Evaluation of leptin and insulin resistance in patients with cholelithiasis.

The association between insulin resistance, lipoproteins and leptin was evaluated in cholelithiasis. The study group included 55 women (68.8%) and 25 men (31.

A lower serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level does not predict a sustained virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1.

Background/aims: Low gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) level was shown to be an independent predictor of a sustained virological response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C. We aimed to determine factors associated with high GGT level, and to evaluate whether low GGT level is an independent predictor of a SVR in chronic hepatitis C genotype 1.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our data of patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 treated with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin.

AST-platelet ratio index in the prediction of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background/aims: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of AST-platelet ratio index in the prediction of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients by comparison with liver biopsy.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our computerized data of chronic hepatitis B patients who attended the Gastroenterology Clinic from 2004-2009. Treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B patients who had undergone liver biopsy were included in this study.

Effects of alpha tocopherol and ascorbic acid on Helicobacter pylori colonization and the severity of gastric inflammation.

Background And Aim: We aimed to evaluate the changes in histopathologic features, concentrations of vitamins C and E in gastric mucosa, and total antioxidant capacity of the body after ingestion of ascorbic acid and alpha tocopherol in patients with Helicobacter pylori.

Material And Method: Patients with H. pylori-positive nonulcer dyspepsia were included in this study.

Red cell distribution width: a novel marker of activity in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background/aims: Studies concerning red cell distribution width (RDW) for use in the assessment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity are limited. We investigated whether RDW is a marker of active disease in patients with IBD.

Methods: In total, 61 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 56 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) were enrolled in the study group, and 44 age- and-sex-matched healthy volunteers were included as the control group.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a lower response rate to HBV vaccination compared to controls.

Background: Hepatitis B (HBV) is a vaccine-preventable infection that may cause severe infections, particularly in patients who are being treated with immunosuppressive therapy [(i.e., inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)].

Comparison of the efficacy of entecavir and tenofovir in chronic hepatitis B.

Background/aims: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of entecavir and tenofovir in nucleos(t)ide-naive chronic hepatitis B patients after 48 weeks of therapy.

Methodology: We retrospectively reviewed our data of chronic hepatitis B patients. Nucleos(t)ide-naive patients who had received entecavir or tenofovir for at least 48 weeks were included.

Characterization of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease unrelated to the metabolic syndrome.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome (MS). However, not all patients with the MS will develop NAFLD and not all patients with NAFLD have the MS. We sought to investigate the differences between patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD with and without the MS.

Efficacy of vitamins supplementation to therapy on Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients with low antioxidant capacity.

Background And Objectives: It was shown that supplementation of vitamins C and E to therapy increased Helicobacter pylori eradication rate. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate whether supplementation of antioxidant vitamins to therapy increases H. pylori eradication rates in patients with chronic stress and low antioxidant capacity.

Conventional video-gastroscopes for the recognition of early gastric cancers.

Background/aims: To determine the role of conventional video-gastroscopes for detection of early gastric cancers (EGC).

Methodology: All conventional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) reports (12000 UGE reports) and pathology reports of all UGEs, between January 2003-December 2008, were evaluated retrospectively.

Results: The endoscopist suspected for EGC in 163 patients.

AST-platelet ratio index, Forns index and FIB-4 in the prediction of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio index, the Forns index and FIB-4 for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients by comparison with liver biopsy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our computerized data of chronic hepatitis C patients who admitted to the Gastroenterology Clinic between 2004 and 2008. Treatment-naive chronic hepatitis C patients who had undergone liver biopsy and had laboratory test results allowing the calculation of aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio index, the Forns index and FIB-4 were included in this study.

Serum levels of hepcidin in patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Research suggests the presence of mild-to-moderate iron overload in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The role played by hepcidin, the master regulatory hormone of systemic iron metabolism, in the pathogenesis of NAFLD remains controversial. The aims of this study were to: (1) Evaluate serum hepcidin levels in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and age- and sex-matched controls and (2) identify the potential associations of hepcidin with the clinical and biochemical characteristics of the study participants.