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Background: The aims of this study were to determine the diagnostic value of elements of the disease history, the clinical findings and basic laboratory examinations in differential diagnosis of the patients with nonspecific abdominal pain and to analyze the long-term survey of these patients., Methods: A prospective observational study was performed at the Department of General Surgery Medicine Faculty of Uludag University between November 2001 to November 2002. Based on the diagnosis reasons for abdominal pain, 610 patients were classified as being of specific abdominal pain (n=501) versus nonspecific abdominal pain (n=109). Patients with nonspecific abdominal pain were invited to a follow-up examination 24 hours later and 4 follow-up interviews were conducted on days 8, 15, 30 and at the end of 1 year. Statistical analyses were performed between findings of two groups., Results: In logistic regression analysis, presence of a history of similar pain (odds ratio 1.88; p=0.009), nausea (odds ratio 0.46; p=0.001), rigidity (odds ratio 0.24; p=0.024), fever < or = 36.6 degrees C (odds ratio 1.66; p=0.037), leukocyte count < or = 8700 (odds ratio 1.85; p=0.011), age < or = 39 years (odds ratio 1.85; p=0.018), respiratory rate < or = 15 (odds ratio 3.19; p=0.00..) were significantly independent diagnostic factors. There was no malignancy during one-year follow-up period., Conclusion: The possibility of a specific cause is higher in patients with history of a similar pain, nausea, rigidity, fever >36.6 degrees C, leukocyte count >8700, age >39 years, respiratory rate >15 in admission and persistent pain 24 hours after discharge.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is implicated in the etiology of gastric and duodenal ulcer, non-ulcer dispepsia, atrophic gastritis, gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma., Methods: Between November 1995 and December 2004, the presence of H. pylori was investigated using the CLO test in 9239 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at a single institution in Istanbul, Turkey. The results were evaluated as early-late positive, and negative., Results: There were 4667 women (50.51%) with a mean age of 44.5 years (range, 13-90 years), and 4572 men (49.49%) with a mean age of 45.7 years (range, 11-85 years). The CLO test was positive in 41.44% of cases. The most frequent symptoms on admission were epigastric pain (46.2%) and burning (19.6%). The most frequent endoscopic diagnosis was pangastritis (64%) and non-erosive duodenitis (30.5%). The H. pylori positivity was 61.53% during the first 5-year period and 38.47% during the second 5-year period. The H. pylori positivity was significant in patients using non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs and tobacco (P < 0.001)., Discussion and Conclusion: Helicbacter pylori prevelance remains an important health problem for Turkey although it has diminished in parallel to the national development during the last years. Helicbacter pylori, as a first-degree carcinogen, should be investigated and eradicated particularly in high-risk patients.