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Following its entrance into the human body through inhalation, carbon monoxide (CO) forms carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) by binding to hemoglobin (Hb) within the blood. Massive ischemic tissue necrosis occurs in 0.5%-1% of cases with CO poisoning. [1] The affinity of CO to Hb is 200-250 times more when compared to the affinity of oxygen. As a result of CO binding to Hb, oxygen delivery to the tissues is reduced, and tissue hypoxia develops. This affects mostly the brain and heart, which are the organs with the highest demand for oxygen. Hypoxia leads to oxidative stress, cellular necrosis, apoptosis, and inflammation in acute CO poisoning. Pathological changes in the brain observed in CO poisoning are hippocampal necrosis, demyelination of the cerebral white matter, and spongy necrosis of the globus pallidus and cerebral cortex. [2] In this report, we aim to present our two cases where ischemic stroke developed following CO poisoning.

Objective: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a rare life-threatening parasitic infection. Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging has the potential to provide both quantitative and qualitative information about the tissue perfusion characteristics. The purpose of this study was the examination of the characteristic features and feasibility of CTP in AE liver lesions.Material and Methods: CTP scanning was performed in 25 patients who had a total of 35 lesions identified as AE of the liver. Blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), portal venous perfusion (PVP), arterial liver perfusion (ALP), and hepatic perfusion indexes (HPI) were computed for background liver parenchyma and each AE lesion.Results: Significant differences were detected between perfusion values of the AE lesions and background liver tissue. The BV, BF, ALP, and PVP values for all components of the AE liver lesions were significantly lower than the normal liver parenchyma (p<0.01). Conclusions:We suggest that perfusion imaging can be used in AE of the liver. Thus, the quantitative knowledge of perfusion parameters are obtained via CT perfusion imaging.

Introduction Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT) is a noninvasive method assessing atherosclerosis. Objective It was aimed to determine relationship and survival between COPD and CIMT. Methods CIMT was measured using Doppler ultrasound (USG) in 668 stable COPD patients at 24 centers. Patients were followed‐up for 2 years. Results There were 610 patients who completed the study. There were 200 patients CIMT with <0.78 mm (group 1), and 410 with CIMT ≥ 0.78 mm (group 2). There was a significant difference at the parameters of age, gender, smoking load, biomass exposure, GOLD groups and degree of airway obstruction (FEV1) between groups 1 and 2. Our results revealed positive correlations between mean CIMT and age, smoking load (pack‐years), biomass exposure (years), exacerbation rate (last year), duration of hypertension (years) and cholesterol level; negative correlations between CIMT and FEV1 (P < 0.05). According to logistic regression model, compared with group A, risk of CIMT increase was 2.2‐fold in group B, 9.7‐fold in group C and 4.4‐fold in group D (P < 0.05). Risk of CIMT increase was also related with cholesterol level (P < 0.05). Compared with infrequent exacerbation, it was 2.8‐fold in the patients with frequent exacerbation (P < 0.05). The mean survival time was slightly higher in group 1, but not significant (23.9 vs 21.8 months) (P > 0.05). Conclusion This study is the first regarding CIMT with combined GOLD assessment groups. It has revealed important findings supporting the increase in atherosclerosis risk in COPD patients. We recommend Doppler USG of the carotid artery in COPD patients at severe stages.

Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a significant health problem worldwide. Pulmonary TB is a contagious disease. To control the spread of TB, the disease must be diagnosed early and treated effectively. Materials and Methods:In this study, we determined the rates and periods of TB bacterial reproduction using the Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) and the Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) culture systems in respiratory specimens obtained from 105 suspected TB cases that applied to our service.Results: Using either the LJ or MGIT method, the reproduction rates of TB cultures from 91 positively diagnosed cases were determined to be 69.2% and 92.3% (p=0.116), respectively. The reproduction period for these same cultures was determined to be 29.7±10.0 days and 12.1±6.1 days (p<0.0001), respectively. The culture positivity rate determined using both the LJ and MGIT methods together was found to be significantly higher than the rate determined using either LJ or MGIT separately (p<0.0001). Conclusion:For the early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, which is essential for controlling the spread of TB, the routine use of the MGIT system, which is a rapid, automated and non-radiometric method, combined with the LJ method would effectively increase the diagnosis rate in order to control tuberculosis outbreaks. Sonuç: Tüberküloz kontrolünde önemli bir rol oynayan akciğer tü-berkülozunun erken tanısı için hızlı, otomotize ve non-radiyometrik metod olan MGIT kullanımı etkili olabilir ve bu yöntemin LJ ile kombinasyonu tanı oranını artırabilir.