Epidemiological characteristics of sarcoidosis differ according to geographical distribution. The aim of our study was to disclose epidemiological characteristics in our country. The data was collected from investigators, who sent information on newly-diagnosed patients via internet. In 2 years 198 female and 95 male patients were enrolled to the study (f/m:2.08). Mean age of patients was 44+/-13 years (17-90). Mean age of male patients was 38+/-12 while mean age of female patients was 48+/-13 (p<0.001). 73.4% of patients were nonsmokers (85.4% of females; 48.4% of males; (p<0.001)). About 50% of our 293 patients were housewives. Familial sarcoidosis was found in 3 patients' first degree relatives. Estimated annual incidence of sarcoidosis for Turkey was calculated as 4 per 100,000 person. According to our study, 2/3 of sarcoidosis patients were women; mean age of patients was 45 and the disease began 10 years later in female patients. 80% of patients were nonsmokers; negative relation between sarcoidosis and smoking was evident especially in women. Familial sarcoidosis frequency was lower compared to other studies in the literature. There was no occupational exposure history in our patients. Our incidence rate, is similar with the results of other European studies.

This study aims to investigate the possibility of additional value of leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTA) on dyspnea score, arterial blood gases (ABG), pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and quality of life (St. George QoL) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. In this randomized, prospective, single-blind, and controlled study, 117 non-reversible COPD patients defined by global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) criteria were randomized to receive ipratropium bromide, formoterol and montelukast (n:58, montelukast group) or ipratropium bromide and formoterol (n:59, control group) after a 2-week run-in period. There was no significant demographic difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Baseline ABG, PFT, visual analoque scores (VAS), and QoL scores were obtained and at first month and second month, PFT, VAS, and QoL scores were repeated and ABG was obtained at second month and the values were compared with baseline values. As the result of the comparison, there was significant increase in vital capacity, FVC, FEV1, VAS, and PaO2 parameters (P<0.05), and a significant decrease in the QoL scores (P<0.05) in the montelukast group. These parameters did not show any difference in the control group (P>0.05). Sputum samples that could be obtained in 24 of the COPD patients were evaluated and in the montelukast group, there was a decrease in neutrophilic activity after treatment (n:13) (P:0.059). These results suggest that LTA that is used additionally in routine treatment protocol can produce additive improvement on PFT, dyspnea score and especially QoL in patients with stable COPD and for these reasons, LTA may be taken into account when there is need for an additional anti-inflammatory treatment in COPD patients.

Skin and peripheral lymph node involvement were the most common sites of extrapulmonary involvement and ocular involvement was more common in those under the age of 40 years in patients with sarcoidosis in a Turkish population.

Aims: To investigate the cardiovascular and respiratory effects of topical latanoprost 0.005% and topical betaxolol 0.25% monotherapy in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients. Methods: Fortynewly diagnosed glaucoma patients were enrolled in this prospective, observer-masked, randomized, parallel study. Patients received either latanoprost 0.005% or betaxolol 0.25% for a duration of 3 months. Baseline evaluation included intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement and cardiorespiratory examinations including pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements and spirometry. These measurements were repeated after 3 months. Results: Both latanoprost and betaxolol reduced IOP significantly (p = 0.001). After 3 months of therapy, the mean pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure values of the betaxolol group were reduced (p = 0.027, p = 0.07 and p = 0.016, respectively). No significant changes occurred in the cardiovascular measurements of the latanoprost group (p > 0.05). There were no significant changes in any of the spirometric measurements tested for both groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Both latanoprost and betaxolol are safe concerning respiratory functions. Betaxolol may cause small changes in the cardiovascular system, suggesting that blood pressure and pulse rates should be checked before and in regular intervals after prescribing it for the elderly. Latanoprost seems to be a safe medication in view of absence of systemic cardiovascular and respiratory side effects.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of wheezing and evaluate the risk factors for its persistence in children. Survey data was collected on 725 children aged 17 years or below. The mean age was 8.94 +/- 5.16 years; 22.1% of them were reported to have had a wheezing episode at any point in their lives. A wheezing episode was reported in 18.1% of children 3 years of age or younger and persisted in 51% of these subjects; 69.6% of ever wheezers had late onset wheezing. Persistence was significantly common in males. Perinatal disease, lack of breast feeding, and low income were significant risk factors for persistence. In summary, breast feeding, perinatal disease, and income status may be significant risk factors influencing wheezing peristence and consequent asthma.

Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that mainly affects the exocrine glands and usually presents as persistent dryness of the mouth and eyes. Lung disease in SjS has been reported to occur early following clinical presentation of the disease. In this study, technetium-99m diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (Tc-99m DTPA) aerosol inhalation scintigraphy was used to assess the pulmonary membrane permeability in patients with primary SjS. A total of 18 patients with primary SjS and 13 healthy controls were investigated. Clinical evaluation, chest X-ray examination, pulmonary function tests, Tc-99m DTPA aerosol scintigraphy were performed in all the cases. The presence of respiratory symptoms (dyspnea and cough), duration of sicca symptoms were recorded. The clearance half time of Tc-99m DTPA radioaerosols in patients with SjS (20.49 +/- 2.56 min) was faster when compared to normal controls (42.32 +/- 13.28 min) (P = 0.000) which means that there is a significant increase in lung permeability in patients with SjS compared to the controls. There is also a significant difference between PI of patients with SjS (0.34 +/- 0.09) and that of controls (0.42 +/- 0.07) (P = 0.012). According to the results of our preliminary study, one can detect pulmonary involvement by Tc-99m DTPA aerosol inhalation scintigraphy in patients with primary SjS.

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