The prevalence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease in the Turkish population: A multicenter study.

Background And Aim: The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in patients with dyspepsia.

Materials And Methods: A total of 909 consecutive patients who presented with dyspepsia at 8 tertiary care centers in Turkey between March 2019 and December 2019 were included.

Results: The median age was 47 years.

Hepatitis Delta Virus Epidemiology in the Industrialized World.

Within the hepatitis virus landscape, one incomplete virus, the hepatitis delta virus (HDV), appears to differ from hepatitis B and C viruses in the context as it still may not infrequently lead to complications of chronic liver disease and continues to be associated with significant liver-related mortality even when patients have received available treatment for it. Breakthrough therapies are so far lacking for HDV-infected patients and treatment has not changed since the discovery of HDV in 1977 and consists mainly of interferons. While there was little interest on the global epidemiology of HDV until recently, this has changed in the past 2 years and we are currently observing a stream of papers on the global epidemiology of HDV and commentaries about why prevalence estimates appear to differ so dramatically.

Upper socioeconomic status is associated with lower Helicobacter pylori infection rate among patients undergoing gastroscopy.

Introduction: Socioeconomic factors play an important role in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. The aim of this study is to investigate HP prevalence among symptomatic patients in the upper socioeconomic segment of the population undergoing gastroscopy in an endemic urban region.

Methodology: Over a 12-month period, data were collected from the first consecutive 1000 patients (500 from university hospital, 500 from community hospital) who had gastroscopy and HP evaluation.

Relationship between irritable bowel syndrome and plasma and tissue ghrelin levels.

Background/aims: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and plasma and tissue ghrelin levels.

Materials And Methods: Patients who had undergone gastroscopy procedure for any reason previously were enrolled in the study. Among these, patients with IBS symptoms were evaluated according to the Roma III criteria.

Gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with renal failure under hemodialysis treatment: a single-center experience.

Purpose: Gastrointestinal bleeding remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for patients who need hemodialysis treatment. Our aim was to evaluate patients who needed hemodialysis and presented with bleeding during their hospital stay (uremic bleeding patients). Factors that increased the risk of bleeding and death were evaluated.

Frequency of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Among Healthcare Personnel.

This study aims to investigate the frequency of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among healthcare professionals. A total of 394 healthcare professionals and 207 individuals who were selected as a control group were included in the study. A questionnaire form containing Rome III diagnostic criteria was administered to health workers and the control group.

First-line Bismuth-containing Five-day Concomitant Quintuple Therapy for Helicobacter Pylori Eradication.

Background: Widespread use of antibiotics has resulted in increased rates of antibiotic resistance and decreased rates of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication, leading to a search for newer therapeutic options. This study aimed to examine the efficacy, tolerability, and patient compliance of a first-line bismuth-containing 5-day concomitant quintuple therapy.

High treatment modification rates with lamivudine therapy in HBV-infected patients with low baseline viremia and early virological response: A multicenter study.

Objective: Low baseline viremia and an early treatment response predict the best outcomes in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients treated with nucleoside analogues with low barriers to resistance. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term results and effectiveness of lamivudine in patients with low baseline viremia and early virological treatment response.

Methods: In this multicenter, real-life setting study, 111 antiviral-naive patients with low baseline viremia (HBV DNA <10(7) copies/mL) plus an early virological response (HBV DNA <300 copies/mL at week 24) treated with lamivudine were enrolled.

The relationship between serum adiponectin and resistin levels, insulin resistance and colorectal adenomas.

Background/aims: The relationship between adipocytokines and the development of colorectal cancer is well-documented. Our aim was to assess the relationship among serum adiponectin and resistin levels, insulin resistance, and colorectal adenoma to evaluate whether these parameters can be used as biomarkers to predict the development of colorectal adenoma.

Materials And Methods: This is a cross-sectional case-control study conducted in 32 patients with colorectal adenoma and 30 control subjects.

Endoscopic findings of dyspeptic patients unresponsive to proton pump inhibitors.

Objective: To evaluate the endoscopic findings of dyspeptic patients unresponsive to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and analyze if there is any correlation between these findings and dyspeptic symptoms via predetermined inquiry.

Methods: Patients between 18 and 45 years of age were selected among those referred to our unit for upper GI endoscopy due to failure to achieve improvement in dyspeptic complaints with PPI. Patients who consent to participate in and eligible for the study were questioned for their symptoms using questionnaires.

Sequential therapy versus standard triple therapy in Helicobacter pylori eradication in a high clarithromycin resistance setting.

Sequential treatment scheme has been developed to overcome resistance problem in H. pylori eradication and favorable results have been obtained. This study compared the results of standard triple therapy with a sequential schema consisting of pantoprazole, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and metronidazole in a high anti-microbial resistance setting.

Measurement of the coronary flow velocity reserve in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background/aims: Endothelial dysfunction is an early and reversible feature in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Coronary flow velocity reserve is a noninvasive test showing endothelial function of epicardial coronary arteries and coronary microcirculatory function. This study was designed to evaluate the carotid intima-media thickness and myocardial microvascular circulation in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Asymptomatic brain lesions on cranial magnetic resonance imaging in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background/aims: This study aimed to examine the frequency and type of asymptomatic neurological involvement in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Fifty-one IBD patients with no known neurological diseases or symptoms and 30 controls with unspecified headaches without neurological origins were included. Patients and controls underwent cranial MRI assessments for white matter lesions, sinusitis, otitis-mastoiditis, and other brain parenchymal findings.

Approach to mushroom intoxication and treatment: can we decrease mortality?

Background: Mushroom is widely consumed in Turkey because it is inexpensive and widely available. Intoxication with mushroom is a common health problem in Turkey with a high mortality rate.

Aim: To identify the outcome of patients with wild mushroom intoxication who were diagnosed based on systematic criteria and had received a comprehensive treatment.

A case of gynecomastia due to entecavir.

Hepatitis B is an important health problem all over the world as well as in our country. Entecavir is a nucleoside analog used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. We present a case of a 55-year-old male patient who developed unilateral gynecomastia while under treatment with entecavir.

Electron microscopic findings in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: is there a difference between hepatosteatosis and steatohepatitis?

Background And Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has long been accepted as benign; however, recent evidence suggests that the disease may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, although the natural course of the disease is still unclear. This study was designed to comparatively evaluate electron microscopic features of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods: Quantitative and semi-quantitative ultrastructural evaluations were performed on liver biopsies from 23 patients, 10 with NAFL and 13 with NASH.

A new agent for tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibition: In vitro effects of dipyridamole in Crohn's disease.

Background: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a central role in inflammatory cascade in Crohn's disease (CD). Our study aims to investigate the in vitro effects of dipyridamole (DP) on the TNF-alpha and interleukin-10 (IL-10) production in the intestinal mononuclear cells of CD patients.

Material And Methods: Thirteen patients with CD and in 17 healthy individuals underwent colonoscopy and biopsy samples were taken.

Chemical colitis due to glutaraldehyde: case series and review of the literature.

Chemical colitis can occur as a result of accidental contamination of endoscopes or by intentional/accidental administration of enemas containing various chemicals.We present three cases of glutaraldehyde induced colitis and review the cases in the literature. Glutaraldehyde induced colitis presents clinically with severe abdominal pain, bloody and mucoid diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and tenesmus 48-72 h after colonoscopy.

Intestinal metaplasia in portal hypertensive gastropathy: a frequent pathology.

Objective: To compare the frequency of intestinal metaplasia (IM) in patients with portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) to the control group with functional dyspepsia.

Methods: Two-hundred and eighty-nine cases were prospectively evaluated in three groups (controls:group I--123 patients; cirrhotics: group II--135 patients; noncirrhotic portal hypertensives: group III--31 patients). Mucosal biopsies (three antrum, one angulus, two corpus) were taken and examined for atrophy, IM, dysplasia, Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and histologic PHG.

Response to hepatitis B vaccination in patients with celiac disease.

Abnormal immune response to gliadin, genetic, and environmental factors play a role in the pathogenesis of celiac disease (CD). Non-responsiveness to hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination is related to genetic features. Certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes are more prevalent among non-responders to HBV vaccination.

A case of Aeromonas hydrophila enteritis in the course of ulcerative colitis.

A 24-year-old man with a previous diagnosis of ulcerative pancolitis presented with severe malabsorption with watery diarrhea, malaise, and weight loss. Physical examination revealed paleness, hypotension, tachycardia, edema, ascites, and left-sided pleural effusion. Laboratory analysis revealed hypoalbuminemia and hypocalcemia.