Role of serum hyaluronic acid in predicting necroinflammatory activity of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Aim: Hyaluronic acid (HA), a fundamental component of the extracellular matrix, is associated with chronic liver diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate quantitative HA measurement as a noninvasive marker for steatosis and fibrosis staging in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with biopsy evidence.

Materials And Methods: In this study, 52 NAFLD patients with biopsy evidence and who met the inclusion criteria were included.

Serum concentrations of human insulin-like growth factor-1 and levels of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5 in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: association with liver histology.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the histological features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5) to determine the usefulness of this relationship in clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: Serum samples were collected from 92 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 51 healthy controls and serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-5 were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Result: Serum IGFBP-5 levels were correlated with liver steatosis, fibrosis, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis scores.

Plasma fibrinogen-like protein 2 levels in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background/aims: Fibrinogen-like protein 2 (fgl2), has recently been identified as a new member of the fibrinogen-like family of proteins. In this study we assayed plasma levels of fgl2 in patients with biopsy proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and examined their association with clinical, biochemical and histological phenotypes.

Methodology: Levels of plasma fgl2 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and compared between the study groups.

The Relationship between Quiescent Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Peripheral Polyneuropathy.

Background/aims: Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic, recurrent disorder that involves multiple organ systems. Polyneuropathy is the most common neurological manifestation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between polyneuropathy and inflammatory bowel disease.

Serum levels of prostate specific antigen are elevated after colonoscopy.

The risks of prostate cancer and colorectal carcinoma increase with age. So, colonoscopy and measurement of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) may be performed during a short term in a given patient. We aimed to evaluate whether colonoscopy affects serum PSA levels and to evaluate the relationship between prostate volume and elevation in serum PSA levels after colonoscopy.

Three-year efficacy and safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate treatment for chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), a nucleotide analogue and potent inhibitor of hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase, showed superior efficacy to adefovir dipivoxil in treatment of chronic hepatitis B through 48 weeks. We evaluated long-term efficacy and safety of TDF monotherapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B who were positive or negative for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg(+) or HBeAg(-)).

Methods: After 48 weeks of double-blind comparison of TDF to adefovir dipivoxil, patients who underwent liver biopsy were eligible to continue the study on open-label TDF for 7 additional years; data presented were collected up to 3 years (week 144) from 85% of participants.

Efficacy of probiotics in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.

Background/aims: Triple therapy with a proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin and clarithromycin in Helicobacter pylori eradication is widely accepted, but this combination fails in a considerable number of cases. Our aim was to evaluate whether probiotic-containing yogurt affects the success of eradication. The second aim was to investigate the efficacy of probiotics in the prevention of the side effects related to eradication therapy.

Liver biopsy: ultrasonography guidance is not superior to the blind method.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience with adequate liver biopsy samples and compare the complication rates of blind and US-guided biopsies, as well as to compare the histological yield of blind and US-guided biopsy specimens.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 205 consecutive patients that underwent liver biopsies during a 12-month period. Liver biopsy was performed via the blind method in 152 patients, and via US-guidance in 53 patients.

Effect of the mucolytic erdosteine on the success rate of PPI-based first-line triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: Because Helicobacter pylori creates a well-sheltered microenvironment within the gastric mucus layer, it has been speculated that the disruption of this space by a mucolytic agent may enhance the eradication rate. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of erdosteine, a strong mucolytic agent, on the effectiveness of PPI-based, first-line triple therapy in the eradication of H. pylori.

Glutaraldehyde-induced colitis: three case reports.

Glutaraldehyde (2% solution) is an effective and widely used disinfecting solution for cold sterilization of endoscopic instruments. Direct contact of glutaraldehyde solution with colonic mucosa can cause self-limited colitis. As it rarely occurs as a complication of colonoscopy, glutaraldehyde-induced colitis is generally reported only as case reports in the literature.

Oxidative stress in Helicobacter pylori infection: does supplementation with vitamins C and E increase the eradication rate?

Aim: This study aims to assess the antioxidant property of vitamins E and C in Helicobacter pylori infection, and to determine if adding them to standard triple therapy plus bismuth subcitrate increases the H. pylori eradication rate.

Methods: This study included 160 patients infected with H.

Administration of olive oil followed by a low volume of polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution improves patient satisfaction with right-side colonic cleansing over administration of the conventional volume of polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution for colonoscopy preparation.

Background: Proper bowel cleansing before colonoscopy is essential for satisfactory evaluation of the colon. The required consumption of a large volume of salty-tasting liquid, 4 L of polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution (PEG-ELS), is the primary limitation to achieving this goal.

Objective: To achieve better patient satisfaction with efficient bowel cleansing, we compared the effects of the conventional volume (4 L) of PEG-ELS with those of a low volume (2 L) in combination with pretreatment using different laxatives, such as magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia) and olive oil.

A case of Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to multiple thrombogenic conditions: a case report and review of literature.

This report describes a case of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by latent polycythemia vera and factor V Leiden mutation. This syndrome usually occurs due to thrombosis of hepatic veins or membranous obstruction of inferior vena cava. The most common reasons for thrombosis are manifest polycythemia vera and the other prothrombotic conditions.

Rapid resolution of portal vein thrombosis and noncirrhotic portal hypertension following cyto-reductive therapy in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia.

The case of a 65 year old woman referred for further evaluation of back pain and with abnormalities at ultrasound including increase in portal vein diameter and splenomegaly is presented. Other tests, including bone marrow biopsy and Doppler ultrasound, led to a diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis secondary to chronic myeloid leukemia. After prompt cytoreductive therapy with leukapheresis and hydroxyurea, resolution of portal vein thrombosis and portal hypertension was achieved within a in one-month period.

A Peutz-Jeghers syndrome case with iron deficiency anemia and jejuno-jejunal invagination.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is an autosomal dominantly inherited rare syndrome characterized by mucocutaneous pigmentations, with intestinal and extraintestinal polyps. It is accepted to be a precancerous syndrome. The polyps can cause anemia and intestinal obstruction and intussuception.