Being a Female Gastroenterologist in Turkey.

Background/aims: Our aim is to examine the representation of woman gastroenterologists in both work and social life in Turkey and to elucidate the difficulties they encounter during their career pathways or while actively practicing their profession.

Materials And Methods: A self-structured survey consisting of 25 questions was sent via email to all 152 female gastroenterologists. Survey results were received from 140 participants.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas: a case series of 9 patients.

Background/aims: Solid pseudopapillary tumor is a rare exocrine tumor of the pancreas. There is no clear consensus on its etiology, origin and treatment. In this study, the clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical features of nine patients with solid pseudopapillary tumor were re-evaluated in view of the current literature findings.

AST-platelet ratio index in the prediction of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background/aims: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of AST-platelet ratio index in the prediction of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients by comparison with liver biopsy.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our computerized data of chronic hepatitis B patients who attended the Gastroenterology Clinic from 2004-2009. Treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B patients who had undergone liver biopsy were included in this study.

Application of levofloxacine in the second phase of sequential therapy regimen for Helicobacter pylori eradication: is it a good choice?

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether modified sequential therapy regimen that consists of an initial phase, including a PPI plus amoxicillin for 5 days followed by a PPI plus only levofloxacin instead of 2 antibiotics for the remaining 5 days increase the eradication rate via decreasing the number and doses of antibiotics, and increasing patient compliance.

Methods: This study included 40 patients who were admitted to Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic with H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia.

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.