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Background It is known that clarithromycin resistance has increased over the years (success rate 60%). The aim of the study was to investigate the importance of regional antimicrobial resistance rates for full accuracy of both diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods This study was carried out in the University Hospital Department of Gastroenterology. A total of 116 patients were evaluated with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Gastric antrum and corpus biopsy samples were taken for the rapid urease test (RUT), culture, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing for the presence of H. pylori. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of isolated H. pylori strains for clarithromycin and levofloxacin were determined by the epsilometer test (E-test). Minimal inhibitory concentration values for clarithromycin and levofloxacin were ≥1 and >1 μg/mL, respectively. Results H. pylori infection was considered clinically positive in 93 (80.2%) patients with either the RUT, culture, or histopathological examination. Seventy (60.3%) of the patients had RUT positivity. Sixty (85.7%) of these 70 patients had RUT positivity within the first 20 min. Among the 90 patients, who had a histopathological examination, HLO was positive in 76 (84.4%) patients. Fifty-two (44.8%) out of 116 patients were culture positive. Resistance rates for both clarithromycin and levofloxacin were high. In these 52 culture-positive patients, resistance rates determined for clarithromycin and levofloxacin were 26.9% and 25.5%, respectively. Conclusion Clarithromycin or levofloxacin-based treatment regimen may not be an ideal alternative therapy for Turkish patients regardless of culture.

Introduction: The best approach for Helicobacter pylori management re-mains unclear. An audit process is essential to ensure clinical practice is aligned with best standards of care.Aims & Methods: International multicentre prospective non-intervention-al registry starting in 2013 aimed to evaluate the decisions and outcomes in H. pylori management by European gastroenterologists. Patients were registered in an e-CRF by AEG-REDCap up to February 2021. Variables in-cluded: demographics, previous eradication attempts, prescribed treat-ment, adverse events, and outcomes. Modified intention-to-treat (mITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were performed and data were subject to quality review to ensure information reliability.Results: In total 41, 562 patients from 31 European countries were evaluat-ed and 29, 634 (70%) first-line empirical H. pylori treatments were included for analysis. Triple therapy with amoxicillin and clarithromycin was most commonly prescribed (39%), followed by non-bismuth concomitant treat-ment (18%) and bismuth quadruple (three-in-one single capsule) (12%), achieving 84%, 90% and 94% mITT eradication rate, respectively. Over 90% effectiveness was obtained only with 10 and 14-day bismuth quadru- ple or with 14-day concomitant treatment (Table). Longer treatment dura-tion, higher acid inhibition and compliance were associated with higher eradication rates. Conclusion: Management of H. pylori infection by European gastroenter-ologists is heterogeneous. Only quadruple therapies lasting at least ten days are able to achieve over 90% eradication rates.

WOS: 000216170900006, PubMed ID: 26516382, Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) occurs throughout the world and causes gastroduodenal diseases. There is data indicating a change in the prevalence of H. pylori infection worldwide. The prevalence of H. pylori is 80% in Turkey, while it is higher in many developing countries, and the rate of infection varies throughout the world. In many developing countries, the prevalence of infection exceeds 90% by adulthood. Aim: To determine the change in the rate of H. pylori infection in gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers for a 10-year period in a single centre. Material and methods: The study population included 550 patients (342 in 2004, 208 in 1994) with gastric and duodenal ulcers. Results: In 2004 there were 125 (36.5%) patients with gastric ulcer and 217 patients with duodenal ulcer (64.5%). CLO test positivity was 39.2% in patients with gastric ulcers and 60% in patients with duodenal ulcers. In 1994 there were 208 patients (159 duodenal ulcers, 49 gastric ulcers). Urease test was positive in 74.2% of patients with duodenal ulcer and in 65.2% of patients with gastric ulcer. The decrease in the rate of urease positivity in patients with gastric ulcer was statistically significant (p = 0.01) during this 10-year period. Conclusions: In the present study we found that the urease positivity decreased significantly in patients with gastric ulcer between 1994 and 2004.

Background: The purpose of the study was to evaluate some of the hormones in patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Methods: The men patients with chronic hepatitis B (Group 1), liver cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis B (Group 2), were included in this study. Additionally, a control group of healthy volunteers (Group 3) was formed. We investigated serum levels of Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Total testosterone (T. TES), Free-testosterone (F. TES), Estradiol (E2), Androstenedione (ANDR), Dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Progesterone (PPOGES), Prolactin (PRL), Sex hormone binding protein (SHGB) were measured by radioimmunoassay and chemiluminescent immunoassay methods. Result: A total of 73 patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis were included in the study. Patients were grouped as cirrhosis (n = 28), chronic hepatitis B (n = 41) according to the type of their chronic liver disease. Serum F.TEST level in patient groups (group 1, group 2) was found to be lower than control group (P = 0.045, P = 0.047). Serum LH value was found to be higher in patient group (group 2) than control group (P = 0.048). Serum estradiol was higher in the group 2 compared to the control group (P = 0.046). Conclusions: The described disturbances of some of the observed hormones (LH, E2, F. TES) are complex, particularly in their relationship by which the clinical picture of the hepatitis B related cirrhotic patients and chronic liver disease can be explained. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/gr532w

Background: It has been shown that standard endoscopic features often labeled as gastritis has a poor correlation with histopathology. Recently, high resolution magnifying endoscopy has been reported to be an effective method to diagnose gastritis. The aim of the present study was to compare standard endoscopy with magnifying endoscopy for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori gastritis, and to determine whether gastritis can be diagnosed based on findings at magnification endoscopy. Materials and Methods: A total of 129 patients were enrolled into the study. Erythema, erosions, prominent area gastrica, nodularity, and regular arrangement of collecting venules (RAC) were investigated by standard endoscopy. Standard endoscopy was followed by magnifying endoscopy in all patients, and repeated in 55 patients after indigo carmine spraying. Results: None of the standard endoscopic features showed a sensitivity of more than 70% for H. pylori gastritis, except RAC pattern analysis. Absence of a corporal RAC pattern had 85.7% sensitivity and 82.8% specificity for predicting H. pylori infection. Under magnification, the sensitivity and specificity of regular corporal pattern (regular collecting and capillary vascular structures with gastric pits resembling pinholes) for predicting normal histology were 90.3% and 93.9%, respectively. Loss of collecting venules, or both collecting and capillary structures was correlated with chronic inflammation and activity. With the progression of mucosal atrophy, irregular collecting venules became visible. The values for irregularly arranged antral ridge pattern for the prediction of antral gastritis were 89.3% and 65.2%, respectively. Indigo carmine staining increased sensitivity and specificity up to 97.6% and 100% for corporal gastritis, and up to 88.4% and 75.0% for antral gastritis, respectively. Indigo carmine staining significantly increases the detection of intestinal metaplasia. Conclusions: High resolution magnifying is superior to standard endoscopy for the diagnosis of H. pylori gastritis, and identification of specific histopathologic features such as atrophy and intestinal metaplasia seems possible.

Aim: In developed countries, there has been a recent increase in the prevalence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and cardia, along with a decrease in distal gastric cancers. Little is known regarding the prevalence of these diseases in developing countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in the prevalence of gastric adenocarcinomas in Turkey as a function of anatomic location. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from 16 centers from January 1990 to December 2000. Owing to the exclusion criteria, a total of 4065 cases of tumors of the stomach and distal esophagus were included. Tumors localized to the body, the antrum and pyloric channel were considered distal cancers. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was also detected. Results: Patients' mean age was 60.7 ± 9 years, with a male : female ratio of 68:32. The ratio of distal/proximal adenocarcinoma was 2:1 for the western part of Turkey and 3:8 for the eastern part of the country (P

In recent years, the focus of Helicobacter pylori clinical research has been mainly on gastric malignancy. However, the role of H. pylori in non-malignant diseases, such as peptic ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and non-ulcer dyspepsia, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption, is still of great interest. A 1- to 2-week course of H. pylori eradication therapy is an effective treatment for H. pylori-positive peptic ulcer disease and a positive CagA status is a predictor for successful eradication of H. pylori. Antral prostaglandin-E2-basal levels appear to be critical for the development of aspirin-induced gastric damage in subjects without H. pylori infection. In clinical practice, among patients treated with proton-pump inhibitors, H. pylori status has no effect on the speed or degree of GERD symptom relief. For the management of dyspepsia in primary care, antisecretory therapy confers a small insignificant benefit compared to strategies based on H. pylori testing while these latter strategies may be cost-effective. H. pylori eradication therapy has a small but statistically significant effect on H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia. An economic model suggests that this modest benefit may still be cost-effective but more research is needed.

Background. In this study, we have aimed to show the possible relation between atrophic gastritis and premature atherosclerosis via hyperhomocysteinemia. Materials and Methods. Thirty-four patients with atrophic gastritis were enrolled to the study. The control group consisted of 35 patients with non-atrophic gastritis. Classical cardiovascular disease risk factors did not significantly differ between atrophic gastritis and control subjects. The presence and degree of atrophic gastritis were assessed histologically and Helicobacter pylori infection was determined by both histologic and serologic methods. Body mass index was measured by standard technique blood fasting glucose, serum creatinine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels were measured by biochemical methods. Carotid intima-media thickness was measured by B-mode ultrasonography to examine the premature atherosclerosis. Results. Plasma vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower (p = .00) and homocysteine levels were significantly higher (p = .01) in the atrophic gastritis group. There was no statistically significant difference in plasma folic acid levels between the two groups (p = .728). Carotid intima-media thickness was higher in the atrophic gastritis group than in the control group (0.516 mm versus 0.465 mm), but this difference did not show any statistical significance (p = .062). Conclusion. Our results showed that atrophic gastritis may cause hyperhomocysteinemia, which is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. However, when compared with controls, carotid intima-media thickness of the atrophic gastritis patients was found to be higher but did not reach statistically significant levels.

We aimed to determine the sexual problems and the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with chronic liver disease by means of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). A total of 81 patients with stable chronic liver disease were included in the study. Patients were grouped as mild to moderate (Child Pugh A and B) (n=10), chronic hepatitis (hepatitis B, C and D) (n=28) and carriers (n=43) according to the type of their chronic liver disease. All patients were asked to complete a questionnaire including IIEF and demographics. The IIEF domain scores were calculated and ED grading was determined on erectile function domain. IIEF domain scores were compared between these groups. The mean age was 54.8 +/- 10.8 y. Using the IIEF, the prevalence of any ED was 50.6% for all patients, and 50, 50, and 51.1% for cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis and carriers, respectively. The IIEF domain scores were not significantly different among the patient groups. Sexual functions did not appear to be affected by the stable chronic liver disease.

Background and Aims: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use has been closely associated with an increased risk of bleeding peptic ulcers, while the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection has been reported to be lower in bleeding ulcers than in non-bleeding ones. However, whether an interaction exists between NSAID use and H. pylori infection has not clearly been elucidated yet. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of NSAID use and H. pylori infection, to predict risk factors in bleeding peptic ulcers and to determine whether NSAID use and H. pylori infection interact with each other. Methods: Ninety-six patients with bleeding ulcer were included in the study. The control group consisted of 106 patients with non-bleeding ulcer. Data were analyzed by using the chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test and logistic regression analysis with or without interaction term (H. pylori by NSAID). Results: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use was significantly more common in patients with bleeding ulcers than in controls (79.2 vs 38.7%, unadjusted odds ratio (OR): 6.02, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.21–11.29). The frequency of the H. pylori infection was significantly lower in patients with bleeding ulcers than in controls (66.7 vs 89.6%, unadjusted OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.10–0.49). In the logistic regression analysis with the interaction term, male sex (adjusted OR: 3.70, 95% CI: 1.65–8.29), multiplicity of ulcers (adjusted OR: 4.10, 95% CI: 1.02–16.45) and NSAID use (adjusted OR: 33.87, 95% CI: 4.36–262.97) were independent risk factors for bleeding ulcers. There was a negative interaction between H. pylori and NSAID use (adjusted OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01–0.83). Conclusions: The negative interaction between the two variables suggests that the presence of H. pylori is associated with a lower risk of bleeding in ulcer patients taking NSAIDs. © 2003 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd