The Consequences of HLA Screening in the Prevention of Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

Aims: To study the effects of routine HLA screening and the policy of avoiding donor-dominant one-way HLA match to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Patients And Methods: The records of potential living liver donors and recipients who attended our center between 2007 and 2018 were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: Of the 149 patients who underwent LDLT and survived longer than 3 months, two developed GVHD despite our strict policy.

Evaluation of the histologic and immunohistochemical (CD34, glutamine synthetase) findings in idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH).

Aim: Idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) is a vascular disorder of uncertain origin. Diagnosis can be challenging on liver biopsy. Despite diverse histomorphologic findings documented in literature, studies on the frequency of these findings are lacking.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis: Questions, Answers, and Illustrative Cases: Endorsed by Autoimmune Liver Diseases Special Interest Group, Turkish Association for the Study of Liver.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare, immune-mediated liver disease. It has a heterogeneous nature with varied clinical presentations. The management of patients with AIH is challenging in many ways.

Neoadjuvant intermediate-course versus long-course chemoradiotherapy in T3-4/N0+ rectal cancer: Istanbul R-02 phase II randomized study.

Radiation therapy (RT) is typically applied using one of two standard approaches for preoperative treatment of resectable locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC): short-course RT (SC-RT) alone or long-course RT (LC-RT) with concurrent fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy. The Phase II single-arm KROG 11-02 study using intermediate-course (IC) (33 Gy (Gray)/10 fr (fraction) with concurrent capecitabine) preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) demonstrated a pathologically complete response rate and a sphincter-sparing rate that were close to those of LC-CRT. The current trial aim to compare the pathological/oncological outcomes, toxicity, and quality of life results of LC-CRT and IC-CRT in cases of LARC.

Malignant Colorectal Polyps: Are Pathology Reports Sufficient for Decision Making?

Aim: This study aims to assess the completeness of pathology reports of T1 colorectal cancers from different healthcare centers and the change of treatment decision after reevaluation of the polyps.

Materials And Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, several pathology reports of endoscopically excised malignant colorectal polyps at diverse healthcare centers in Turkey were reassessed at a comprehensive cancer center in Istanbul. Reassessment was mainly focused on core elements such as the size of invasive carcinoma, histologic type and grade, tumor extension, surgical margin (deep and mucosal), and lymphovascular invasion.

The effects of IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphism on hepatitis B infection.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphisms with the clinical, histological, and virological outcomes of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) also the treatment responses of patients who received Nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) therapy.

Methods: This study included 152 CHB patients who were underwent liver parenchymal biopsy. The IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphism were genotyped using the TaqMan assay.

Comparison of S gene mutations in patients with occult and chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Background And Aim: This study aimed to detect mutations in the HBV S gene and evaluate their relationship to occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI).

Methods: The study included 32 patients with negative serum HBsAg and HBV DNA who underwent liver biopsy due to different clinical indications defined as the OBI group and 32 patients who underwent liver biopsy due to chronic hepatitis B (CHB) as the comparison group. The HBV S gene region was amplified by Nested PCR, and Sanger sequencing was performed.

BRAF, NRAS, KIT, TERT, GNAQ/GNA11 Mutation Profile and Histomorphological Analysis of Anorectal Melanomas: A Clinicopathologic Study.

Objective: Primary anorectal melanomas (AMs) are uncommon neoplasms with aggressive behavior. Molecular profile and clinicopathologic features of AMs are still not well established. In this study, we aimed to investigate BRAF, NRAS, KIT, TERT, and GNAQ/GNA11 mutation status and clinicopathologic features of AMs.

Acinar Cystic Transformation of the Pancreas: Report of Three Cases.

Acinar cystic transformation (ACT) of the pancreas is a rare non-neoplastic cystic lesion. It is most frequently observed in the head of the pancreas. Despite advances in radiologic imaging methods, preoperative diagnosis of acinar cystic transformation is difficult, it is often confused with other cystic lesions.

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.

Metastases to the Stomach: Clinicopathologic Features of Metastases Mimicking Gastric Primaries.

Objective: Metastatic involvement of the stomach is a rare event. Our aim in this study was to document the clinicopathological findings in patients with gastric metastases and find out if there are any potentially significant features to be used in the differential diagnosis.

Material And Method: Our cohort consisted of 17 histologically verified gastric metastasis cases.

Malignant Tumors Misdiagnosed as Liver Hemangiomas.

To derive lessons from the data of patients who were followed for various periods with the misdiagnosis of liver hemangioma and eventually found to have a malignancy. The records of 23 patients treated between 2003 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Twelve patients were men and 11 were women; median (range) age was 55 (35-80).

Complementary Roles of Cadaveric and Living Donor Liver Transplantation in Acute Liver Failure.

Background: Living donor liver transplantation may complement cadaveric transplantation in acute liver failure (ALF) patients.

Methods: Between 2008 and 2017, 89 patients were treated for ALF; 15 patients (17%) recovered with intensive care treatment; 31 (35%) died without transplant. The records of the remaining 43 patients (median (range) age: 14 (1-62)) who underwent transplantation were evaluated.

ATA Index: A novel score for predicting fibrosis stage in chronic viral hepatitis.

Background And Aim: This study was designed to predict the fibrosis stage with a clinical scoring system that may reduce the need for liver biopsy.

Materials And Methods: The study cohort included the treatment of 430 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 170 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) of naive patients. The patients were divided into two groups as mild to moderate and severe fibrosis.

Hepatocellular adenomas in the Turkish population: reclassification according to updated World Health Organization criteria.

Aims: Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is an uncommon liver neoplasm, and studies of HCA subtypes have been primarily limited to France, the USA, and Japan. The aim of this study was to describe the clinicopathological features of HCA subtypes in Turkey.

Methods And Results: The resection specimens of 59 cases diagnosed as 'hepatocellular adenoma' collected from 15 institutions were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and to classify them according to the current World Health Organization 2019 classification.

Diagnostic significance of cytomegalovirus DNA quantitation in gastrointestinal biopsies: comparison with histopathological data and blood cytomegalovirus DNA.

Objectives: This study aims to improve the diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. It presents the results of a novel study in which CMV blood viral load (BVL), tissue viral load (TVL) determined by PCR and hematoxylin-eosin (HE)/immunohistochemistry (IHC) results of GI biopsies are examined comparatively.

Methods: CMV DNA was investigated by quantitative real-time PCR in blood and GI biopsy specimens of 76 patients suspected of CMV disease.

Malignant Transformation of Parotid Gland Non-sebaceous Lymphadenoma: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Non-sebaceous lymphadenoma is a sporadic benign tumor of salivary glands. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical properties, diagnostic criteria, and theories for the histologic origin of the disease have been defined and well-discussed in the literature. However, none of the cases showed malignant transformation to date.

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.

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.

Predictors of colonic pathologies in active acromegaly: single tertiary center experience.

Background: Regarding the incidence of colorectal malignancy and polyps in patients with acromegaly, studies reported different results in different populations. For this reason, the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of possible colonic pathologies, such as diverticula, polyps, and malignancies in Turkish patients with active acromegaly and factors affecting them.

Methods: A total of 134 patients with acromegaly and 134 patients with irritable bowel syndrome/dyspeptic symptoms as a control group were included in the study.

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.

Neoadjuvant volumetric modulated arc therapy in rectal cancer and the correlation of pathological response with diffusion-weighted MRI and apoptotic markers.

Purpose: In this prospective observational study, we aimed to report the applicability and tolerability of neoadjuvant volumetric modulated arc therapy with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB-VMAT) and concurrent chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), and to evaluate the correlation of pathological response with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and apoptotic markers.

Methods: The study enrolled 30 patients with T3 to T4 and/or N+ rectal cancer who preoperatively received SIB-VMAT and concurrent chemotherapy. Before and after the neoadjuvant treatment, apoptotic markers including the nucleosomes and cell-free DNA fragments in the serum samples were examined; DNA integrity was assessed by amplifying the ACTB gene; and the ADC measurements on the DW-MRI were analyzed.