We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia and associated outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This cross-sectional study was performed on 219 patients aged 50 years and over who were diagnosed with COPD according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines. The study included 196 (89.5%) male and 23 (10.5%) female patients. The mean age of patients was 66.9±10.1 years. To diagnose sarcopenia, muscle function was determined by a gait speed test, muscle strength was assessed with a hand dynamometer and muscle mass was measured with a bioelectrical impedance analysis device. Pulmonary function tests and six-minute walking tests were also performed. The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale was used to evaluate all participants. Our sample consisted of sarcopenic patients at different stages (17 pre-sarcopeniac patients (7.8%), 32 patients with sarcopenia (14.6%), 65 patients with severe sarcopenia (29.7%) and 105 non-sarcopenic patients (47.9%). Age, BODE (body mass index (BMI), airflow obstruction, dyspnoea and exercise capacity) index, GOLD spirometric classification, mMRC dyspnoea scale score, BMI and education status were significantly associated with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia in COPD patients was firmly related to the severity of the disease and its prognosis. The prevalence of sarcopenia increased in severe and very severe COPD cases. Dyspnea score was higher, and exercise capacities were lower in sarcopenic patients. Sarcopenia in COPD patients was closely related to the severity of COPD and a negative prognosis. The frequency of sarcopenia increased in severe and very severe COPD cases. Dyspnoea scores were higher and exercise capacities were lower in patients with sarcopenia. In patients with COPD, a diagnosis of sarcopenia should be considered, and preventive measures should be taken before irreversable changes develop.

Significant bleeding may occur following endobronchial forceps biopsy or brushing of necrotic or hypervascular tumors in the airways. In some cases, methods such as endobronchial instillation of iced saline lavage and epinephrine may fail to control bleeding. The present study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a new bronchoscopic technique using intratumoral injection of tranexamic acid (IIT) for control of bleeding during forceps biopsy in patients with endobronchial tumors with a high risk of bleeding.

Background: There is growing evidence that leptin regulation is altered in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Several potential mechanisms have been purported to explain how sleep apnea may alter leptin levels. We investigated whether repeated apneas, hypoxia, or excessive daytime sleepiness influenced the levels of leptin in OSAS patients. We also evaluated whether a 3-month continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment affected leptin levels in patients. Methods: Randomly selected 31 untreated, otherwise healthy male, overweight [body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m ² ] obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients [apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) ≥15] and 25 control (AHI 0.05). Leptin levels were not correlated with the AHI, oxygen saturation, or excessive daytime sleepiness. CPAP treatment did not significantly change the (BMI), waist and neck circumference, or leptin levels in OSAS patients. Furthermore, we found no correlation between the decrease in serum leptin levels and parameters that were improved by CPAP treatment. Conclusion: Leptin levels and lipid profile of overweight subjects with and without OSAS were not different, and our results suggest that OSAS-related parameters and CPAP treatment do not play a significant role in the serum leptin levels.

In order to achieve an optimal diagnostic yield in patients with endoscopically visible tumors multiple biopsies are needed. However, some centrally located necrotic endobronchial tumors and other vascular-appearing tumors are prone to bleed significantly after the first biopsy, which poses a distressed and complicated management problem for a bronchoscopist. In the present case study, a new technique, using intratumoral injection of tranexamic acid to control significant bleeding during bronchoscopic biopsy, is described. Although this study is limited to two cases, it has been suggested that good control of biopsy-induced bleeding can be attained using this technique.

We describe a rare case of intact endobronchial hydatid cyst that posed a diagnostic challenge because of an unusual imaging manifestation (atelectasis) and unexpected bronchoscopic findings. Although the role of bronchoscopy in the management of pulmonary hydatid cyst is still controversial, 6 cases of complicated pulmonary hydatid cyst removed completely by suction through a fiberoptic bronchoscope have been reported so far. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first nonsurgically treated case of intact endobronchial hydatid cyst with an uneventful long-term follow-up.