The aim of the present prospective, randomized study was to investigate and compare the safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus midazolam in providing sedation for gastroscopy. A total of 50 adult patients (25 patients receiving dexmedetomidine and 25 patients receiving midazolam), 18 to 60 years of age, and rated I and II on the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system were included. A brief questionnaire was used to collect demographic data; patients were asked to rate anxiety, satisfaction with care to date and expected discomfort on a visual analogue scale. The following parameters were measured continuously and recorded every minute: heart rate, mean arterial pressure, hemoglobin oxygen saturation and respiratory rate. The two groups were similar with regard to age, body mass index, sex, education, duration of endoscopy, and ethanol or tobacco use. After the procedure, full recovery time, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and hemoglobin oxygen saturation levels were similar in both groups. Both groups also had low levels of perceived procedural gagging, discomfort and anxiety scores (P > 0.05), and high satisfaction levels (90.1+/-3.0 for dexmedetomidine versus 84.9+/-4.5 for midazolam; P > 0.05). Retching and endoscopist satisfaction were significantly different in patients receiving dexmedetomidine versus those receiving midazolam (88.8+/-6.5 versus 73.5+/-16.4, P < 0.05; and 20.6+/-4.4 versus 45.2+/-6.0; P < 0.001). In the midazolam group, the number of patients who had adverse effects was higher than the dexmedetomidine group (P < 0.05). As a result, dexmedetomidine performed as effectively and safely as midazolam when used as a sedative in upper gastroscopy; it was superior to midazolam with regard to retching, rate of side effects and endoscopist satisfaction. It was concluded that dexmedetomidine may be a good alternative to midazolam to sedate patients for upper endoscopy.

We determined that hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections were slightly but not significantly higher in diabetic patients compared with a normal population. If it is considered that different results might be obtained in various countries or even in various regions of same country, it may be concluded that multicenter and comprehensive studies are needed to elucidate true infection rates and to identify other risk factors affecting the prevalence of these infections.

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HP infection seemed to be significantly associated with hyperemesis gravidarum in our pregnant patient population with hyperemesis gravidarum.

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In conclusion, there may be an inverse relation between severity of symptoms and level of Helicobacter pylori induced gastric inflammation or oxidative stress in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Although the lung is the major site for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, gastrointestinal involvement can be present as part of multiorgan disease process or, less commonly, can be seen as primary gastrointestinal tuberculosis. In the cases where the culture is negative, it can be difficult to differentiate tuberculosis from Crohn's disease based on both the clinical and histological features. When side effects of classic antimycobacteria are encountered, we can initially add ciprofloxacin to the treatment of tuberculosis. We reported a case of 19-yr-old patient, who was treated as Crohn's disease and worsen. We began to tuberculosis treatment, and the patient improved clinically and histologically. The main point in this case is that widespread involvement of gastrointestinal tract can be brought about by non resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis even in immunocompetent patients.

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