Helicobacter pylori and histopathological findings in patients with dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although Helicobacter pylori infection has been reported to be more frequent in patients with dyspepsia, whether it should be treated in dyspepsia remains controversial. This study was carried out to compare the histopathological changes in Helicobacter pylori-positive and -negative dyspepsia patients. METHODS: A total of 461 patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive dyspepsia seen in our institution were enrolled in the study. The control group was formed from 100 Helicobacter pylori-negative dyspepsia patients. Subjects underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and biopsy specimens were taken from the gastric antrum and corpus. All of the cases were evaluated according to the Sydney classification, and the relation of Helicobacter pylori with chronic inflammation, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and activity was investigated by two pathologists. RESULTS: Activity, inflammation and intestinal metaplasia were found in 10 (10%), 70 (70%) and 10 (10%) of Helicobacter pylori (-) patients, respectively, and the numbers increased with increasing Helicobacter pylori intensity when compared with Helicobacter pylori (+) patients (p<0.01, p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). Atrophy was found in 27 (5.5%) of all cases (in 10 Helicobacter pylori (-) patients and in 17 Helicobacter pylori (+) patients), but no significant relation was found with increasing Helicobacter pylori intensity (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between corpus alone or antrum alone Helicobacter pylori (+) and both corpus/antrum (+) patients in regards to the presence of activity, inflammation, intestinal metaplasia, and atrophy (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Determination of the degree of morphological changes accompanying Helicobacter pylori infection in dyspepsia is important in the follow-up and treatment of patients. As activity, inflammation and intestinal metaplasia increase with increasing Helicobacter pylori intensity in dyspepsia patients, Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment can be recommended in these patients.

The role of fecal calprotectin in investigating inflammatory bowel diseases.

INTRODUCTION: Invasive and non-invasive tests can be used to evaluate the activity of inflammatory bowel diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of fecal calprotectin in evaluating inflammatory bowel disease activity and the correlation of fecal calprotectin with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein values in inflammatory bowel disease. METHOD: Sixty-five patients affected with inflammatory bowel disease were enrolled. Twenty outpatients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease comprised the control group. RESULTS: In the present study, all patients in the control group had an fecal calprotectin value lower than the cut-off point (50 mg/kg). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, fecal calprotectin was found to be strongly associated with colorectal inflammation indicating organic disease. Fecal calprotectin is a simple and non-invasive method for assessing excretion of macrophages into the gut lumen. Fecal calprotectin values can be used to evaluate the response to treatment, to screen asymptomatic patients, and to predict inflammatory bowel disease relapses.

The role of fecal calprotectin in investigating inflammatory bowel diseases

INTRODUCTION: Invasive and non-invasive tests can be used to evaluate the activity of inflammatory bowel diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of fecal calprotectin in evaluating inflammatory bowel disease activity and the correlation of fecal calprotectin with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein values in inflammatory bowel disease. METHOD: Sixty-five patients affected with inflammatory bowel disease were enrolled. Twenty outpatients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease comprised the control group. RESULTS: In the present study, all patients in the control group had an fecal calprotectin value lower than the cut-off point (50 mg/kg). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, fecal calprotectin was found to be strongly associated with colorectal inflammation indicating organic disease. Fecal calprotectin is a simple and non-invasive method for assessing excretion of macrophages into the gut lumen. Fecal calprotectin values can be used to evaluate the response to treatment, to screen asymptomatic patients, and to predict inflammatory bowel disease relapses.

Hirsutism: common clinical problem or index of serious disease?

Hirsutism is a clinical condition commonly encountered in the practice of primary care medicine. The etiology and the age of the patient when it occurs vary widely. Causes range from a basic illness or condition (drug exposure, smoking, idiopathic, and obesity) to complex and serious diseases (Cushing's syndrome, neoplasms, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, insulin-resistance syndromes, hyperprolactinemia, polycystic ovary syndrome, and hyperthecosis). Hirsutism may appear in childhood as well as in older persons. Some drugs (oral contraceptives, L-thyroxine, danazol, and diazoxide), tobacco smoke, some syndromes (polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity, insulin resistance, hyperprolactinemia, hyperthecosis, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and idiopathic), and some neoplasms (adrenal or ovarian) may lead to hirsutism. The most frequently defined "causes" of hirsutism are polycystic ovary syndrome and idiopathic hirsutism. In hirsutism of gradual onset, hyperprolactinemia, insulin-resistance syndromes, hyperthecosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and idiopathic hirsutism may be responsible. Cushing's syndrome, neoplasms, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia should be suspected if there has been rapid onset.