Evaluation of Diagnostic Efficiency of Alpha-Fetoprotein in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Single-Center Experience.

Background: AFP serum levels are considered as diagnostic and specific for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).

Aim: This study aimed to examine the diagnostic value of AFP in the distinguishing of patients with HCC from patients with LC, and to analyse the potential correlation between AFP levels and liver disease stages.

Material And Methods: Fifty patients with LC and fifty patients with HCC were included in this study.

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING TO EVALUATE NEOADJUVANT THERAPY EFFECTS ON RECTAL CARCINOMA.

Although total mesorectal excision reduces the local recurrence rate in comparison to other surgical approaches, the occurrence of local relapse is still common, especially in cases when there is malignant infiltration of the circumferential resection margin. Mesorectal fascia is an important prognostic and diagnostic factor and it may be argued that mesorectal fascia represents the circumferential resection margin if total mesorectal excision is used as a surgical approach. Tumor infiltration of mesorectal fascia warrants preoperative neoadjuvant therapy in order to reduce the risk of tumor relapse.

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) Values as Predictor of Renal Insufficiency in Advanced Stages of Liver Diseases with Different Etiology.

Background: Various complications occur in patients with advanced stages of liver diseases. Renal dysfunction, a parameter included in the MELD score, is the most important prognostic factor. There is a strong need in clinical practice to estimate the GFR in this patients.

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values as predictor of renal insufficiency in advanced stages of liver diseases with different etiology.

Background: Various complications occur in patients with advanced stages of liver diseases. Renal dysfunction, a parameter included in the MELD score, is the most important prognostic factor. There is a strong need in clinical practice to estimate the GFR in this patients.

Sensitivity of EUS and ERCP Endoscopic Procedures in the Detection of Pancreatic Cancer During Preoperative Staging Correlated with CT and CT Angiography Imaging Methods.

The Goal: The goal of this work was to give advantage to EUS as endoscopic method in diagnosis and following therapeutic treatment of pancreatic cancer in relation to radiological methods of CT and CTA.

Material And Methods: The study included 49 patients, 20 women and 29 men hospitalized at the Clinic for gastroenterohepatology, due to suspicion on pancreatic cancer during observed 2 years period. All cancers were histologically and cytologically confirmed.

Analysis of effect of antiviral therapy on regression of liver fibrosis in patient with HCV infection.

Background: HCV infection is characterized by a tendency towards chronicity. Acute HCV infection progresses to chronic infection in 70% of cases. Hepatitis C virus infection can cause progressive liver injury and lead to fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis.

Use of serum levels of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1alpha in chronic hepatitis B.

Background: The reasons for the chronic viral persistence of hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) are unknown, but are probably related to host immune factors. Cytokines play a significant role in immune defense. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a proinflammatory cytokine and some studies have demonstrated that IL-1 production was impaired in patients with chronic infections of hepatitis B virus, implying that IL-1 may play a role in viral clearance, progression of fibrosis and in malignant potential of HBV.

Sensitivity of Symptomatology Versus Diagnostic Procedures and Concentration of CEA and CA19-9 in the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the major diagnostic and therapeutic problem. The number of patients in the world has increased recently. In our country it is detected late and patients visit doctor in the advanced stage of the disease with already developed metastases.

Comparability of Diagnostic Methods: Proximal Endoscopy, CT and EUS in Determining Stomach Tumor Localization and their Importance in the Preoperative Analysis of Process Progression.

Introduction: Gastric cancer is one of the most common tumors in humans and is on the 14th place by frequency in the United States and it is at the 8th place by the mortality rate. In the world it takes seventh place by incidence. Today prevail the opinion and the surveys show, that it is twice as common in men as compared to women.

Impact of sustained virus elimination on natural anticoagulant activity in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C.

Previous studies have reported reduced synthesis of various hemostatic factors in patients with chronic liver disease. Whether changes in plasma levels of these proteins reflect recovered liver synthetic function following virological eradication therapy has not been approved yet. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of sustained viral suppression achieved with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin on hemostatic parameters including natural anticoagulants in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Intestinal amebiasis in a group of patients with ulcerative colitis: influence on clinical course of the disease.

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common disease with a chronic and relapsing presentation requiring regular clinical follow up. Epidemiological and microbiologic studies suggest that enteropathogenic microorganisms play a substantial role in the clinical presentation and extent of inflammatory bowel disease.

Goal: To evaluate the presence of intestinal infections by Entamoeba hystolitica in patients with ulcerative colitis, their impact on clinical outcome, and to identify associated risk factors.

[Prevention and treatment of hepatitis C infected patients on hemodialysis].

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Patients And Methods: In this prospective, observational study, 205 patients, 37 (18%) of them with chronic HCV infection, were followed up for a one-year period at Department of Hemodialysis, Sarajevo Clinical Center, University of Sarajevo. The following parameters were analyzed: dialysis duration, sex, PCR RNA, HCV genotypes and biochemical parameters.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors and its frequency in our clinical samples.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. The majority of GISTs are located in the stomach. Only 3-5% of GISTs are located in the duodenum associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding as primary manifestation.

The application of current diagnostic protocols of patients with colon cancer in preparation for therapy.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the third most common tumor which causes high percentage of mortality in the general population. Etiologic factors which cause this disease are various, while diagnostic methods involve very complex protocols from detection of tumor markers to a combination of endoscopic and imaging methods.

Goal: To determine the number of patients suffering from colon cancer for a period of two years and with endoscopic methods to verify and localize the tumor and its spread.

Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers: use of serum levels of cytokines IL 1α and TGF ß1 in management of chronic liver diseases.

Aim: To analyze the usefulness of specified immunological parameters, proinflammatory IL-1α and profibrogenic, antiinflammatory TGF-β1, along with routinely used laboratory tests, in the differential - diagnostic procedure of chronic hepatitis of infectious and noninfectious etiology.

Methods: A total of 150 subjects were divided into two groups, depending on the infectious or noninfectious etiology of liver damage, and the control group. Apart from standard laboratory tests, the analysis included serum levels of cytokines: IL-1α and TGF-β1.

Evaluation of portal vein thrombosis in liver graft ten years after liver transplantation due to budd-Chiari syndrome using Doppler ultrasound.

Budd-Chiari syndrome is a rare but life-threatening disorder characterized by obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow. Treatment depends on underlying cause, extent of the obstruction and functional capacity of the liver. When all other therapy options are unsuccessful, liver transplant should be considered.

The kinetics of virological and biochemical responses in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C by dual antiviral therapy.

Introduction: Infection with hepatitis C is often manifested by a mild clinical course, and in many patients it is revealed incidentally, during routine laboratory ests. Progression of the disease often takes 10-20 years with specified high risk of fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Material And Methods: The group of subjects with chronic liver disease of viral C etiology was consisted of 50 patients of both sexes, 38 (75%) were male and 13 (25%) females, aged 20-65 years.

Diagnosis and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B and C: doctrinary approach.

Association of Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists of Bosnia and Herzegovina based on the experiences of domestic and foreign centers operating in the field of hepatology and accepted guidelines of the European and the U.S. Association for Liver Diseases adopted the consensus for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B and C.

Correlation of pathohistotogical changes and serology parameters in chronic hepatitis C.

Introduction: Viral Hepatitis C, formerly known as non A-non B hepatitis, as a separate clinical entity described in 1975 is most often reported in patients who received blood transfusions, and also called it post transfusion hepatitis.

Aim Of The Study: Goal was to quantify the number of HCV RNA copies by PCR method, histologically determine the stage of fibrosis and degree of necroinflammatory activity in biopsies of liver parenchyma, and compare the histopathological changes with the number of the virus copies.

Material And Methods: The study was prospective and involved 50 patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C of viral etiology.

Importance of sideropenic anemia in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract tumors.

Introduction: Sideropenic anemia is a hypochromic, microcytic anemia caused by insufficient iron level in the body. This is the most common anemia. In a large percentage it is the symptom of gastrointestinal tract cancer.

The role of nitric oxide and ferritin in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease: a controlled clinical study.

The role of ferritin in fibrogenesis of liver parenchyma in patients with alcoholic liver disease has been investigated in previous studies. Ferritin was shown to be an indirect marker of ferum deposition in liver parenchyma in alcohol liver disease. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease as well as the influence of NO on iron (ferritin) metabolism in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

[Evaluation of hepatitis C virus genotype and its influence on therapeutical respond on combined therapy with pegilated interferon A 2a (40)kD and ribavirin].

The aim of our study was to determine the genotypes of viral hepatitis C. We examined 54 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were treated at Gastroenterohepatology Department University of Sarajevo. We also monitored effects of therapeutical results in same group of patients.

Tumor suppresser gene p53 expression in premalignant lesions and gastric carcinoma - prognostic value.

The aim of the study was to verify the presence of mutated tumor suppresser gene p53 in intestinal mucosa with histologically confirmed premalignant lesions and gastric carcinoma, and assess its prognostic value. The paper presents prospective study that included 50 patients with gastric adeno-carcinoma of intestinal type that were treated at Gastroenterohepatology Clinic, and 50 patients with histologically confirmed chronic atrophic H. pylori positive gastritis.

Incomplete intestinal metaplasia as an indicator for early detection of gastric carcinoma in the events of helicobacter pylori positive chronic atrophic gastritis.

The aim of the study was to ascertain the existence of intestinal metaplasia in gastric mucosa of patients with gastric carcinoma coupled with H. pylori positive chronic atrophic gastritis and possible connection of IM with the development of gastric carcinoma. The paper presents prospective study that included 50 patients with gastric carcinoma and 50 patients with chronic atrophic H.