Aim: Acute pancreatitis is a common disease that can be fatal at advanced stages. Therefore, early evaluation of the prognosis of acute pancreatitis is important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of monocyte distribution width in defining the prognosis of acute pancreatitis. Materials and Methods: The study included patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of acute biliary pancreatitis between December 2019 and October 2020. The cases were evaluated in 2 groups as mild pancreatitis and non-mild pancreatitis. The groups were compared in terms of age, white blood cell, neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, length of hospital stay, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, Monocyte Distribution Width, amylase, Aspartate Aminotransferase, albumin, and lactate dehydrogenase. Results: A statistically significant difference was determined between the mild pancreatitis group (n:59) and non-mild pancreatitis group (n:48) in terms of white blood cell, neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, Monocyte Distribution Width and length of hospital stay (p <0.05). When the cut-off value for Monocyte Distribution Width was taken as 703.00, sensitivity was 50.94% and specificity was 61.11.8%. Conclusion: The Monocyte Distribution Width value is a parameter that can be used to differentiate mild pancreatitis from non-mild pancreatitis. More extensive studies are needed for a clearer evaluation.

Aim: This experimental study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect on obstructive jaundice (OJ) of oral red ginseng (RG) extract, which is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Methods: The rats were randomly separated into 3 groups of 10 rats: the sham group, the control group, and the treatment group. In Group 1 (sham), the common bile duct (CBD) was identified but no ligation or transection was performed. In Group 2 (control), the CBD was identified and ligation and transection were performed, but no treatment was given. In Group 3 (RG group), CBD ligation and transection were performed, then RG extract was administered via an orogastric tube at a dose of 100 mg/ kg/day for 10 days. After 10 days, blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis, and liver tissue samples for biochemical and histopathological analysis. Results: Significantly higher serum albumin levels and lower serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were determined in the RG group than in the control group (p = 0.028, p = 0.001 and p = 0.034, respectively). In the oxidative stress parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and catalase (CAT) levels were significantly different between the RG group and control group (p = <0.001 for each). Total sulfhydryl (T-SH) was not at a statistically significant level, although it was high and approached the value of the sham group ( p = 0.076). In the histopathological evaluation, the RG group had statistically significantly lower scores in all parameters compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that RG has a strong hepatoprotective effect as a result of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Aim: To assess the outcomes of transanal advancement flap repair (TAFR) following failed ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) treatment for cryptoglandular anal fistulas, with a focus on healing and functional results. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study included patients who underwent TAFR after a failed LIFT procedure for cryptoglandular perianal fistulas at two Dutch referral centers between 2015 and 2023. Pre‐ and postoperative continence data were gathered prospectively, while long‐term outcomes, including success rates and faecal continence, were evaluated using the Faecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI) through questionnaires distributed in 2023. Results: Of the 129 patients who underwent LIFT, 90 (70%) experienced failure of the procedure. A total of 24 patients, including those referred from other centres after failed LIFT, underwent TAFR, with a success rate of 71% (17 out of 24). No significant differences in faecal continence were observed between preoperative and postoperative FISI scores. Body mass index (BMI) was significantly associated with healing outcomes ( p < 0.05), indicating that patients with a lower BMI had higher healing rates. Conclusion: TAFR following failed LIFT surgery shows healing results equivalent to those of initial fistula repairs, with obesity emerging as a potential predictor of healing success. These findings support current guideline recommendations favouring TAFR as the preferred salvage procedure after failed LIFT.

Aim: De Ritis ratio (aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase) may be a useful prognostic biomarker for certain malignant tumors. However, the predictive value of the De Ritis ratio before treatment in preoperative staging in patients with breast cancer is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the De Ritis ratio in benign and malignant breast diseases and investigate the predictive value of it for breast cancer. Methods: Retrospective analysis was made of the clinicopathological data of 301 patients with benign breast disease and breast cancer treated between April 2017 and April 2020 in a single center. 64 Patients were excluded from the study due to chronic illness or incomplete data. The relationship between the De Ritis ratio and clinicopathological findings before treatment was evaluated in patients. The Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test were used in the comparisons between groups. Results: Of the total 237 patients, the number of patients with benign breast disease was 96 and the number of the patients with breast cancer was 141. No statistically significant results were determined between the benign breast disease and breast cancer groups, in respect of pre-treatment evaluation of the De Ritis ratio and as a predictive factor for preoperative staging in molecular subtyping, tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, and Ki 67 index. Conclusion: It was concluded that the De Ritis ratio examined before treatment was not an independent predictive factor in breast cancer diagnosis and staging.

Purpose: To establish an acetic acid-induced acute ulcerative colitis model in rats and to evaluate the clinical, biochemical, and histopathological effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) in this model. Methods: Forty male Wistar albino rats (190–303 g) were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 8). All groups except the control received rectal acetic acid (4%) to induce colitis. Group 1 (control) received intraperitoneally (IP) 0.9% saline for five days. Group 2 (colitis) received IP 10% ethanol (vehicle for CAPE). Group 3 (TQ) received IP thymoquinone (10 mg/kg/day). Group 4 (CAPE) received IP caffeic acid phenethyl ester (10 µmol/kg/day). Group 5 (TQ+CAPE) received both agents at the same doses. On day 5, animals were euthanized, and colon and serum samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological analysis. Results: Significant differences were observed in the disease activity index, tumor necrosis factor-α, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, interleukin-10, and malondialdehyte indicating a balance between oxidant and antioxidant parameters. CAPE was found to have a greater anti-inflammatory effect than TQ histopathologically. The combined administration of CAPE and TQ mitigated oxidative stress as demonstrated by decreased oxidative stress biomarkers and improved antioxidant protection. Conclusion: Both CAPE and TQ demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in an acetic acid-induced colitis model, with CAPE showing greater histological improvement. Their combined administration yielded additional benefits in oxidative stress reduction. These findings suggest that CAPE and TQ, particularly in combination, may hold promise as adjunctive agents in colitis management and warrant further investigation.