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Aims: To evaluate patient profile for epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics and potential risk/prognostic factors in newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients across Turkey. Methods: A total of 547 patients (mean (SD) age 62.6 (10.3) years, 81.9% were males) were included in this registry study. Data on patient characteristics, etiologies of HCC, laboratory values, and tumor characteristics and stages were recorded at study enrollment. Results: HBV infection (68.2%) was the leading etiology, followed by HCV infection (17.2%), HDV infection (5.5%), alcohol (6.4%), and NAFLD (3.5%), as the major etiologies. Considering that 51.6% of the patients had >5 cm HCC, 44% were Child-Pugh B/C and 57% were BCLC B-D, it appears that a significant group of HCC patients were diagnosed at advanced stages. Of 540 patients, 271 (50.2%) were referred or applied with the diagnosis of HCC. Patients with HCC at presentation had larger tumor size (median (min-max) 6.6 (0-30) vs. 4.8 (0-90) cm, P, Bayer Turk, This study was supported by Bayer Turk. We thank Cagla Ayhan, MD and Sule Oktay, MD, PhD, from KAPPA Consultancy Training Research Ltd., Istanbul, who provided editorial support funded by Bayer Turk.

Background/aims Using proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) is a protective option for patients who require long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antiaggregants. In our previous study, the rate of PPI use in prophylaxis was found to be 2%. Here we aimed to investigate whether there is a change in PPI use in prophylaxis in a similar patient group after 10 years. Materials and methods The patients who followed up with upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding diagnosis between January 01, 2016 and December 31, 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients who had malignancy or variceal hemorrhage were excluded. Ninety-six patients, who had taken NSAIDs, antiaggregants, or anticoagulants that were considered as the possible cause of bleeding, were included in the study. Risk groups for NSAID GI toxicity and PPI use rates in these patients were evaluated. Results Twenty (21%) of all patients with upper GI bleeding were using PPI. According to the pre-bleeding risk factor assessment, 86% of the patients were found to have moderate to high risk for NSAID-related GI bleeding, and 81% of these patients were not using PPI. PPI prophylaxis was not provided to 15 (75%) of the 20 patients with previous history of peptic ulcer bleeding. Conclusion Despite many studies and recommendations on risk factors and prophylaxis for NSAID-related bleeding, prophylactic PPI use is still largely ignored by physicians. The rate of PPI use in the patient group of this study was found still quite insufficient.

Objective: Successful treatment is possible with novel direct-acting oral antiviral agents in solid organ transplant patients with hepatitis C. In this study, the effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir ± ribavirin treatment in liver and/or renal transplant patients with chronic hepatitis C were evaluated. Materials and methods: A total of 23 liver and/or renal transplant patients who received sofosbuvir/ledipasvir ± ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C over 12 or 24 weeks were enrolled in the study. The treatment response, clinical and laboratory adverse effects, and effect on immunosuppressive drug levels were assessed. Results: A total of 12 patients had undergone renal transplantation and 11 had undergone liver transplantation. All of the renal transplant patients and 91% of liver transplant patients had genotype 1. In total, 10 renal transplant patients and 4 liver transplant patients had treatment experience. Two renal transplant patients and one liver transplant patient had compensated cirrhosis. Nine renal transplant patients were on tacrolimus, and two were on cyclosporine; all of the liver transplant patients were on tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive therapy. While hepatitis C RNA was negative in 75% of renal transplant patients and 91% of liver transplant patients at week 4, it was negative in all of the patients at the end of treatment and 12 weeks after treatment. Significantly reduced hemoglobin levels were observed in patients administered ribavirin during treatment (p = 0.01). There were no significant differences between the baseline and treatment period values of mean creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, bilirubin, and tacrolimus levels. There were no adverse effects leading to treatment discontinuation. Conclusion: Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir ± ribavirin is quite safe and effective in hepatitis C treatment after liver and/or renal transplantation.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess clinical outcomes of endoscopic bougie dilation of esophageal strictures after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, and to assess the risk factors which affect the treatment success. Thirty-one patients with esophageal stricture due to radiation therapy were treated with endoscopic bougie dilation. The following parameters were evaluated; age, gender, primary site of the tumor, initial treatment of the tumor, prescribed dose of radiation, the time to onset of esophageal stricture after radiation therapy, grade of esophageal stricture according to clinical and endoscopic findings, number of dilatations, recurrence of esophageal stricture, and the result of the therapy. The average follow-up was 26 months with a range of 1–84 months. Successful endoscopic bougie dilation was achieved in 26 of 31 patients. The median time to onset of esophageal stricture after radiation therapy was significantly shorter in patients who did not respond to endoscopic bougie dilation. Endoscopic bougie dilation is a safe and effective procedure for the management of radiatio- induced esophageal stricture. Time to onset of esophageal stricture is the most important factor for the treatment success. In addition, the total prescribed dosage of radiation has minimal effects on the result of endoscopic bougie dilation.

In this study, our objective was to define the usefulness of technetium-99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxime (Tc-99m HMPAO)-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy at three different time points in the assessment of disease extension and severity in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC).Twenty-one consecutive patients (10 women, 11 men; mean age 42.4 +/- 12 years) with active UC were prospectively studied. All patients were diagnosed by colonoscopy and histopathology prior to inclusion. Scintigraphy was performed at 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h after Tc-99m HMPAO-labeled leukocyte injection. Clinic-biochemical activity score, total colonoscopic activity score, and total scintigraphic activity score at 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h were calculated for each patient.Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values of Tc-99m HMPAO-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy were calculated as follows, respectively: 1 h imaging 86%, 73%, and 83%; 2 h imaging 89%, 74%, and 86%; 4 h imaging 90%, 58%, and 83% in the detection of active inflammatory segments. Even though no statistically significant difference was found between 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h imaging with respect to the sensitivity, specificity of labeled leukocyte scintigraphy, the largest area under the curve value was found for 2 h imaging.Tc-99m HMPAO-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy has been found to be correlated well with colonoscopy in the assessment of both the extension and severity of UC. We recommend 2 h scintigraphic imaging because it provides the largest area under the curve value and decreases the number of false-positive results.

Ziel: Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, unsere Erfahrungen in der chirurgischen Therapie stromaler Tumoren des Magens vorzustellen. Material und Methoden: Diese retrospektive Studie evaluiert die klinisch

Hepatopulmonary syndrome has yet not been sufficiently assessed in noncirrhotic portal hypertension. The prevalence of hepatopulmonary syndrome was determined in 31 consecutive patients with noncirrhotic portal hypertension (19 idiopathic portal hypertension, 7 portal vein thrombosis, 5 congenital hepatic fibrosis) and 46 patients with liver cirrhosis. Contrast echocardiography was carried out in all patients. Macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scans were performed in patients with positive contrast echocardiogram. Hepatopulmonary syndrome was detected in 5 (10.8%) cirrhotic and 3 (9.7%) noncirrhotic portal hypertensive patients (2 idiopathic portal hypertension, 1 portal vein thrombosis). All patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome had an increased shunt fraction (13-62%) and a decreased diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (40-79%), and 7 of them were hypoxemic (PaO2, 31.6-69.8 mm Hg). These findings show that hepatopulmonary syndrome may occur in both liver cirrhosis and noncirrhotic portal hypertension and that portal hypertension is the predominant etiopathogenic factor related to hepatopulmonary syndrome.

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on acute nonvaricose upper gastrointestinal bleeding (ANUGIB) and establish whether the NSAID-prescribing physicians take precautions to prevent or reduce GI ulcerations. Clinical characteristics, causes of bleeding and clinical outcomes of patients hospitalised in our gastroenterology clinic with ANUGIB were recorded prospectively over a 1.5-year period. NSAIDs, including aspirin, were used by 127 of 168 patients (73%). Among the NSAID users, 100 patients (78%) had at least one risk factor for serious adverse GI events related to NSAIDs. Only two patients were using proton pump inhibitors and one patient was using H2 receptor blocker of the high-risk group for GI side effects of NSAIDs. NSAIDs have an important effect on GI bleeding, and it seems that risk factors are underestimated by physicians.

WOS: 000326481900003, PubMed ID: 24254262, Background/aims: Proton-pump inhibitor- and ranitidine bismuth citrate-based triple regimens are the two recommended first-line treatments for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. We aimed to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of these two treatments in a prospective, multi-centric, randomized study. Materials and Methods: Patients with dyspeptic complaints were recruited from 15 study centers. Presence of Helicobacter pylori was investigated by both histology and rapid urease test. The patients were randomized to either ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg bid plus amoxicillin 1 g bid plus clarithromycin 500 mg bid (n=149) or lansoprazole 30 mg bid plus amoxicillin 1 g bid plus clarithromycin 500 mg bid (n=130) treatment arm for 14 days. Adverse events have been recorded during the treatment phase. A C-13 urea breath test was performed 6 weeks after termination of treatment to assess the efficacy of the therapy. Eradication rate was calculated by intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. Results: Two hundred seventy-nine patients (123 male, 156 female) were eligible for randomization. In per-protocol analysis (n=247), Helicobacter pylori was eradicated with ranitidine bismuth citrate- and lansoprazole-based regimens in 74,6% and 69,2% of cases, respectively (p>0,05). Intention-to-treat analysis (n=279) revealed that eradication rates were 65,1% and 63,6% in ranitidine bismuth citrate- and in lansoprazole-based regimens, respectively (p>0,05). Both regimes were well-tolerated, and no serious adverse event was observed during the study. Conclusion: Ranitidine bismuth citrate-based regimen is at least as effective and tolerable as the classical proton-pump inhibitor-based regimen, but none of the therapies could achieve the recommendable eradication rate.

The goal of this study is to identify invariable risk factors predicting the morbidity and mortality of a serious complication of peptic ulcer perforation (PUP). One hundred fifty-four patients were operated for PUP. We selected 147 patients who underwent primary repair and omentoplasty for PUP. The Boey score used to determine the high mortality risk after open surgery for PUP. The mortality rates were 0%, 12%, 32%, and 63% in the patients who had zero, one, two, and three factors, respectively (P0.001). Total postoperative mortality was 13.6% (20/147). Complications occurred in 48 (32.7%) of a total of 147 patients. Age, pulse rate at admission, and creatinine levels can be independent factors associated with prognosis in PUP.

In this study, central and nonsplanchnic hemodynamic alterations in liver cirrhosis and correlation between Child-Pugh Score and these hemodynamic alterations were evaluated.With this aim, angiotensin-I, aldosterone, femoral blood flow, cardiac index, free water clearance and renal blood flow index were evaluated in 30 cirrhotic patients and 10 healthy control subjects.Child-Pugh score was found to be directly related with serum levels of angiotensin-I and aldosterone, cardiac and renal blood flow index (r = 0.60 - p0.001, r = 0.57 - p0.01, r = 0.55 - p0.01 and r = 0.65 - p0.001 respectively), and indirectly related with free water clearance and femoral blood flow (r = 0 .72 -p0 .001, r = 0.71 -p0 .001 respectively).We concluded that, in patients with cirrhosis, as the Child-Pugh score becomes greater angiotensin-I and aldosterone, cardiac output and non-splanchnic vasoconstriction progressively increase, on the other hand free water clearance and renal perfusion progressively decrease. Alterations in cardiac index and femoral artery blood flow begin before ascites formation. And the hyperdynamic circulation is a primary event independent of the central blood volume.

One of the most commonly performed outpatient procedure is colonoscopy. The pain and anxiety is frequently associated with colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of remifentanil/midazolam, and tramadol/midazolam for iv sedation and analgesia during colonoscopy. Twentysix patients (age range 18-65 years) scheduled for ambulatory colonoscopy were included to study. All patients received midazolam 1 mg intravenous. After two minutes in Group R (remifentanil/midazolam, n=18) remifentanil bolus (10 microg) and infusion 0.03 microg kg(-1) min(-1) were administered until adequate sedation level was achieved. In Group T (tramadol/midazolam, n=18) iv tramadol 50 mg was given concurrently. During procedure 2 L/min oxygen was supplemented via face mask to all patients. Haemodynamic variables, respiratory depression, level of sedation, postoperative recovery, patient and gastroenterologist satisfaction were surveyed. Patients were asked to verbally rate their level of pain, on an 10-point numerical rating scale (1=no pain, 10=severe pain). Chi-square, student t test, and mann whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Colonoscopy was carried out successfully in all patients. There were no episodes of desaturation or airway compromise. Haemodynamic parameters were similar in both groups. Sistolic arterial and diastolic arterial pressures were increased at 10 and 15 minutes in all patients (P0.05). There were no significant changes in heart rate in both groups. The level of sedation in group R was higher than group T during colonoscopy. The patients in group T had higher pain scores. Gastroenterologist satisfaction and patient satisfaction were similar in both groups. Our results suggests that, sedoanalgesia with midazolam/remifentanil may be an alternative to sedoanalgesia with midazolam/tramadol for colonoscopy.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome has yet not been sufficiently assessed in noncirrhotic portal hypertension. The prevalence of hepatopulmonary syndrome was determined in 31 consecutive patients with noncirrhotic portal hypertension (19 idiopathic portal hypertension, 7 portal vein thrombosis, 5 congenital hepatic fibrosis) and 46 patients with liver cirrhosis. Contrast echocardiography was carried out in all patients. Macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scans were performed in patients with positive contrast echocardiogram. Hepatopulmonary syndrome was detected in 5 (10.8%) cirrhotic and 3 (9.7%) noncirrhotic portal hypertensive patients (2 idiopathic portal hypertension, 1 portal vein thrombosis). All patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome had an increased shunt fraction (13-62%) and a decreased diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (40-79%), and 7 of them were hypoxemic (PaO2, 31.6-69.8 mm Hg). These findings show that hepatopulmonary syndrome may occur in both liver cirrhosis and noncirrhotic portal hypertension and that portal hypertension is the predominant etiopathogenic factor related to hepatopulmonary syndrome.

Intestinal bacterial overgrowth in liver cirrhosis: is it a predisposing factor for spontaneous ascitic infection?

Objective To evaluate the clinical presentation, biochemical (ascites and serum) and laparoscopic findings, and to assess the efficacy of triple antituberculous therapy without rifampicin for 6 months in patients with tuberculous peritonitis. Methods Twenty-six tuberculous peritonitis patients (11 male, 15 female) with a mean age of 34.8 +/- 3.4 years (range 14-77) were assessed with regard to diagnostic and therapeutic features. Results The most common symptoms and signs were abdominal pain (92.3%) and ascites (96.2%), respectively. Tuberculin skin test (TST) was positive in all patients. An abnormal chest radiography suggestive of previous tuberculosis was present in five patients (19.2%), and two patients (7.7%) had extra-peritoneal (cerebral, pericardial) active tuberculous involvement. In 24 of the 25 patients who underwent laparoscopy with directed biopsy, whitish nodules suggested tuberculous peritonitis; 76% of the biopsy specimens revealed caseating, 20% non-caseating granulomatous inflammation, and 4% non-specific findings. The ascitic fluid of one patient (3.8%) was positive for acid-resistant bacilli, and culture was positive in two patients (7.7%). Twenty-four of the patients were treated for 6 months with isoniazid, streptomycin (total dose 40 g) and pyrazinamide (for the first 2 months and then substituted with ethambutol). Eighteen patients also received methyl prednisolone, initially 20 mg/day, for 1 month. The follow-up period was 19 +/- 1.7 months after the end of therapy (range 6-36). Ascites and abdominal pain abated earlier in patients on steroid therapy. All but two of the 24 patients responded to treatment. Conclusion Non-invasive tests such as acid-fast stain and culture of the ascitic fluid are usually insufficient, hence invasive laparoscopy and peritoneal biopsy are necessary for the diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis if non-invasive tests such as ascites adenosine deaminase activity measurement are not easily available. Triple therapy without rifampicin for 6 months is sufficient to treat tuberculous peritonitis.

The prevalence of anti-HCV among patients on hemodialysis is consistently higher than in the general population, indicating that patients on hemodialysis programs are at risk of acquiring HCV infection. The response to interferon alpha 2b (IFN -α 2b) therapy in chronic C hepatitis depends on viral and host factors. We treated 22 chronic C hepatitis uremic patients with IFN- α 2b (3 MU three times a week) and compared interferon responsive and unresponsive patients with regard to HLA II genes. HLA II genes were investigated by PCR-SSP low resolution, anti-HCV with ELISA II and HCV-RNA with reverse transcriptase “nested” PCR. Findings: HLA DRB1*13 is 50% positive in the non-responder group (four women, four men, mean age; 28.8±11.9 years) and 7% in the responder group (five women, nine men, mean age; 32.2±7.8 years) (p*13 is 28% and 22% positive, respectively). We conclude that major histocompatibility complex class II genes influence the outcome of chronic C hepatitis treatment with IFN -α 2b.

Accessible online at: www.karger.com/dsu Chronic hepatitis C infection, which is common in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis, is also an important cause of morbidity and mortality after renal transplantation. Immunosuppressive medications given in the post-transplant period may hasten damage to the liver and increase hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication [1]. Interferon-· can be used in chronic hepatitis C, but is not appropriate in the post-transplant period because it can cause rejection of the transplanted kidney [2]. To date, there is no medication that can be used to treat chronic hepatitis C in the post-transplant period. In this study, we investigated ribavirin, in renal transplantation patients with hepatitis C. We investigated 5 HCV-infected patients (3 males) between the ages of 25 and 50 years who had undergone renal transplantation. They had persistently elevated transaminase levels. Four of the patients had living-donor transplants and 1 had a cadaveric-donor transplant. All of the patients were on cyclosporine-based immunosuppressive treatment. Anti-HCV (by UBI EIA 4.0; Organon Teknika) and HCV RNA (with PCR) were positive in all patients. Genotypes were 1b in all cases. After the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C infection had been established by liver biopsy, ribavirin was given 800 mg p.o. daily. In the first month of the therapy, the patients were examined weekly for side effects including hemolysis. Transaminase levels were checked monthly. Normalization of the transaminase levels was accepted as a biochemical response, and HCV RNA negativity was accepted as a virological response. Ribavirin therapy was given for 3–30 months. Preand post-treatment median aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels were 84–49 U/l, 83–65 U/l, 12.5–10 g/dl, and 36–32%, respectively. None of the patients cleared HCV RNA. In 1 patient the transaminase level decreased to the normal range. In 3 patients, treatment was ceased because their hemoglobin and hematocrit levels decreased gradually despite decreasing their ribavirin dose to 400 mg daily. One patient was given packed red blood cells. In Turkey, hemodialysis and renal transplantation patients are the groups among whom HCV is the most common [3]. Interferon increases the risk of rejection in renal transplant patients because it is a strong immunomodulatory drug enhancing T lymphocyte-related cytotoxicity and natural killer functions. We obtained no virological response to ribavirin monotherapy, contrary to what is reported in the literature [4]. However, there was a tendency to a decrease in transaminase levels compared to the values at the beginning of therapy, and in only 1 patient did they decrease to the normal range. In these patients, although ribavirin was used at lower doses, signs of hemolysis were evident and symptomatic. In conclusion, ribavirin treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection who have undergone renal transplantation is ineffective and its hemolytic effect is predominant and dose limiting.