Background/Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and sarcopenia risk among patients hospitalized in gastroenterology clinics across different geographical regions of Turkey, to identify their risk factors, and to evaluate their associations with clinical outcomes. Methods: A total of 1051 patients admitted to 36 gastroenterology clinics across six geographical regions of Turkey during the week of 14 November 2024 were evaluated in a cross-sectional design. The nutritional status of the patients was assessed using the NRS-2002 questionnaire, while the risk of sarcopenia was evaluated with the SARC-F questionnaire. Demographic data, clinical diagnoses, disease severity scores, and comorbidities were also recorded and analyzed. Results: Of the patients included in the study, 54.7% were female, and the mean age was 61.7 ± 17.2 years. The prevalence of malnutrition risk was 27.8%, while the prevalence of sarcopenia risk was 32.7%. Patients with malnutrition risk had a lower BMI (24.7 ± 5.3 vs. 27.1 ± 5.4, p < 0.001) and were older (67.6 ± 16.0 vs. 56.5 ± 17.1, p < 0.001). The risks of sarcopenia and malnutrition were significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis (40.7% malnutrition; 54.5% sarcopenia), gastrointestinal malignancy (50.5%; 44.2%), and diabetes mellitus. Logistic regression analysis identified older age, male sex, and presence of malignancy as independent risk factors for malnutrition, whereas older age, female sex, presence of malnutrition, liver cirrhosis, and heart failure were independent risk factors for sarcopenia. A strong correlation was also found between malnutrition and sarcopenia (r = 0.544, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Approximately one-third of patients hospitalized in gastroenterology clinics across Turkey are at risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia. These conditions are particularly associated with malignancy, cirrhosis, and metabolic comorbidities. Our findings highlight the necessity of systematic nutritional and sarcopenia screening upon hospital admission.

Background and Aims: Ornidazole, a nitroimidazole antibiotic, is widely used for protozoal and anaerobic infections and is generally considered safe. However, ornidazole-induced liver injury (OILI) is an underrecognized yet potentially severe adverse reaction. This multicenter study aims to characterize the clinical features, histopathology, and outcomes of OILI to improve the awareness and management of this rare entity worldwide. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 101 patients with OILI from eight tertiary centers between 2006 and 2023. Cases were included based on liver enzyme elevations temporally linked to ornidazole and the exclusion of other causes. Causality was assessed using the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) score. Clinical data, laboratory parameters, autoantibody profiles, histology, treatments, and outcomes were evaluated. Results: OILI was classified as highly probable in 42.6% of cases (n = 43), probable in 51.5% of cases (n = 52), and possible in 5.9% (n = 6) of cases. The predominant pattern was acute hepatocellular injury (83.2%) (n = 84). Autoimmune-like hepatitis occurred in 5% of cases (n = 5), with ANA positivity in 16.8% of cases (n = 17). Corticosteroids were used in 24.8% of cases (n = 25) and were associated with higher ANA positivity and a 20% (n = 5) relapse rate post-discontinuation. Recovery was achieved in 87.7% of cases (n = 88), while 7.9% of cases (n = 8) required liver transplantation and 4% (n = 4) died. Conclusions: Ornidazole can cause serious idiosyncratic liver injury, including autoimmune phenotypes, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute hepatitis. Given the notable risk of liver failure and death, early recognition, drug discontinuation, and close monitoring are essential. In select cases, corticosteroids and plasmapheresis may be beneficial, though the evidence remains limited.

BACKGROUND Diagnostic laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical method to diagnose intra-abdominal diseases. AIM To evaluate patients with unexplained ascites who could not be definitively diagnosed via advanced radiological and endoscopic methods and serological, cytological, and microbiological examinations and, therefore, underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. METHODS This retrospective analysis evaluated 82 patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy due to unexplained ascites. Patients’ medical records were obtained from the hospital database. Their age, sex, complaints at admission, laboratory results, radiological imaging results, diagnostic laparoscopy reports, and pathology reports were analyzed. RESULTS The serum-ascites albumin gradient was < 1.1 in 96.3% of the patients (n = 79). Among patients, 22 (26.8%) had benign diagnoses and 60 (73.2%) had malignant diagnoses. In addition, 55 (67.1%) were deceased, and the median follow-up time from diagnosis to death was four months. The overall follow-up time ranged from 1 to 142 months, with a median of 14 months. Patients’ diagnoses were significantly associated with their survival (P < 0.05, χ 2 test). The mortality rate was 86.7% among patients with malignant diagnoses and 13.6% among patients with benign diagnoses. CONCLUSION Diagnostic laparoscopy is minimally invasive, has a low complication rate, and requires a short hospital stay. It can be safely performed to diagnose and treat ascites that remain unexplained after advanced radiological and endoscopic examinations.