As a well-recognized clinical phenomenon, persistent detectable viral genome in liver or sera in the absence of other serological markers for active hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is called occult HBV infection. The main mechanism through which occult infection occurs is not completely understood and several possible explanations, such as integration into human genome and maintenance in peripheral mononuclear cells, exist. Occult HBV infection has been reported in different populations, especially among patients with Hepatitis C (HCV) related liver disease. The probable impact of occult HBV in patients with chronic HCV infection has been previously investigated and the evidence suggests a possible correlation with lower response to anti-viral treatment, higher grades of liver histological changes, and also developing hepatocellular carcinoma. However, in the absence of conclusive results, further studies should be conducted to absolutely assess the impact of occult HBV contamination on the HCV related liver disease.

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Background/Aim: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading malignancies worldwide and has been reported to show geographical variation in its incidence, even within areas of ethnic homogeneity. The aim of this study was to identify p53 and K-ras gene mutations in CRC patients in a Kashmiri population, and to assess whether these mutations are linked with clinicopathological parameters. Materials and Methods: Paired tumor and normal tissue samples from a consecutive series of 53 patients undergoing resective surgery for CRC were prospectively studied for p53 and K-ras gene mutations by PCR/single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). Results: Less than half (45%, 19/42) of the patients presented mutations in the p53 gene. Twenty eight mutations were found in the p53 gene, which comprised of 23 substitutions (17 transitions + 6 transversions), and five insertions. The 23 substitutions constituted 18 missense mutations, two nonsense mutations, and three silent mutations. Of the 28 mutations (7.14%) observed in this study, 2 were not previously reported for CRC samples and were identified as novel p53 mutations. A few patients (22.64%, 12/53) presented with mutations in K-ras, constituting 13 missense mutations, out of which 11 were G→A transitions, one was a G→C transversion, and one a G→T transversion. More than half (61.5%) of the mutations occurred in codon 12 whereas a few (38.5%) occurred in codon 13. One tumor contained missense mutations in both codons. Comparison of the mutation profiles of our patients with those of other ethnic populations and regions reflected both differences and similarities, indicating co-exposure to a unique set of risk factors. Conclusion: Mutations of the p53 and K-ras genes are some of the most common genetic changes in the development of human CRC. The high frequency of p53 gene mutations implicates p53 as a predominant factor for CRC in the high-risk ethnic Kashmiri population.

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Background/Aims : Although irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder, its prevalence is unknown, especially in the urban population of Bangladesh. This community-based study aimed to find out the prevalence of IBS and healthcare-seeking patterns using the Rome-II definition. Materials and Methods : A population-based cross-sectional survey of 1503 persons aged 15 years and above was carried out in an urban community of Bangladesh. The subjects were interviewed using a valid questionnaire based on Rome-II criteria in a home setting. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Programmers and the level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results : A response rate of 97.2% yielded 1503 questionnaires for analysis. The prevalence of IBS was found to be 7.7% (n = 116) with a male to female ratio of 1:1.36 (49 vs. 67). "Diarrhoea-predominant IBS" (50%, n = 58) was the predominant IBS subgroup. Symptoms of abdominal pain associated with a change in stool frequency (100%) and consistency (88.8%) were quite common. All IBS symptoms were more prevalent among women (P < 0.000). In the past one year, 65.5% (n = 76) IBS subjects had consulted a physician with a slightly higher rate of women consulters (68.6 vs. 61.2%). The main predictor for healthcare-seeking was the presence of multiple dyspeptic symptoms. Conclusions : The prevalence of IBS in the urban community was found to be similar to that in rural communities. A higher rate of consultation was found among urban IBS subjects than in the rural subjects, with sex not seen to be a discriminator to seek consultation.

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Background/Aim: Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a devastating complication of acute viral hepatitis, leading to death in most cases. The etiology and predictors of outcome differ according to the geographical region. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the etiology, complications, and outcome of FHF in Bangladesh. Patients and Methods: In this prospective study, we included 67 consecutive cases of FHF presenting to the Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, between November 2003 and May 2008. Thirty-nine of the patients were male and 28 were female. Data was analyzed using SPSS, version 13.0. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 31.9 ± 11 .7 years. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) was the commonest etiological factor for FHF (50 cases, 74.6%); of the 50 cases with HEV infection, 43 (64.2%) were not coinfected with any other virus, four cases were Hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers, and three had coinfection with hepatitis A virus (HAV). HBV was the cause of FHF in nine (13.4%) patients. HCV, paracetamol, and alcohol were not responsible for any of the cases. Most of the patients (57 patients, 85%) developed FHF within 2 weeks of the onset of jaundice. Of the 67 patients, 49 (73.1%) died. Cerebral edema was the single most common cause of death (48 patients, 71.6%). Other complications were renal failure (23 patients, 34.3%), sepsis (15 patients, 22.4%), electrolyte imbalance (12 patients 17.9%), and bleeding tendency (7 patients, 10.4%). Occurrence of cerebral edema, longer prothrombin time, higher grade of encephalopathy, and longer jaundice-to-encephalopathy interval had significant negative influence on outcome. Conclusions: The etiology of FHF in Bangladesh is different from that in the West. Prolongation of prothrombin time and occurrence of cerebral edema are predictors of the worst prognosis.

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We report a case of spontaneous tubercular enterocutaneous fistula, which occurred after a long interval of 14 years after an appendicectomy. A 32-year-old male presented with the complaint of fecal matter coming out continuously from an opening present over the scar of previous surgery. The only significant past history was that of appendicectomy done 14 years back for acute appendicitis (nontubercular). Histopathology of tissue taken from the margins of the fistulous opening showed caseating granuloma, consistent with tuberculosis. Treatment was provided successfully in the form of fistulectomy and right hemicolectomy with ileotransverse anastomosis along with a 9-month course of four-drug antitubercular treatment. Regular follow-up for the last 2 years has been uneventful.

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Primary lymphoma of the colon is a rare tumor of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and comprises only 0.2-1.2% of all colonic malignancies. The most common variety of colonic lymphoma is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The GI tract is the most frequently involved site, accounting for 30-40% of all extra nodal lymphomas, approximately 4-20% of which are NHL. The stomach is the most common location of GI lymphomas, followed by the small intestine. Early diagnosis may prevent intestinal perforation; however, the diagnosis is often delayed in most cases. Therapeutic approaches described in two subsets include: Radical tumor resection (hemicolectomy) plus multi-agent chemotherapy (polychemotherapy) in early stage patients, biopsy plus multidrug chemotherapy in advanced stage patients. Radiotherapy is reserved for specific cases; surgery alone can be considered as an adequate treatment for patients with low-grade NHL disease that does not infiltrate beyond the sub mucosa. Although resection plays an important role in the local control of the disease and in preventing bleeding and/or perforation, it rarely eradicates the lymphoma by itself. Those with limited stage disease may enjoy prolonged survival when treated with aggressive chemotherapy.

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We report a patient who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for a cystic lesion in the region of the pancreatic head and duodenum. Preoperatively, we had suspected a malignant lesion; however, it turned out to be ectopic pancreatic tissue in the duodenal wall, with the changes of chronic pancreatitis and pseudocyst formation. With this report we seek to highlight the rarity of this particular pathologic combination and the difficulties in its correct preoperative diagnosis and management.

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Background/Aim: Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric neoplasms . Therefore, it is necessary to select an effective regimen for H pylori eradication . The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two quadruple-therapy regimens-one with azithromycin and the other with metronidazole-for H pylori eradication in patients with dyspepsia. Materials and Methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial conducted in Rasoule-Akram Hospital in 2006, we included 60 patients (aged 15-70 years) who had dyspepsia and H pylori infection as diagnosed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and rapid urease test. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a quadruple-therapy regimen for 2 weeks: 1) the MAO-B group (n = 30) received metronidazole 500 mg b.i.d, amoxicillin 1g b.i.d, omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d, and bismuth 240 mg b.i.d and 2) the AAO-B group (n = 30) received azithromycin 500 mg once daily for 1 week and amoxicillin 1g b.i.d, omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d, and bismuth 240 mg b.i.d for 2 weeks). H pylori eradication was assessed by the rapid urease test (RUT) 2 months after the cessation of treatment . Results: H pylori was eradicated in 68% and 69% of patients in the MAO-B and AAO-B groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in H pylori eradication rates between the two groups (P = 0.939). Conclusion: No significant difference exists between the two quadruple-therapy regimens that were tested.

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Malignant tumors of the small intestine are among the rarest types of gastrointestinal cancers. Due to their infrequent occurrence and the multitude of tumor types (viz, adenocarcinomas, carcinoids, sarcomas, and lymphomas), not much is known about their natural history and presentation, and there is often delay in the diagnosis. Adenocarcinoma is the commonest histologic type of small bowel cancer. There are no prospective randomized trials that have elucidated the best diagnostic and therapeutic options for this rare condition. In this article, a case of adenocarcinoma of the jejunum presenting as an abdominal lump is presented, along with a review of the literature.

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Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to compare magnetic resonance enteroclysis (MRE) findings with those of colonoscopy, using locust bean gum (LBG) as an oral contrast agent in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with Crohn's disease. Materials and Methods: Nine patients with histologically proven Crohn 's disease were enrolled in this study; MRE was performed within a week of colonoscopy. All patients were examined using a 1.5 T MR Scanner after per os administration of 850 mL of a combination of LBG and mannitol. After intravenous administration of 50 mg Eritromisin and 40 mg Scopolamine, images were obtained using a T2-weighted, balanced GRE, fat-suppressed T1-weighted sequence, before and after intravenous gadolinium administration. Bowel wall thickness and enhancement of inflamatory bowel wall were measured. Results: The oral ingestion of LBG was well tolerated and allowed optimal small and large bowel distention in all patients. MR findings correlated with the colonoscopy results. Additional inflammatory lesions of the colon and mesenteric inflamatory changes such as lymphadenopathy, conglomerate tumor, and fistulas were demonstrated. Contrast enhancement of the affected bowel wall was markedly increased and positive correlation was obtained between bowel wall enhancement and bowel wall thickness. Conclusion: Gadolinium-enhanced MRE with oral locust bean gum is very efficient in the detection and follow-up of the intestinal and extraintestinal findings of Crohn's disease.

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Background/Aim: To examine the relationship between acute appendicitis and the presence of an appendicolith in abdominal CT scans of patients attending emergency services. Materials and Methods: Abdominal CT scan reports were retrospectively reviewed for 267 patients through the PACS database. A 16-slices MDCT GE Light Speed scanner (Milwaukee WI) was used with a scanning protocol of 5 mm axial collimation and a pitch of 1.0, along with oral contrast material (Gastrografin 3.7% diatrizoate meglumine) and 140 mL of intravenous (IV) nonionic contrast material (Omnipaque). Particular attention was given to the study protocol, patients' age, and gender. Statistical Analysis: We used MS-EXCEL and SPSS version 12.0 to perform chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Bookends and Papers, components in Mac OS X software, were used for literature reviews and the organization of results. Results: Two hundred and sixty-seven abdominal CT scan reports were examined along side their respective images on a GE Centricity workstation. Thirty-four (12.7%) were labeled as acute appendicitis cases based on the CT findings and the rest were assigned other diagnoses. Twenty-six of the 267 CT scan reports were plain studies and 241 were contrast-enhanced scans. Less than half of the patients (123, 46.1%) were males and 144 (53.9%) were females. Thirteen males (48.1%) and 14 (51.9%) females were found to have an appendicolith. Only 3% in the ≤ 11 years' age group, in contrast to 40% in the 11-20 years' age group, was diagnosed with appendicitis. The incidence in other age groups was as follows: 19% in the 21-30, 14% in the 31-40, 2.5% in the 41-50, 8% each in the 51-60 and 61-70, and none in the ≥71 years' age groups. Conclusions: We conclude that the presence of an appendicolith i) has no particular predilection for gender or age, and ii) is not associated with a diagnosis of appendicitis.

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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with major gastrointestinal complications due to radiotherapy. A patient with active SLE and grade 4 nephropathy presented with inoperable advanced cancer of the cervix which proved to be contraindicated for chemotherapy. The patient was treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique (IMRT). The patient, however, did not experience severe radiotherapy-related complications as expected with conventional techniques of radiotherapy. The tolerance of SLE patients to radiotherapy can thus be achieved by proper delivery of radiation and the sparing of normal tissues by IMRT although further confirmatory studies are required.

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Microscopic colitis (MC) is a recognized cause of chronic watery diarrhea. It is characterized by subepithelial collagen deposition or intraepithelial lymphocytic infiltration of the colonic mucosa which, however, appears grossly normal on endoscopy. The term microscopic enterocolitis is applied when MC is associated with similar microscopic affection of the ileum and/or proximal small intestine. MC is reported to be associated with a variety of autoimmune conditions. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is rarely reported in association with MC. We report a female patient with microscopic enterocolitis as one of the presenting manifestations of SLE.

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Background/Aim: To determine the prevalence of serrated colorectal polyps in the King AbdulAziz University Hospital population and to review the current classification of colorectal serrated polyps with emphasis on morphological features. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study used cases diagnosed with serrated colorectal polyps at the histopathology laboratory of King AbdulAziz University Hospital during last five years (2004-2008). The slides were reexamined microscopically and the lesions were renamed according to the terminology discussed in this article. Results: Diagnosed hyperplastic polyps represented 12.3% of all colorectal polyps submitted to our laboratory during the study period. However, the false positive rate was found to be 42.5%. Of the truly diagnosed serrated polyps, the most common subtype is the microvesicular serrated polyps. The majority of the serrated colorectal polyps was found in males, with a wide age range. Conclusion: The prevalence of serrated colorectal polyps in our geographic area seems to be similar to that in western populations.

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Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the colon and rectum. Its pathogenesis is probably multifactorial including the influx of certain cytokines into the colonic mucosa, causing disease activity and relapse. The hypothesis of removing such cytokines from the circulation by leukocytapheresis was implemented to reduce disease activity, maintain remission, and prevent relapse. Many recent reports not only in Japan, but also in the West, have highlighted its beneficial effects in both adult and pediatric patients. Large placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm the available data in this regard. In this article, we shed some light on the use of leukocyte apheresis in the management of autoimmune diseases, especially ulcerative colitis.

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