Clinical and molecular evaluation of MEFV gene variants in the Turkish population: a study by the National Genetics Consortium.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a monogenic autoinflammatory disorder with recurrent fever, abdominal pain, serositis, articular manifestations, erysipelas-like erythema, and renal complications as its main features. Caused by the mutations in the MEditerranean FeVer (MEFV) gene, it mainly affects people of Mediterranean descent with a higher incidence in the Turkish, Jewish, Arabic, and Armenian populations. As our understanding of FMF improves, it becomes clearer that we are facing with a more complex picture of FMF with respect to its pathogenesis, penetrance, variant type (gain-of-function vs.

The association of endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase-1 (ERAP-1) with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).

Background: The ERAP1 gene cleaves the receptors and reduces their ability to transmit chemical signals to the cell that affect the process of inflammation and, secondly, it cleaves many types of proteins into small peptides that are recognized by the immune system.

Objective: ERAP-1 gene mutations may create a sensitivity for Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).

Method: We included 15 FMF patients with the M694 (+) mutation in the study in order to exclude patients without pyrin gene mutations and create a homogeneous study group.

Prevalence of celiac disease in adult type 1 patients with diabetes.

Objectives: Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease, is related to immune mediated intolerance to gluten. Some studies suggest that Celiac Disease was 20 times more frequent in type 1 patients with diabetes. The objective of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of celiac disease in hospital based type 1 diabetic adults.

The relationship between serum adiponectin and resistin levels, insulin resistance and colorectal adenomas.

Background/aims: The relationship between adipocytokines and the development of colorectal cancer is well-documented. Our aim was to assess the relationship among serum adiponectin and resistin levels, insulin resistance, and colorectal adenoma to evaluate whether these parameters can be used as biomarkers to predict the development of colorectal adenoma.

Materials And Methods: This is a cross-sectional case-control study conducted in 32 patients with colorectal adenoma and 30 control subjects.

Risk of endocrine pancreatic insufficiency in patients receiving adjuvant chemoradiation for resected gastric cancer.

Background: Adjuvant radiotherapy combined with 5-fluorouracil based chemotherapy has become the new standard after curative resection in high risk gastric cancer. Beside many complications due to surgery, the addition of chemotherapy and radiotherapy as adjuvant treatment may lead to both acute and late toxicities. Pancreatic tissue irradiation during this adjuvant treatment because of incidental and unavoidable inclusion of the organ within the radiation field may affect exocrine and endocrine functions of the organ.

Asymptomatic brain lesions on cranial magnetic resonance imaging in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background/aims: This study aimed to examine the frequency and type of asymptomatic neurological involvement in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Fifty-one IBD patients with no known neurological diseases or symptoms and 30 controls with unspecified headaches without neurological origins were included. Patients and controls underwent cranial MRI assessments for white matter lesions, sinusitis, otitis-mastoiditis, and other brain parenchymal findings.

Efficacy of a modified sequential therapy including bismuth subcitrate as first-line therapy to eradicate Helicobacter pylori in a Turkish population.

Background: Eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori with standard triple therapy are not satisfactory. Sequential therapy is an alternative method to overcome this problem.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess efficacy of a modified sequential therapy with the addition of a bismuth preparation, as first-line treatment in the eradication of H.

Approach to mushroom intoxication and treatment: can we decrease mortality?

Background: Mushroom is widely consumed in Turkey because it is inexpensive and widely available. Intoxication with mushroom is a common health problem in Turkey with a high mortality rate.

Aim: To identify the outcome of patients with wild mushroom intoxication who were diagnosed based on systematic criteria and had received a comprehensive treatment.

A case of gynecomastia due to entecavir.

Hepatitis B is an important health problem all over the world as well as in our country. Entecavir is a nucleoside analog used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. We present a case of a 55-year-old male patient who developed unilateral gynecomastia while under treatment with entecavir.

Investigation of human papillomavirus DNA in colorectal carcinomas and adenomas.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been considered to be an etiological agent for anogenital cancers, such as cervical cancer and possibly a subset of cancers of the aerodigestive tract. The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of human papillomavirus DNA in colorectal carcinomas and adenomas. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded archival tissue samples were used for DNA extraction.

The size of the esophageal hiatus in gastroesophageal reflux pathophysiology: outcome of intraoperative measurements.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the size of the esophageal hiatus on lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) and acid reflux.

Methods: Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease who underwent Nissen fundoplication in 2006-2008 were included. All underwent esophageal manometry and 22 had 24-h pH monitoring.

Chemical colitis due to glutaraldehyde: case series and review of the literature.

Chemical colitis can occur as a result of accidental contamination of endoscopes or by intentional/accidental administration of enemas containing various chemicals.We present three cases of glutaraldehyde induced colitis and review the cases in the literature. Glutaraldehyde induced colitis presents clinically with severe abdominal pain, bloody and mucoid diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and tenesmus 48-72 h after colonoscopy.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and CA 19-9 levels.

Aim: To prospectively investigate serum CA 19-9 levels in type 2 diabetic patients in comparison with age- and gender-matched control subjects.

Methods: We recorded duration of diabetes and examined fasting glucose levels, HbA1c levels and serum CA 19-9 levels in 76 type 2 diabetic patients and 76 controls. Abdominal CT was performed in order to eliminate abdominal malignancy in the diabetic and control groups.

Dorsal pancreatic agenesis.

Context: Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas is a rare entity and might present with various symptoms. We report a case which presented with chronic pancreatitis.

Case Report: The patient presented with epigastric pain and we found dorsal pancreatic agenesis causing chronic pancreatitis.

A case of herpes simplex hepatitis with hepatic nodules in an immunocompetent patient.

Herpes simplex hepatitis is a rare cause of acute hepatitis in immunocompetent patients. Herpes hepatitis presents with nonspecific symptoms like fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. Elevated transaminase values with leukopenia, relatively low bilirubin level and mucosal herpetic lesions often provide clues to the diagnosis.

Laparoscopic repair of a gastric volvulus occurring as a long-term complication of left pneumonectomy: report of a case.

Gastric volvulus is an extremely rare late complication of pneumonectomy. We report the case of a 61-year-old man who presented with a 1-year history of progressive intolerance of solids and weight loss 33 years after a left pneumonectomy. Preoperative examinations showed a mesenteroaxial gastric volvulus.

Endoscopic scoring of late gastrointestinal mucosal damage after adjuvant radiochemotherapy.

Aim: To evaluate late effects of chemoradiation on gastrointestinal mucosa with an endoscopic scoring system and compare it to a clinical scoring system.

Methods: Twenty-four patients going to receive chemoradiation after gastric surgery underwent endoscopy four wk after surgery and one year after the chemoradiation finished. Upper gastrointestinal findings were recorded according to a system proposed by World Organisation for Digestive Endoscopy (OMED) and clinical scoring was done with RTOG-EORTC radiation morbidity scoring systems.

The effect of defective early phase insulin secretion on postload glucose intolerance in impaired fasting glucose.

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are two risk groups for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by both impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance but their relative contribution to the development of hyperglycemia may differ due to heterogeneity of the disease. Combined glucose intolerance (CGI), on the other hand, seems to represent a more advanced stage of prediabetes that bears a distinctly higher risk of progression to diabetes and its comorbidities.

Is adiponectin level a predictor of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in nondiabetic male patients?

Aim: Adiponectin is a hepatic insulin sensitizer and also an inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor. We studied its levels in nondiabetic patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and compared with control group.

Methods: Thirty-five patients who had elevated serum aminotransferase levels with bright liver and 34 healthy volunteers without liver disease were evaluated.

Encapsulating peritonitis and familial Mediterranean fever.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between encapsulating peritonitis and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

Methods: The patient had a history of type 2 diabetes and laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed one year ago for cholelithiasis. Eleven months after the operation she developed massive ascites.