Introduction: Pegylated-interferon alpha (Peg-IFN α) is the therapy most commonly used to treat chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection. In the present study, we planned to investigate effect of IL28B polymorphism on response to Peg-IFN α therapy and disease progression in patients with chronic HDV. Methodology: A total of 47 patients who received Peg-IFNα therapy for at least one year were investigated. The patients were divided into three groups based on their response to treatment: sustained viral response (SVR) (32%), unresponsive (53%), and relapse (15%). The groups were compared in terms of age, gender, blood biochemistry (albumin, total bilirubin, lactic acid dehydrogenase, ALT, AST, ALP, GGT), complete blood count, HBeAg, HBsAg, HBV-DNA, HDV-RNA, IL28B genotypes (CC, CT, TT), and results of liver biopsy. Results: Regarding the investigation of IL28B genotype, the prevalence of CC, CT, and TT showed no difference among the three groups. In the SVR group, the prevalence of CC was 53%, CT was 47%, but there was no patient with TT. In the unresponsive group, prevalence of CC was 52%, CT was 32%, and TT was 16%. In the relapse group, prevalence of CC was 43%, CT was 57%, but there was no patient with TT genotype. No significant difference was found among the groups with sustained response, no response, and relapse in terms of CC and CT polymorphisms (p>0.05). Conclusions: No relationship was found between IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism and response to treatment and disease severity in patients with chronic HDV infection.

Objective Arum dioscoridis is a plant that has been shown to regulate biological activity on oxidation, immune system and inflammation grown in our country. We aimed to investigate the effects of arum dioscoridis in experimental colitis related to acetic acid in rats. Material and Methods In this study 56 Wistar Albino female rats, 6 weeks old, weighing 180- 210 g, were seperated into 7 equal groups with 8 animals in each group. Group 1 is the control one without any administration. An experimental colitis has been created on Group 2. Group 3 is treated with prophylactic oral arum dioscoridis before creating experimental colitis. The rats belongs to Group 4 has been received oral arum dioscoridis treatment with ethanolic solvent after creating experimental colitis. Group 5 was given oral treatment with solvent with DMSO (Dimethyl sulfoxide) after experimental colitis was created. Group 6 rectal treatment with solvent with DMSO after experimental colitis has been created. Group 7 was given a 2-fold oral treatment after experimental colitis. In tissue samples taken from mice, the effects of arum dioscoridis were evaluated macroscopically, histopathologically and biochemically. Results In the colitis group, significant weight loss occurred compared to the treatment groups. Statistically significant improvement was found in macroscopic and microscopic analysis with arum dioscoridis treatment and prophylaxis. In the colitis model which is created with acetic acid, total oxidant status, thiol / disulfide, malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase levels increased and a decrease in total antioxidant capacity was detected. Conclusion This study showed that arum dioscoridis has positive effects on the colitis model created in rats, and it significantly improves intestinal inflammation especially in groups given by dissolving with ethanol and used for prophylaxis purposes

Background/Aims: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is an important global public health problem. The application of screening programs is important for the elimination of HCV in addition to DAA therapies. The aim of this study was to measure the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of family physicians, who are important in screening programs for the diagnosis, natural history, and treatment of HCV infection. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to measure the knowledge levels in respect of HCV screening, diagnosis, natural history and treatment, of family physicians working nationwide in Turkey, through a survey. Results: The most common reason to perform an anti-HCV test stated by 70.9% (n:420) of the participants was the mandatory screening program before marriage. Of the participants included in the study, 29.6% (n=175) had encountered anti-HCV test positivity at least once within the last year, and of these, 15.4% (n=27) had no knowledge of whether the patient went to a higher level center for further diagnosis, while 58.9% (n=103) did not know the disease stage. In response to questions about current drug options for hepatitis C infection, 14.5% were aware of DAA and 34.8% of participitant reported interferon+ ribavirin. Conclusion: Family physicians have gaps in their knowledge of the screening, natural history and treatment of HCV infection. The results of this study show that HCV training plans for family physicians should cover all aspects of the infection, and emphasize the necessity for the establishment of guideline-based screening recommendations.

Background and Aim: Although vaccination practices continue at a fast pace around the world, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) still threatens people’s lives. In this study, we aimed to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in patients who do not have the typical symptoms of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but only present with dyspepsia, and to investigate the role of immature granulocytes in the early diagnosis of these patients. Material and Methods: Adult and pediatric patients suffering from dyspepsia were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups, ‘‘positive’’ and ‘‘negative’’, based on their SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test results. Immature granulocyte count (IG), immature granulocyte percentage (IG%), C-reactive protein (CRP), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values were recorded. Results: A total of 238 patients, including 25 (10.5%) pediatric and 213 (89.5%) adult patients, were included in the study. A total of 2 (8%) pediatric patients and 17 (7.9%) adult patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The IG, IG%, and CRP parameters were significantly higher in the SARS-CoV-2-positive patients compared to the SARS-CoV-2-negative patients. The optimal cut-off value predictive of COVID-19 infection was determined to be ≥0.650 (sensitivity: 52.6% and specificity: 95.5%, p = 0.001) for IG%. Conclusions: It should be noted that dyspepsia may also be a COVID-19 symptom. IG% values, which can be determined with a hemogram test, a cheap and easily accessible test, may be a warning in the early detection of patients who do not have the typical symptoms of COVID-19.

Giriş-Amaç Ülseratif kolit, kolonu diffüz tutan mukozal inflamasyonla karakterize rekürren, idiyopatik ve kronik bir hastalıktır. Kolitde, oksidan/antioksidan dengenin bozulduğu gözlenmiştir. N-asetilsistein ve β-glukan ise antioksidan, anti-inflamatuvar özellikte olan maddeler olup kolitde yararlı etkilerini araştırmayı amaçladık. Materyal-Metod 220-250 gr 50 adet erkek Wistar Albino rat kullanıldı. Grup I (Kontrol):Tek doz rektal saline uygulandı, sonrası 6 gün normal besin verildi. Grup II (Kolit):Tek doz rektal asetik asit uygulandı, sonrası 6 gün normal besin verildi. Grup III (β-Glukan+Kolit):Tek doz oral 100mg/kg β-glukan verildikten 1 saat sonra rektal asetik asit uygulandı. Sonraki 6 gün oral 100/mg/kg/gün β-glukan verildi. Grup IV (N-asetilsistein+Kolit):Tek doz oral 200mg/kg N-asetilsistein verildikten 1 saat sonra rektal asetik asit uygulandı. Sonraki 6 gün oral 200mg/kg/gün N-asetilsistein verildi. Grup V (N-asetilsistein+β-glukan+Kolit): Tek doz oral 200mg/kg N-asetilsistein+100 mg/kg β-glukan verildi. 1 saat sonra rektal asetik asit uygulandı. Sonraki 6 gün oral 100 mg/kg/gün β-glukan + 200 mg/kg/gün N-asetilsistein verildi. Çalışmanın sonunda kalın barsak distal 8 cm’lik kısmı çıkarıldı. Histopatolojik ve biyokimyasal inceleme için örnekler alındı. Bulgular Tedavi alanlar da almayanlara göre MDA ve MPO düzeyleri anlamlı düşük; SOD, KAT düzeyleri ise anlamlı yüksek olduğu gözlendi. Tedavi grupları arasında, MDA ve MPO düzeylerinde anlamlı fark yoktu. Diğer antioksidan enzimler (SOD, KAT); N-asetilsistein grubuyla β-glukan grubu arasında anlamlı fark yok iken kombinasyon verilen grupta antioksidan savunma, N-asetilsistein grubundan anlamlı olarak düşük gözlendi. Histopatolojik skor ortalamaları değerlendirildiğinde kontrol ve tedavi grupları arasında istatiksel olarak anlamlı fark izlenmedi. Sonuçlar N-Asetilsistein ve β-glukan’ın kolitde faydalı olduğu izlendi. N-asetilsistein ve β-glukan ‘ın kombine verilmesinin ek bir fayda sağlamadığı gözlendi.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of Arum dioscoridis (tirsik) plant extract against thioacetamide-induced experimental liver toxicity. Methods: In this study, 35 male Wistar–Albino rats, of 12-14 weeks old, weighing between 200 and 270 g, were used. Rats were divided into 5 groups of 7 each. The first group was determined as the control group, the second group as the hepatotoxicity group, the third group as the prophylaxis group, the fourth group as the intraperitoneal treatment group, and the fifth group as the oral treatment group. Hepatotoxicity was achieved with a single intraperitoneal dose of 350 mg/kg of thioacetamide (TAA). On the seventh day, the rats were sacrificed under general anesthesia. Their blood was taken and liver enzymes were studied. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathyon peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxit dismutase (SOD) enzymes were studied from liver tissues. In addition, liver tissues were evaluated histopathologically. Results: With Arum dioscoridis treatment and prophylaxis, improvements in all parameters and increases in tissue antioxidant levels were detected. Conclusion: It was determined that Arum dioscoridis plant extract has prophylactic and therapeutic effects on liver toxicity. In cases of acute liver injury and hepatotoxicity, we suggest the potential application of Arum dioscoridis for effective and inexpensive treatment. Cite this article as: Sökmen MF, İspiroğlu M, Gişi K, Bahar AY, Kurutaş EB, Kantarçeken B. Effects of Arum dioscoridis extract on hepatic toxicity caused by thioacetamide in rats. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2023;34(3):254-261.