The relationship between peritoneal membrane permeability and dyspepsia in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship between peritoneal membrane permeability and dyspepsia in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Patients And Methods: This study included 95 peritoneal dialysis patients aged 18 and older. The presence of dyspepsia in patients was recorded according to the 2016 ROME-IV Functional Dyspepsia Diagnostic Criteria.

Turkey 2017 Clinical Practice Guidelines on recommendations for screening diagnosing and managing hepatitis C virus.

The present guideline updates the Turkish recommendations for the screening, diagnosis and management of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection prepared by the Turkish Association for the Study of the Liver (TASL) and Viral Hepatitis Society (VHS). The aim of this guidance was to provide updates recommendations to physicians, who are interested in HCV care on the optimal screening, diagnosis and pre-treatment management for patients with HCV infection in Turkey. These recommendations, produced by panel experts, were aimed to addresses the management issues ranging from diagnosis and linkage to care, to the optimal treatment regimen in patients with HCV infection.

Effects of balanced propofol sedation on QT, corrected QT, and P-wave dispersion on upper endoscopy.

Objective: Combined sedation with propofol and benzodiazepines, known as balanced propofol sedation (BPS), was developed to increase patient comfort during endoscopy. However, the effects of BPS on P-wave dispersion (Pwd), QT interval, and corrected QT (QTc) interval after endoscopy have not been investigated.

Methods: The study population consisted of 40 patients with BPS and 42 without sedation who were scheduled to undergo upper endoscopy in this cross-sectional prospective study.

Regression of steatohepatitis-related cirrhosis.

The authors document regression of cirrhosis in an obese 56-year-old man after significant weight loss by sequential liver biopsies. The patient had a known history of steatohepatitis. His initial laboratory workup 6 years earlier revealed elevated liver enzyme activities and blood triglyceride levels, and negative viral hepatitis serology screen.

Red blood cell distribution width as a non-invasive marker for the assessment of inflammation in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to assess the association between red cell distribution width and inflammation in biopsy proven non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Methodology: Fifty four subjects with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and thirty nine controls were enrolled for the study. Liver biopsy specimens were scored by using non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score by a single experienced liver pathologist.

Circulating microRNAs in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Aim: To identify novel non-invasive biomarkers for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: Twenty patients with histologically proven NAFLD and 20 controls were included. All NAFLD cases were scored using the NAFLD activity score.

The Serum S100B Level as a Biomarker of Enteroglial Activation in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

Objective. Recent studies have demonstrated that enteric glial cells (EGC) participate in the homeostasis of the gastrointestinal tract. This study investigated whether enteroglial markers, including S100B protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), can serve as noninvasive indicators of EGC activation and disease activity in UC patients.

Peripartum genital tuberculosis presenting with ascites.

Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis may affect multiple sites within the body. The symptoms vary widely and diagnosis requires a high clinical suspicion. In rare cases, tuberculosis may be manifest in the genitalia, initially presenting as infertility.

Noninvasive assessment of liver damage in chronic hepatitis B.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index (APRI) and neutrophil-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio to predict liver damage in chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: We analyzed 89 patients diagnosed with CHB by percutaneous liver biopsy and 43 healthy subjects. Liver biopsy materials were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of disease severity in ulcerative colitis.

Background: Blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio is an indicator of the overall inflammatory status of the body, and an alteration in N/L ratio may be found in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the utility of N/L ratio as a simple and readily available predictor for clinical disease activity in UC.

Methods: Twenty-six patients and 28 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.

Investigation of genome instability in exfoliated colonic epithelial cells and in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes of patients with ulcerative colitis.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the micronucleus (MN), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) and nuclear buds (NBUDs) in the mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). In addition, we assessed MN frequency in exfoliated colonic epithelial cells obtained from both the diseased and healthy colonic mucosa of patients.

Design: The study was conducted in 22 newly diagnosed patients with UC and in 22 healthy controls.

Endoscopic topical application of Ankaferd Blood Stopper® in gastrointestinal bleeding.

Aim: This was a prospective study investigating the efficacy of Ankaferd Blood Stopper(®) (ABS), an herbal preparation, in patients with upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding.

Materials And Methods: A total of 30 patients (22 male, 8 female) who had UGI bleeding (with differing causes) were included in the study. ABS was used to stop the bleeding.

Effects of testosterone gel treatment in hypogonadal men with liver cirrhosis.

Introduction: Hypogonadism characterized by low serum testosterone level, loss of libido, small testes, impotence and gynecomastia is a common clinical situation in male patients with advanced chronic liver disease. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of testosterone replacement on muscle strength, bone mineral density (BMD), body composition and gynecomastia in hypogonadal men with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: Sixteen hypogonadal male cirrhotic patients were included and twelve completed the study.

Epinephrine plus argon plasma or heater probe coagulation in ulcer bleeding.

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of argon plasma coagulation (APC) and heater probe coagulation (HPC) in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Methods: Eighty-five (18 female, 67 male) patients admitted for acute gastrointestinal bleeding due to gastric or duodenal ulcer were included in the study. Upper endoscopy was performed and HPC or APC were chosen randomly to stop the bleeding.

Efficacy of different therapeutic regimens on hepatic osteodystrophy in chronic viral liver disease.

Background And Aims: Metabolic bone disease is common in patients with chronic liver disease. Comparative studies on the efficacies of antiosteoporotic agents in hepatic osteodystrophy have not been conducted yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of different therapeutic regimens on hepatic osteodystrophy.

Primary hepatic carcinosarcoma.

Background: Primary hepatic carcinosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor containing an intimate mixture of carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. Reports on risk factors, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of the tumor as well as the experience in its treatment are limited.

Method: We present a case of primary carcinosarcoma of the liver in a 69-year-old man who complained of right hypochondrial pain and weight loss for two months.

Advanced oxidation protein products: a novel marker of oxidative stress in ulcerative colitis.

Background/goals: The etiology and pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases are still poorly understood. Oxidative stress takes place in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) are accepted as a novel marker of oxidative stress. There are no data concerning whether AOPP may be used as a simple serum marker to assess the disease activity, predict severity of the disease course in UC.

Clostridium difficile infection frequency in patients with nosocomial infections or using antibiotics.

Background/aims: Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea. The frequency of colonization in hospitalized patients varies between 10 and 43%.

Methodology: Clostridium difficile common antigen was investigated in stool samples of 50 patients who developed nosocomial diarrhea (group 1), 65 outpatients who attended the clinic after development of diarrhea during antibiotic use (group 2), 18 patients with active chronic inflammatory bowel disease (group 3), and 30 control patients were studied.

Pyoderma gangrenosum and exacerbation of psoriasis resulting from pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Interferon therapy is the cornerstone of chronic hepatitis C treatment. Side effects of interferon include possible triggering or exacerbation of immune diseases in consequence of immunomodulatory effects. We describe the unique case, in which pyoderma gangrenosum and exacerbation of psoriasis were developed 8 weeks after pegylated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin therapy in a 45-year-old woman.

Adrenal axis functions in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Objective: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary disease characterized by recurrent attacks of fever with peritonitis, arthritis, pleuritis or erysipelas-like rash. It is unclear what effects of FMF itself on endocrine system and hormones are. None of the FMF patients without amyloidosis have been reported to have any endocrine disorders, except those who developed colchicine-induced diabetes insipidus.