Duodenal large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma as unusual cause of acute pancreatitis.

Early identification of acute pancreatitis etiology is essential for choosing the best therapeutic management. The main causes are cholelithiasis and alcohol consumption. Tumors that obstruct the main pancreatic duct are uncommon causes of acute pancreatitis.

Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography and Controlled Attenuation Parameter for the Diagnosis of Liver Steatosis and Fibrosis in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE) with Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) is a widely used non-invasive technique for concomitant assessment of liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to evaluate the level both of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis as well as the associated risk factors in patients referred to our unit with clinically suspected NAFLD or diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography. Two hundred four patients were prospectively included in this study and assessed by VCTE with CAP.

NONSELECTIVE BETA-BLOCKERS IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS: "THE THERAPEUTIC WINDOW".

For over 30 years, nonselective beta-blockers (NSBB) have been successfully used for preventing variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Nevertheless, recent studies suggest that NSBB may be effective only within a particular "therapeutic window" in patients with advanced liver disease. Outside of this window, in early stages of cirrhosis and in very advanced cirrhosis, NSBB may be ineffective and even potentially harmful.

Platelet indices in patients with de novo portal vein thrombosis and liver cirrhosis.

Unlabelled: Platelet indices are markers of platelet reactivity used for thrombotic risk assessment in patients with cardiovascular diseases, and recently in venous thrombosis.

Aim: To assess the diagnostic value of platelet indices in patients with non-malignant de novo portal vein thrombosis and liver cirrhosis.

Material And Methods: We conducted a prospective, case-control study on patients admitted to a tertiary center in the interval January, 2010 - December, 2012.

Increased liver stiffness in extrahepatic cholestasis caused by choledocholithiasis.

Background: Extrahepatic cholestasis that is caused by benign and malignant diseases has been reported to increase liver stiffness (LS), as measured by transient elastography (TE).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate LS in patients with extrahepatic cholestasis due to choledocholithiasis before and after endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone removal.

Patients And Methods: LS was measured by TE (Fibroscan) in patients with extrahepatic cholestasis that was caused by choledocholithiasis before and 1 month after endoscopic sphincterotomy and successful stone removal.

Guide-wire versus conventional contrast cannulation of the common bile duct for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients with choledocholithiasis.

Background: Inadvertent injection of a contrast agent into the pancreatic duct is an important contributor factor to post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Aim: To compare the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis and the success rate of biliary cannulation using guide-wire cannulation or the standard contrast injection technique.

Methods: A total of 128 patients with choledocholithiasis who underwent either guide-were cannulation (n=70) or contrast injection (n=58) were retrospectively reviewed.

Colonoscopic screening of asymptomatic first-degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients.

Aim: First-degree relatives of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients are at increased risk for developing colorectal neoplasm, and current guidelines recommend screening colonoscopy in such individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of colonoscopy as the screening test in asymptomatic first-degree relatives of CRC patients.

Material And Method: Colonoscopy was performed in 102 asymptomatic individuals who had at least one first-degree relatives with CRC.

[Noncardiac chest pain and gastroesophageal reflux disease].

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may manifest typically with heartburn and regurgitation or may have atypical manifestations as laryngitis, asthma, chronic cough or noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). While typical GERD is easy to be recognized, the atypical extraesophageal symptoms of the disease make the diagnosis difficult because most patients do not have heartburn or regurgitation. Most common atypical manifestations include ear, nose and throat (ENT), pulmonary or cardiac symptoms.