Potential associations between alterations in gut microbiome and obesity-related traits after the bariatric surgery.

Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of both obesity and bariatric surgery on gut microbiome, dietary intake, as well as metabolic and inflammatory parameters.

Methods: All participants (15 with morbid obesity who had bariatric surgery, 8 with morbid obesity and 11 non-obese) were followed up for a 6-month period with interviews at baseline (M0), at the end of 3 (M3) and 6 months (M6). Dietary assessment was done, and blood and faecal samples were collected.

A hand exercise mobile app for people with rheumatoid arthritis in Turkey: design, development and usability study.

To design and develop a smartphone application for a structured hand exercise programme for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Turkey and to test its usability. We followed a two-stage process: (1) Design and Development and (2) Usability testing. In stage 1, we used a qualitative user-centered design approach.

High discontinuation rate of azathioprine in autoimmune hepatitis, independent of time of treatment initiation.

Background: Guidelines regarding treatment for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) favour two strategies for azathioprine (AZA) introduction: concurrent with steroids at induction or delayed by 2-4 weeks. The safety and efficacy of both strategies have been unexplored.

Methods: We established a cohort of 900 AIH patients from 12 centres in 7 European countries.

Biomechanics in DALK: Big bubble vs manual lamellar dissection.

Purpose: The present study's aim was to compare the biomechanical properties of corneal tissue in patients who underwent deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) surgery, with successful big bubble formation and manual lamellar dissection, during failed big bubble formation.

Methods: This retrospective comparative study included 60 eyes from 60 keratoconus patients who previously underwent DALK surgery. These patients were categorized as big bubble (+) or big bubble (-) based on the success or failure of big bubble formation during the surgery.

Rapid Response to Treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis Associated With Remission at 6 and 12 Months.

Background & Aims: Changes in serum levels of transaminases immediately after initiation of treatment for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) might be associated with biochemical markers of remission and liver-related events. We assessed the outcomes of patients with vs without rapid response to treatment of AIH in a large international cohort.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study, collecting data from 2 independent cohorts of adults with AIH from 12 centers in 7 countries in Europe.

A comprehensive ultrasonographic investigation of the common flexor tendon and medial epicondyle in asymptomatic individuals.

Aim: To investigate the common flexor tendon (CFT) thickness and the frequency of ultrasound (US) pathological alterations in its structure in a healthy population and to evaluate if these findings can be correlated with dominant hand, age, gender, body mass index, workload, menopause status.

Material And Methods: The study population consisted of 111 healthy volunteers. Bilateral CFT thicknesses were measured at 5 mm, 10 mm and 15 mm distance to medial epicondyle.

Validation of Risk Scoring Systems in Ursodeoxycholic Acid-Treated Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

Introduction: Risk stratification based on biochemical variables is a useful tool for monitoring ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-treated patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Several UDCA response criteria and scoring systems have been proposed for risk prediction in PBC, but these have not been validated in large external cohorts.

Methods: We performed a study on data of 1746 UDCA-treated patients with PBC from 25 centers in Europe, United States, and Canada.

subspecies engineered to produce mycosporin-like amino acids in colorectal cancer prevention.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. The pathogensesis of colorectal cancer involves a multi-step and multi-factorial process. Disruption of the gut microbiota has been associated with gastrointestinal diseases such as colorectal cancer.

Eltrombopag For Immune Thrombocytopenic Children in a Single Region.

Child patients of chronic thrombocytopenic purpura with severe and resistant thrombocytopenia were evaluated to observe whether their clinical or laboratory states improve by one of the thrombomimetic therapeutic agent called Eltrombopag as in adults in a single center of different country from previous studies. Nineteen patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia were treated with Eltrombopag to dose in international guidelines. Approximately half (11/19:58%) of the patients benefitted from the treatment with Eltrombopag either by an increase of platelet levels at safe levels with a decrease in the frequency of bleedings which needed rescue treatment.

Is inhaled glucocorticoids the only culprit in angina bullosa hemorrhagica?

Angina bullosa hemorrhagica (ABH) is an infrequent dermatosis characterized by acute onset of hemorrhagic bulla in the oral cavity. Clinical presentation of ABH may be quite worrisome, and clinicians often feel skeptical regarding their clinical diagnosis and lack confidence in managing this distinct entity. Indeed, ABH is a completely benign and self-limited disorder.

Retrospective analysis of cases with an ectopic opening of the common bile duct into duodenal bulb.

Background: Ectopic opening of the common bile duct (EOCBD) is a very rare entity. It has been reported in the 3rd or 4th portion of the duodenum, pyloric canal, duodenal bulb, and the stomach.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, laboratory values and imaging studies of patients with EOCBD into the duodenal bulb retrospectively.

Dermoscopy as a first step in the diagnosis of onychomycosis.

Introduction: Over the years, clinical studies have provided new knowledge about the dermoscopic features of the diseases of cutaneous annexes. It seems that dermoscopy has opened a new morphological dimension in the diagnosis and management of hair disorders and onychopathies.

Aim: To identify and describe dermoscopic features of onychomycosis.

Ivabradine is an effective antiarrhythmic therapy for congenital junctional ectopic tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy during infancy: Case studies.

Junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) is a rare form of arrhythmia that is most commonly seen during infancy. JET is continuous and incessant, characterized by persistently high heart rates that may result in impaired cardiac function and tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. Despite the availability of multiple antiarrhythmic treatments, including flecainide and amiodarone, management of JET is generally very difficult.

Tacrolimus and Mycophenolate Mofetil as Second-Line Therapies for Pediatric Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Background: We studied the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus as second-line therapy in pediatric patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) who were intolerant or non-responders to standard therapy (corticosteroid and azathioprine).

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective study of data from 13 centers in Europe, USA, and Canada. Thirty-eight patients (< 18 years old) who received second-line therapy (18 MMF and 20 tacrolimus), for a median of 72 months (range 8-182) were evaluated.

Treatment Response and Outcome with Two Different Prednisolone Regimens in Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Background: Beyond available guidelines, therapy of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) shows wide variation among physicians. We compared two regimens for treatment naive AIH: one recommended protocol with an initial prednisolone dose of 30 mg/day and our own 40 mg/day prednisolone with a slow dose tapering protocol. We analyzed the safety, response rates, and outcomes for two groups of treated patients.

Colistin nephrotoxicity in the ICU: Is it different in the geriatric patients?

Objective: Most significant side effect of colistin therapy which is used for the treatment of multi-drug resistant Gram-negative infections is nephrotoxicity. Our aim was to investigate the differences of colistin nephrotoxicity between the geriatric age group (≥65 years) and the younger age group (<65 years) in critically ill medical intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Material And Method: The medical records of the 76 patients who were taken colistin therapy due to multi-resistant Gram-negative infections between January 2010 and June 2014 in the our medical ICU were retrospectively investigated.

Efficacy and Safety of Mycophenolate Mofetil and Tacrolimus as Second-line Therapy for Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Background & Aims: Predniso(lo)ne, alone or in combination with azathioprine, is the standard-of-care (SOC) therapy for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). However, the SOC therapy is poorly tolerated or does not control disease activity in up to 20% of patients. We assessed the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus as second-line therapy for patients with AIH.

The role of inflammatory biomarkers in CHD-associated pulmonary hypertension in children.

Objective: The present study aims to identify the role of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and fractalkine in CHD-associated pulmonary hypertension in children.

Methods: This is a prospective review of 37 children with CHD-related pulmonary hypertension, 21 children with congenital heart defects, and 22 healthy children.

Results: Serum C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels were significantly higher in the children with CHD-related pulmonary hypertension (respectively, p=0.

A study of dermoscopic features of nail psoriasis.

Introduction: Dermoscopy is a non-invasive imaging method that enables the evaluation of pigmented and non-pigmented skin lesions. More recently, dermoscopy has been recognized as an effective tool in the diagnosis of nail diseases.

Aim: To evaluate the dermoscopic features of nail psoriasis and to assess the relationship between these features and disease severity.

Efficacy of Liposuction as a Delay Method for Improving Flap Survival.

Background: Flaps are often used in repairing tissue defects and partial or full flap loss is still an important morbidity cause. Several techniques have been tried to increase flap circulation but none of these could replace the delay technique. Our goal in this study is to show the efficacy of liposuction in delay of dorsal rat cutaneous flaps and improvement in flap survival.