Is the Y90-radioembolization treatment effective on the intermediate-advanced stage of hepatocellular carcinoma and what is the albumin-bilirubin score's prediction factor for survival?

Background And Aim: Radioembolization (RE) is a one of the palliative treatments that have been used to down stage and/or increase the survival time in intermediate-advanced stages of HCC. We aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of RE and the clinical use of the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score as a predictor for survival in HCC patients.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-nine unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients were enrolled.

Cyclosporine Therapy as a Rescue Treatment in Steroid Refractory Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Real Life Data From a Tertiary Center.

Background: Cyclosporine is a rescue treatment alternative to avoid colectomy in corticosteroid refractory acute severe ulcerative colitis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of cyclosporine therapy in acute severe ulcerative colitis patients.

Methods: Acute severe ulcerative colitis (basal Lichtiger score > 10) patients who did not respond to 40 mg intravenous methylpredniso- lone therapy after 3-5 days were included in the study.

Evaluation of safety and efficacy of tenofovir disoproxil in hemodialysis and renal transplant patients monoinfected with hepatitis B virus based on real life data.

Introduction: There are limited data about the safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in chronic renal failure (CRF). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TDF in renal transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during long-term follow-up.

Material And Methods: CHB patients undergoing hemodialysis (group 1), renal transplant recipients (group 2) and patients with normal renal function were included in the study.

Can Interferon Therapy Change the Natural Course of Hepatitis Delta Infection?: a Clinical and Pathological Study.

Chronic delta hepatitis (CDH) has a worse outcome than other types of viral hepatitis. High-dose, long-term alpha interferon (IFN-α) is the approved treatment and may ameliorate the course of infection. We evaluated long-term histological outcomes of CDH patients treated with IFN-α.

Survival of Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica in alternatively cured bacon during cooking and process deviations.

Pork bellies were injected with four different alternative curing brines. The bellies were inoculated on the surface and at a depth of 1 cm with multiple strains of Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica. The bellies were processed using either a standard process cycle or an interrupted process cycle to simulate a process deviation.

Inflammatory bowel disease and mycobacteria: how much can we trust isoniazid prophylaxis during antitumor necrosis factor therapy?

Objectives: Isoniazid (INH) prophylaxis is recommended for the prevention of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation before or/and during initiation of treatment with tumour necrosis factor antagonists (anti-TNF agents). Nonetheless, the long-term effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis is not clear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of patients who developed TB reactivation in spite of INH prophylaxis associated with anti-TNF treatment.

Changing epidemiology of chronic hepatitis C: patients are older and at a more advanced stage at the time of diagnosis.

Introduction And Aim: Over the years, there has been a change in the profile of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In recent years, more patients with CHC have presented to the clinics at the cirrhotic stage, with decompensated liver disease, and with hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the changing epidemiological, clinical, and virological characteristics of CHC patients.

Gastroesophageal Reflux in Asymptomatic Patients with Diabetes: An Impedance Study Diabetes, Obesity and Gastroesophageal Reflux.

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is more frequent in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).The aim of the present study was to evaluate gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in asymptomatic patients with DM using 24-h pH impedance.

Materials And Methods: 19 healthy controls and 35 patients with DM without typical GERD symptoms were enrolled in the study.

Does the number of mucosal immune cells differ in irritable bowel syndrome and its subtypes?

Background/aims: Recently, mucosal inflammation has been proposed to be one of the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, there are controversial results regarding this hypotheses. Our aim was to evaluate immune cell infiltration in rectal and ileal biopsy specimens of patients with IBS and to compare it with those of healthy controls.

Materials And Methods: In total, 36 patients with IBS (15 with diarrhea and 21 with constipation) and 16 healthy volunteers were enrolled.

Current state and clinical outcome in Turkish patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate clinical, etiological, and prognostic features in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who were followed-up from 2001 to 2011 were included in the study. The diagnosis was established by histopathological and/or radiological criteria.

Antimicrobial efficacy of phytochemicals against Bacillus cereus in reconstituted infant rice cereal.

The objective of this study was to determine the potential use of Trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC), (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and [10]-Gingerol (GI) to inhibit the growth of B. cereus in infant rice cereal reconstituted with infant formula. Samples were inoculated with either vegetative cells or spores of B.

Role of several cytokines and adhesion molecules in the diagnosis and prediction of survival of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Study Aims: There is still need for accurate markers for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and assessment of prognosis. The aim of this study is to investigate interleukin (IL)-32, IL-1 beta, IL-18, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in the diagnosis and assessment of prognosis of HCC.

Patients And Methods: Fifty patients with HCC and 15 healthy volunteers were enroled into this prospective study.

Predictors of treatment requirement in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase and high serum HBV DNA levels.

Objectives: Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a controversial marker for disease monitoring in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. The aim of this study was to determine the fibrosis stage and histological activity index (HAI) in HBeAg-negative CHB patients with persistently normal ALT (PNALT) and high serum HBV DNA (≥2000 IU/ml) and to investigate clinical risk factors for the requirement of treatment through the examination of liver biopsy specimens.

Methods: HBeAg-negative CHB patients with PNALT (≤40 IU/l) and high serum HBV DNA (≥2000 IU/ml) were included.

Belching in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Impedance Study.

Background/aims: There are limited data about the relation between belching and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We aim to evaluate belching in patients with IBS.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with IBS and 12 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study.

Endoscopic submucosal resection of gastric subepithelial lesions smaller than 20 mm: a comparison of saline solution-assisted snare and cap band mucosectomy techniques.

Background And Aims: Application of endoscopic submucosal resection (ESMR) in the management of gastric subepithelial lesions (GSLs) less than 20 mm is gradually increasing because it allows diagnosis and treatment at the same operative session. In this study, we compare and evaluate the benefits of ESMR with an endoscopic cap band mucosectomy technique or saline solution-assisted snare technique in GSLs smaller than 20 mm.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database used at 2 academic tertiary care centers.

Retention during capsule endoscopy: Is it a real problem in routine practice?

Objective: This study evaluated the risks and outcomes of capsule retention during capsule endoscopy (CE) for investigating small bowel disease. Capsule retention is the most serious complication of CE.

Methods: Before CE, the gastrointestinal tract was evaluated for blockages with computerized tomography.

Does gastroesophageal reflux increase chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations?

Background: The relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been investigated less than asthma-GER. We aimed to evaluate the presence of GER in patients with COPD and its impact on exacerbations.

Methods: We included 24 patients with stable mild-moderate stage COPD and 19 volunteers as the control group.

What is the impact of capsule endoscopy in the long term period?

Aim: To assess the clinical impact of capsule endoscopy (CE) in the long-term follow-up period in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB).

Methods: One hundred and forty-one patients who applied CE for OGIB between 2009 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed, and this cohort was then questioned prospectively. Demographic data of the patients were determined via the presence of comorbid diseases, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs anticoagulant-antiaggregant agents, previous diagnostic tests for bleeding episodes, CE findings, laboratory tests and outcomes.

Comparison of the efficacy of 12 months and longer courses of interferon therapy for the treatment of chronic delta hepatitis: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Interferon (IFN) therapy is associated with low rates of treatment success and high rates of recurrence in hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection. Several strategies to increase efficacy, including extending the treatment duration, have been tested. This study aimed to compare treatment outcomes between patients receiving 12 months vs.

Microscopic colitis in patients with Takayasu's arteritis: a potential association between the two disease entities.

The association of Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has previously been reported in case series. Microscopic colitis (MC) has IBD-like symptoms with regard to clinical and histopathological feature. We aim to assess the presence of MC in TAK patients in this study.

Is there any relationship between unrecognized Celiac disease and unexplained infertile couples?

Background/aims: Celiac Disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by small intestinal malabsorbtion and diarrhea, triggered by the ingestion of food products containing gluten. There are studies reporting that some nutritional deficiencies and some factors related to immunity may cause a decrease in fertility as well as some problems in sperm parameters. The prevalence of CD in unexplained infertility (UEI) couples is not as high as that mentioned in some reports.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate has a substantial efficacy against multidrug-resistant strains of hepatitis B virus.

Background & Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of tenofovir in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with adefovir resistance (ADF-R) and suboptimal response to adefovir (ADF-S).

Methods: Nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-naïve patients and patients with previous adefovir failure receiving tenofovir therapy for at least 6 months were included in the study. Biochemical and virological tests were obtained at baseline and 3-month intervals in the first year and every 6 months thereafter.

Favorable survival time provided with radioembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with and without portal vein thrombosis.

Purpose: Although some algorithms are defined for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the expected survival cannot be prolonged as it is intended. Treatment options for this group of patients are limited. Radioembolization with yttrium-90 (Y-90) microspheres is a new treatment modality, which has also been used in advanced HCC patients.