The Clinical Significance of CYP450 in Gastrointestinal Tract

Cytochromes P450 (CYP450) is a super-family of multigenes bound to heme and also a catalysator enzyme. Cytochrome P450s (1, 2, and 3) are the most important enzymes for biotransformation of drugs administered through gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract is the first part of immune system against all of oral xenobiotics. Drug interaction may be predicted but it is hardly prevented. Thus, it frequently becomes clinical problem. CYP450 polymorphism may influence effective drug metabolism, which consequently will affect drug response and good therapeutic effect. Poor metabolizers need only a small dose of drug to bring on drug response but extensive or ultra-rapid metabolizers will need a large dose of drug. The unexpressed CYP2E1, one of the CYP families, may influence cancer incidence. However, it is still controversial

Hepatitis a Virus Infection in Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Prodromal factors of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) are often associated with previous viral infection (60%). The ailment supported by the acquired immunomediated disorder concept. Viral hepatitis is very rarely found in GBS, preceded by cytomegalovirus (15-18%), Campylobacter jejuni (28%), and Epstein-Barr virus (5%). There is no specific etiology of GBS because those viruses usually appear sporadically (subclinically). All hepatitis virus infection can cause neurological complications, including GBS. We report two cases of hepatitis A virus infection (HAV) in GBS patients in Dr. Sardjito General Hospital during 5 years of observation (1996-2000) from 92 GBS patients. The diagnosis of HAV was based on more than 2 times increment of transaminase enzyme, positive IgM anti HAV, negative HbsAg, and negative IgM anti HCV. The diagnosis of GBS was based on clinical symptoms of acute generalized paralysis, cerebrospinal fluid examination, and electromyelography. In both cases, sub-clinical and sporadic symptoms appeared several days before paralysis, which makes it more likely that the prodromal period of GBS occurred at the same time of HAV incubation period

Alterations in Blood Ammonium Level and Psychometric Test in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis After a Tempe Diet

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy is found in 50-70% cases of liver cirrhosis. Management of hepatic encephalopathy is based on the hypothesis of ammonia and false neurotransmitters. A vegetable diet is the diet of choice, since vegetable proteins have a high biological value, contains non- ammonigenic essential amino acids, and contains fiber. The results of soy fermentation by Rhizopus sp can increase the nutritional value to make it easier for body digestion. Study aim: To determine improvements in hepatic encephalopathy by measuring the ammonium level and determining the psychometric test in patients with liver cirrhosis receiving a tempe diet compared to those receiving a liver diet (conventional diet). Method: This is a random open clinical trial with a proportional stratification according to the Child Pugh criteria. Study subjects are patients with liver cirrhosis who are hospitalized at the Internal Medicine Ward and ambulatory patients at the out-patient Gastro-hepatology Polyclinic of Dr. Sarjito Public General Hospital, from January 1999 to May 2000. The trial was conducted for 20 days, where the first (trial) group is given a tempe diet, while the second (control) group is given liver diet II/III (conventional). Measured outcomes include peripheral blood ammonium level, and psychometric test using the Numeric Connection Test (NCT). Results: In the first group, we found a significant reduction of ammonium level in Child-Pugh A patients and a non-significant reduction in Child-Pugh B/C patients, a non-significant psychometric test improvement in Child-Pugh A patients, and significant psychometric test improvement in Child-Pugh B/C patients. In group II: there is no significant difference in the changes in ammonium level or psychometric test in patients from both Child-Pugh categories. Conclusion: A 20-day tempe diet can reduce ammonium levels and improve results on the psychometric test

Melanosis Coli

Melanosis coli is a brownish discoloration of the colonic mucosa caused by the accumulation of pigment in macrophages of the lamina propria. We reported a 62 years old woman with prolonged constipation since 10 years ago. She underwent haemorhoidectomy when 17 years old. Since 4 years ago she regularly comsumted herbal laxative. On 27 january 2015 underwent colonoscopy at Sardjito hospital Yogyakarta. Colonoscopic examination revealed Melanosis coli

The Role of Insulin Resistance in Diabetic Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

Background: The association between diabetes and chronic liver disease has been well documented. However, the mechanism remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the insulin resistance in chronic liver disease and normal liver in diabetic patient. Method: A total of 31 diabetic, non-alcoholic patients with multiple oral hypoglycemic drugs, either with or without lipid abnormalities were enrolled in this study. Subjects were recruited from outpatient clinic of Department of Endocrine at Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Jogjakarta, Indonesia from May-June 2004. This was a cross sectional study. Fasting insulin and glucose level, liver function test, body mass index, and the presence of fatty liver by ultrasound were examined. Insulin resistance was estimated by calculating fasting insulin and glucose plasma level as the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index ratio. Data was described with mean ± SD and analyzed by independent sample t-test. Results: Thirty one patients were enrolled to the study, i.e. 8 patients with normal liver and 23 patients with fatty liver. Only 14 patients agreed to continue the study including 10 patients with fatty liver and 4 patients with normal liver. Mean of age was 59.1 ± 8.7 and mean value of BMI was 24.62 ± 3.05. The liver function test revealed normal Results. Triglyceride, cholesterol, fasting glucose level, and HOMA index (2.77 ± 1.95 vs. 1.66 ± 1.02) in patients with fatty liver were higher than patients with normal liver. No correlation was found between fasting insulin level as well as HOMA index and mean value of BMI (obese and non-obese) as well as hypertension. There was significant correlation between triglyceride level and fasting insulin among fatty liver patients (p = 0.048; CI 95% -7.404; -0.032). Conclusion: The non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in diabetic patients with normal liver enzymes and multiple oral hypoglycemic drugs appear to be related with insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia

Gallstones and Choledocolithiasis with Severe Cholestatic Jaundice in Beta-Thalasemia Intermedia Patient

Geographically, b-thalassemia can be found in many countries including in Indonesia. Thalassemia intermedia referred to patients as being ‘too haematologically severe to be called minor, but too mild to be called major\u27. Patients with thalassemia intermedia usually present themselves to medical attention in later childhood or even adulthood and are sustainable without the need for regular transfusion therapy. Three main factors are responsible for the clinical sequele of thalassemia intermedia: chronic anemia, ineffective erythropoiesis, and iron overload.There are many complications related to b-thalassemia intermedia such as gastroentero-hepatology diseases (splenomegaly, gallstones, choledocolithiasis, predispose patients to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis), vascular, endocrine and bone diseases. About 55-63% thalassemia intermedia patients suffer from gallstone with 68–85% of these patients undergo cholecystectomy, and 67-90% patients undergo splenectomy. Therefore, ultrasound examination is required to be performed regularly during illness and before patient underwent surgery or splenectomy to detect the presence of gall stones. In this case report a patient with gallstones and choledocholithiasis was reported. Severe cholestatic jaundice in b-thalassemia intermedia was diagnosed six months before hospitalization. The patient underwent open cholecystectomy and exploration common bile duct stones

Colorectal Cancer in Young Patient: a Distinguished Disease Entity?

Background: Some studies suggested that colorectal cancer at young age had a distinct biological characteristic: more advanced stage at time of diagnosis, poorer differentiated, and consisted of large proportion of mucin producing tumors. Aim of the study: To analyze clinical and histopathological differences between young aged colorectal cancer patients (< 40 years old) and the older patients Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted among our colorectal cancer patients in a general hospital between 1999-2004, using C.18, C.19, C20 ICD X code in medical record searching. It was requested that the patients had surgical treatment in Dr. Sardjito General Hospital. An inconclusive clinical staging and/or histological data were among the exclusion criteria. Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, T-test, and Mann Whitney U-test was performed to analyze the difference between patients < 40 years old and ³ 40 years old, in respect to diagnostic staging, histological type, histological grade (differentiation), CEA level, hemoglobin, albumin, tumor location, and chief complain. With p < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Sixteen young aged (< 40 years old) and 72 older patients had been identified. No differences in gender proportion and mean of symptoms to diagnosis period between two groups. No statistical differences between young aged and the older patients in diagnostic staging, histological grade and type, CEA level, and hemoglobin. Young aged patients had higher albumin value at presentation (p = 0.014), all had left sided tumors (p = 0.035), more complain of anal pain (p < 0.001), and less change of bowel habits complain (p = 0.009) Conclusion: The study results had failed to confirm the difference in respect to diagnostic staging, histological type and grade, CEA level, and hemoglobin. Most of our young aged patients had left sided tumors with chief complain of anal pain, and less complain of change of bowel habit

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Related to Metabolic Syndrome: a Case-control Study

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a benign condition, but it can go for years and progress to liver cirrhosis or eventually to liver cancer. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a condition associated with NAFLD. This study was aimed to know the risk factors of NAFLD related to metabolic syndrome. Method: A case-control study was performed in NAFLD patients with or without MS and healthy individuals. All subjects were recruited from population that underwent routine medical check-up at Sardjito Hospital, Jogjakarta, during March 2007–August 2008. Diagnosis of NAFLD is defined based on clinical and liver ultrasound findings. Diagnosis of MS is defined by International Diabetes Federation on criteria for the diagnosis of MS. Data were analyzed by using T-test, ANOVA and linear regression. Odds ratio (OR) (95% CI and p < 0.05) was calculated by cross-tab analysis. Results: There were 84 patients enrolled in the study (group I = 30 NAFLD + MS subjects; group II = 26 NAFLD patients; group III = 28 healthy). The data showed statistically significant Results in waist circumference, systole blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, homeostasis models assessment index ratio (HOMA-IR), free fatty acid (FFA), and adiponectin. The ANOVA and linear regression test among NAFLD groups showed significant difference only on HDL-cholesterol and FFA level. The lowest OR was 1.674 for HDL-cholesterol and highest OR was 13.571 for triglyceride. Conclusion: The independent factors of NAFLD related to metabolic syndrome are FFA and HDL- cholesterol level, even though a decreasing of HDL-cholesterol level has a lowest risk of NAFLD