Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted intestinal nematode that has been estimated to infect at least 60 million people, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Strongyloides infection has been described in immunosupressed patients with lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus etc. Our case who has rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and bronchial asthma was treated with low dose steroids and methotrexate. A 68 year old woman has bronchial asthma for 55 years and also diagnosed RA 7 years ago. She received immunusupressive agents including methotrexate and steroids. On admission at hospital, she was on deflazacort 5 mg/day and methotrexate 15 mg/week. On her physical examination, she was afebrile, had rhonchi and mild epigastric tenderness. She had joint deformities at metacarpophalengeal joints and phalanges but no active arthritis finding. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed and it showed hemorrhagic focus at bulbus. Gastric biopsy obtained and showed evidence of S.Stercoralis infection. Stool and sputum parasitological examinations were also all positive for S.stercoralis larvae. Chest radiography result had no pathologic finding. Albendazole 400 mg/day was started for 23 days. After the ivermectin was retrieved, patient was treated with oral ivermectin 200 μg once a day for 3 days. On her outpatient control at 15th day, stool and sputum samples were all negative for parasites. S.stercoralis may cause mortal diseases in patients. Immunosupression frequently causes disseminated infections. Many infected patients are completely asymptomatic. Although it is important to detect latent S. stercoralis infections before administering chemotherapy or before the onset of immunosuppression in patients at risk, a specific and sensitive diagnostic test is lacking. In immunosupressed patients, to detect S.stercoralis might help to have the patient survived and constitute the exact therapy.

Background/Aims: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic liver disease influenced by environmental, genetic, and epigenetic fac tors, with varying incidence across populations. This study compared demographic, biochemical, and treatment responses in Danish and Turkish PBC patients. Materials and Methods: Four cohorts were analyzed: (1) 101 incident Turkish patients, (2) 77 incident Danish patients, (3) 103 prevalent Turkish patients, and (4) 155 prevalent Danish patients. Demographics, biochemical data, disease severity, and response to ursodeoxy cholic acid (UDCA) were assessed. Regression analysis was applied to the entire cohort to identify factors associated with the UDCA response. Results: Female dominance was noted in all cohorts (>90%) except the Danish incident group (75%). Turkish patients in the preva lent cohort were younger than Danish patients. Antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) positivity was higher in Turkish cohorts (92%-97%) compared to Danish cohorts (75%-88%). Biochemical data were similar across groups, with 15% of both populations having cirrhosis. Turkish patients showed a higher complete response to UDCA. Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels reduced UDCA response, while Turkish ethnicity and older age improved it. Conclusion: Despite similar disease severity and age at diagnosis between Danish and Turkish PBC patients, Turkish patients had higher AMA positivity and better responses to UDCA treatment. These findings suggest potential genetic or environmental influences on treat ment efficacy. Cite this article as: Eruzun H, Bossen L, Turan Gökçe D, et al. Clinical and biochemical characteristics of a Danish and Turkish cohort of incident and prevalent patients with primary biliary cholangitis. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2025;36(4):241-246.

Demirbaş F, et al. Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr. 2021 Mar;24(2):164-172. https://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2021.24.2.164

There are contradictory reports about the prevalence of cholelithiasis in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The pathogenesis of gallstones is associated with the lithogenic changes of bile composition, increased tendency to nucleation, and decreased gallbladder motility. The studies related to these factors can predict the development of cholelithiasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasonic gallbladder function in CKD and to compare it in predialysis (PreD), hemodialysis (HD), and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Age, gender, and body mass index matched 49 CKD patients (14 PreD, 19 HD, 16 CAPD), and 17 control individuals were included in the study. Diabetic and cirrhotic patients were not included. Ultrasonic gallbladder volume was evaluated in pre- and postprandial period, and ejection fraction was calculated. We also measured several biochemical parameters (cholesterol, triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, calcium, Phosphorus, parathormone, albumin, total protein) in blood. Preprandial gallbladder volume in PreD, HD, CAPD, and control groups were 26.7 +/-13.6, 20.8+/-10.4, 23.2+/-14.7, and 26.4+/-14.8 mL, respectively (p > 0.05). Ejection fractions were 54.1 +/- 22.9%, 54.9 +/- 23.9%, 48.6 +/- 15.9%, and 51.8 +/- 19.2% in PreD, HD, CAPD, and control groups, respectively (p > 0.05). Serum triglyceride was higher in PreD patients than control group (207 +/- 144 vs. 110 +/-48 mg/dL) (p<0.05). Serum BUN, Cre, P, and PTH levels were higher in CKD groups than the control group, whereas serum total protein and albumin levels were higher in the control group (p<0.05). Serum Ca was lower in PreD and HD patients than in the controls (p<0.05). In conclusion, CKD and renal replacement therapy (HD and CAPD) do not affect gallbladder functions, but more studies are needed to evaluate prevalence of gallstones, gallbladder motility, and the composition of bile in CKD.

Fasciola hepatica infection is a zoonosis mostly encountered in the sheep-raising countries. The early phase F. hepatica infection is characterised by fever, abdominal pain and eosinophilia. The biliary obstruction and icterus are rarely caused by F. hepatica. Our case was a 22-years old female, from Giresun, a north coast city of Turkey, who applied because of icterus and abdominal pain. To analyse the problem abdominal US and laboratory tests was performed which showed dilation in the proximal of choledochal and tubuler echogenites and elevated hepatic enzymes. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed minimal dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts and heterogenous filling defect in the hilus. Biliary sphincterotomy had been applied and F. hepatica had been removed by balloon catheter. This case report showed that endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has an important role in the diagnosis and the treatment of biliary fascioliasis