Molecular Aspects of MAFLD-New Insights on Pathogenesis and Treatment.

Metabolic-associated liver disease (MAFLD) affects up to 70% of overweight and more than 90% of morbidly obese people, and its pathogenesis is rather complex and multifactorial. The criteria for MAFLD include the presence of hepatic steatosis in addition to one of the following three criteria: overweight or obesity, presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), or evidence of metabolic dysregulation. If the specific criteria are present, the diagnosis of MAFLD can be made regardless of alcohol consumption and previous liver disease.

The New Therapeutic Approaches in the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease which is characterized by extremely complex pathogenetic mechanisms and multifactorial etiology. Some of the many pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the development of NAFLD include oxidative stress, impaired mitochondrial metabolism, inflammation, gut microbiota, and interaction between the brain-liver-axis and the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism. The new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of NAFLD are targeting some of these milestones along the pathophysiological pathway and include drugs like agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, sodium/glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists, probiotics, and symbiotics.

Cognitive Changes and Brain Volume Reduction in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Studies of psychological condition of patients suffering from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are rather equivocal about the results: while some claim that NAFLD patients suffer from anxiety and depression more than non-NAFLD controls, others do not withstand those findings. Lower cognitive potentials have also been reported, both in patient related and in animal model-based investigations, and correlated with assessed brain tissue changes. We hypothesized that NAFLD, as a condition, affects the brain tissue and, subsequently, the cognitive state.

Comparison of RISK-PCI, GRACE, TIMI risk scores for prediction of major adverse cardiac events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Aim: To compare the prognostic performance of three major risk scoring systems including global registry for acute coronary events (GRACE), thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI), and prediction of 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (RISK-PCI).

Methods: This single-center retrospective study involved 200 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent invasive diagnostic approach, ie, coronary angiography and myocardial revascularization if appropriate, in the period from January 2014 to July 2014. The GRACE, TIMI, and RISK-PCI risk scores were compared for their predictive ability.

Benign Hydronephrosis and Elevated of Serum Levels of Carbohydrate Antigen CA 19-9: A Case Report.

Background: Carbohydrate tumor-associated antigen (CA 19-9) has been shown to be upregulated in other malignant tumors including gastric, ovarian, hepatocellular, and colorectal carcinoma as well as benign diseases of the biliary track such as pancreatitis, cholangitis, and choledocholithiasis. According to the available literature, in several cases of benign hydronephrosis and in a few cases of benign renal diseases, elevated CA 19-9 has been noted.

Case Report: A 58-year-old Caucasian male patient was admitted in our clinic with complaints about blunt abdominal pain in the past two-month period localized in the right lumbar region and irradiating into the right inguinal area, constipation, abdominal bloating, and intermittent hematuria.

Cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Aim: To investigate autonomic nervous function in patients with a diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: The investigation was performed on 29 patients (14 men), aged 18-80 years (51.14 ± 18.

Ultrasonography analysis of gallbladder motility in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Background: Gallbladder motility has been studied in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome and biliary disorders without gallstones and results of these observations are often inconclusive and conflicting.

Methods: The investigation was performed on 180 therapy-naïve newly diagnosed patients with functional dyspepsia (97 females and 83 males), aged 20-79 in which we have investigate ultrasonographically parameters of gallbladder motility.

Results: Bonferroni post hoc correction stressed that fasting gallbladder volume and ejection fraction were significantly distorted in individuals with postprandial distress syndrome, although, the residual gallbladder volume was significantly lower in patients with epigastric pain syndrome comparing with other examinees.

Celiac disease diagnosed after uncomplicated pregnancy in a patient with history of bulimia nervosa.

Introduction: The association between celiac disease and eating disorders has been very rarely reported. This is the first report on celiac disease associated with bulimia in this part of Europe.

Case Report: An adult female patient with history of bulimia and one uncomplicated pregnancy was admitted to the Gastroenterology Department, due to long lasting dyspeptic symptoms, constipation, major weight loss and fatigue.

Laboratory parameters and nutritional status in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Background: To investigate differences in laboratory markers, nutritional status parameters and eating patterns among newly diagnosed patients with functional dyspepsia.

Method: The investigation was performed on 180 newly diagnosed patients with functional dyspepsia, aged 20-79, which were referred to the gastroenterology unit of the Clinical and Hospital Center "Bezanijska Kosa" from April to October 2009. Rome II criteria were used for further classification.

Comparison of two nutritional assessment methods in gastroenterology patients.

Aim: To investigate and compare efficacy and differences in the nutritional status evaluation of gastroenterology patients by application of two methods: subjective global assessment (SGA) and nutritional risk index (NRI).

Methods: The investigation was performed on 299 hospitalized patients, aged 18-84 years (average life span 55.57 +/- 12.

Common variable immunodeficiency associated with inflammatory bowel disease and type I diabetes.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous group of primary immunodeficiency disorders characterized by defective antibody production, low levels of serum immunoglobulins and increased susceptibility to infection. The patient was a 39-year-old male who was admitted to the gastroenterology department with a two week history of diarrhea, blunt abdominal pain below the umbilicus, prolonged febrile state, loss of appetite and loss of body weight of 18 kg during the previous six months. Screening tests of serum immunoglobulins showed decreased concentrations of three types of immunoglobulins: IgA < 0.

Carcinosarcoma of the stomach: a case report and review of the literature.

Carcinosarcomas are rare, malignant, biphasic tumors. We report the case of a 62-year-old man with gastric carcinosarcoma, along with its clinical, macroscopic and histopathological features. Macroscopically, a specimen of deformed stomach was obtained that measured 200 mm x 150 mm x 100 mm.

Neuropsychiatric lupus favourable response to low dose i.v. cyclophosphamide and prednisolone (pilot study).

Sixty SLE patients with only primary neuropsychiatric manifestations (NP-SLE), (54 female and six male; mean age 44.5) were compared consecutively. Forty-six of the patients (78.