Trace element levels in serum and gastric mucosa in patients with Helicobacter pylori positive and negative gastritis.

BACKGROUND: Most trace elements are inhibited by Helicobacter pylori-infection, and variations in specific element levels are linked to the development of stomach cancer. This is the first study to show the relationship between serum and tissue concentrations of twenty-five trace elements and H. pylori infection status. This study purposed to define serum and tissue trace element levels of 25 healthy individuals with Helicobacter pylori-positive gastritis and Helicobacter pylori-negative gastritis and to reveal their relationship with the disease. METHODS: Study groups consisted of sixty-two patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive, thirty-seven patients with Helicobacter pylori-negative, and thirty healthy individuals. Serum and tissue concentrations of twenty-five elements (aluminum, boron, arsenic, barium, calcium, beryllium, copper, cadmium, iron, chromium, mercury, lithium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, manganese, nickel, phosphorus, lead, scandium, strontium, selenium, tellurium, titanium, zinc) were defined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. RESULTS: Except for copper, lithium, and strontium elements in serum samples, other trace elements differed significantly between the groups (p < 0.05). The serum chromium (p = 0.002), mercury (p = 0.001), boron (p < 0.001), and cadmium (p < 0.001) levels of H. pylori-negative gastritis and H. pylori-positive gastritis participants were significantly different, and their serum concentrations were less than 0.5 µ/l. Boron, barium, beryllium, chromium, lithium, phosphorus and strontium elements in tissue samples did not differ significantly between the groups (p > 0.05). Manganese, nickel, tellurium and titanium elements were not detected in tissue and serum samples. The mean concentrations of calcium, beryllium, chromium, iron, potassium, lithium, magnesium, scandium, and selenium were higher in the tissues of patients with H. pylori gastritis compared to healthy control tissues. Also, cadmium could not be detected in tissue samples. There was a significant difference between H. pylori-infected tissue and serum chromium levels (p = 0.001), with lower levels detected in tissue samples. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that we are knowledgeable of that reports the concentrations of twenty five elements in both serum and tissue samples, as well as the relationship between trace elements and Helicobacter pylori-infection status. Dietary adjustment is indicated as an adjunct to medical therapy to stabilize trace elements because Helicobacter pylori bacteria cause inflammation and impair element absorption in gastritis patients. We also think that this study will shed light on studies on the relationship between Helicobacter pylori-trace elements and serum-tissue/healthy serum-tissue trace element levels of patients with Helicobacter pylori gastritis.

Can Gastric Volume be Accurately Estimated by Ultrasound?

OBJECTIVE: Knowing the degree of gastric fullness is critical in determining the potential risk of pulmonary aspiration prior to urgent or elective intubation. This study aims to investigate the role of ultrasound in predicting the gastric volume accurately. METHODS: 176 patients who underwent upper gastric endoscopy after 12-hour fasting were examined by gastric US. The patients were ran- domly divided into 6 groups according to the volume of ingested semifluid meal: (1) empty stomach (no volume), (2) 50 mL, (3) 100 mL, (4) 200 mL, (5) 300 mL, and (6) 400 mL. Antral cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured by US after each ingestion. RESULTS: We found a strong linear correlation between antral CSA and gastric volume up to 200 mL. The diagnostic performance of ultra- sound was found to be more powerful in the supine position than in the right lateral position. A new mathematical model was established to predict gastric volume. The threshold value for antral cross-sectional area at risk of pulmonary aspiration was determined as 3.1 cm2 by sonographic measurement. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography could be preferred to gastric endoscopy or scintigraphy in terms of non-invasiveness and easiness, although it still merits further investigation.

Comparison of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic gastric plication: One year follow-up results.

OBJECTIVE: Various different surgical methods are used for obesity surgery. Among them, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic gastric plication (LGP) have been both successfully performed in recent years. In this study, we compared the treatment results of patients who underwent LGP, a method that was introduced later consisting of plication of gastric greater curvature to achieve volume reduction, with results of patients who underwent LSG. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed data on morbid obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery with either LSG or LPG in Konya Beyhekim Hospital between 2009 and 2012. Demographic features including age and sex, preoperative blood biochemistry, body mass index (BMI) before and after operation, duration of hospital stay, morbidity, mortality and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients who were operated for obesity between 2009 and 2012 were included in the study. 29 patients underwent LGP, and 26 patients LSG. The BMI in the LGP and LSG groups was 41.4±3 kg/m(2) and 42.0±3.1 kg/m(2), respectively. There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of BMI. Two groups were also similar in terms of age and gender. In the LGP group, one patient had postoperative necrosis of the suture line. One patient in the LSG group was re-operated due to bleeding. Another patient in this group had leakage at the suture line. Postoperative BMI assessment of groups revealed significantly lower BMI levels in the LSG group. Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LGP group. There was no significant difference in complication rates between two groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, we obtained similar results in patients who were treated with LGP or LSG. Moreover, LSG was more efficient in decreasing BMI in morbid obesity surgery when compared to LGP. However, duration of hospital stay was significantly shorter in LGP group. We concluded that both methods could be effectively and safely used in the surgical management of morbid obesity.

The effects of serum estrogen levels on hypoxemia and blood nitric oxide levels in experimental hepatopulmonary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: : Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a well-defined cause of hypoxemia in patients who have liver disease due to abnormal intrapulmonary vascular dilatation. The pulmonary symptoms of HPS are the result of oxygenation defects that occur as a result of acquired dilatations of the pulmonary blood vessels. In this study, we investigated the effects of estrogen and nitric oxide (NO) in experimental HPS, especially in intrapulmonary vascular dilatation. METHODS: : Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. The animals were divided into five groups of 10. Group l (the control group): the common bile duct (CBD) was dissected but not ligated. Group 2 (the cirrhosis group): the CBD was ligated. Group 3 (the cirrhosis+oophorectomized group): the CBD was ligated and a bilateral oophorectomy performed. Group 4 (the cirrhosis+estrogen group): the CBD was ligated and exogenous estrogen (5000U/kg) given. Group 5 (the control+estrogen group): the CBD was dissected, but not ligated and exogenous estrogen (5000U/kg) given. A 5-week waiting period was observed for the development of cirrhosis and the rats' lungs and liver were taken for histopathological examination. Pulmonary vessel diameters were measured. The total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), estrogen and serum nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured. RESULTS: : The mean perialveolar vessel diameters were significantly higher in the cirrhotic rats (Groups 2, 3, and 4) than the control and control+estrogen administered groups. Again, when we compared the cirrhosis+oophorectomized group and the cirrhosis+estrogen group, the mean perialveolar vessel diameter was significantly lower in the cirrhosis+oophorectomized group than the cirrhosis+estrogen administered group (p=0.001). The mean perialveolar vessel diameter in the cirrhosis+oophorectomized group was significantly lower than the cirrhosis group (p=0.01). When we compared the cirrhotic rats (Groups 2, 3, and 4) and the control group, the plasma NO levels were significantly higher in the cirrhotic rats than the control group (p<0.001). Among the cirrhotic rats, the plasma NO levels were 47.2+/-0.7 and 70.9+/-1.5mumol/l in the cirrhosis+oophorectomized group and the cirrhosis+estrogen administered group, respectively (p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: : We consider that raised levels of estrogen have a potential role in intrapulmonary vascular dilatation and hypoxemia in HPS. Also, we consider that this effect of estrogen is due to increased levels of NO. Antiestrogenic surgical therapy may decrease the serum estrogen and NO levels, and may decrease the diameter of perialveolar vessels in order to relieve hypoxia in cirrhotic cases.