Introduction Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have impaired balance and hence fall more frequently. Easy application of balance evaluation tests can prevent the loss of time in the outpatient clinic for patients with COPD. In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of Berg Balance Scale (BBS), a time‐consuming but a widely used test, with other easy‐to‐perform tests such as the Single Leg Stance (SLS), Five Repetition Sit to Stand (5STS), Four Step Square (FSST), and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests. Methods A total of 71 patients with COPD and 70 control subjects with matching demographic characteristics were included in the study. All patients undertook pulmonary function tests and their scores of 6‐min walk‐test (6MWT), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale, COPD assessment questionnaire (CAT) and body mass index (B) were recorded. In addition, the severity of airway obstruction (O), the dyspnoea severity (D) and exercise capacity (E) (BODE) index scores were measured. All patients with COPD were classified into four groups, A to D, based on the GOLD 2017 criteria. All subjects undertook the BBS, SLS, 5STS, FSST and TUG tests. Results Balance tests revealed increased balance impairment in patients with COPD in comparison with the control subjects (P < .05). The BBS, SLS, FSST and TUG examinations suggested that balance impairment was frequent in Groups C and D patients with COPD (P < .05). FSST and TUG had the highest correlation with BBS (r = −.812 and −.842 and P < .001 and <.001, respectively). The results of FSST and TUG were the closest to those of BBS test. Conclusions FSST and TUG tests can be applied for the assessment of bodily balance status among patients with COPD in outpatient clinics.

ÖZET Amaç: Hastanemiz sağlık kuruluna başvuran hastaların, başvuru nedenleri, engellilik oranları ve bunların yaşlara göre dağılımını inceleyerek ülkemizdeki engelliler ile ilgili epidemiyolojik bilgiye katkı sağlamaktır. Yöntem: Ocak 2014-Aralık 2014 tarihleri arasında Karabük Üniversitesi Eğitim Araştırma Hastanesi sağlık kuruluna başvuran hastaların kayıtları retrospektif olarak incelendi. Sonuçlar oransal olarak tanımlandı. Bulgular: Hastanemiz engelli sağlık kuruluna Ocak 2014-Aralık 2014 arasında 2637 olgu başvurmuştur. Bu hastaların 1554'ü erkek (%58.9), 1083'ü kadın (%41) idi. Yaş arttıkça başvuru sıklığı artmıştır. En fazla başvuru 65 yaş üzeri grupta olmuştur. Hastalar sağlık kuruluna en sık engellilik tespiti nedeniyle, 2. sıklıkla özel eğitim alabilmek için başvurmuşlardır. Engellilik oranı %40 ve üzerinde olanlar engelli haklarından yararlanmaktadır. Buna göre %40'ın üzerinde puan alan olgu sayısı 1834'tür (%69.5). Bunların 1055'i erkek (%40), 779'u kadındır (%29.5). İncelenen olgulardan 569 kişi (%21.5) ağır engelli idi. Ağır engelli olanların 317'si kadın (%12), 252'si erkekti (%9). Sürekli engelli oranına sahip olgu sayısı 1638'dir (%62). Bunların 960'ı erkek (%36), 678'i kadındır (%26). Hastaların branşlara göre dağılımı değerlendirildiğinde en sık 976 (%37) olgu ile ortopedi ve fizik tedavi uzmanları tarafından yapılan kas iskelet sistemi hastalıkları tespit edilmiştir. En az özür oranı ise 8 (%0.3) olgu ile kadın hastalıkları branşından olmuştur. Sonuç: Engelli nüfusun yaşam kalitesi ve onlara sunulan hizmetin kalitesi, toplumun gelişmişlik düzeyi ile yakından alakalıdır. Engelli bireylerin hayat kalitesini düzeltebilmek için öncelikle bölgesel olarak ve ülke genelinde bu bireylerin verilerine ihtiyaç bulunmaktadır.ABSTRACT Aim: Disabled patients are admitted to the medical board to determine the disability rate in order to use the occupational, health and social rights in Turkey. According to the law, over 40% of individuals with disabilities, based on the severity of their disability and illness rate, have different rights. We aimed to contribute to epidemiological data on people with disabilities in our city. cases were evaluated. 1554 of these patients were male (58.9%), 1083 women (41%). With the increase of age, the frequency of application increased, too. Maximum application was in the group who are above 65 years of age. The numbers of cases by over 40% points are 1834 people (69.5%).1055 of them were men (40%), 779 were women (29.5%). When the cases were evaluated according to the distribution of branches, 976 cases (37%) in musculoskeletal system were identified. The least disability was in Obstetrics and Gynecology with 8 cases (0.3%). Conclusion: Quality of life of the disabled population and the quality of services which are offered to them are closely related to the level of development of the society. In order to improve the life quality of disabled people, regional and country wide data of these people are needed.

Influenza A (H1N1) caused its first pandemic in 2009 in USA and Mexico. Since then, clinicians have exercised great care in order to make an early diagnosis of viral pneumonias. This is due in part to pandemic influenza A infection having greater impact on populations <65 years old than other viral strains, including seasonal influenza. Chest radiographies of those affected displayed a rapid progression of patchy infiltrates, and a large proportion of individuals required admission to intensive care units (ICU). Despite efforts, patients infected with the virus had a high mortality rate. The present multicenter study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the clinical, demographic and prognostic characteristics of patients diagnosed with epidemic viral pneumonia in Turkey. A total of 92 patients were included in the study. The Student's t-test and Chi-square tests were performed to analyze quantitative data, assuming a normal distribution, and to analyze qualitative data, respectively. Stepwise logistic regression was used to evaluate the effects of demographic variables and laboratory values on the virus mortality rate. The male/female ratio was 42/50 and the mean age was 48.74±16.65 years. A total of 69 (75%) patients were unvaccinated against influenza. The most common symptoms were cough (87%) and fever (63%). Chest computed tomography showed peripheral patchy areas of the lungs of ground glass density in 38 patients (41.3%). A total of 22 (59.4%) patients had H1N1, 5 (12.5%) patients had influenza B, and 38 (41.3%) patients met the criteria for admission to the ICU. Of these patients, 20 (52.63%) were monitored with a mechanical ventilator, with a noninvasive ventilator being adequate for 10 (26.32%) of patients. The length of stay in the ICU was 6.45±5.97 days and the duration of mechanical ventilation was 5.06±4.69 days. A total of 12 (13.04%) patients in the ICU succumbed. Logistic regression analysis revealed that among the parameters possibly associated with mortality, being an active smoker increased the risk of mortality 7.08-fold compared to other groups (P=0.005). In conclusion, viral pneumonia remains a significant health problem during the winter period. Considering the high number of ICU admissions and high rate of mortality for patients in the present study, earlier initiation of antiviral therapy is necessary. Active smoking increased mortality in viral pneumonia.

Objectives. Exposure to ambient metals and air pollutants in urban environments has been associated with impaired lung health and inflammation in the lungs. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a reliable marker of airway inflammation. In this study, we aimed to compare the FeNO levels of three schools that have different distances from iron and steel industry zone for assessing the effects of heavy metals and air pollution on their respiratory health. Methods. Pulmonary function test and FeNO measurements were evaluated in 387 adolescents in three schools which have different distance from plant. Results. FeNO levels were significantly higher in School I (n = 142; 18.89 ± 12.3 ppb) and School II (n = 131; 17.68 ± 7.7 ppb) than School III (n = 114; 4.28 ± 3.9 ppb). Increased FeNO concentration was related to the distance of iron and steel industry zone in young adults. Conclusion. The FeNO concentrations in school children were inversely proportional to the distance from the steel mill. There are needed some studies that can evaluate the safe distance and legislation must consider these findings.

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Pneumonia remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality among infectious diseases. Streptococcus pneumoniae and viruses are the most common cause of pneumonia. Candidiasis in such patients has been associated with haemodialysis, fungal colonization, exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics, intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization, and immunocompromised patients. The most common cause of infection is C. albicans. The case presented here is of a 66-year-old male patient diagnosed with C. glabrata. The patient suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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