BACKGROUND: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a disease that causes an ischemia in the intestines due to the obstruction of the mesenteric vessels feeding the intestines, with a mortality rate reaching up to 80%. The overall incidence of AMI is 0.63 per 100,000 people. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important for survival. There is no ideal biomarker that can reflect different types and stages of AMI. This study investigated the predictive and prognostic value of L-lactate, D-dimer, leukocyte, C reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the preoperative period were investigated in patients operated for AMI. METHODS: A total of 44 patients operated for AMI between 2015 and 2019 were evaluated in this study. Demographic, clinical, radiological, laboratory and surgical findings of the patients included in this study were recorded. The patients were divided into groups according to the etiological type of AMI. L-lactate, D-dimer, CRP, leukocyte, and NLR levels of these patients were determined. Statistical analysis was performed according to AMI groups. RESULTS: The mean age of the 44 patients included in this study was 67.7 years and the female to male ratio was 0.76. According to tomography results, 31.8% (n=14) of the patients had mesenteric artery embolism, 29.5% (n=13) had mesenteric artery thrombus, 25% (n=11) had mesenteric vein thrombus and 13.6% (n=6) had non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia. When AMI types were compared, D-dimer and CRP levels were found to be significantly different from other markers. The total length of stay in the hospital was found to be significantly correlated with the L-lactate (p=0.047) and CRP (p=0.045) levels. In the analyses, CRP was determined to be the common biomarker that could be used in the diagnosis of mesenteric ischemia in all AMI types. CONCLUSION: Particularly, the CRP level can be used effectively in the preoperative period to diagnose AMI and to determine its subtype and clinical course. However, L-lactate, D-dimer, leukocyte and NLR are markers that have no predictive value in the diagnosis of all AMI subtypes.

Background. Globally, the colorectal cancers rank the third in terms of cancer incidence and rank the fourth in cancer-associated deaths. S100A4, an important member of the S100 protein family, serves to promote tumor progression and metastasis. By conducting this study, we aim to examine the role of S100A4 in the prognosis of colon cancer and to demonstrate its prognostic significance. Methods. Tissue samples of colon cancer from 148 patients who underwent colon resection due to colon cancer were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining to determine the protein expression levels of S100A4. The protein expression levels of S100A4 in tumor tissue were matched with the clinicopathologic factors including patient survival. Results. Cytoplasmic expression of S100A4 protein was demonstrated in the tumor tissue of 132 patients (89.2%) out of a total of 148 study patients. Statistically, the expression levels of the cytoplasmic S100A4 protein correlated significantly with the TNM stages and patient survival. The distribution of the S100A4 protein staining in the tumor tissue was associated with the age groups, tumor localization, TNM staging, and patient survival with statistical significance. The levels of S100A4 protein expression were found to be an independent prognostic factor for TNM staging and poor survival. Conclusion. Expression of the S100A4 protein in colon cancers may be an indicator of tumor progression and lymph node metastasis and may be useful for predicting the overall survival of the patients with colon cancer. In patients with colon cancer, it may be used as an indicator of poor prognosis.

Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD), most commonly seen in young men, is a chronic disease resulting from the pilosebaceous in the sacrococcygeal region. There is still no standardization in surgical treatment. In this study, the effectiveness, follow up outcomes and quality of life level were compared between Karydakis flap (KF) and Limberg flap (LF) operations. Among the patients who had undergone PSD surgery in our clinic between 2015 and 2016, those who could be reached and who received KF (n= 53) and LF (n= 51) operations were included into the study. Clinical data of these patients were retrospectively evaluated. Postoperative satisfaction levels of the patients were determined with Cardiff wound healing survey questions and visual analog scale. Mean operational time was 54 (44-75) minutes in the LF group and 45 (35-60) minutes in the KF group, and it was statistically significant (p= 0.001). Mean time to return to work was 14.3 (9-28) days in the LF group and 17.6 (10-30) days in the CF group and was statistically significant (p= 0.001). The rates of complications and recurrence were lower in the LF group although the difference was not statistically significant between the groups (p> 0.05). Mean psychosocial assessment score was 70.3 (57.5-88.7) in the KF group and 73.4 (53.5-87.5) in the LF group and the difference was statistically significant (p= 0.001). LF was a more reliable and preferable method compared to KF because of earlier return-to-work, lower rate of recurrence at long term follow up, and higher psychosocial satisfaction.

Background. The proliferative lesions of the Brunner’s glands (BGs) are hyperplasia and hamartomas, and they are usually asymptomatic and very rarely diagnosed. The aetiology of these lesions is not yet clear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical presentations of patients with BG hyperplasia and hamartomas and to assess the pathological features of these lesions in association with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Methods. Our retrospective study included patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy between 2010 and 2015. The hospital records of 18 patients diagnosed with hyperplasia or hamartoma of BG were reviewed for the clinical and pathological findings. Data from patients with BG lesion were compared with 37 patients who had nonspecific duodenitis as the control group. Results. Female/male ratio in our study sample was 1/1. The age range was between 16 and 85 years with a mean age of 48.61. BG hyperplasia and hamartomas were found in 72.22 and 27.78% of the patients, respectively. The rate of H. pylori in gastric mucosa was 43.2% in the control group and 66.7% in the BG lesion group. In the BG lesion group, the rate of H. pylori was higher. H. pylori was identified in 60% of BG hamartomas and in 69.2% of hyperplastic BGs. Conclusion. Our study demonstrated that H. pylori may play an important role in the development of BG hyperplasia and hamartomas in association with chronic gastritis and duodenitis. This is probably due to chronic irritation.

Background/Aims: Acute appendicitis is the most frequent cause of acute abdomen emergency surgery. It continues to be a problem today due to delayed diagnosis and its high perforation rate. For this reason, diagnostic tests continue to be developed. In this experimental study, the diagnostic significance of blood procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2, and D-dimer levels in an acute appendicitis model in rabbits was investigated. Materials and Methods: A total of five groups were included: control group, sham group, and three different acute appendicitis groups. In the appendicitis groups, the appendix was ligated by laparotomy, and the blood PCT, IL-6, IL-2, and D-dimer levels were measured at 12 (group 3), 24 (group 4), and 48 h (group 5). Then, an appendectomy was performed. Results: In the present study, PCT and IL-6 levels increased in parallel with the inflammation of the appendix in all groups and were found to be statistically significant. IL-2 and D-dimer values were higher in the groups diagnosed with appendicitis but were not statistically significant. Conclusion: In our experimental study, PCT and IL-6 levels were determined to be important in the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis, especially IL-6, and that these two parameters are more important markers than IL-2 and D-dimer. Cite this article as: Destek S, Gül VO, Menteş MÖ, Çiçek AF. Diagnostic efficacy of serum procalcitonin, IL-6, IL-2, and D-dimer levels in an experimental acute appendicitis model. Turk J Gastroenterol 2019; 30(7): 641-7.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 10%-25% of patients with colon diverticular disease experience colonic diverticulitis during their lives. Right-sided diverticulosis is a rare condition in Western countries, but it is common among Asian countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and treatment outcomes in our patients with right colon diverticulitis. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data of 22 patients with a diagnosis of cecum and right-sided colon diverticulitis between 2014 and 2017 were analyzed. The Hinchey staging was applied according to the radiological evaluation and clinical findings. Then, the proportions of demographic and clinical features of the patients according to the Hinchey staging and its statistical significance were evaluated. RESULTS: Our study included 22 patients who suffered from right colon diverticulitis. The female-to-male ratio was 0.69. A total of 68.1% of the patients were the Hinchey Stage I, and 31.8% were the Hinchey Stage II, all of which were evaluated by tomography. The Hinchey Stage I diverticulitis was mostly found in the right colon (66.7%) and the Hinchey Stage II diverticulitis in the cecum (57.1%). The mean age of the Hinchey Stage II patients was higher (63.6 years) and statistically significant (p< 0.05). Two patients had appendectomy, and one had right hemicolectomy. Conservative treatment was applied to other 19 patients. The mean hospitalization time was 3.4 days. Four patients who received conservative treatment at the 2-year follow-up had recurrence. No recurrence was observed in patients receiving surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Right colon diverticulitis is usually seen in solitary men aged < 50 years from Eastern societies. As a treatment option, conservative methods should be preferred, especially in uncomplicated cases. Surgical treatment is usually used in the treatment of recurrent and complicated cases.