Dieulafoy lesions: One patient, two different localizations.

Dieulafoy lesions (DLs) are dilated submucosal arterial structures visualized on endoscopy as bleeding foci on the superficial mucosa without erosion or ulceration. DLs account for 1-5.8% of acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding cases. A 72-year-old male patient with known Alzheimer's disease and coronary artery disease, being followed up at a nursing home, presented to our emergency department with foul-smelling, loose, and tarry stool. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a 3 mm DL immediately adjacent to the Z line in the distal esophagus, demonstrating a fresh blood clot without the appearance of a surrounding ulcer. Two endoscopic hemo-clips were applied to this lesion. The patient was monitored at the intensive care unit for the following 2 days and later transferred to internal medicine inpatient unit. He developed hematochezia on the 8th day of hospitalization. Emergent rectosigmoidoscopy was performed showing two separate 3 and 4 mm sized DLs, located immediately proximal to the dentate line. These lesions were successfully treated using two endoscopic band ligations. DLs can occur synchronously, albeit very rarely, and a careful search for multiple lesions is necessary to avoid further bleeding.

Outcomes of Patients with Acute Hepatotoxicity Caused by Mushroom-Induced Poisoning.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of severe hepatitis (SH), acute liver injury (ALI), and acute liver failure (ALF) in patients with mushroom-induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS: Data of patients between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-four patients with mushroom-induced hepatotoxicity were included and divided into 3 groups: SH, ALI, and ALF. SH was defined as transaminase level ≥10 times ULN, international normalized ratio (INR) ≤1.5, and the absence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). ALI was defined as INR > 1.5, presumed acute illness onset, and the absence of HE. ALF was diagnosed based on the presence of HE of any degree, with INR > 1.5, presumed acute illness onset, and the absence of cirrhosis. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 51.6 years; 13 (54.2%) were female. At admission, 18 patients (75%) had SH, 5 (21%) had ALI, and 1 (4.1%) had ALF. During follow-up, 6 of the 18 SH (33%) patients progressed to ALI and 2 of the 5 ALI (40%) patients progressed to ALF. No progression to ALI or ALF was observed in the 8 SH cases with a baseline MELD score of <15. One patient with grade 4 HE died (4.1%). None underwent liver transplantation. CONCLUSION: The survival was 100% in the ALI and SH groups. A MELD score of <15 at admission may be used as a predictor of no progression to ALI or ALF in patients with SH. However, since 40% of ALI cases may progress to ALF, these cases should be followed up in a tertiary care center that is equipped to perform liver transplantation and advanced therapies.

Correlation of liver-to-spleen ratio, lung CT scores, clinical, and laboratory findings of COVID-19 patients with two consecutive CT scans.

PURPOSE: Given the lack of information about abdominal imaging findings and correlation with clinical features of COVID-19, we aimed to evaluate the changes in hepatic attenuation during the course of disease. Our aim was to correlate the liver-to-spleen ratio (L/S), clinical, laboratory findings, and lung CT scores of patients with COVID-19 who had two consecutive chest CTs. METHODS: A retrospective search was performed between March 1, 2020 and April 26, 2020 to identify patients who had positive RT-PCR tests and two unenhanced chest CTs. Scans that were obtained at hospital admission and follow-up were reviewed to assess L/S and lung CT scores. Patients were divided into two groups based on lung CT scores (non-progressive vs progressive). Patient demographics, laboratory findings, length of hospital stay, and survival were noted from electronic medical records. RESULTS: Twenty patients in the progressive group and 7 patients in the non-progressive group were identified. The mean L/S of the progressive group (1.13 ± 0.3) was lower than that of the non-progressive group (1.21 ± 0.29) at hospital admission but there was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.547). L/S at follow-up was significantly different between the groups as the mean L/S values of the progressive and non-progressive groups were 1.02 ± 0.23 and 1.25 ± 0.29, respectively (p = 0.009). L/S was negatively correlated with AST and ALT (r = - 0.46, p = 0.016 and r = - 0.534, p = 0.004, respectively). There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts that were obtained at hospital admission. Length of hospital stay was significantly longer in patients in the progressive group (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Decrease in L/S may be observed in patients with elevated lung CT scores at follow-up. WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts at hospital admission may predict the progression of COVID-19.

Dual-energy CT enterography in evaluation of Crohn's disease: the role of virtual monochromatic images.

PURPOSE: To assess the use of virtual monochromatic images (VMI) for discrimination of affected and non-affected bowel walls in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) as well as to compare mural enhancement between patients with and without CD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 61 patients (47 with CD, 14 without CD). Attenuation value (AV), signal-to noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were obtained at VMI energy levels from 40 to 110 keV in 10 keV increment. Analyses were performed among affected and non-affected bowel walls in CD patients, as well as from bowel walls in patients without CD. Image quality and mural enhancement were evaluated at VMI energy levels at 40, 70, and 110 keV. RESULTS: At all energy levels of VMI, each quantitative data for AV, SNR, and CNR showed statistically significant difference between diseased and non-diseased bowel walls in CD patients. In the quantitative assessment of patients with and without CD, the optimal AV and SNR were obtained at 40 keV, and the optimal CNR was obtained at 70 keV. For the qualitative assessment, the best image quality and mural enhancement were obtained at 70 keV and 40 keV, respectively. CONCLUSION: VMI are helpful for the differentiation of affected bowel walls in CD patients, providing high diagnostic accuracy.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Crude Momordica charantia L. Extract on 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-Induced Colitis Model in Rat and the Bioaccessibility of its Carotenoid Content.

Momordica charantia L., known as bitter melon (BM), is a plant that belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. Aims of this study are to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of crude BM extract on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced experimental colitis model in rat. It was also aimed to determine the content and bioaccessibility of carotenoids of BM. BM was purchased from local markets in Izmir, Turkey. Fruits of BM were lyophilized, powdered, and used in the experiment. Carotenoids were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. To determine the bioaccessibility of ß-carotene, in vitro digestion was performed. Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: group A (BM+TNBS), group B (BM), group C (TNBS), and group D (control). BM solution was given 300 mg/(kg·day) for 6 weeks orally. Colitis was induced by 0.25 mL of a solution containing 100 mg/kg 5% (w/v) TNBS in 50% ethanol (w/v) intrarectally after 6 weeks. After sacrification, macroscopic and microscopic evaluations were performed. Myeloperoxidase, cytokines levels (interleukin-17 [IL-17], TNF-alpha, and interleukin-10 [IL-10]) were measured in serum and colonic samples by ELISA test. Institutional Animal Ethics Committee approval was obtained. Total carotenoid content of BM was determined 11.7 mg/g dry weight as ß-carotene equivalents. Bioaccessibility of total carotenoids was determined as 2.1% with in vitro digestion. Pretreatment with crude BM extract significantly reduced weight loss, macroscopic, and microscopic colitis damages in colonic samples (P = .000), (P = .015), and (P = .026), respectively. Serum anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 increased significantly in both treatment groups (P = .000). BM is a rich source of carotenoids, but the bioaccessibility of its carotenoids is low. This study displays that BM has protective anti-inflammatory effects on TNBS-induced colitis.

Biliary sphincterotomy plus dilation with a large balloon for bile duct stones that are difficult to extract.

BACKGROUND: Bile duct stones are still present in 10% to 15% of patients after the application of conventional endoscopic extraction techniques and require additional procedures for duct clearance. In the vast majority of these cases, there are 2 main problems: large stone size (>15 mm) and tapering of distal bile duct. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients in whom endoscopic sphincterotomy and standard basket/balloon extraction were unsuccessful in the removal of bile duct stones underwent dilation with a 10- to 20-mm diameter (esophageal/pyloric type) balloon at the same session. In 18 patients with tapered distal bile ducts (Group 1), 12- to 18-mm diameter balloon catheters were used to enlarge the orifice. In 40 patients with square, barrel shaped and/or large (>15mm) stones (Group 2), the sphincterotomy orifice was enlarged with 15- to 20-mm diameter balloon catheters. After dilatation, standard basket/balloon extraction techniques were used to remove the stone(s). RESULTS: Stone clearance was successful in 16 patients (89%) in Group 1 and 35 (95%) in Group 2. Complications occurred in 9 (15.5%) patients. CONCLUSION: Dilation with a large-diameter balloon after endoscopic sphincterotomy is a useful alternative technique in patients with bile duct stones that are difficult to remove with standard methods.