more specific, and this may help in the identifi ation and appropriate management of patients at higher risk of decompensation. A combination of CTPA parameters rather than individual RV/LV ratios increases the sensitivity of CTPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause hypoxic respiratory failure; long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) duration is unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The aim was to investigate which patients would need LTOT after COVID-19 pneumonia. This single-center, prospective study was conducted at the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, between May 2021 and December 2021. The 70 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia and discharged with LTOT due to hypoxemic respiratory failure were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups as group I (LTOT requirement <3 months) and group II (LTOT requirement continued =3 months). RESULTS: The mean age was 64.4 ± 13.5 years, and 44 (62.9%) of them were male. The most frequently encountered comorbidities were cardiovascular disease (57.1%) and lung disease (22.9%). While PaO2 levels increased in both groups during the follow-up period, this increment was significantly higher in group I (PaO2: 66.6 ± 9.9 mm Hg, P < .001). The factors affecting the LTOT requirement were evaluated using binary logistic regression. On multivariate analyses of lymphocytes, ferritin, C-reactive protein, PaO2, SaO2, subpleural reticulation, and number of lobes affected (=3 lobes), the SaO2 level and presence of subpleural reticulation were significantly different between the 2 groups [odds ratio (OR) (95% CI): 0.853 (0.749-0.971), P = .016] and [OR (95% CI): 0.171 (0.042-0.733), P = .017], respectively. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of patients who develop respiratory failure due to COVID-19 recover within the first 3 months. Factors determining the LTOT requirement for more than 3 months were SaO2 and the presence of subpleural reticulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a reply to a letter to the editor discussing the effectiveness of the right ventricle-to-left ventricle diameter ratio as an index of right ventricular function. The authors acknowledge the real-time information provided by echocardiography but suggest that computed tomography findings could be useful in situations where echocardiography is not available. The article emphasizes the importance of both imaging techniques in assessing right ventricular function, particularly in cases like pulmonary embolism. [Extracted from the article]

The document is a reply to a letter to the editor regarding the importance of pretest probability for calculating positive predictive value in echocardiography and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). The authors acknowledge errors in the data presented, with corrected positive predictive values of 41% for CTPA and 55% for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Echocardiography was not specifically performed to detect a patent foramen ovale (PFO), and contrast echocardiography was not used in the calculations. The study compared the performance of CTPA and TTE in predicting adverse outcomes related to right ventricular dysfunction. [Extracted from the article]

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to evaluate clinical, functional, and prognostic features and to determine the prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases, and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-nine cases with interstitial lung diseases were recruited in this study prospectively. Demographic features, symptoms, radiological findings, functional measurements, and immunological markers were recorded twice (at the time of initial admission and in the 12th month). Twenty-four of 69 cases were idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 32 were connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases, and 13 were interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features . RESULTS: Most of the patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were male, while there were more female patients in connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features groups. Female patients (65.0%) predominated in connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases group (P < .001). There was no significant difference in the mean ages of the disease groups, yet connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases patients were generally younger (min-max: 34-82 years). In the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis group, only low titers of antinuclear antibody positivity were found. Antinuclear antibody positivity in the connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases group and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features group was high (P = .001). The long-term survival of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases, and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features patients were 37%, 40 months (median) (95% CI, 5.193-74.807), 48.6%, 80 months (median) (95% CI, 57.032-102.968), 30.8%, 46 months (median) (95% CI, 26.624-65.376), respectively. CONCLUSION: Although a consensus report describing interstitial lung diseases with autoimmune features has been published, diagnostic criteria for this group are still vague. Since the interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features group had the worst results in terms of functional loss and survival rates, the follow-up parameters and follow-up algorithm should be established for this group. Clinical and immunological evaluation of the interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features group should include detailed parameters because of follow-up and to estimate survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the approaches of Turkish pulmonologists to the diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in daily clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire containing 38 questions about the IPF diagnosis and treatment was given to pulmonologists between January 22 and 29, 2018, and the data of 158 physicians who responded to the questionnaire were evaluated. RESULTS: This survey showed that the mean number of patients that physicians followed up and managed annually was 8.3 and 5, respectively. The mean symptom duration before the diagnosis was 9--12 months. Patients were seen on average by three physicians prior to confirmed diagnosis. Almost 80% of the physicians have an opportunity to access a pathologist and radiologist specialized in IPF. However, only 26% of them have an opportunity to access regular multidisciplinary meetings. Although antifibrotics were the most commonly prescribed drugs, approximately 10% of patients were prescribed steroids, N-acetylcysteine, and immunosuppressants. Most of the physicians (81%) were aware of international guidelines; however, the Turkish Thoracic Society IPF Diagnosis and Treatment Consensus Report was read by only 41% of them. CONCLUSION: This survey may lead to the IPF awareness in Turkey, and it may help to close the gaps regarding the diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Respiratory Case Reports is the property of LookUs Scientific and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Respiratory Case Reports is the property of LookUs Scientific and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One of the most problematic issues in hematological malignancies is the diagnosis of invasive fungal diseases. Especially, the difficulty of mycological diagnosis and the necessity of immediate intervention in molds have led to the adoption of 'surrogate markers' that do not verify but rather strongly suggest fungal infection. The markers commonly used are galactomannan (GM), beta-glucan, and imaging methods. Although there are numerous studies on these diagnostic approaches, none of these markers serve as a support for the clinician, as is the case in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. This paper has been prepared to explain the diagnostic tests. As molecular tests have not been standardized and are not used routinely in the clinics, they will not be mentioned here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Turkish Society for Rheumatology is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)