Our results demonstrate that N/L ratio is higher in patients with active UC compared with controls and UC patients in remission and a cut-off value of 2.47 can be used to identify patients with active ulcerative colitis.

AIM:To identify novel non-invasive biomarkers for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS:Twenty patients with histologically proven NAFLD and 20 controls were included. All NAFLD cases were scored using the NAFLD activity score. The relative expressions of miR-197, miR-146b, miR-10b, miR181d, miR-34a, miR-122, miR-99a and miR-29a were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS:Serum levels of miR-181d, miR-99a, miR-197 and miR-146b were significantly lower in biopsy-proven NAFLD patients than in the healthy controls. Serum levels of miR-197 and miR-10b were inversely correlated with degree of inflammation and miR-181d and miR99a were inversely correlated with serum gamma glutamyl transferase levels in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients. CONCLUSION:NAFLD is associated with altered serum miRNA expression pattern. This study provides clues for defining the non-invasive diagnosis of NAFLD.© 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.Key words: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; MicroRNA; Noninvasive; Serum markers Core tip: Due to the limitations of liver biopsy, the use of non-invasive markers has emerged in recent years. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of naturally occurring small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Altered miRNA expression has been reported in animal and human liver samples in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). There is, however, only limited information on their detection in blood and their correlation with histological disease severity in patients with NAFLD. For this reason, we measured the serum levels of some miRNAs in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients. Of these microRNAs, miR-181d, miR99a, miR-197 and miR-146b were expressed at lower levels in NASH patients than in controls. Serum levels of miR-197 and miR-10b were inversely correlated with degree of inflammation and miR-181d and miR-99a were inversely correlated with serum gamma glutamyl transferase levels in NASH patients. Circulating microRNAs in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease 613 Celikbilek M, Baskol M, Taheri S, Deniz K, Dogan S, Zararsız G, Gursoy S, Guven K, Ozbakır O, Dundar M, Yucesoy M. Circulating microRNAs in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. ORIGINAL ARTICLE

In this study, we found that unrecognized adult celiac disease in Central Anatolia affects approximately 1% of the population, and the major constellation of symptoms are nonspecific gastrointestinal related. Serologic data are not adequate for a definite diagnosis, but the anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA test has high diagnostic value and may be used as screening tool. Confirmation with intestinal biopsy is required for a definite diagnosis.

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Interferon therapy is the cornerstone of chronic hepatitis C treatment. Side effects of interferon include possible triggering or exacerbation of immune diseases in consequence of immunomodulatory effects. We describe the unique case, in which pyoderma gangrenosum and exacerbation of psoriasis were developed 8 weeks after pegylated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin therapy in a 45-year-old woman. The therapy had to be stopped on account of pyoderma gangrenosum and exacerbation of psoriasis in spite of a biochemical response to the therapy for hepatitis C. The evolution was favorable after stopping treatment. Therefore, we propose this would suggest a possible autoimmune mechanism for the development of pyoderma gangrenosum and exacerbation of psoriasis with pegylated interferon therapy. A susceptible patient, who has an autoimmune disease before interferon therapy, had to be informed that interferons may induce de novo or exacerbate existing immune diseases by immunomodulatory actions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of pyoderma gangrenosum and psoriasis that resulted from pegylated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin treatment of chronic hepatitis C.