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Object: To prepare a national guideline for Otorhinolaryngologist who treat allergic rhinitis patients. Methods: The study was conducted by three authors, namely the writing support team. The support team made the study plan, determined the writing instructions, chose the subgroups including the advisory committee, the advisors for authors and the authors. A workshop was organized at the very beginning to explain the details of the study to the team. Advisors took the chance to meet their coworkers in their subgroups and determined the main headings and subheadings of the guideline, together with the authors. After key words were determined by the authors, literature search was done in various databases. The authors keep in touch with the advisors and the advisors with the advisory committee and the support group at every stage of the study. National and International published articles as well as the abstracts of unpublished studies, imperatively presented in National Congresses, were included in this guideline. Only Guideline and meta-analyses published in last seven years (2013-2017) and randomized controlled studies published in last two years (2015-2017) were included. After all work was completed by the subgroups, support team brought all work together and edited the article. Results: A detailed guideline about all aspects of allergic rhinitis was created. Conclusion: The authors believe that this guideline will enable a compact and up-to-date information on allergic rhinitis to healthcare professionals. This guideline is the first in the field of Otolaryngology in Turkey. It should be updated at regular intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Roasted and spicy food (mainly hot pepper) consumption is very common in Southeastern Anatolia. Smoked and spicy diets and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection are known risk factors for gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of eating habits on the gastric mucosa, to investigate the rate of H. pylori positivity, and to examine the association of these factors with histopathological features in this region. Methods: Histopathological findings in endoscopic biopsies of 943 consecutive patients were retrospectively evaluated. Results: More than half of the patients were female (54%; n=505), and the median age was 47±17.27 (range: 18-96). The most common non-gastritis histopathologic diagnosis was gastric carcinoma (2.5%; n=24), followed by polypoid lesions (1.6%; n=16). The vast majority of patients (92%) had chronic gastritis, and neutrophilic activity was present in 61% (n=537). The frequencies of atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and regenerative mucosal changes were significantly correlated with the severity of neutrophilic activity (p<0.05). Patients with atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were significantly older than those without atrophy and intestinal metaplasia (p<0.001; mean age: 47 and 46 vs 56 and 55, respectively). More than 50% were infected with H. pylori (57%; n=542), and H. pylori positivity was associated with the presence of chronic and chronic active gastritis, as well as lymphoid hyperplasia (p<0.001). In contrast, erosion, atrophy, and neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia were less common in patients with H. pylori gastritis (p<0.05). Conclusion: H. pylori infection and spicy food consumption are key risk factors for gastritis in Southeastern Anatolia. Prospective epidemiological studies are needed to better demonstrate the causal interaction between dietary factors and gastritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]