Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma Mimicking a Crohn's Attack

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare disease and presents with intermittent abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal bleeding. In cases with delayed diagnosis, intestinal obstruction or bowel perforation can also be observed. In our case, the patient presented with ileus after an operation that was diagnosed with SBA. After six cycles of chemotherapy, the patient went into complete remission.

An Alternative Method for Treating Dumping Syndrome Using Hemoclips

Surgeries for obesity can lead to complications. Dumping syndrome is one such complication caused by the quick passage of hyperosmolar chyme from the stomach to the duodenum. Mild cases can be cured with dietary modification and medical treatment. However, refractory cases may need invasive treatment options, such as transoral outlet reduction or surgery. We successfully treated a 48-year-old female with dumping syndrome, using a combination of argon plasma coagulation and hemoclips to narrow the pyloric lumen. We suggest that this new technique could be a cheap and easily accessible alternative to surgery, especially in countries where the specialised devices needed to treat such cases are unavailable.

Relation of Repetitive Thinking Styles with Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the repetitive thinking styles and anxiety and depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). One hundred IBD outpatients (39 active and 61 remission) attending the gastroenterology clinic and 100 healthy controls were included.The rumination and worry scores of IBD patients, particularly in their active period, were significantly higher than controls. Additionally, the correlation of rumination and worry with anxiety and depression was statistically significant. Our results suggest that psychological interventions targeting repetitive thinking would alleviate depression and anxiety as well as GI symptoms in people with IBD which should be confirmed by further studies.

Extracellular matrix protein 1 gene rs3737240 single nucleotide polymorphism is associated with ulcerative colitis in Turkish patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease are chronic inflammatory diseases. Genetic, immunologic, and microbial factors play an important role in their pathogenesis. Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1), a gene related to mucosal barrier function, has been shown to be associated with UC. This study aims to determine the relationship between ECM1 gene rs3737240 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and UC in a group of Turkish patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety-four UC patients and 120 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. ECM1 gene rs3737240 SNP genotyping was performed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

RESULTS

TT genotype was significantly more common in UC patients than in the healthy control group [p=0.034; odds ratio (OR) 2.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-5.25]. The presence of C allele significantly lowered the UC risk (p=0.034; OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.19-0.95). TT genotype was significantly associated with azathioprine use in UC patients (p=0.037; OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.04-8.65). The C allele significantly reduced the probability of azathioprine use in UC patients (p=0.037; OR 0.33 CI 95% 0.11-0.96). No relation was found between rs3737240 SNP genotype and the phenotypical characteristics of UC patients.

CONCLUSION

The TT genotype of ECM1 gene rs3737240 SNP significantly increased susceptibility for UC and azathioprine use in UC patients in a Turkish population.

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy: case report

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy is an autosomal recessive multisystem disorder caused by thymidine phosphorylase deficiency. The disease is characterized clinically by ptosis, progressive external ophthalmoparesis, severe gastrointestinal dysmotility, peripheral neuropathy, leukoencephalopathy, and mitochondrial abnormalities. Herein, we describe a patient with mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy who presented intestinal pseudoobstruction.