ORIGINAL ARTICLE PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of multidetector computed tomography (CT) imaging in diagnosis of pleural exudates and transudates using attenuation values. MATERIALS AND METHODSThis retrospective study included 106 patients who were diagnosed with pleural effusion between January 2010 and June 2012. After the patients underwent chest CT, thoracentesis was performed in the first week. The attenuation values of the pleural effusions were measured in all patients. RESULTSAccording to Light's criteria, 30 of 106 patients with pleural effusions had transudates, and the remaining patients had exudates. The Hounsfield unit (HU) value of the exudates (median, 12.5; range, 4-33) was significantly higher than that of the transudates (median, 5; range, 2-15) (P = 0.001). Additionally, when evaluated by disease subgroups, congestive heart failure and empyema were predictable in terms of median HU values of the pleural effusions with high and moderate sensitivity and specificity values (84.6% and 81.2%, respectively; 76.9% and 66.7%, respectively). Compared with other patients, the empyema patients had significantly more loculation and pleural thickening. CONCLUSIONCT attenuation values may be useful in differentiating exudates from transudates. Although there is an overlap in most effusions, exudate can be considered when the CT attenuation values are >15 HU. Because of overlapping HU values, close correlation with clinical findings is essential. Additional signs, such as fluid loculation and pleural thickness, should be considered and may provide further information for the differentiation. P leural effusion is a common clinical problem; indeed, it can arise from many diseases (1, 2). The first step in assessing a pleural effusion is to decide whether the pleural fluid is a transudate or an exudate (3). Transudate is caused by imbalances in hydrostatic and oncotic forces. It results from diseases such as heart failure, kidney failure, and cirrhosis. However, an exudate occurs when local factors influencing the accumulation of pleural fluid are altered. Exudates can be caused by clinical conditions such as pneumonia, malignancy, and thromboembolism (4).Although clinical and radiological findings may provide significant evidence about the cause(s) of pleural effusion(s), it may still be necessary to evaluate some cases with diagnostic thoracentesis (4, 5). Clinically, exudative effusion can be successfully separated from transudative effusion using Light's criteria. The nature of the pleural effusion is based on diagnostic thoracentesis (1, 2). However, computed tomography (CT) can be used to evaluate the nature of pleural effusions to avoid the complications of thoracentesis (6, 7). Features such as pleural nodules, pleural thickening, loculation, extrapleural fat tissue thickness, and effusion density can be evaluated by CT to discriminate between exudates and transudates (8). Only two reported studies have examined CT attenuation values in patients with pleural effusions (9, 10); these showed d...

This cross-sectional clinical study was conducted in order to explore the relationship between atopic disorders and migraine. We evaluated 186 consecutive patients with migraine. Patients with a history of atopic disorders were compared with the others during headache-free intervals, for their headache characteristics, pulmonary test (PFT) performances and immunological screenings, through appropriate statistical methods. Of the patients with migraine, 77 (41.4%) reported at least one atopic disorder. PFT screening showed a general decreased pulmonary capacity and an important correlation between a positive history of atopic disorders and both increased eosinophil and IgE levels in headache-free periods. It should be discussed whether screening with PFT or immunological tests helps in early detection of progressive lung disease which might develop in these patients.

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CUR administered intraperitoneally was effective in reducing oxidative stress and histopathologic injury in an acute abdominal aorta I/R rat model.

Elastic properties of pulmonary artery deteriorate with severity of OSAS and may be responsible for right ventricular dysfunctions in OSAS.