The aim of this study was to determine the level of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) according to high and low risk for early mortality based on simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI). In addition, it was investigated the relationship between PLR and NLR with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), cardiac markers, disease severity and hospital, 1th month, 3th month and 3-month total mortality. Our hospital's electronic patient database was searched for the patients with APE during last year and eighty-two patients retrospectively evaluated. Plasma D-dimer, troponin I (TnI), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), hemogram values, sPAP from echocardiographic findings were recorded from database system. Hospital mortality was determined from files of cases and 1th, 3th month mortality and survival information were determined by phone calls with the patient and/or relatives. A percentage of 67.1% (55) of APE cases had sPESI≥1. There was no significant difference for age and sex between high and low risk patients according to sPESI (P>0.05). The mean serum BNP, TnI, sPAP, neutrophil counts, platelet counts, PLR and NLR was statistically increased and lymphocyte counts was statistically decreased in high risk patients according to sPESI compared with low risk patients (P0.05). When the cut-off value of PLO was taken as ≥156 by ROC analysis for the predicting of high sPESI, PLR had an area under the curve (AUC) in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.704 (0.591-0.816; 95% CI; P<0.01) and the cut-off value of NLR was taken as ≥3.56 by ROC analysis for the predicting of high sPESI, NLR had an area under the curve (AUC) in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.675 (0.556-0.794; 95% CI; P<0.05). An NLR level of 3.56 was taken as the cut-off between high and low risk patients according to sPESI, NLR had a sensitivity of 66% and specificity of 53%. When the cases were evaluated as two groups according to the cut-off value of 156; total 3-month mortality was statistically increased (χ2=6.896, P<0.01) and when the cases were evaluated as two groups according to the based NLR cut-off value of 3.56; hospital mortality, 3th month mortality and total 3-month mortality was statistically increased (χ2=4.771, P<0.05; χ2=4.383, P<0.05; χ2=9.101, P<0.01 respectively). PLR and NLR increased in patients with high risk, and PLR may have predicting value for 3-month mortality while NLR may have predicting value for hospital mortality, 3th month mortality and total 3-month mortality in patients with APE.

Endothelin (ET) receptor antagonists have been developed to produce a reduction of ET related effects in various diseases, as well as in animal models of airway inflammation. We aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of bosentan on a rat model of emphysema. Thirty Wistar male rats were classified as control group (group 1), intratracheally (i.t.) instilled with saline, treated with vehicle solution; elastase group (group 2), i.t. instilled with porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE), treated with vehicle solution; and PPE+bosentan group (group 3), i.t. instilled with PPE, treated with bosentan. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue, cell counts in BALF, and histologic analysis of all groups were evaluated. Neutrophile granulocytes (NG) and alveolar macrophages (AM) were increased more in group 2 than in group 1 (P<0.001, P=0.04, respectively). Compared with group 2, neutrophil granulocyte (NG) and alveolar macrophages (AM) counts were decreased in group 3 (P< 0.001). Histological examination confirmed a diffuse neutrophilic inflammation and irregular alveolar air space enlargement in group 2. Treatment with bosentan partially reduced the enlarged lung volumes. Compared with group 1, the BALF levels of TNF-α and IL-6, and the lung tissue levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were increased in group 2 (P=0.028, P=0.005, P=0.001, P=0.019, P<0.001, respectively). The TNF-α and IL-8 levels of BALF (P=0.007, P=0.001, respectively), and the TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and the IL-8 levels of lung tissue (P=0.031, P=0.017, P=0.007, P<0.001) were decreased in group 3 compared to group 2. In conclusion, bosentan decreased the inflammatory response by reducing numbers of inflammatory cells and proinflammatory cytokines.

Introduction: The most common cause of tracheal stenosis (TS) continues to be traumas according to the intubation and tracheostomy. Bronchoscopy is considered the gold standard for the detection and diagnosis of tracheobronchial pathology. There are several treatment options. We aimed to discuss our tracheal stenosis patients' treatment options, and their follow-up period. Materials and Methods: Consecutive referred patients between 2009 and 2018 presenting with TS were reviewed for the study. Demographic characteristics, localization, length and degree of stenosis, treatment techniques, postoperative complications, and survival were recorded for all patients. Results: A total of 110 patients included. The mean age was 53.7 +/- 16.7 (1698 years) years. Of 110 patients, 54 (49.1%) were female. Most common type of stenosis was complex stenosis (74.5%). Mechanical dilatation was applied to all patients. Stenotic regions of 22 (20%) patients were cut with bronchoscopic scissor. Tracheal stents were inserted into trachea of 49 (44.5%) patients. During follow-up period; 36 of 110 (32.7%) patients had surgical resection. Six of 36 (16.7%) patients died during follow-up period (one of them died during surgery), 17 (47.2%) patients had total recovery after surgery. Thirteen of 36 (36.1%) patients had restenosis after surgery. Conclusion: Tracheal stenosis is a process seen after postintubation or posttracheostomy frequently and it has a wide range of management modalities. Although, it is believed that surgery is the most efficient technique in cases without medical contraindications, we determined that endoscopic interventions can be alternative therapeutic options for inoperable patients. Patients must be followed-up after interventional therapies because complications, and restenosis can usually be seen.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80% of new diagnoses of pulmonary carcinoma. This study investigated the correlation between 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in computerized tomography integrated positron emission tomography and tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis in patients with NSCLC.