Metallic stent in the endoscopic treatment of pancreatic fluid collections.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The endoscopic treatment of pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) has become the preferred first-line approach. Fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMS) were considered as an alternative to multiple double pigtail stents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the endosonography guided drainage (EUS-GD) of PFCs with FCEMS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 33 consecutive patients were included. Cystogastrostomy and cystoduodenostomy were created with a linear echoendoscope under endosonographic and fluoroscopic control. Procedures were performed in a standard way of, puncture with a 19 gauge needle, bougie dilation and insertion of FCSEMS. RESULTS: A total of 33 patients (mean age 52 years, 21 men, range: 18-77 years), were included. PFCs were 22 non-infected symptomatic pseudocyst and 11 walled-off necrosis or abscess. EUS-GD was successful in 30 (90.9%) patients. Stent insertion failed in one patient. Two patients needed surgery. Complications were observed in 8 (25%) patients (stent dislocation in 3, perforation in 2, bleeding in 2 and pneumoperitoneum in 1 patient). Procedure related mortality was not seen. The mean cyst size was 11.3 cm (5-22). FCSEMS were successful in the treatment of pseudocysts (after 1 month mean cyst size is 6.2 cm, range: 0-15 cm, with 54.8% decrement rate). During a mean follow-up of 15 months complete resolution was 66.6% (20 patients) and recurrence due to stent malfunction was 10%. All these cases were submitted to a new session of endoscopic drainage. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-GD, FCSEMS insertion provides an effective, minimally invasive, and safe approach in the management of PFCs.

Efficacy of alpha interferon therapy for lamivudine resistance in chronic hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVES: The occurrence of lamivudine resistance is often associated with the clinical breakthrough, which is characterised by the reappearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum and the elevation of aminotransferases. We evaluated the efficacy of alpha interferon for clinical breakthrough in patients receiving lamivudine therapy. PATIENTS: Six chronic hepatitis B patients receiving lamivudine were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Under lamivudine therapy, clinical breakthroughs occurred in between fifteenth and thirty-fourth month of lamivudine therapy. HBV DNA reappeared, and alanine aminotransferase was elevated. Genotypic analysis showed M552V, M552I and L528M mutations. After determining the clinical breakthrough, standard alpha interferon-2b was given for 6 months. Lamivudine was also maintained. In only one patient, HBV DNA became negative by polymerase chain reaction, and serum alanine transaminase level was normal at the end of therapy. CONCLUSION: Alpha interferon added to lamivudine is generally ineffective in the treatment of lamivudine resistance.

Crohn's disease; analysis of 105 patients.

In this paper, 105 patients with Crohn's disease, (47 M, 58 F), mean age 37.4 +/- 42 years were evaluated clinically, demographically and epidemiologically. Mean age of patients at the time of diagnosis was 26.5 +/- 10.9 years. Follow-up period was 2.7 +/- 2.1 years on average. On admission, symptoms or signs were as follows: right lower quadrant pain 90.5%, abdominal mass 18.1%, enterocutaneous fistula 11.4% and subileus 9.5%. Diagnosis of Crohn's disease was established during appendectomy in 14 patients (13.3%). Family history of inflammatory bowel disease was determined only in six patients (5.7%). Intestinal localization were as follows: ileo colonic 52%, ileal 38%, colonic 10%. Clinical forms were inflammatory (68%), fistulous (23%) and obstructive (9%). Sacroiliitis (7.6%), ankylosing spondylitis (4.7%), erythema nodosum (2.9%), pyoderma gangrenosum (1%) were detected as extraintestinal manifestations. Of the patients, 12.4% underwent surgical intervention due to abscess drainage in 6.6%, fistulectomy in 3.8%, stricture resection in 1.9%. Medical therapy alone was sufficient in 75.3% of patients. As a result, our cases mentioned in this paper reflect the general characteristics of Crohn's disease and prominence of regular visits and treatment.

Measurement of gallbladder volume with ultrasonography in pregnant women.

Fasting and postprandial gallbladder volumes were investigated using ultrasonography in three groups (10 subjects in each) of healthy women: third trimester pregnant women, postpartum women up to 10 days after giving birth and nonpregnant controls. The scans were performed at 09:00 after a 12 h fast. After the basal measurement was taken, gallbladder volumes were rescanned in 15 min intervals for 60 mins. At the end of this period, all volunteers received a standard liquid test meal, and scans were performed again for 1 h. The mean basal gallbladder volume was 22.2+/-4.2 mL in the nonpregnant (control) group. In the third trimester group, the basal volume was 37.8+/-10.5 mL -70.5% higher than in the nonpregnant group (P<0.001). In the postpartum group, the mean basal volume was 37.9% lower (27.4+/-6.5 mL) than that of the third trimester group (P<0.02). This basal volume was 23.6% greater than that of the control group (P<0.05). After administration of a test meal, the postprandial gallbladder volumes decreased during the first few minutes compared with baseline values. The volumes decreased by 10.2% to 39.8% (23.5+/-7.3 to 34.0+/-10.2; P<0.01) in the third trimester group, by 14.9% to 43.2% (16.6+/-4.3 to 23.3+/-5.5; P<0.01, 0.001) in the postpartum group and by 19.2% to 51.6% (11.9+/-3.5 to 17.9+/-3.6; P<0.02, 0.05, 0.01, 0.001) in the control group. Postprandial mean gallbladder volumes of the third trimester (P<0. 02) and postpartum groups (P<0.02 to 0.01) were significantly different from those of the control group. In conclusion, incomplete emptying of the gallbladder after eating during the third trimester of pregnancy may contribute to cholesterol-gallstone formation, and pregnancy may thus increase the risk of gallstones.