Helicobacter pylori infection does not influence the progression from gastroesophageal reflux disease to Barrett's esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: We conducted a meta-analysis evaluating the overall risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in individuals with Helicobacter pylori infection, and a network meta-analysis to assess the role of H. pylori infection in the progression from Barrett's esophagus (BE) to EAC.

Evidence Acquisition: The MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched between 1988 and June 2023 for observational studies of H.

Hereditary hemochromatosis: Temporal trends, sociodemographic characteristics, and independent risk factor of hepatocellular cancer - nationwide population-based study.

Background: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) has an increased risk of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) both due to genetic risks and iron overload as iron overload can be carcinogenic; HH impacts the increasing risk of HCC, not only through the development of cirrhosis but concerning hepatic iron deposition, which has been studied further recently.

Aim: To evaluate HH yearly trends, patient demographics, symptoms, comorbidities, and hospital outcomes. The secondary aim sheds light on the risk of iron overload for developing HCC in HH patients, independent of liver cirrhosis complications.

Esophageal Stricture Caused by CMV in a Non-HIV-Infected Renal Transplant Patient.

Esophageal stricture due to cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is an uncommon pathology, with most reported cases occurring in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. We report a renal transplant patient who presented with progressive dysphagia and weight loss for 2 years. Endoscopic examination revealed a long esophageal stricture with a necrotic lesion but no typical CMV esophageal ulcers; immunostains were positive for CMV.

Simultaneous Massive Esophageal Mucosal Candidiasis and Profound Cytomegaloviral Esophageal Ulcers with Recurrence of Both Infections 12 Years Later in a Patient with Long-Standing AIDS: Endoscopic, Radiologic, and Pathologic Findings.

Immunocompromised patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) can develop opportunistic esophageal candidial and cytomegaloviral infections. A case is reported which extends the clinico-endoscopic severity of these infections. A 32-year-old bisexual man with AIDS since 1997, and intermittently compliant with antiretroviral therapy, presented (2007) with dysphagia and 32 kg-weight loss.

Pancreatic Ganglioneuroma Presenting in an Octogenarian.

Pancreatic ganglioneuromas occur mostly in children and rarely in young adults, with no cases reported in adults older than 60 years. An 86-year-old-woman, with active advanced multiple myeloma, presented with epigastric pain for 2 days. Abdominal and pelvic computed tomography demonstrated a distended gallbladder, mildly dilated biliary tree, and a 13 × 8-mm hypodense mass in pancreatic body, without extrapancreatic invasion at endoscopic ultrasound.

Novel Case Report: A Previously Reported, but Pathophysiologically Unexplained, Association Between Collagenous Colitis and Protein-Losing Enteropathy May Be Explained by an Undetected Link with Collagenous Duodenitis.

Collagenous colitis (CC) is associated with non-bloody, watery diarrhea, which is pathophysiologically reasonable because normal colonic absorption (or excretion) of water and electrolytes can be blocked by the abnormally thick collagen layer in CC. However, CC has also been associated with six previous cases of protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), with no pathophysiologic explanation. The colon does not normally absorb (or excrete) amino acids/proteins, which is primarily the function of the small bowel.

Digestive Manifestations in Patients Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Background & Aims: The prevalence and significance of digestive manifestations in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain uncertain. We aimed to assess the prevalence, spectrum, severity, and significance of digestive manifestations in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Methods: Consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were identified across a geographically diverse alliance of medical centers in North America.

Proposed characterization of the syndrome of epidural pneumatosis (pneumorrhachis) in patients with forceful vomiting from diabetic ketoacidosis as a clinico-radiologic pentad based on systematic literature review & an illustrative case report.

Background: Previous literature on epidural pneumatosis (pneumorrhachis, or air in epidural cavity) associated with forceful vomiting in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has consisted of individual case reports without comprehensive syndrome characterization due to syndromic rarity, with the largest previous literature review comprising 6 cases. Presumed pathophysiology is air escaping from alveolar rupture from forceful vomiting via tissue planes to cause epidural pneumatosis.

Aim: Systematically review literature to facilitate syndromic diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.

Clarithromycin-Associated Acute Liver Failure Leading to Fatal, Massive Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage from Profound Coagulopathy: Case Report and Systematic Literature Review.

While erythromycin has caused numerous cases of acute liver failure (ALF), clarithromycin, a similar macrolide antibiotic, has caused only six reported cases of ALF. A new case of clarithromycin-associated ALF is reported with hepatic histopathology and exclusion of other etiologies by extensive workup, and the syndrome of clarithromycin-associated ALF is better characterized by systematic review. A 60-year-old nonalcoholic man, with normal baseline liver function tests, was admitted with diffuse abdominal pain and AST = 499 U/L and ALT = 539 U/L, six days after completing a 7-day course of clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily for suspected upper respiratory infection.

Perioperative hypothermia in colorectal surgeries: are we doing enough to prevent it?

Objective: To determine the incidence of hypothermia in patients undergoing colorectal surgery, and to identify factors that increase vulnerability to perioperative hypothermia.

Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised medical records from May 2012 to June 2017 related to all patients aged >16 years of either gender who underwent colorectal procedures. Analysis about predictors of perioperative hypothermia was done using Stata 12.

A Statistically Significant Reduction in Length of Stay and Hospital Costs with Equivalent Quality of Care Metrics for ERCPs Performed During the Weekend Versus Postponed to Weekdays: A 6-Year Study of 533 ERCPs at Four Teaching Hospitals.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a diagnostic/therapeutic endoscopic procedure for numerous pancreaticobiliary diseases. Data regarding performing ERCP on weekend (WE; Saturday/Sunday) versus postponing ERCP to first two available weekdays (WD; Monday/Tuesday) are scarce. ERCP requires costly resources including specialized nurses, endoscopy room equipped with fluoroscopy, anesthesia services, and highly trained therapeutic endoscopists.

A Very Rare Complication of Hepatitis A Infection: Acute Myocarditis-A Case Report with Literature Review.

Hepatitis A is a common viral infection with a benign course but in rare cases can progress to acute liver failure. It usually presents with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, anorexia, or asymptomatically, but it can also present atypically with relapsing hepatitis and prolonged cholestasis. In addition, extrahepatic manifestations have been reported, including urticarial and maculopapular rash, acute kidney injury, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, acute pancreatitis, mononeuritis, reactive arthritis, glomerulonephritis, cryoglobulinemia, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and pleural or pericardial effusion.

Case report of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia diagnosed in an octogenarian by ileal intubation and by push enteroscopy after missed diagnosis by standard colonoscopy and EGD.

Rationale: Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) is a rare, presumably congenital lesion that is usually diagnosed in patients < 3 years old, is rarely first diagnosed in adulthood, and when first diagnosed in adulthood typically presents with symptoms for many years. Although PIL is often identified by endoscopic abnormalities, it must be emphasized that the jejunoileum/distal duodenum must be intubated for diagnosis because the lesions are present in these regions. This work demonstrates that 1)-PIL can occur in an octogenarian; 2)-shows that the characteristic endoscopic findings are not found at colonoscopy without terminal ileal intubation; and 3)-may be missed at standard EGD without distal duodenal intubation.

Does academic assessment system type affect levels of academic stress in medical students? A cross-sectional study from Pakistan.

Introduction: Stress among medical students induced by academic pressures is on the rise among the student population in Pakistan and other parts of the world. Our study examined the relationship between two different systems employed to assess academic performance and the levels of stress among students at two different medical schools in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods: A sample consisting of 387 medical students enrolled in pre-clinical years was taken from two universities, one employing the semester examination system with grade point average (GPA) scores (a tiered system) and the other employing an annual examination system with only pass/fail grading.

Depression is linked to uncontrolled hypertension: a case-control study from Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: High blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and may be more prevalent in persons with psychopathology.

Objective: To determine the association between uncontrolled hypertension with depressive and anxiety disorders in two tertiary care centers in Karachi.

Methods: It was a case-control study conducted in two hospitals in Karachi.