BackgroundBiomass smoke is the leading cause of COPD in developing countries such as Turkey. In rural areas of Turkey, females are more exposed to biomass smoke because of traditional lifestyles.AimThe aim of this study was to determine the adverse effects of biomass smoke on pulmonary functions and define the relationship between duration in years and an index (cumulative exposure index) with altered pulmonary function test results.Participants and methodsA total of 115 females who lived in the village of Kağizman (a borough of Kars located in the eastern part of Turkey) and were exposed to biomass smoke were included in the study. The control group was generated with 73 individuals living in the same area who were never exposed to biomass smoke.ResultsTwenty-seven (23.8%) females in the study group and four (5.5%) in the control group had small airway disease (P=0.038). Twenty-two (19.1%) females in the study group and ten (13.7%) in the control group had obstruction (P=0.223). Twenty (17.3%) females in the study group who were exposed to biomass smoke had restriction compared with ten (13%) in the control group (P=0.189). The duration needed for the existence of small airway disease was 16 years, for obstructive airway disease was 17 years, and for restrictive airway disease was 17 years. The intensity of biomass smoke was defined in terms of cumulative exposure index; it was calculated by multiplying hours per day, weeks per month, and total years of smoke exposure and dividing the result by three.ConclusionExposure to biomass smoke is a serious public health problem, especially in rural areas of developing countries, because of its negative effects on pulmonary functions. As the duration and the intensity of exposure increase, the probability of having altered pulmonary function test results is higher.

No abstract

Altered pulmonary functions due to biomass smoke in a rural population of Turkish women: a descriptive study Introduction: Wood or other organic sources of fuel are used as source of energy for heating or cooking particularly in developing countries. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between biomass exposure time and parameters of pulmonary function tests. Materials and Methods: Four hundred twenty-four consecutive women who lived and exposed to biomass smoke in a small province in Eastern Turkey were involved. This study was performed with women who had come to pulmonology outpatient clinic with symptom of dyspnea. Results: The independent variables assessed in the study patients were age, BMI, starting age of cooking, hours per day and weeks per month spent cooking, and cooking years; the dependent variables were PFT parameters. Ninety-two (21.6%) patients had an obstructive PFT pattern. Sixty-seven (73%) of these patients were classified as GOLD 2 and 25 (27%) patients were classified as GOLD 3. Seventy-five (17.6 %) of the patients had restrictive lung disease; 54 (72%) of these patients were found to have a mild and 21 (27%) had a moderate restrictive pattern. Increased number of years in cooking and to start cooking at younger ages were a risk factors for the development of obstructive and restrictive disease. There was a statistically significant and negative correlation between increased number of years and the value of FEV 1 (r=-0.917; p=< 0.001), FEV 1 /FVC (r=-0.739; p< 0.001), and FVC (r=-0.906; p< 0.001). The median time of cooking required was 23 years for the development of obstruction, and 25 years for restriction, respectively. Conclusion: Cumulative biomass exposure time is associated with

Relationship between mannose-binding lectin and febrile neutropenia

BackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterised by numerous organ involvement. In SLE, autoantibody development against nucleic acids and their binding proteins plays an important role in disease pathogenesis.ObjectivesPurpose of this study is the determination of the diagnostic value of anti-carbamyl antibody in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis and the relationship with disease prognosis.MethodsFifty-seven SLE patients (F/M 50/7; median age 40.9±13.7; median disease duration 2 years) were included in the study according to the 2012 SLICC SLE diagnostic criteria. 46 RA patients (F/M 38/8, median age 54.2±12.4 years, the median duration of disease 2 years) selected according to 2010 ACR/EULAR diagnostic criteria were included. 30 healthy control groups were selected. Anti carP antibody Anti-carbamylated Protein Human anti-carbamylated Protein Antibody (ACP-Ab) ELISA Kit (SunRedBio, China) was used for measurement of antibodies against carbamylated proteins.ResultsThe study population consisted of 133 subjects, 30 controls, 57 SLEs and 46 RAs. The mean age of SLE patients was lower than that of RA patients. (40,9±13,7 versus 54,2±12,4; p<0,001). The proportion of active smokers was found to be higher in RA patients compared to SLE patients (19.6% versus 5.3%, p=0.005). The frequency of anti carP antibody positivity was 3.3% in the healthy control group. In contrast, the frequency of anti carP antibody positivity was found as high as 17.4% in patients with RA. (p=<0.001), And this frequency was 54.4% in the SLE patient group (p=<0.001) Anti carP antibody predicted SLE patients with 54.4% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity compared to the healthy control group. (AUC: 0.755, p<0.001) Anti carP antibody predicted RA patients with 17.4% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity compared to the healthy control group (AUC: 0.570, p=0.032). Anti carP antibody predicted SLE patients with 54.5% sensitivity and 82.6% specificity compared to healthy RA group (AUC: 0.685, p<0.001). AnticarP antibodies were found to be positive in all of the SLE patient groups with anti-CCP positivity. There was no significant difference in terms of in organ involvement between anti-carp antibody positive or negative SLE patients. Anti-carP antibody positivity was assessed by ROC Curve analysis for the prediction of diagnostic performance in SLE patients compared to RA patients. Accordingly, Anti carP antibody positivity, ANA positivity, were found to have similar diagnostic performance. (AUC: 0.639)Abstract THU0345 – Table 1Anti carbamylated protein antibody positivity distribution across groupsConclusionsAntibody positivity was found to be 54.4% in SLE patient group. It is significantly higher in SLE compared to healthy control and RA patient group. In the SLE group, it is still a more significant diagnostic prognostic than the healthy control and RA group. Both SLE and RA patients have significant sensitivity and specificity compared to the healthy control group.Disc...