Evaluation of plasma soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (SuPAR) levels in ulcerative colitis.

Background And Study Aim: Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (SuPAR), a soluble form of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, is a biomarker produced by macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils, active T cells, endothelial cells, and circulating tumor cells. SuPAR is a novel biomarker showing altered inflammation in many inflammatory diseases. This study aims to investigate the SuPAR level in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, and to evaluate the SuPAR level in active, and remission patients.

Improvement of Work Productivity and Quality of Life with Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Treatment Used in Crohn's Disease in Routine Clinical Practice in Turkey.

Background: Patients with Crohn's disease experience major deterioration in work productivity and quality of life. We aimed to provide the long-term effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents on work productivity and activity impairment and quality of life in patients with Crohn's disease using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire and the Short-Form Health Survey-36.

Methods: Patients with Crohn's disease and initiated an anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment were included and followed up for 12 months in this observational study.

Evaluation of hydrogen peroxide-assisted endoscopic ultrasonography-guided necrosectomy in walled-off pancreatic necrosis: A single-center experience.

Hydrogen peroxide is a liquid that functions in mechanical removal of the necrotic tissue via the elimination of tissue debris.In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of hydrogen peroxide in necrosectomy treatment of walled-off pancreatic necrosis.Records of 24 patients who were diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis or walled-off pancreatic necrosis and underwent endoscopic necrosectomy (EN) were retrospectively assessed.

Serum Resolvin E1 Levels and Its Relationship with Disease Activity in Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Resolvins originate from -3 PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid) precursors and play a role in the resolution of inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine the serum Resolvin E1 levels in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and to evaluate the relationship between the serum Resolvin E1 levels and ulcerative colitis disease activity.

Methods: In this observational study, serum samples were collected from 51 patients with UC and 30 healthy controls for the determination of Resolvin E1 levels.

Radial EUS Examination Can be Helpful in Predicting the Severity of Acute Biliary Pancreatitis.

We investigated the utility of noncontrast enhanced endosonography (EUS) in predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) during the first 72 to 96 h of admission.In total, 187 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis were included. The patients were classified into 2 groups as having severe and mild AP according to the Modified Glasgow scoring and computerized tomography severity index (SI).

Can red cell distribution width be a marker of disease activity in ulcerative colitis?

Aim: The current study aimed to investigate the association between disease activity and red cell distribution width (RDW) levels in ulcerative colitis and to determine whether RDW can be used as a marker of disease activity in non-anemic ulcerative colitis.

Methods: The RDW levels of 310 ulcerative colitis patients who underwent colonoscopy were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups (active disease and remission) according to the endoscopic activity index.

Serum Syndecan-1 Levels and Its Relationship to Disease Activity in Patients with Crohn's Disease.

Background. Syndecan-1 (SDC-1), a member of the family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans, plays an important role in the resolution of inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between SDC-1 and disease activity in Crohn's disease (CD).

Evaluation of factors associated with response to hepatitis B vaccination in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

It is recommended to investigate the serology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and vaccinate seronegative patients at the time of diagnosis in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of HBV vaccine and factors affecting the response.In this retrospective, observational study, HBV-seronegative IBD patients were administered 3 doses (at months 0, 1, and 6) recombinant 20  μg HbsAg.

The last innovation in achalasia treatment; per-oral endoscopic myotomy.

Background/aims: Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a minimally invasive endoscopic treatment option for patients with achalasia and has been performed since 2010. It is less invasive than Heller myotomy and its use is spreading rapidly worldwide. We present our results of POEM that, to the best of our knowledge, are the first cases in Turkey.

What is the most accurate method for the treatment of diminutive colonic polyps?: Standard versus jumbo forceps polypectomy.

Different methods such as standard, hot, and jumbo forceps are used in endoscopic treatment of diminutive colon polyps. In the current study, it was aimed to compare efficacy and safety of standard and jumbo forceps polypectomy methods in treatment of diminutive colon polyps of ≤5 mm. Polyps with ≤5 mm which were excised during colonoscopy by using standard or jumbo forceps were evaluated.

Latent tuberculosis screening tests and active tuberculosis infection rates in Turkish inflammatory bowel disease patients under anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors increase the risk of tuberculosis (TB). The objective of the present study was to determine the rate of active TB infection in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients receiving anti-TNF therapy and to determine the results of their latent TB infection (LTBI) screening tests during the follow up.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of IBD patients receiving anti-TNF therapy.

Effects of mucosal TNF-alpha levels on treatment response in Crohn's disease patients receiving anti-TNF treatment.

Background/aims: We aimed to find out if mucosal TNF-α (m-TNF-α) levels have predictive impact on anti-TNF treatment response in Crohn's disease (CD).

Methodology: TNF-alpha values were determined with immunohistochemical staining of intestinal biopsies taken from 35 subjects on anti-TNF treatment for CD and 25 controls. Correlation between m-TNF-α levels and anti-TNF treatment were evaluated.

The effect of intravenous iron treatment on quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease patients with nonanemic iron deficiency.

Background. Iron deficiency is the prevalent complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Herein, we investigated the effect of intravenous iron treatment on quality of life (QoL) in nonanemic and iron deficient IBD patients.

An Evaluation of the Correlation between Hepcidin Serum Levels and Disease Activity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Aim. While there are many well-defined serological markers for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), there is limited evidence that they positively affect clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between hepcidin serum levels and disease activity in IBD.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection in gastric lesions: the 100 cases experience from a tertiary reference center in West.

Objective: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an endoscopic treatment method widely used in premalignant and malignant lesions in countries of the Far East. This method, which is difficult technically and has a high complication risk rate, has rarely been performed in the West, because of the fewer number of upper gastrointestinal lesions. In the present study, we aimed to present our results of gastric ESD procedures in respect to the learning curve.

Evaluation of the relationship between serum ghrelin, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels, and disease activity in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background/aims: Ghrelin is a 28 aminoasid peptide hormone, have generally focused upon this peptide’s role upon growth and energy metabolism. Recently, studies investigating ghrelin’s effect upon inflammation and immune response have gained importance. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of ghrelin levels, Creactive protein and interleukin-6 levels in establishing disease activity.

The usage of overtube has a favorable effect on endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) may be very time consuming, and depending on the anesthesia, the contents of the stomach may reflux to the esophagus and cause the patient to aspirate. To prevent these situations, many practitioners suggest using an overtube, but no study has been done to evaluate the effect of the use of an overtube while performing the ESD procedure. Our aim was to investigate the effects of performing an upper gastrointestinal ESD with and without overtube.

Safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients 80 years of age and older.

Introduction: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is used in the diagnosis and therapy of biliary tract diseases. The ERCP is an invasive procedure that does not increase complications in the elderly. Few studies have assessed the safety of ERCP in the elderly.

Clinical utility of hepatitis B surface antigen levels during the natural history and treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection.

Introduction: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level quantitation may be helpful for understanding the natural history of the disease and its response to treatment.

Aim: To determine the serum HBsAg levels during the different phases of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and HBsAg levels of patients who are on treatment with oral antiviral drugs.

Material And Methods: PATIENTS WERE CATEGORIZED IN FOUR GROUPS: 9 patients in the immune clearance (IC) phase, 46 patients in the inactive carrier (INC) phase, 25 patients in the reactivated HBeAg negative disease (END) phase and 60 HBeAg negative patients who were on treatment with oral antiviral drugs.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and its effect on development of cholangitis.

Objective. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with inoperable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and establish the incidence of cholangitis development following ERCP. Material and Method.