ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastroenterologists have an important role in the treatment and management of comorbidities related to obesity. Assessment of gastroenterologists' perception and attitude toward obesity was aimed in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Survey questions were determined for the study. An online questionnaire was prepared afterward. Participants were invited via e-mail by providing them with information about the study. It was ensured that those who accepted the study could access the questionnaire form with the relevant link. Participants who answered all questions were included in the study. RESULTS: Totally 117 gastroenterologists were included in the study. The proportion of gastroenterologists who thought that obesity complicates the management of gastroenterological diseases and those who thought obesity as a factor that negatively affects the prognosis of gastroenterological diseases was determined as 88.9% and 95.7%, respectively. Among the obese patients, the proportion of those who applied diet therapy, exercise, pharmacotherapy, and endoscopic methods was 94%, 91.5%, 35%, and 37.6%, respectively. The rates of intragastric balloon therapy and intragastric botulinum toxin A injection were 30% and 21.4%, respectively. The proportion of those who agreed that obese patients lost a significant amount of weight with the treatment methods applied was 47.2%. The proportion of participants who agreed that long-term maintenance of weight loss was impossible for most obese patients was 59.8%. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study that evaluates the perception and attitude of gastroenterologists toward obesity. Our study results show that gastroenterologists think that obesity is a chronic disease and that gastroenterologists should be involved in management of obesity.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Gastroenterologists , Gastroenterology , Obesity , Humans , Obesity/psychology , Obesity/therapy , Turkey , Gastroenterologists/psychology , Gastroenterologists/statistics & numerical data , Female , Male , Surveys and Questionnaires , Adult , Middle Aged , Gastroenterology/statistics & numerical data , Perception , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pancreatic steatosis (PS) is a pathology associated with metabolic syndrome (MS), endocrin and exocrine disfunctions of the pancreas, and fatty liver. The data on the frequency of PS are very limited. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of PS detected by transabdominal ultrasonography (TAU) in gastroenterology clinics located in different geographical regions of Turkey and the factors associated with it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Volunteers were evaluated by TAU for PS and hepatosteatosis (HS), and its degree. Pancreatic stiffness was evaluated by ultrasonographic shear wave elastography (SWE). All demographic, physical, and biochemical parametres were measured. RESULTS: A total of 1700 volunteers from 14 centers throughout Turkey were included in the study. Mean age was 48.03 ± 20.86 years (56.9% female). Prevalance of PS was detected in 68.9%. In the PS group, age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid levels, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, MS frequency, and pancreatic SWE score were increasing, and fecal elastase level was decreasing in correlation with the degree of PS. The frequency of HS was 55.5%. Hepatosteatosis [odds ratio (OR): 9.472], increased age (OR: 1.02), and BMI (OR: 1.089) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of PS. Lean-PS rate was 11.8%. The lean-PS group was predominantly female and younger than non-lean PS. Also it has lower blood pressure, FBG, liver enzymes, lipid levels, and HS rates. CONCLUSION: The frequency of PS was found 68.9% in Turkey. Its relationship was determined with age, BMI, HS, MS (and its components), pancreatic stiffness, and fecal elastase level.
Subject(s)
Elasticity Imaging Techniques , Fatty Liver , Metabolic Syndrome , Pancreatic Diseases , Humans , Turkey/epidemiology , Female , Middle Aged , Male , Prevalence , Adult , Risk Factors , Metabolic Syndrome/epidemiology , Pancreatic Diseases/epidemiology , Fatty Liver/epidemiology , Body Mass Index , Aged , Pancreas/diagnostic imaging , Pancreatic Elastase/analysis , Waist Circumference , Insulin Resistance , Blood Glucose/analysis , Blood Glucose/metabolismABSTRACT
Background and Aim: The histological diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is challenging. A new consensus recommendation was provided by the International AIH Pathology Group to address the problems in the histological diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to compare the 2008 'simplified' criteria for AIH with the 'consensus recommendation' of 2022 in terms of diagnostic sensitivity. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on pathological specimens of patients diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) between 2010 and 2022. Out of 188 patients enlisted, 88 were selected based on exclusion criteria. The specimens were examined by two experienced hepatopathologists and a resident pathologist. All specimens were analyzed using both the "simplified" criteria and the new consensus recommendations. Results: Out of a total of 78 patients, the 2022 consensus recommendations raised the diagnostic category of 16 patients (20.5%) to a higher level. Six patients who were previously diagnosed as "atypical" were now considered "possible AIH", while 10 patients with a "compatible" diagnosis were elevated to "likely AIH" category. No patients were found to fall into a lower diagnostic category according to the new recommendations. A significant difference in diagnostic sensitivity was observed between the 2008 criteria and the 2022 consensus report (p<0.001). Conclusion: The 2022 consensus recommendation may be more sensitive in the diagnosis of AIH in comparison to the 2008 'simplified' histological criteria. More studies are needed both for the validation of the sensitivity of the new consensus recommendation and for the determination of the specificity.
ABSTRACT
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) interacts with components of the gut microbiota to exert its bone-regulating effects. This study aimed to investigate the gut microbial composition in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Nine patients with PHPT and nine age-sex and body mass index-matched healthy controls were included. Gut microbial composition was assessed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing in both groups at baseline and 1 month after parathyroidectomy in the PHPT group. Data were imported into QIIME-2 and both QIIME-2 and R packages were used for microbiome analysis. Alpha and beta diversities were similar between the groups and remained unchanged after parathyroidectomy. The relative abundance of Subdoligranulum was significantly higher, whereas Ruminococcus, Alloprevotella, Phascolarctobacterium, and Clostridium sensu stricto_1 were significantly lower in PHPT than in controls (p < 0.001). After parathyroidectomy, the relative abundance of Subdoligranulum decreased, and Ruminococcus and Alloprevotella increased (p < 0.001). The PHPT group had lower total femoral and lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) than the controls (p < 0.05). At baseline, Alloprevotella abundance was positively correlated with serum phosphorus and Subdoligranulum was positively correlated with total lumbar BMD. Clostridium sensu stricto_1 was negatively correlated with serum calcium and positively correlated with femoral neck BMD. Postoperatively, Alloprevotella was positively correlated with baseline serum phosphorus and Phascolarctobacterium was positively correlated with distal radius BMD. This study demonstrated that the diversity of the gut microbiome was altered, possibly in response to electrolyte changes in PHPT, both before and after parathyroidectomy.
Subject(s)
Bone Density , Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Hyperparathyroidism, Primary , Humans , Pilot Projects , Female , Hyperparathyroidism, Primary/microbiology , Hyperparathyroidism, Primary/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Proof of Concept Study , Bone and Bones/microbiology , Case-Control Studies , Aged , ParathyroidectomyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is the most common gastrointestinal disease requiring hospitalization, with significant mortality and morbidity. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of AP and physicians' compliance with international guidelines during its management. METHODS: All patients with AP who were hospitalized at 17 tertiary centers in Turkey between April and October 2022 were evaluated in a prospective cohort study. Patients with insufficient data, COVID-19 and those aged below 18 years were excluded. The definitions were based on the 2012 revised Atlanta criteria. RESULTS: The study included 2144 patients (median age:58, 52 % female). The most common etiologies were biliary (n = 1438, 67.1 %), idiopathic (n = 259, 12 %), hypertriglyceridemia (n = 128, 6 %) and alcohol (n = 90, 4.2 %). Disease severity was mild in 1567 (73.1 %), moderate in 521 (24.3 %), and severe in 58 (2.6 %) patients. Morphology was necrotizing in 4.7 % of the patients. The overall mortality rate was 1.6 %. PASS and BISAP had the highest accuracy in predicting severe pancreatitis on admission (AUC:0.85 and 0.81, respectively). CT was performed in 61 % of the patients, with the majority (90 %) being within 72 h after admission. Prophylactic NSAIDs were not administered in 44 % of the patients with post-ERCP pancreatitis (n = 86). Antibiotics were administered to 53.7 % of the patients, and 38 % of those received them prophylactically. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study provides an extensive report on clinical characteristics, management and outcomes of AP in real-world practice. Mortality remains high in severe cases and physicians' adherence to guidelines during management of the disease needs improvement in some aspects.
Subject(s)
Pancreatitis , Humans , Female , Aged , Male , Pancreatitis/etiology , Prospective Studies , Acute Disease , Turkey , Severity of Illness Index , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed an updated reporting system for pancreaticobiliary cytology, which moves low-grade malignancies to "positive for malignancy" group and serous cystadenoma to "negative for malignancy" group. The WHO system also created two new categories, namely, pancreatic neoplasia-low grade (PaN-Low) and pancreatic neoplasia-high grade (PaN-High), which includes neoplastic mucinous cysts and stratifies them according to their cytologic atypia. The risk of malignancy (ROM) of the new categories of the WHO system needs to be defined. METHODS: Cytologic slides of all patients, who underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy at our institution from January 2010 to December 2021 and had a histopathological or clinical follow-up of at least 6 months, were reviewed and reclassified under the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology (PSC) and WHO reporting systems. The absolute ROM was calculated for each category of both reporting systems. RESULTS: A total of 420 EUS-FNA samples from 410 patients were reviewed and reclassified. The absolute ROM for the proposed WHO system was 35% for "nondiagnostic," 1.0% for "negative for malignancy," 69.0% for "atypical," 11% for "PaN-Low," 100% for "PaN-High," 91% for "suspicious for malignancy," and 100% for "malignant." Comparatively, the absolute ROM under the PSC reporting system was 34% for "nondiagnostic," 1.0% for negative (for malignancy), 50.0% for "atypical," 0.0% for "neoplastic: benign," 16% for "neoplastic: other," 88% for "suspicious for malignancy," and 100% for "positive or malignant." CONCLUSION: The proposed WHO international reporting system has advantages regarding risk stratification improvement and case management.
Subject(s)
Pancreatic Neoplasms , Humans , Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Cytodiagnosis , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated the diagnostic efficacy of 2D-Shear Wave Elastography (2D-SWE) in detecting stages of liver fibrosis and determining the disease-specific cut-off values in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C infection, using histopathological analysis as the reference method. METHOD: Our study included 103 consecutive adult patients with chronic hepatitis B and C infection (CHB and CHC) who had liver biopsy within three months of elastography examination. A real-time 2D-SWE was performed using the LOGIQ E9 system (GE Medical Systems, Wisconsin, USA). The correlation between the liver stiffness measurements and the METAVIR scores was evaluated. The diagnostic performance of 2D-SWE was assessed, and cut-off values were set. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant positive correlation between elastography values and the degree of liver fibrosis (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.76 and 0.83 for CHB and CHC; respectively) (p = 0.0001). The stiffness cut-off values were F ≥ 1: 5.92 kPa, F ≥ 2: 7.69 kPa, F ≥ 3: 8.97 kPa, F ≥ 4: 12.15 kPa in CHB; and F ≥ 1: 6.09 kPa, F ≥ 2: 7.81 kPa, F ≥ 3: 9.0 kPa, F ≥ 4: 12.47 kPa in CHC patients. CONCLUSION: 2D-SWE is reliable and accurate for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis. In selected patients, 2D-SWE may be useful in reducing the need for liver biopsy when staging fibrosis. Further studies in larger prospective series are needed to confirm these results and determine the most appropriate cut-off values for each stage of liver fibrosis.
Subject(s)
Elasticity Imaging Techniques , Hepatitis B, Chronic , Adult , Correlation of Data , Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications , Hepatitis B, Chronic/diagnostic imaging , Hepatitis B, Chronic/pathology , Humans , Liver/diagnostic imaging , Liver/pathology , Liver Cirrhosis/diagnostic imaging , Liver Cirrhosis/pathology , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopy and colonoscopy are frequently performed procedures to evaluate the gastrointestinal system. These procedures are sometimes disturbing and painful for the patient. In gastrointestinal suits, endoscopy and colonoscopy may be performed on awake or sedated patients. Music therapy is a common and non-pharmacological treatment for various medical conditions, pain, and anxiety. The aim of the present study was to add music therapy to sedation administered during endoscopy and colonoscopy. The effect of music treatment on drug consumption, anxiety, and pain was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: American Anesthesiologist Association I-III adult patients scheduled for endo/colonoscopy were randomized to music treatment and no music treatment groups. Patients with endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde colangiopancreaticography were excluded from the study. Anxiety score and pain severity were evaluated before and after the procedure. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and oxygen saturation were recorded before, during, and after the procedure. Total drug consumption was recorded. Patient satisfaction and desire for the same protocol for recurrent procedures were investigated. RESULTS: Music therapy added to deep sedation administered by anesthesiologists provided decreased anxiety score and propofol consumption. Patient satisfaction was increased, and patients reported a desire for the same protocol for recurrent procedures. CONCLUSION: The present study may serve as the beginning of using music therapy for pain treatment in gastroenterology procedures in our hospital with/without sedation. Music and other non-pharmacological treatment methods must be remembered to increase patient comfort during enco/colonoscopies and other painful procedures.
Subject(s)
Colonoscopy/adverse effects , Conscious Sedation/methods , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/adverse effects , Music Therapy/methods , Pain, Procedural/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Anxiety/etiology , Anxiety/therapy , Colonoscopy/methods , Combined Modality Therapy , Double-Blind Method , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/methods , Female , Humans , Hypnotics and Sedatives/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , Pain, Procedural/etiology , Pain, Procedural/psychology , Patient Satisfaction , Propofol/administration & dosage , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor alpha activation modulates cholesterol metabolism and suppresses bile acid synthesis. The trefoil factor family comprises mucin-associated proteins that increase the viscosity of mucins and help protect epithelial linings from insults. We evaluated the effect of short-term administration of fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferators activated receptor alpha agonist, on trefoil factor family-3 expression, degree of apoptosis, generation of free radicals, and levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the liver tissue of bile duct-ligated rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: 1 = sham operated, 2 = bile duct ligation, 3 = bile duct-ligated + vehicle (gum Arabic), and 4 = bile duct-ligated + fenofibrate (100 mg/kg/day). All rats were sacrificed on the 7 th day after obtaining blood samples and liver tissue. Liver function tests, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 1 beta in serum, and trefoil factor family-3 mRNA expression, degree of apoptosis (TUNEL) and tissue malondialdehyde (malondialdehyde, end-product of lipid peroxidation by reactive oxygen species) in liver tissue were evaluated. RESULTS: Fenofibrate administration significantly reduced serum total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1ß levels. Apoptosis and malondialdehyde were significantly reduced in the fenofibrate group. Trefoil factor family-3 expression increased with fenofibrate treatment in bile duct-ligated rats. CONCLUSIONS: The peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor alpha agonist fenofibrate significantly increased trefoil factor family-3 expression and decreased apoptosis and lipid peroxidation in the liver and attenuated serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines in bile duct-ligated rats. Further studies are needed to determine the protective role of fenofibrate in human cholestatic disorders.
Subject(s)
Apoptosis/drug effects , Fenofibrate/pharmacology , Hypolipidemic Agents/pharmacology , Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects , Liver/metabolism , Neuropeptides/metabolism , PPAR alpha/agonists , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Alkaline Phosphatase/blood , Animals , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Bile Ducts/surgery , Bilirubin/blood , Interleukin-1beta/blood , Ligation , Liver/drug effects , Liver/pathology , Male , Malondialdehyde/metabolism , Neuropeptides/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Trefoil Factor-3 , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood , gamma-Glutamyltransferase/bloodSubject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived/adverse effects , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Burkitt Lymphoma/drug therapy , Intestinal Perforation/chemically induced , Stomach Neoplasms/drug therapy , Adult , Biopsy , Burkitt Lymphoma/pathology , Cyclophosphamide/adverse effects , Doxorubicin/adverse effects , Endosonography , Female , Gastroscopy , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Intestinal Perforation/diagnosis , Intestinal Perforation/surgery , Rituximab , Stomach Neoplasms/pathology , Vincristine/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Wegener's granulomatosis is a systemic vasculitis with prominent involvement of the respiratory tract and kidney. There are 10 patients with Wegener's granulomatosis in the literature who were documented as acute pancreatitis. We present two cases with Wegener's granulomatosis presenting with acute pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudocyst. Endosonography-guided drainage of the pancreatic pseudocyst led to rapid clinical improvement. Pancreatic pseudocyst in Wegener's granulomatosis is not reported in the literature, and these are the first cases of Wegener's granulomatosis to be managed by endosonography-guided cyst drainage. The safety of endosonography-guided pancreatic pseudocyst drainage and the clinical features of the previous Wegener's granulomatosis cases with acute pancreatitis are discussed.
Subject(s)
Drainage , Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis/complications , Pancreatic Pseudocyst/therapy , Pancreatitis/therapy , Adult , Endoscopy, Digestive System , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pancreatic Pseudocyst/complications , Pancreatitis/etiology , Ultrasonography, InterventionalSubject(s)
Biopsy, Needle/methods , Mediastinal Diseases/diagnosis , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification , Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Aged, 80 and over , Endosonography , Humans , Male , Mediastinal Diseases/microbiology , Mucin-1/blood , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Tuberculosis/microbiologyABSTRACT
AIM: To determine the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and globus sensation (GS) in the patients with cervical inlet patch. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with esophageal inlet patches were identified from 6760 consecutive patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy prospectively. In these 68 patients with cervical inlet patches, symptoms of globus sensation (lump in the throat), hoarseness, sore throat, frequent clearing of the throat, cough, dysphagia, odynophagia of at least 3 mo duration was questioned prior to endoscopy. RESULTS: Cervical heterotopic gastric mucosa (CHGM) was found in 68 of 6760 patients. The endoscopic prevalence of CHGM was determined to be 1%. H. pylori was identified in 16 (23.5%) of 68 patients with inlet patch. Fifty-three patients were classified as CHGM II. This group included 48 patients with globus sensation, 4 patients with chronic cough and 1 patient with hoarseness. All the patients who were H. pylori (+) in cervical inlet patches had globus sensation. CONCLUSION: Often patients with CHGM have a long history of troublesome throat symptoms. We speculate that disturbances in globus sensation are like non-ulcer dyspepsia.
Subject(s)
Choristoma/complications , Esophageal Diseases/complications , Gastric Mucosa , Helicobacter Infections/complications , Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification , Pharyngeal Diseases/etiology , Sensation , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biopsy , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal , Esophageal Diseases/microbiology , Esophageal Diseases/pathology , Esophageal pH Monitoring , Female , Helicobacter Infections/microbiology , Helicobacter Infections/pathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pharyngeal Diseases/microbiology , Pharyngeal Diseases/pathology , Pharyngeal Diseases/physiopathology , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: During cold preservation of liver grafts, expression of tissue adhesion molecules has been reported as a factor indicative of preservation injury. Some biochemical agents as well as increased levels of intracellular calcium also play important roles in preservation injury during cold storage. In the current study, we aimed to test if the addition of a calcium channel blocker, sodium nitroprusside, or glutathione into preservation solution would reduce upregulation of adhesion molecules, thus leading to decreased preservation injury in the rat liver. METHODS: Fifty Albino Wistar rats, weighing 200+/-50 g, were divided into 1 control (perfused with Wisconsin solution, without preservation) and 4 study groups of rat livers (10 livers each). Livers in study groups were harvested, perfused, and preserved for 16 hours in 4 different solutions (Wisconsin solution alone, Wisconsin solution+verapamil, Wisconsin solution+ sodium nitroprusside and Wisconsin solution+glutathione). At the end of the preservation time, levels of graft tissue adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) expression were analyzed. RESULTS: Preservation for 16 hours with Wisconsin solution alone and Wisconsin solution+verapamil perfusates caused significantly more ICAM-1 expression than did preservation for 16 hours with Wisconsin solution+sodium nitroprusside and Wisconsin solution+ glutathione perfusates (p=0.010). No significant difference was found in ICAM-1 expression between the Wisconsin solution+ sodium nitroprusside and Wisconsin solution+glutathione groups. In the control group, perfusion with Wisconsin solution alone, without preservation, represented minimal ICAM-1 expression, reflecting minimum preservation injury (p=0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Addition of sodium nitroprusside and glutathione into the Wisconsin solution decreased levels of ICAM-1 molecule expression, which reflects lower levels of preservation injury. In this study, the addition of verapamil to the perfusate/preservation solution for reducing the intracellular calcium accumulation had no effect on tissue ICAM-1 molecule expression.
Subject(s)
Glutathione/pharmacology , Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism , Liver Transplantation , Nitroprusside/pharmacology , Organ Preservation/methods , Verapamil/pharmacology , Animals , Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology , Cryopreservation , Liver/drug effects , Liver/metabolism , Male , Organ Preservation Solutions/pharmacology , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Up-Regulation/drug effects , Vasodilator Agents/pharmacologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Factors affecting diagnostic accuracy and comparison of patients in the follow-up period for negative outcomes are not thoroughly investigated in a randomized trial. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare diagnostic accuracy, complications, and number of interventions. DESIGN: Prospective, unicentric, single-blind, randomized study. SETTING: Single tertiary referral university hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred twenty patients with intermediate risk for common bile duct (CBD) stones were randomized to either an EUS-first, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC)-second (n = 60) versus an ERC-only (n = 60) procedure. INTERVENTIONS: EUS, ERC, sphincterotomy, and balloon sweeping of CBD when needed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Sensitivity of EUS versus ERC, factors affecting diagnostic capability, complications, total number of endoscopic procedures. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of ERC were 75% (95% CI, 42%-93%) and 100% (95% CI, 95%-100%), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of EUS were 91% (95% CI, 59%-99%) and 100% (95% CI, 95%-100%), respectively. EUS is more sensitive than ERC in detecting stones smaller than 4 mm (90% vs 23%, P < .01). Although not significant, there was a trend for an increased number of endoscopic procedures in the ERC group compared with the EUS group (98 vs 83). The post-ERC pancreatitis rate was 6 in 120 (5%) in all study patients, and the post-ERC pancreatitis rate in patients with an undilated CBD was 5 of 53 (9.43%). The independent factors for post-ERC pancreatitis are undilated CBD (risk ratio [RR] 6.320; 95% CI, 1.703-11.524, P = .009), allocation into the ERC group (RR 2.107; 95% CI, 1.330-3.339, P = .02), female sex (RR 1.803; 95% CI, 1.155-2.813, P = .03), and age less than 40 years (RR 1.888; 95% CI, 1.245-2.863, P = .01). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed higher rate of negative outcome in the ERC group than in the EUS group (P = .049, log-rank test). CONCLUSION: The EUS-first approach is not associated with further risk for subsequent endoscopic procedures. Patients with an undilated CBD should be investigated by the EUS-first approach to prevent post-ERC pancreatitis.
Subject(s)
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde , Endosonography , Gallstones/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pancreatitis/prevention & control , Postoperative Complications/prevention & control , Prospective Studies , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
AIM/BACKGROUND: Achalasia may be associated with extraesophageal dysmotility. However, this relation is still poorly understood. In the present study, we used noninvasive real-time ultrasonography to examine the motility function of the gallbladder in the patients with achalasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three achalasic patients and 33 healthy volunteers were included in the study. All subjects were investigated after 12 hours of fasting and 30 minutes after a standard test meal. Premeal and postmeal gallbladder volumes were used for calculation of the ejection fraction of the gallbladder and fasting gallbladder volume. RESULTS: The mean fasting volume (18.52+/-1.45 vs. 24.63+/-1.84 cm; P<0.05) and ejection fractions of gallbladder (35.84+/-4.12 vs. 54.47+/-2.47; P<0.05) in the patients with achalasia were lower than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Such a finding may confirm the possible extraesophageal extension of primary achalasia. Achalasic patients have smaller gallbladders than do others. It could be speculated that it is congenital and/or achalasic patients' gallbladder has incomplete relaxation (as in the lower esophageal sphincter of the achalasia).
Subject(s)
Esophageal Achalasia/physiopathology , Gallbladder/physiology , Gastrointestinal Motility/physiology , Adult , Female , Gallbladder/diagnostic imaging , Gallbladder Emptying , Humans , Male , Severity of Illness Index , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several reports indicated an increased prevalence of the Helicobacter species in hepatocellular cancer tissue and in liver samples infected with hepatitis viruses. The frequency of Helicobacter spp. in benign liver diseases was, however, not thoroughly investigated. METHODS: Seventy-five consecutive patients with suspected liver disease were enrolled. The indications were hepatitis B virus (n=30), C virus (n=8), B and C dual infection (n=1), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (n=27), autoimmune hepatitis (n=3), primary biliary cirrhosis (n=1) and idiopathic elevation of liver enzymes (n=5). PCR detection of 16S recombinant RNA gene of Helicobacter spp. was performed on liver samples. PCR products of positive samples were further identified by DNA sequencing. The patients also had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and gastric biopsy for the detection of H. pylori using histopathology and PCR. RESULTS: Helicobacter spp. DNA was detected in two out of 75 liver biopsy samples (2.6%), which were typed as H. pylori by DNA sequencing. One of these patients had chronic hepatitis C infection (man, 51 years old) and the other had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (woman, 44 years old). Fifty-two out of 75 of the patients (69.3%) had H. pylori infection in their stomachs. CONCLUSION: We have found that H. pylori infection is much less prevalent in benign liver diseases. The presence of H. pylori in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients is a novel finding and this finding should be confirmed in a larger series.