Background: Recent investigation of the etiology of Behçet’s disease (BD) has focused on heat shock proteins (HSP) which belong to the HSP 60 family. Both the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori (HP) and BD may cause ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract and, HP expresses HSP 60. Objective: Whether HP is linked to the pathogenesis of BD or not, and to investigate the influence of HP eradication on clinical parameters of BD. Methods: Patients with BD were divided into two groups. Group I comprised 49 patients and was investigated for HP seroprevalence and compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Group II comprised 20 patients with BD and HP infection diagnosed by serological and endoscopic examinations as well as the rapid urease test (RUT). A 1-week eradication therapy was administered for HP infection. Patients were examined for the course of BD at monthly intervals. Two months after the eradication therapy, patients underwent an endoscopic examination and RUT for eradication control. Seven patients were excluded because of eradication failure. Thirteen patients were evaluated for the influence of HP eradication on clinical manifestations of BD. The number and size of oral and genital ulcers before the eradication and at the end of the follow-up period were compared statistically. Results: HP seroprevalence between patients with BD and controls did not show significant difference. In 13 patients with BD, the number and size of oral and genital ulcers diminished significantly and various clinical manifestations regressed after the eradication of HP. Conclusion: HP may be involved in the pathogenesis of BD.

SUMMARYBackground: Metoclopramide, a central and peripheral dopamine type 2 receptor antagonist, has been used as an attractive and safer alternative to cisapride. However, cardiac side-effects have also been reported with this drug. Aim: To evaluate the effects of intravenous metoclopramide administration on cardiac repolarization using QT dynamicity, a reliable indicator of arrhythmic side-effects. Methods: The effect of metoclopramide on cardiac repolarization was evaluated in 10 healthy male volunteers in the supine position. Metoclopramide (10 mg) or placebo was administered intravenously at random in a doubleblind, cross-over manner to the participants during continuous electrocardiographic recording in the supine

The HpSA scan showed a statistically significant relation between H. pylori infection and H. Gravidarum. HpSA test gives more efficient, reliable and realistic results than specific Igs formed against H. pylori in the identification of H. pylori positivity in gravida with H. Gravidarum.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an important risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). Histone modifications are one of the epigenetic mechanisms that may have key roles in the carcinogenesis of CRC. At present, there are no studies comparing histone modification patterns of UC and CRC in the literature. Therefore the aim of the present study was to investigate whether genes, particularly those involved in histone modification, have value in patient monitoring with regards to CRC development in UC. Key gene expressions of the histone modification enzyme were assessed and compared in CRC, UC and control groups using the RT-PCR array technique. Patients were divided into subgroups based on the extent and duration of the disease and inflammatory burden, which are considered risk factors for CRC development in UC patients. In UC and CRC groups, a significantly higher overexpression of the NEK6 and AURKA genes compared to the control group was identified. In addition, there was a significantly higher overexpression of HDAC1 and PAK1 genes in the UC group, and of HDAC1, HDAC7, PAK1 and AURKB genes in the CRC group. NEK6, AURKA, HDAC1 and PAK1 were significantly overexpressed in patients with a longer UC duration. Overexpression of AURKA and NEK6 genes was significantly more pronounced in UC patients with more extensive colon involvement. HDAC1, HDAC7, PAK1, NEK6, AURKA and AURKB are important diagnostic and prognostic markers involved in the carcinogenesis of CRC. HDAC1, PAK1, NEK6 and AURKA may be considered as diagnostic markers to be used in CRC screening for UC patients.

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