From hepatomegaly to POEMS syndrome: A case report.

We present a case of POEMS syndrome from Turkiye, a rare, multisystemic condition resulting from plasma cell dyscrasia. POEMS is an acronym representing its cardinal features: Peripheral neuropathy; Organomegaly; Endocrinopathy; Monoclonal plasma-cell proliferative disorder; and Skin changes. The syndrome has an estimated prevalence of 0.

Do different wiping techniques in phlebotomy have an effect on vessel visibility, procedural success, and phlebotomy-related complications?

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different wiping techniques used in phlebotomy on vein visibility, procedural success, and phlebotomy-related complications.

Materials And Methods: This single-center, comparative, randomized study was conducted with 90 patients in the internal medicine clinic of a tertiary hospital. During the phlebotomy procedure, the phlebotomy site was wiped with circular technique in the Group-I, vertical technique in the Group-II, and vertical + circular technique in the Group-III.

Healthcare-Related HCV Genotype 4d Infections in Kayseri, Turkey.

Background: The frequency of genotype 4 hepatitis C virus infection is significantly higher in a city compared to other provinces in Turkey. In this study, we aimed to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection in Kayseri province of Turkey.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 61 hepatitis C virus genotype 4-infected patients and 71 controls.

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.

Novel Anthocyanin-Based Colorimetric Assay for the Rapid, Sensitive, and Quantitative Detection of .

Several different diagnostic tests have been reported for rapid, sensitive, and economical detection of bacterial pathogens, but most lack widespread and practical use in the clinic. In this study, we used anthocyanins from red cabbage () as a natural pH indicator and, for the first time, incorporated this agent into a simple, rapid, and economical colorimetric strategy for the detection of () (RCE@test). We prepared two sets of RCE@test solutions (test 1 is purple, and test 2 is blue) in different forms, including liquid, adsorbed filter paper, and agar, and investigated the performance of each RCE@test as a function of the test volume, concentration, and reaction time.

The role of endobronchial and endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration for mediastinal nodal staging of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Introduction: Mediastinal and hilar nodal staging is one of the key points for differentiating treatment modalities in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of the present study was to determinate the diagnostic yields of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA), endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and combined EBUS-TBNA and EUS-FNA modalities for nodal staging in potentially operable NSCLC patients.

Materials And Methods: Twenty consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled in the study between March 2014 and November 2015.

Ipilimumab-associated cholestatic hepatitis: a case report and literature review.

Ipilimumab is a monoclonal antibody that exerts its effects by inhibiting the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 receptor on cytotoxic T lymphocytes. It is frequently used for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Ipilimumab may lead to several immune-related disease including colitis, thyroiditis, pneumonia, hepatitis, or pancreatitis as a side effect.

Best prognostic factor of neuroendocrine tumors: Grade or Stage? A multidisciplinary single-center study.

Background/aims: Currently, there is no definite consensus about the prognostic factors of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). We evaluate epidemiology, survival and especially prognostic factors in NETs.

Materials And Methods: Patients who had a NET and were diagnosed between 2000 and 2014 at a tertiary care center were included.

Serum Visfatin Levels in Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that adipokines play a role in inflammatory bowel disease by inducing proinflammatory cytokines, but it is uncertain whether visfatin is causally involved in ulcerative colitis (UC). We evaluated visfatin levels in patients who presented with UC flares before and after treatment.

Methods: In this cohort study, we assessed 31 patients with UC in the activation period and remission in the same patients after treatment, and a healthy control group, consisting of 29 persons, at a single academic medical centre between 2010 and 2013.

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.

Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid therapy on carotid intima media thickness, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, and apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a prevalent liver disease that is increasingly being associated with cardiovascular disease. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and may reduce liver injury in NASH. To date, no studies have assessed the efficacy of UDCA in carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), serum lipids, apolipoprotein A1 (apo A), apolipoprotein B (apo B), and apolipoprotein B/A1 (apo B/A1) ratios in patients with NASH.

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.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with migraine.

Evidence suggests that migraine is associated with metabolic syndrome, which is also implicated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Reported for the first time, we aimed to investigate the relationship between migraine and NAFLD in patients with migraine. A total of 90 consecutive migraine patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study.

Prolonged Cholestatic Jaundice Associated With Flurbiprofen.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely consumed drugs throughout the world for pain relief. Although the adverse effects of NSAIDs to the liver are well known, flurbiprofen-induced liver cholestasis is extremely rare. Herein, we present a patient with prolonged icterus that is associated with the use of flurbiprofen without causing ductopenia.

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.

The prevalence of primary hereditary hemochromatosis in central Anatolia.

Background/aims: Hereditary hemochromatosis is an autosomal recessive disorder associated with the HFE genes. Early identification and diagnosis is important as end stage organ damage may occur if treatment is delayed..

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.

Mean platelet volume in biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly recognized as the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. It has been shown that NAFLD has a strong association with metabolic syndrome and its component like insulin resistance (IR). Cardiovascular disease has a relation with NAFLD.

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.