Hepatitis B Reactivation in Patients Treated with Direct-Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C.

INTRODUCTION: There is limited research about HBV reactivation (HBVr) due to direct-acting antivirals (DAA) for HCV and most are limited by short duration of follow-up, small sample size, and absence of baseline HBV DNA. We aimed to determine the incidence and clinical course of HBVr in HBsAg and/or anti-HBcIgG positive patients treated with DAA for HCV. METHODS: Seven centers retrospectively analyzed their database on HCV patients treated with DAA between 2015 and 2019. Patients with HBV coinfection or resolved HBV infection were enrolled. Serum transaminases, HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA were followed every 4 weeks during DAA treatment and every 12 weeks 1 year after treatment. Entecavir or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was started in case of HBVr. The development of HBVr, HBV flare, liver failure, and mortality were determined. RESULTS: 852 patients received DAA treatment for HCV. Among them, 35 (4.1%) had HBV coinfection and 246 (28.9%) had resolved HBV infection. 257 patients (53.3% male, mean age: 63 ± 9) constituted the study group (29 with coinfection and 228 with resolved infection). Three patients with coinfection were HBV DNA positive. HBVr developed in 10 (34.5%) HBsAg positive patients, either during (n = 3) or 12-48 weeks after finishing DAA treatment. HBV flare and acute liver failure developed in 1 patient (3.4%), each. Two patients with resolved infection developed HBVr (0.87%) and one (0.44%) had HBV flare. Overall, none of the patients died or underwent liver transplantation due to HBVr. CONCLUSION: Patients with HBV/HCV coinfection have a high risk of HBVr after DAA treatment and should receive antiviral prophylaxis. Patients with resolved infection have a low risk of HBVr and can be monitored by serial ALT measurements.

Serum levels of inflammatory markers CRP, ESR and albumin in relation to survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with several chronic inflammatory conditions. It is increasingly understood that the inflammation may be part of the carcinogenic process and prognostically important. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the serum levels of three inflammation markers in relation to survival in HCC patients. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the serum levels of CRP, albumin and ESR, both singly and in combination, in relation to patient survival. RESULTS: Survival worsened with increase in CRP or ESR or decrease in albumin levels. Combinations of CRP plus albumin or CRP plus ESR were associated with an even greater range of survival (3-fold), together with significant differences in maximum tumor diameter (PVT) and percent of patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT). The triplet of CRP plus albumin plus ESR was associated with a sevenfold difference in survival, comparing low vs high parameter levels. These significant differences were found in patients with small or large tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Combinations of CRP with albumin or ESR or all three parameters together significantly related to differences in survival and to differences in MTD and percent PVT, in patients with both small and large size HCCs.

Detection of HPV DNA in Esophageal Lesions: a Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have documented human papillomavirus (HPV) in extra-cervical tumors. We aimed to detect HPV type 16 and HPV other than type 16 (OT-16) DNA in esophageal papilloma and esophagus squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) samples and to compare clinicopathological features of HPV positive and negative patients. METHODS: Materials were obtained from a tertiary care public hospital and studied in an university hospital for this cross-sectional study. Seventy-six tissue samples (50 papilloma and 26 ESCC) were included. After deparaffinization by xylene and DNA extraction by phenol chloroform-isoamyl-alcohol, 76 samples were studied with a G6PDH control kit. Forty-four papilloma and 21 ESCC samples with enough tissues were studied for HPV DNA. HPV OT-16 DNA and HPV type 16 were detected by real time-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Twelve (27.3%) and one (2.3%) of the papilloma samples were HPV type 16 and other than type 16 positive, respectively. Eleven (52.4%) and one (4.8%) of ESCC samples were HPV type 16 and mixed type positive, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that HPV infection is common in esophageal papilloma and ESCC. Due to the wellknown association of HPV with premalignant and malignant conditions, follow-up of these patients accompanied by HPV should be implemented.

C-Reactive Protein and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio as Potential Tumor Markers in Low-Alpha-Fetoprotein Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is only elevated in about half of the HCC patients, limiting its usefulness in following the effects of therapy or screening. New markers are needed. It has been previously noted that the inflammation markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are prognostically important and may reflect HCC aggressiveness. We therefore examined these 2 markers in a low-AFP HCC cohort and found that for HCCs > 2 cm, both markers significantly rise with an increasing maximum tumor diameter (MTD). We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and Youden index value for each marker, and their area-under-the-curve values for each MTD group. Patients were dichotomized into 2 groups based on the CRP and PLR from the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. In the logistic regression models of the 4 different MTD patient groups, CRP and PLR levels were statistically significant to estimate MTD in univariate logistic regression models of MTD groups > 2 cm. CRP and PLR were then combined, and the combination was statistically significant to estimate MTD groups of 3-, 4-, and 5-cm cutoffs. CRP and PLR thus have potential as tumor markers for low-AFP HCC patients, and possibly for screening.

Characteristics of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Aggressiveness Factors in Turkish Patients.

A large cohort of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients from several collaborating Turkish institutions were examined for the tumor parameters of maximum diameter (MTD), portal vein thrombosis (PVT), and α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. A relationship was found between MTD and blood platelet levels. Patients with large ≥5 cm tumors who had normal platelet levels had significantly larger tumors, higher percent of PVT, and significantly lower blood total bilirubin and liver cirrhosis than similar ≥5 cm tumor patients having thrombocytopenia. A comparison of patients with and without PVT showed significantly larger tumors, greater multifocality, blood AFP, and C-reactive protein levels, and, interestingly, lower HDL levels in the patients with PVT. Fifty-eight percent of the total cohort had AFP levels ≤100 IU/mL (and 42.1% had values ≤20 IU/mL). These patients had significantly smaller tumors, less tumor multifocality and percent PVT, lower total bilirubin, and less cirrhosis. There was considerable geographic heterogeneity within Turkey in the patterns of HCC presentation, with areas of higher and lower hepatitis B virus, hepatitis D virus, cirrhosis, and tumor aggressiveness parameters. Turkish patients thus have distinct patterns of presentation, but the biological relationships between MTD and both platelets and bilirubin levels are similar to the relationships that have been reported in other ethnic patient groups.

The role of interleukin 28B gene polymorphism in Turkish patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Multiple risk factors lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) including viral infections, mutation and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Interleukin 28B (IL28B) gene rs12979860 polymorphism has been shown to be associated with HCC in the different populations, but its association with HCC has not been investigated in the Turkish population. We investigated whether the rs12979860 polymorphism of IL28B gene affects the risk of HCC. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed genotyping analysis using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay in a hospital-based case-control study of 187 confirmed HCC patients and 208 healthy subjects (cancer and viral infection negative) in the Turkish population. RESULTS: The allele and genotype analysis showed no significant differences between the risk of HCC and IL28B gene rs12979860 polymorphism (OR = 1.10; 95% 0.59-2.08 P = 0.76 for genotype). However, in the HBV-related HCC subgroup, the TT genotype increased a 1.46-fold the risk of developing HCC, but not statistically significant (OR = 1.46; 95% 0.71-2.97 P = 0.30). Furthermore, no significant differences were found between clinical findings, and sex in comparison with the IL28B genotypes in HCC group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest, for the first time, that no significant association were found between IL28B rs12979860 genotypes with the risk of developing HCC in Turkish patients. Further independent investigations are required to clarify the possible role of IL28B gene rs12979860 polymorphism on the risk of developing HCC in a larger series and also in patients of different ethnic origins.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhotic Versus Noncirrhotic Livers: Clinicomorphologic Findings and Prognostic Factors.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma mostly develops in a cirrhotic (80%) background. The clinical features of cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma and non-cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma also differ. We aimed to determine the clinicopathologic features, tumor characteristics, treatment options, and overall survival after diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma and prognostic factors effective on survival of hepatocellular carcinoma developing in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic conditions. METHODS: In our study, 220 patients aged over 18 years who were histologically diagnosed as having hepatocellular carcinoma were included. The patients were divided into 2 groups as cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic. RESULTS: When the tumor morphologies were examined in our study, it was observed that they were mostly solitary in both groups. Cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinomas had significantly higher rates of invasion than the non-cirrhotic group (35.3% vs. 20.3%, respectively) (P <.05). The survival rate was found to be better in the non-cirrhotic group (17.5 months vs. 11.5 months) (P <.05). Age, maximal tumor diameter, and morphologically infiltrative tumor character were found to be independent risk factors affecting survival in patients with cirrhosis. Portal vein invasion, alfa-fetoprotein, and the absence of an underlying risk factor in the etiology were observed as independent risk factors affecting survival in patients with non-cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: Cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma and non-cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma had different clinicopathologic features and risk factors. We analyzed that treatment choice trends were different between the 2 groups. We also observed that the factors that affected survival were different between the 2 groups.

Is mean platelet volume a simple marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

BACKGROUND: Due to the increasing prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), there was a need to establish non-invasive tests for its detection. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an inexpensive, practical and easily accessible marker of inflammation in many disorders. Our study was aimed at investigating the relationship between MPV and both NAFLD and liver histology. METHODS: Total 290 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (n = 124) and 108 control patients were included in the study. To exclude the effect of other diseases on MPV, we included 156 patient controls in our study. Those whohave liver-related diseases and those who use drugs that may cause fatty liver were not included in the study. Liver biopsy was performed for those whose alanine aminotransferase level persisted for >6 months above the upper limits. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: We found that MPV was significantly higher in the NAFLD group compared with the control group, and MPV had an independent predictive value for the development of NAFLD. We determined that the number of platelets was significantly lower in the NAFLD group compared with that in the control group. We compared MPV values histologically with both stage and grade in all patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and found that MPV had a significant positive correlation with stage. We observed a positive correlation between MPV and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis grade, but this was not statistically significant. MPV can be useful because it is simple, easy to measure, cost-effective, and routinely tested in daily practice. MPV can be used as a simple marker of NAFLD and an indicator of fibrosis-stage in NAFLD.

Prognostic value and morphological findings of overexpression of glypican-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the seventh most common cancer all worldwide and is second in cancer-related deaths. In HCC, whose prognosis is still not good despite current treatments, there is a need for prognostic markers as well as early diagnosis. Glypican (GPC)-3 has been proposed as a potential serologic and histochemical marker specific to HCC. This study aimed to determine the relationship between GPC3 overexpression and HCC prognosis and clinicomorphologic features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total 152 patients who were diagnosed as a result of hepatectomy, lobectomy or liver transplantation were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups, GPC3-positive (overexpression) (>10%) and GPC3-negative (<10%). The demographic data of the patients, tumor characteristics and survival times were recorded. RESULTS: Survival was significantly lower in the GPC3+ group. In the multivariate analysis, hepatitis C, AFP, tumor number, tumor focality, portal vein tumor thrombosis and GLP3 positivity were found to be independent risk factors for survival. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that GPC3 overexpression is a poor prognostic factor in HCC. GPC3 positivity were found to be an independent risk factor for survival.

The relationship between heterotopic gastric mucosa in the cervical esophagus and laryngopharyngeal reflux.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the possible correlations between the heterotopic gastric mucosa (HGM) islets in the cervical esophagus and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 2010 and April 2011, 45 patients (36 females, 9 males; mean age 39.8±14.1 years; range 18 to 72 years) who had reflux symptom index (RSI) >10 and reflux finding score (RFS) >7 were included. The study group consisted of 21 patients who were diagnosed with HGM islets in the cervical esophagus, while control group consisted of 24 patients without any HGM islets assessed by upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy. Esophagus manometric examination and dual-channel 24-hour pH monitoring were performed on all patients. RESULTS: Pretreatment mean RSI and RFS were 25.6±3.5 and 15.1±3.4 in group 1, while it was found to be 21.1±4.4 and 11.9±2.6 in group 2 (p=0.001, p=0.001). A total of 29.7% of patients who underwent pH monitoring had distal reflux, whereas 43.2% of them had proximal reflux. In group 1, distal reflux was observed in 15.4% and proximal reflux was found in 54% of the patients, while distal reflux was observed in 38% and proximal reflux was found in 38% of the patients in group 2 (p=0.152; p=0.27). Fourteen patients diagnosed with HGM had antral- and seven patients had fundal-type epithelium. CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that HGM islets may be considered as an etiological factor in the patients with severe LPR with isolated proximal reflux based on the 24-hour pH monitoring.

Prognostic factors of elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: should we be more courageous in treatment?

OBJECTIVES: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a cancer with a poor prognosis, its incidence increases with age. The risk of developing HCC is highest in the seventh decade. In this study, we aimed to determine the clinicopathological differences, treatment choices, survival times, and effective prognostic factors of HCC in the elderly and young populations. METHODS: All patients aged ≥18 years who were diagnosed histologically between 2016 and 2020 were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: <70 years and ≥70 years. The clinicopathological differences, treatment choices, survival times, and effective prognostic factors of HCC were compared in the elderly and young populations. RESULTS: A total of 407 patients were evaluated. There were 164 patients (40.3%) in the geriatric age group. There was no significant difference in the female/male ratio, the laboratory values, survival time between the two groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of tumor focality and portal vein invasion ( P > 0.05). The presence of NAFLD, maximal tumor diameter (MTD), and portal invasion were found to be significant for survival according to the univariate analysis in elderly group ( P < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, presence of NAFLD etiologically, and MTD independent risk factors were observed in elderly group ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: If the clinicomorphological features of the tumor and prognostic risk factors can be determined by examining the patients in detail, all treatments can be easily applied in the geriatric group.

Does interleukin-18 play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been suggested that the presence of inflammation may accentuate the neuropsychologic alterations in hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The aim of the study was to investigate any association between alterations in plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-18 and HE. METHODOLOGY: The study population included 63 patients with cirrhosis and 20 healthy controls. Laboratory data included international normalized ratio, plasma albumin, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, hsCRP and IL-18 (pg/mL). HE was assessed using West Haven criteria and critical flicker frequency (CFF) measurement. RESULTS: Forty-two of the 63 cirrhotic patients had HE (4, 16, 21 and 1 patients in grade 0, 1, 2, 3, respectively). hsCRP and IL-18 were significantly increased in patients with HE compared with the control group (1.6 +/- 4.8 vs 0.5 +/- 0.8, p<0.001 and 121.4 (13.6-2043.6) vs 56.3 (13.0-174.0), p=0.006, respectively). The levels of hsCRP and IL-18 were significantly higher in the all cirrhotic patients than in the control subjects (p=0.002 and p=0.008 respectively). hsCRP was significantly higher in patients with HE (2.2 +/- 6) than in patients without HE (0.7 +/- 1.2) (p=0.013). The levels of IL-18 were found higher in patients with HE than in patients without HE [121.4 (13.6-2043.6) vs 103.8 (13.0-828.0)] but the difference was not significant (p=0.215). IL-18 was higher in patients with elevated hsCRP [124.6 (13.6-2043.6)] compared with those who had normal hsCRP [75.6 (13.0-753.2)] (p=0.029). CONCLUSION: There is an inflammatory response in the presence of cirrhosis and HE; and IL-18 may play a role in the perpetuation of chronic inflammation.

The influence of RS738409 I148M polymorphism of patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 gene on the susceptibility of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

ABSTRACT: We aimed to elucidate the frequency of polymorphic genotypes and alleles of patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 rs738409 polymorphism and its possible associations with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in a cohort from Turkey.We enrolled 200 patients diagnosed with NAFLD and genotyped for rs738409 I148M polymorphism by real-time polymerase chain reaction, particularly by melting curve analysis. SPSS analysis software was used for statistical significance. Continuous variable values were expressed as mean ±â€Šstandard deviation. Significant statistical level was chosen as p  = 0.05.Our results demonstrate in a cohort from Turkey that rs738409 C > G polymorphism (I148M) of patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 gene is significantly able to affect individuals to have NAFLD in unadjusted regression model.Consistent with the previous studies in other populations, our study group showed a significantly higher risk of having NAFLD in unadjusted regression model but not in the adjusted model indicating that non-genetic factors such as age and sex may be responsible for the association. However, independent studies need to validate our findings with a larger group of NAFLD patients, as well as in different ethnic cohorts.

Prevalence and characteristics of bone disease in cirrhotic patients.

Background and Aim: Chronic liver disease is a risk factor for osteoporosis, osteopenia and bone fractures. In this study, prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency and also their effects on survival were investigated in 218 patients with chronic liver disease. Materials and Methods: Prevalence of osteoporosis and vitamin D levels was calculated. Risk factors for osteoporosis (gender, age, body mass index, etiology), serum bilirubin, albumin, 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D, parathyroid hormone levels, bone mineral density (BMD) with DEXA, bone formation (osteocalcin) and bone resorption (type 1 collagen) levels, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) Na and Child-Pugh (CP) score were recorded. The effects of vitamin D levels and BMD on survival were evaluated. Results: One hundred forty-seven (67.4%) patients were female (mean age, 50.4±11.7). Patients were Child A by 40.8%, Child B by 47.1%, and Child C by 12.1%. Mean MELD Na score was 8.4±2.8. Data of the BMD were established in 218 patients and 25-OH D levels in 122 patients. Mean serum 25-OH D level was 14.26±9.44 ng/mL. Osteoporosis was identified in 42 (19.3%) and osteopenia in 115 (52.8%) patients, according to BMD. Osteocalcin levels and collagen type 1 levels were high in 25.6% and 12.5% of patients, respectively. No statistically difference was found, including gender (p=0.69), age (p=0.38), etiology (p=0.16), BMI (p=0.32), CP score (p=0.42), MELD (0.14), albumin (p=0.11), total bilirubin (p=0.99), Ca (0.67), PTH (0.88), osteocalcin (0.92), collagen type 1(p=0.25) between osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic patients. Patients were followed-up for a median of 30.07±11.83 months after BMD measurement. Fifty-four (24.8%) patients died during the follow-up period, none of them are related to bone fracture. There was no statistically difference on survival between osteoporosis group (32.2±2.3 months) and non-osteoporosis group (37.2±1.7 months; p=0.26) or when patients with 25-OH D3 ≤10 ng/mL were compared to patients with 25-OH D3 >20 ng/mL (34.4±2.0 months vs. 39.1±1.6 months, p=0.308). Conclusion: In conclusion, the prevalence of bone disease was found to be higher in cirrhotic patients. Although osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency were found to decrease survival, this effect was not statistically significant. We suggest designing multi-institutional and/or multinational studies with larger and more heterogenous patient groups would enable better testing of this phenomenon.

Determination of the effects of cryoablation for atrial fibrillation on esophageal functions.

OBJECTIVE: Periesophageal vagal plexus injury is a complication of cryoablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cryoablation on esophageal functions and to determine the relationship between esophageal temperature and esophageal motility. METHODS: Twenty patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF who underwent cryoablation were included in this study. The lowest cryoballoon temperature for each pulmonary vein (PV) was recorded. Esophageal temperature was measured using an esophageal probe during each cryoapplication. Esophageal manometry was performed before the procedure and one day after the procedure for each patient in order to assess the esophageal functions. RESULTS: During the procedure, the highest esophageal temperature change was found in the left-side PVs in 13 patients (65%) and in the right-side PVs in seven patients (35%). No correlation was found between the lowest cryoballoon temperature and esophageal temperature change (r=0.22, p=0.05). It was detected that the lower esophageal sphincter pressure and esophageal contraction amplitude pressure decreased after the procedure (before: 19.7±9.3 mm Hg, after: 14.3±4.9 mm Hg, p=0.001; before: 84.5±28.3 mm Hg, after: 72.7±34.3 mm Hg, p=0.005, respectively). Five patients (25%) developed gastrointestinal symptoms after the procedure. CONCLUSION: During cryoablation, esophageal temperature measurement can be performed to reduce the probability of esophageal injury. Cryoablation affects esophageal motility, and esophageal manometry can be performed to detect esophageal motility impairments in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Factors predicting outcome of balloon dilatation in achalasia.

BACKGROUND: Balloon dilatation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is one of the effective nonsurgical treatment options in the management of achalasia. We aimed to determine the long-term results of graded balloon dilatation and the factors predicting outcome. PATIENTS: Patients followed for more than 12 months between January 1995 to March 2005, without history of endoscopic or surgical therapy before the study, were included (n = 111, mean age 46.3 +/- 16.9 years; follow-up period 46.3 [12-150] months). Patients were evaluated by barium swallow contrast studies, upper endoscopy, and esophageal manometry. Pneumatic dilatation was performed with the use of polyethylene balloon system. Patient outcome was evaluated according to manometric studies and Van Trappen staging as determined following face-to-face interviews with the patients. RESULTS: We determined clinical response rates of 98%, 85.7%, and 75% at months 24, 48, and 60. According to receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, age or=30.5 mmHg, LESP after first balloon dilatation >or=17.5 mmHg, and balloon number >2 were found to negatively affect treatment response. Young age and higher esophageal body pressure at admission were determined to be negative predictive factors (P = 0.038, relative risk (RR) 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-6.4 and P = 0.05, RR 1.069, 95% CI 0.99-1.14, respectively). CONCLUSION: Balloon dilatation is an effective treatment of achalasia. Young age, higher esophageal body pressure, and high LESP after first balloon dilatation are negative predictive factors. Patients with young age requiring more than two balloon dilatations are likely to be unresponsive to the treatment.

Tandem oral, rectal, and nasal administrations of Ankaferd Blood Stopper to control profuse bleeding leading to hemodynamic instability.

Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) (Ankaferd Health Products Ltd., Istanbul, Turkey) is a standardized unique combined medicinal plant extract, which has been approved in the management of postsurgery dental bleeding and external hemorrhage in Turkey. ABS induces a very rapid formation (<1 second) of a specific hemostatic protein network within vital erythroid aggregation in the injured vascular area. The data on the efficacy of ABS in gastrointestinal (GI) system bleeding is limited to case reports only. Here, we present a patient with a severe GI mucosal bleeding and nasal hemorrhage leading to hemodynamic instability, which was successfully controlled via the topical application of high-dose ABS.

Inflammatory markers C-reactive protein and PLR in relation to HCC characteristics.

INTRODUCTION: Several markers of systemic inflammation, including blood C-reactive protein, platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have been identified as independent prognosticators for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: To attempt to understand the significance of these markers, they were examined in relation to 4 tumour parameters, namely maximum tumour diameter (MTD), tumour multifocality, portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and blood alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. RESULTS: Using linear and logistic regression models, we found that C-reactive protein and PLR on single variables, were statistically significantly related to the tumour parameters. In a logistic regression final model, CRP was significantly related to MTD, AFP and PVT, and the Glasgow Index significantly related to MTD and AFP. Results of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC), showed that the areas for PLR and CRP were statistically significant for high versus low MTD and for presence versus absence of PVT. CRP alone was significant for high versus low AFP. CONCLUSIONS: These analyses suggest that the prognostic usefulness of the inflammatory markers PLR and CRP (but not NLR) may be due to their reflection of parameter values for tumour growth and invasiveness.

Bile reflux index after therapeutic biliary procedures.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic biliary procedures disrupt the function of the sphincter of Oddi. Patients are potential "bile refluxers". The aim of this study was to assess how these procedures affect the histology-based bile reflux index (BRI), which can be used to reflect duodenogastric reflux (DGR). METHODS: Gastric antrum and corpus biopsies were collected from 131 subjects (56 men, 75 women; mean age, 55.9 +/- 15.6 years). Group 1 (Biliary group-BG; n = 66) had undergone endoscopic sphincterotomy, endoscopic stenting, or choledochoduodenostomy for benign pathology; Group 2 (n = 20) had undergone cholecystectomy alone; and Group 3 (n = 6) Billroth II gastroenterostomy. Group 4 (no cholecystectomy; n = 39) had upper endoscopy with normal findings and served as controls. BRI > 14 indicated DGR (BRI [+]). To eliminate confounding effects of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, comparisons were made according to Hp colonization. RESULTS: Fifty-nine subjects (45%) were Hp (+). The frequencies of BRI (+) status in antrum and corpus specimens from Hp (-) BG patients were 74.3% and 71.4%, respectively (85.7% for both antrum and corpus for choledochoduodenostomy). Corresponding results were 60% and 60% for Group 2, 100% (only corpus) for Group 3, and 57.1% and 38.1% for controls (BG, Group 2, and Group 3 vs controls - p > 0.05 antrum, p < 0.05 corpus). Fifty-four BG patients had previously undergone cholecystectomy. Excluding those, the rates of BRI (+) in Hp (-) BG patients were 75% antrum and 62.5% corpus (p > 0.05 for both vs. Group 2). CONCLUSION: Patients who had undergone biliary procedures showed similar bile-related histological changes in both corpus and antrum biopsies, but the changes seen in controls were more prominent in the antrum than corpus. Therapeutic biliary procedures increase the rate of BRI (+) especially in the case of choledochoduodenostomy. Therapeutic biliary procedures without cholecystectomy also increase the rate of BRI (+) similar to that observed in patients with cholecystectomy.

P wave dispersion is prolonged in patients with Wilson's disease.

AIM: To investigate the P wave dispersion as a non-invasive marker of intra-atrial conduction disturbances in patients with Wilson's disease. METHODS: We compared Wilsonos disease patients (n = 18) with age matched healthy subjects (n = 15) as controls. The diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms, laboratory tests (ceruloplasmin, urinary and hepatic copper concentrations). P wave dispersion, a measurement of the heterogeneity of atrial depolarization, was measured as the difference between the duration of the longest and the shortest P-waves in 12 lead electrocardiography. RESULTS: All the patients were asymptomatic on cardiological examination and have sinusal rhythm in electrocardiography. Left ventricular and left atrial diameters, left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular mass index were similar in both groups. The Wilson's disease patients had a significantly higher P wave dispersion compared with the controls (44.7 +/- 5.8 vs 25.7 +/- 2.5, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: There was an increase in P wave dispersion in cardiologically asymptomatic Wilson's disease patients which probably represents an early stage of cardiac involvement.