Serum liver fatty acid binding protein shows good correlation with liver histology in NASH.

Background/aims: Simple, reproducible and non-invasive tests that can be used to determine the severity of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are needed. Liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) plays a key role in the fatty acid metabolism of the liver. We aimed to determine whether serum L-FABP levels in patients with NASH were different from those in healthy controls, and if so, whether this was associated with the degree of fibrosis, steatosis and inflammatory activity.

Increased plasma levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) as a marker for oxidative stress in patients with active ulcerative colitis.

Background And Aims: After NADPH oxidase mediated radical formation, hypochloric acid (HOCl) is formed when Cl is used as a substrate by the myeloperoxidase enzyme. Myeloperoxidase is secreted from H2O2 activated leukocytes with polymorphic nuclei. The generation of HOCl also causes the formation of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) through damage to normal tissue and protein oxidation.

Is there any link between oxidative stress and lung involvement due to inflammatory bowel disease: an experimental study.

Background/aims: Lung involvement due to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequent, however the pathogenic mechanism is still debatable. Although the evidence of inflammation in colonic and lung tissue has been documented, the possible effect of oxidative stress in lung tissue has not been evaluated to date. We sought to assess the effects of oxidant/antioxidants on lung tissue in a model of experimental colitis.

A Case of Biliary Pancreatitis Which Subsided after Endoscopic Sphincterotomy during Pregnancy.

A 24-year-old pregnant patient was referred to us because of pain and tenderness in the right upper quadrant. Her liver enzymes and bilirubin levels were elevated; an abdominal ultrasound examination revealed gallstones within the gallbladder. Diagnosis of biliary pancreatitis was established based on elevated amylase levels.

Comparison of methods for detection of Blastocystis infection in routinely submitted stool samples, and also in IBS/IBD Patients in Ankara, Turkey.

Background: This study compared diagnostic methods for identifying Blastocystis in stool samples, and evaluated the frequency of detection of Blastocystis in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Results And Discussion: From a set of 105 stool specimens submitted for routine parasitological analysis, 30 were identified as positive for Blastocystis by the culture method. From that group of 30 positives, Lugol's stain, trichrome staining, and an immunofluorescence assay identified 11, 15, and 26 samples as positive respectively.

MEFV gene mutations and its impact on the clinical course in ulcerative colitis patients.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the colonic mucosa. The presence of gene responsible for FMF, MEFV, which frequently causes inflammation, may aggravate the clinical course of UC. We aimed to determine the prevalence of MEFV mutations in UC patients and its impact on the clinical course.

Blastocystis subtypes in irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease in Ankara, Turkey.

Blastocystis infection has been reported to be associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic diarrhoea. The availability of data on the subtypes of Blastocystis found in these patient groups would be of interest in understanding the significance of Blastocystis infection in chronic illness. In this study, we identify Blastocystis subtypes found in patients presenting with IBS, IBD, chronic diarrhoea and asymptomatic patients in Ankara, Turkey.

Value of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE NO) for the diagnosis of pulmonary involvement due to inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Pulmonary involvement due to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequent when evaluating a patient with IBD and pulmonary involvement remains complicated. Most of the patients are asymptomatic and the methods used are mostly invasive or expensive procedures. The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the value of the fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) level for the diagnosis of pulmonary involvement due to IBD and to investigate any correlation between FE(NO) level and disease activity.

Cerebral sinus thrombosis in a patient with active ulcerative colitis and double heterozygosity for Factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutations.

Inflammatory bowel diseases are associated with increased risk for thrombotic complications, In patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT) is an extremely rare complication. We report a patient with active UC and CSVT. The patient was heterozygous for Factor V Leiden and G20210A prothrombin gene mutations without other identifiable precipitating factors.

Rapidly growing giant solitary cavernous hemangioma in a patient with ulcerative colitis.

Cavernous hemangiomas are rare lesions of the colon that usually present with painless, recurrent bleeding. Hemangiomas can be capillary or cavernous type, and 80% of rectal hemangiomas are cavernous type. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disorder that affects the rectum and, occasionally, the whole colon.

Does the urinary excretion of alpha1-microglobulin and albumin predict clinical disease activity in ulcerative colitis?

Introduction: There remains some difficulty in determining disease activity during the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The excretion levels of some inflammatory response molecules increase as a result of the onset of this disease. We studied urinary alfa-1-microglobulin (alpha1-MG) and albumin levels in patients with active and inactive ulcerative colitis (UC) and investigated whether we could use these parameters as an activity index.

Clinical characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease in Turkey: a multicenter epidemiologic survey.

Aim: To investigate the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in a large multicenter, countrywide, hospital-based study in Turkey.

Materials And Methods: Twelve centers uniformly distributed throughout Turkey reported through a questionnaire the new IBD cases between 2001 and 2003. The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) has been reported per 100,000 people.

Esophageal candidiasis and Candida colonization in asthma patients on inhaled steroids.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of esophageal candidiasis in asthma patients who are on inhaled steroids without any other risk factors for esophageal candidiasis by comparing the treatment group with the control group. Moreover, the oropharyngeal and esophageal Candida colonizations were evaluated in the subgroups of both control and treatment groups. Upper gastrointestinal system endoscopic evaluation was performed in 40 asthma patients who were on inhaled steroids for at least 1 month.

Lymphocytic colitis associated with lansoprazole treatment.

Introduction: There have been several reported cases of lansoprazole-associated collagenous colitis (CC) reported in the literature but only 1 reported case of lansoprazole-associated lymphocytic colitis (LC) in the literature. Both CC and LC are considered inflammatory bowel diseases, but they are distinctly classified based on the condition of the colon, which is typically confirmed through biopsy.

Case Summaries: A 52-year-old white male (Patient 1), with a height of 178 cm and weight of 75 kg, presented to Gazi University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, with a 3-month history of abdominal pain and nonbloody, watery diarrhea.

Crohn's colitis with extraintestinal manifestations: a case report.

The etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease remains unclear, with various extraintestinal features often found with the disease. Sometimes more than one extraintestinal finding is found in the same patient. In this case report, a patient with more than one extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease is presented.

Increased colonic intraepithelial lymphocytes in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Background: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid disorder. Lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis are characterized by diarrhea with normal endoscopic findings. Autoimmune disorders are common in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and lymphocytic colitis.