Browsing by Author "Krstic, Miodrag (35341982900)"

Superficial neoplastic lesions of the digestive tract are usually asymptomatic, and often represent incidental findings on endoscopy. The Paris Classification was developed for the systematic evaluation of superficial lesions of the oesophagus, stomach and colon. The significance of this classification in clinical practice is that it allows the depth of invasion to be estimated. Chromoendoscopy is used to improve the visualization of gastrointestinal lesions. There are 2 types of chromoendoscopy: dye and virtual chromoendoscopy. In addition to chromoendoscopy, advanced endoscopy techniques have great importance in the detection of early gastrointestinal lesions. Although the depth of invasion can be estimated by endoscopy, the final decision regarding therapeutic approach is made on the basis of histopathological examination, as obtained by biopsy or endoscopic resection (ER). Polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, and endoscopic submucosal dissection may be considered ER. For early gastrointestinal lesions with or without limited submucosal infiltration, ER can serve as therapy. In patients with neoplastic lesions localized deeper than the submucosa, or if the location of the lesion carries a high risk of perforation, a full-thickness resection can be performed. Guidelines for assessment and therapy of early oesophageal, gastric and colorectal lesions are currently available. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Background: The increasing incidence of duodenal neoplasm has underlined different methods of resection depending on the clinical presentation, endoscopic features and histopathology. In this comprehensive review, we systematically describe the current knowledge concerning the diagnosis and management of duodenal adenomas (DAs) and discuss data considering all possible therapeutic approaches. Summary: Among a variety of duodenal lesions, including neuroendocrine tumors and gastrointestinal stromal tumors, DAs present precancerous lesions of the duodenal papilla or non-ampullary region necessitating removal. DAs can occur sporadically (SDA) as rare lesions or relatively common in polyposis syndromes. The endoscopic resections of DA are associated with an increased degree of complexity due to distinctive anatomical properties of the duodenal wall, luminal diameter and the presence of ampulla with pancreatic and biliary drainage. The endoscopic techniques including cold snare polypectomy (CSP), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), and argon plasma coagulation ablation are suggested to be less invasive than surgical treatment, associated with shorter hospital stay and lower cost. According to the current clinical practice, surgery has been accepted as standard therapeutic approach in familial adenomatous polyposis patients with severe polyposis or DA not amenable to endoscopic resection. Key Messages: The strategy for endoscopic resection of DAs depends on the lesion size, morphology, location, and histopathology findings. Small adenomas are most frequently diagnosed and removed by standard CSP techniques, while large laterally spreading lesions and ampullary adenoma are referred for EMR or endoscopic papillectomy respectively. Screening colonoscopy is indicated in patients with SDA. Additional studies for new endoscopic strategies and techniques for curative therapy of DAs are needed to refine future management decisions. Complete resection of DA is considered curative, but nevertheless, long-term endoscopic follow-up is still required to detect and treat any recurrent arising lesions. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Background: Abdominal pain is a common symptom of gastroenterology examination. Chronic abdominal pain is present for >3 months. Summary: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases encountered by both gastroenterologists and general practitioners. GERD is usually a chronic disease presented with a set of symptoms including heartburn and/or regurgitation, and less commonly epigastric pain. Epigastric pain syndrome is characterized by the following symptoms: epigastric pain and/or burning. It does not necessarily occur after meal ingestion, may occur during fasting, and can be even improved by meal ingestion. Duodenal ulcers tend to cause abdominal pain that is localized in the epigastric region and commence several hours after eating, often at night. Hunger provokes pain in most of the cases and decreases after meal. Gastric ulcer pain occurs immediately after eating, and consuming food increases pain. Pain is localized in the epigastrium and can radiate to the back. Abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome is related to defecation. A typical symptom of chronic pancreatitis is pain that radiates to the back. In Crohn's disease, inflammation causes pain. Key Messages: Pain can occur at different locations with diverse intensity and propagation and is often associated with other symptoms. For any gastroenterologist, abdominal pain is a big challenge. © 2021

Chronic pancreatitis (CP), defined as a continuing inflammatory disease of the pancreas characterized by irreversible morphological changes which typically cause abdominal pain and/or permanent impairment of pancreatic function, has proved resistant to categorization. The disease may present clinically either with an individual symptom or a combination of symptoms associated with loss of pancreatic function. The single most frequent symptom of CP is pain, either in the form of intermittent episodes or in a more chronic or persistent pattern. The natural history of CP is usually characterized by progression of tissue damage and various degrees of exocrine and endocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which will become apparent over time. The main reason for the lack of guided strategies in the therapeutic management of CP is the absence of a clinically applicable classification of CP. In the past, several classifications have certainly contributed to a better understanding of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of CP. The meetings in Marseilles (1963 and 1984), Cambridge (1984) and in Rome (1985) added a great deal of information to our knowledge of the pathogenesis and evolution of CP. More recent work on understanding the temporal course of CP led to the Zurich international classification which has been used to define patient cohorts in recent studies of patients undergoing surgery for CP. In order to combine clinical experience in the field of CP with progress in diagnostic methods and new molecular technologies for the assessment of CP, a classification of CP based on key clinical aspects is crucial. A new classification should first be validated to determine whether it can be applied to the majority of patients with CP, and then the value of such a classification needs to be tested in our understanding of the natural course in different etiologies (progression, arrest, regression) and most importantly, to study the clinical outcome when different therapeutic strategies are applied. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG.

[No abstract available]

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most common chronic bacterial infection. Treatment effectiveness remains a subject of debate considering bacterial antimicrobial resistance. Our aim was to analyze the diagnostic methods and eradication treatments for H. pylori infection in Serbia. Methods: An observational multicenter prospective study was conducted in Serbia, as part of the European Registry on H. pylori Management (Hp-EuReg). Demographics, treatment indication, diagnostic methods, previous eradication attempts, and treatment were collected at AEG-REDCap e-CRF. Modified intention-to-treat (mITT) and per-protocol (PP) effectiveness analyses were performed. Safety, compliance, and bacterial antimicrobial resistance rates were reported. Data were quality checked. Results: Overall, 283 patients were included, with a mean age of 55 ± 15 years. Dyspepsia (n = 214, 77%) was the most frequent treatment indication, and histology (n = 144, 51%) was the most used diagnostic method. Overall eradication rate was 95% (PP) and 94% (mITT). Most prevalent first-line therapy was quadruple PPI + clarithromycin + amoxicillin + metronidazole, with a 96% effectiveness (p < 0.001). Second-line main treatment choice was triple amoxicillin + levofloxacin, with a 95% effectiveness (p < 0.05). Single-capsule Pylera® was the most prescribed third-line therapy, with 100% effectiveness (p < 0.05). Longer treatment duration was associated with a higher eradication rate in first-line therapy (p < 0.05). Clarithromycin and quinolone resistance rates in first-line were 24% and 8.3%, respectively. The overall adverse events' incidence rate was 13.4%, and therapy compliance was 97%. Conclusions: Considering the high eradication rate, 14-day non-bismuth quadruple concomitant therapy is a reasonable first-line choice, while quinolone-based therapy and single-capsule Pylera® should be considered as rescue therapy options. © 2023 S. Karger AG. All rights reserved.

Takayasu Arteritis (TA) is characterized by granulomatous panarteritis, vessel wall fibrosis, and irreversible vascular impairment. The aim of this study is to explore the usefulness of the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis score (ELF), procollagen-III aminoterminal propeptide (PIIINP), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and hyaluronic acid (HA) in assessing vascular damage in TA patients. ELF, PIIINP, TIMP-1, and HA were measured in 24 TA patients, and the results were correlated with the clinical damage indexes (VDI and TADS), an imaging damage score (CARDS), and disease activity scores (NIH and ITAS2010). A mean ELF score 8.42 (±1.12) and values higher than 7.7 (cut-off for liver fibrosis) in 21/24 (87.5%) of patients were detected. The VDI and TADS correlated significantly to ELF (p < 0.01). Additionally, a strong association across ELF and CARDS (p < 0.0001), PIIINP and CARDS (p < 0.001), and HA and CARDS (p < 0.001) was observed. No correlations of the tested biomarkers with inflammatory parameters, NIH, and ITAS2010 scores were found. To our knowledge, this is the first study that suggests the association of the serum biomarkers PIIINP, HA, and ELF score with damage but not with disease activity in TA patients. The ELF score and PIIINP may be useful biomarkers reflecting an ongoing fibrotic process and quantifying vascular damage. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Takayasu Arteritis (TA) is characterized by granulomatous panarteritis, vessel wall fibrosis, and irreversible vascular impairment. The aim of this study is to explore the usefulness of the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis score (ELF), procollagen-III aminoterminal propeptide (PIIINP), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and hyaluronic acid (HA) in assessing vascular damage in TA patients. ELF, PIIINP, TIMP-1, and HA were measured in 24 TA patients, and the results were correlated with the clinical damage indexes (VDI and TADS), an imaging damage score (CARDS), and disease activity scores (NIH and ITAS2010). A mean ELF score 8.42 (±1.12) and values higher than 7.7 (cut-off for liver fibrosis) in 21/24 (87.5%) of patients were detected. The VDI and TADS correlated significantly to ELF (p < 0.01). Additionally, a strong association across ELF and CARDS (p < 0.0001), PIIINP and CARDS (p < 0.001), and HA and CARDS (p < 0.001) was observed. No correlations of the tested biomarkers with inflammatory parameters, NIH, and ITAS2010 scores were found. To our knowledge, this is the first study that suggests the association of the serum biomarkers PIIINP, HA, and ELF score with damage but not with disease activity in TA patients. The ELF score and PIIINP may be useful biomarkers reflecting an ongoing fibrotic process and quantifying vascular damage. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

The term autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) was first used in Japan in 1995 to describe a newly recognized form of chronic pancreatitis, after the description of Yoshida and colleagues. But Sarles in 1961, first described a form of idiopathic chronic inflammatory sclerosis of the pancreas, suspected to be due to an autoimmune process. AIP has become a widely accepted term because clinical, serologic, histologic, and immunohistochemical findings suggest an autoimmune mechanism. Most affected patients have hypergammaglobulinemia and increased serum levels of IgG, particularly IgG4. Recently published International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for Autoimmune Pancreatitis include Guidelines of the International Association of Pancreatology, classifying AIP into types 1 and 2, using five cardinal features of AIP, namely imaging of pancreatic parenchyma and duct, serology, other organ involvement, pancreatic histology, and an optional criterion of response to steroid therapy. Extrapancreatic presentations can include sclerosing cholangitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, sclerosing sialadenitis (Kttner tumor), lymphadenopathy, nephritis, and interstitial pneumonia. Increased IgG4+ plasma cell infiltrate has been reported in sclerosing lesions from other organ sites, including inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver, breast, mediastinum, orbit, and aorta, and it has been observed with hypophysitis and IgG4-associated prostatitis. Abundant IgG4+ plasma cells were also confirmed in Riedel thyroiditis, sclerosing mesenteritis, and inflammatory pseudotumor of the orbit and stomach. Extrapancreatic lesions could be synchronously or metachronously diagnosed with AIP, sharing the same pathological conditions, showing also a favorable result to corticosteroid therapy and distinct differentiation between IgG4-related diseases from the inherent lesions of the corresponding organs. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Villous adenomas are benign epithelial lesions with malignant potential that can occur in any part of the gastrointestinal tract. We present a case of a middle age woman with acromegaly who was investigated for nonspecific gastrointestinal complaints. Ultrasonography and subsequent endosonography diagnosed a large (4.5 cm), hyperechoic, sessile polyp with numerous pedicles. An open cholecystectomy was performed and revealed a villous adenoma with several foci of carcinoma in situ. Detailed investigations showed no other tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. After five years of follow-up, the patient reports no complaints, and the results of laboratory testing and imaging studies are within the normal range. © 2007 The WJG Press. All rights reserved.

Background/aims: Portal hypertension and development of esophageal varices is one of the major complications of liver cirrhosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the possibility of the presence of esophageal varices and their size using biochemical and ultrasonography parameters in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Material and Methods: We included in our study 86 patients (74 males, mean age 55±7) with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The control group consisted of 102 patients with cirrhosis of other etiologies. All patients underwent a complete biochemical workup, upper digestive endoscopy and ultrasonography examination. The right liver lobe diameter/albumin and platelet count/spleen diameter ratios were calculated. The correlation of the calculated ratios with the presence and degree of esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis was also determined. Results: The mean value of right liver lobe diameter-albumin ratio was 6.15±1.77, and statistically significantly differed from values determined in the control group (4.97±1.68). The mean platelet count-spleen diameter ratio was 972.5±599.0 in alcoholic liver cirrhosis and 1055.9±821.3 in controls (p>0.05). In patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, none of the analyzed noninvasive markers was shown to be a good predictor of the presence and size of esophageal varices. Conclusions: Despite the important role of noninvasive markers in providing information pertinent to determination of esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis, these markers have limited relevance in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of splenic marginal-zone lymphoma (SMZL) following antigen expression and the influence of therapeutic approaches on clinical outcome and overall survival (OS). METHODS: A total of 30 patients with typical histological and immunohistochemical SMZL patterns were examined. Splenectomy plus chemotherapy was applied in 20 patients, while splenectomy as a single treatment-option was performed in 10 patients. Prognostic factor and overall survival rate were analyzed. RESULTS: Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 20 (66.7%), partial remission (PR) in seven (23.3%), and lethal outcome due to disease progression occurred in three (10.0%) patients. Median survival of patients with a splenectomy was 93.0 mo and for patients with splenectomy plus chemotherapy it was 107.5 mo (Log rank = 0.056, P > 0.05). Time from onset of first symptoms to the beginning of the treatment (mean 9.4 mo) was influenced by spleen dimensions, as measured by computerized tomography and ultra-sound ( t = 2.558, P = 0.018). Strong positivity (+++) of CD20 antigen expression in splenic tissue had a positive influence on OS (Log rank = 5.244, P < 0.05). The analysis of factors interfering with survival (by the Kaplan-Meier method) revealed that gender, general symptoms, clinical stage, and spleen infiltration type (nodular vs diffuse) had no significant ( P > 0.05) effects on the OS. The expression of other antigens (immunohistochemistry) also had no effect on survival-rate, as measured by a χ2 test ( P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Initial splenectomy combined with chemotherapy has been shown to be beneficial due to its advanced remission rate/duration; however, a larger controlled clinical study is required to confirm our findings. © 2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.