Comparison of heater probe coagulation and argon plasma coagulation in the management of Mallory-Weiss tears and high-risk ulcer bleeding.

Background And Study Aims: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common medical emergency. Endoscopic treatments often lead to better therapeutic outcomes than conventional conservative treatments. This study aimed to investigate and compare the use of heater probe coagulation (HPC) and argon plasma coagulation (APC) together with epinephrine injection for the treatment of Mallory-Weiss tears and high-risk ulcer bleeding.

Comparison of intravenous pantoprazole and ranitidine in patients with dyspepsia presented to the emergency department: a randomized, double blind, controlled trial.

Background: This study aimed to compare pantoprazole, a proton-pomp inhibitors (PPIs), and ranitidine, a H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA), in ceasing dyspeptic symptoms in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: This randomized, double-blinded study compared the effectiveness of 50 mg ranitidine (Ulcuran(®)) and 40 mg pantoprazole (Pantpas(®)), given in a 100 mL saline solution by an intravenous rapid infusion within 2-4 minutes in patients with dyspepsia presented to the ED. Pain intensity was measured at baseline, 30 and 60 minutes after the drug administration.

A Cause of Mortal Massive Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Aortoesophageal Fistula.

Introduction: Aortoesophageal fistula is an uncommon but mortal cause of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The most common causes are thoracic aortic aneurisym, foreign body reaction, malignancy and postoperative complication. It can be seen in different pattern on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Interstitial Pneumonitis Related to Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a Treatment in a Patient with Chronic Hepatitis C.

Alkan E, Akin M, Adanir H, Tuna Y. Interstitial Pneumonitis Related to Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a Treatment in a Patient with Chronic Hepatitis C. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2016;6(1):91-92.

Evaluation of increased subclinical atherosclerosis risk with carotid intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity in inflamatory bowel disease.

Background/aims: A significant increase in accelerated atherosclerosis risk have determined in chronic inflammatory diseases. Recent studies have suggested a pathophysiological link between inflamatory bowel disease (IBD) and atherosclerosis; for which carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been considered as an early marker. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of early atherosclerosis in IBD patients without clinically diagnosed cardiovascular disease and any coincident risk factors for atherosclerosis.

Lamivudine treatment failure risks in chronic hepatitis B patients with low viral load.

Aim: To analyze the risk factors of lamivudine treatment failure (LTF) for the long-term use in patients with low viral load (LVL).

Material And Methods: In this multicenter study, 548 antiviral naïve noncirrhotic adult patients with LVL (for HBeAg+ patients HBV DNA <10 9 copies/ml and for HBeAg–patients HBV DNA <10 7 copies/ml) were enrolled. As a control group, 46 lamivudine-initiated patients with high viral load (HVL) were included.

Long-term efficacy and safety of lamivudine, entecavir, and tenofovir for treatment of hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Data are limited on the efficacy and safety of tenofovir and entecavir when given for more than 1 year to patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis. We investigated the long-term safety and efficacy of these antiviral drugs in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with compensated or decompensated cirrhosis, and compared results with those from lamivudine.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 227 adult patients with chronic HBV infection who were diagnosed with cirrhosis, beginning in 2005, at 18 centers throughout Turkey.

Serum ferritin levels correlate with hypertensive retinopathy.

Background: In recent years several studies showed an association between body iron stores, represented by serum ferritin, and oxidative stress. The pathophysiological mechanism of hypertensive retinopathy (HR) is not fully established. Elevated blood pressure alone does not fully account for the extent of retinopathy; other pathogenic mechanisms may be involved, such as increased oxidative stress.