Beneficial effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication in systemic sclerosis patients.

Objective: Previous studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is associated with increased activity and severity of systemic sclerosis (SSc), hence we aimed to evaluate the effect of HP eradication on various symptoms and inflammatory indices.

Methods: The SSc patients without dyspeptic symptoms were prospectively enrolled in this 18-month cross-sectional study. Patients were divided into two groups based on determination of HP infection.

A Patient with Ulcerative Colitis Complicated by Systemic Vein Thrombosis.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients have an increased risk for thromboembolic complications, the most common of them are deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Other locations and genetic mutations of coagulation factors are not so common in these patients. Here we present a case of a young woman with exacerbation of previously diagnosed mild UC complicated by multiple thrombotic incidents due to MTHFR gene mutation.

Sensomotor axonal peripheral neuropathy as a first complication of polycythemia rubra vera: A report of 3 cases.

Patient: Female, 64 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Polycythemia rubra vera Symptoms: Burning pain • cramps • hypesthesia • itching • paresthesia

Medication: - Clinical Procedure: - Specialty: Neurology.

Objective: Unusual clinical course.

Background: The association between polycythemia vera and peripheral neuropathy has been described previously but only as a late complication and only with sensory axonal polyneuropathy.

Is Helicobacter pylori infection a risk factor for disease severity in systemic sclerosis?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is suspected to be one of the factors triggering systemic sclerosis (SSc). Data on the possible role of H.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and pulmonary function: a potential role of the dead space extension.

Background: To evaluate the differences in the existence and size of dead space in patients with and without Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD and non-GERD) expressed through the size of intrapulmonary shunt (QS/QT).

Material/methods: The study enrolled 86 subjects - 43 patients referred for endoscopy because of symptoms of GERD (heartburn, acid regurgitation, dysfagia) and 43 healthy subjects with similar anthropometric characteristics without GERD symptoms. Based on endoscopy findings, patients were classified into the erosive reflux disease (ERD) group and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) group.

Interleukins IL-33 and IL-17/IL-17A in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Background/aims: Disturbance of immune homeostasis in ulcerative colitis (UC) is related to the predominance of T-helper-2 (Th2) immune response. Interleukin (IL)-33 stimulates Th lymphocytes to produce Th2 cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, which are believed to induce pathological changes in the intestinal mucosa. The pro-inflammatory role of IL-17 in UC is still unclear.

[Frequency and characteristics of dyspepsia in coronary artery disease patients].

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of functional and organic dyspepsia and possible predictors for organic dyspepsia in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. The 150 patients (109 men; mean age 62.61 +/- 10.

Predictors of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase activity.

Incidence of obesity and hepatic steatosis is increasing worldwide. Almost one quarter of western countries population suffer from non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and predictors of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients with unexplained alanine aminotransferase activity elevation (ALT), and therefore avoid unnecessary biopsies in cases of simple steatosis.

Isolated left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy associated with ventricular preexcitation: a case report.

Isolated left ventricular non-compaction (ILVNC) is one of the most misclassified cardiomyopathies. It is caused by failure of normal embryonic development of the myocardium from loosely arranged muscle fibers to the mature compacted form of myocardium, but it seems that etiology is not exclusively congenital. Diagnosis of ILVNC is mostly missed because of lack of awareness and knowledge.

The association between upper gastrointestinal lesions and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in coronary artery disease patients.

Background: Although high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) testing is not specific for coronary atherosclerosis, elevated hs-CRP is recently accepted as an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events. Also, a connection between upper gastrointestinal lesions (UGILs) and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been observed. The authors hypothesized that UGILs increase hs-CRP in CAD patients.

[Gastroduodenal mucosal lesions and coronary atherosclerosis severity in patients with coronary artery disease].

Aim: Due to high metabolic activity and oxygen demands, ischemia of gastroduodenal (GD) mucosa is an important factor in the pathogenesis of its impairment. Comparing the degree of coronary atherosclerosis, for evaluation of severity of atherosclerosis, with the prevalence and severity of GD mucosal lesions, we wanted to investigate the possible ischemia of GD mucosa could contribute to its impairment.

Patients And Methods: This prospective study included 150 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, 109 (72.