Facet joint septic arthritis: A review of cases.

Facet joint septic arthritis is a rare; yet, severe spinal infection often misdiagnosed due to its non-specific clinical presentation and radiological mimickers. This case series illustrates various clinical presentations, imaging features, and outcomes of patients with facet joint septic arthritis. We demonstrate different disease stages to aid clinicians and radiologists in recognizing this condition.

Advancements in endoscopic hemostasis for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Traditionally, through-the-scope (TTS) clips, thermal therapy, and injection therapies are used to treat GI bleeding. In this review, we provide an overview of novel endoscopic treatments that can be used to achieve hemostasis.

Successful Treatment of Rituximab-Induced Crohn's Disease With Ustekinumab.

Autoimmune optic papillitis is a rare disorder that causes progressive visual loss, often treated with rituximab (RTX). However, its use is not without risks. Here, we present a 51-year-old man who experienced vision loss because of autoimmune optic papillitis, which was well-controlled with RTX.

Is Blepharoplasty Cost-effective? Utility Analysis of Dermatochalasis and Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty.

Purpose: This cross-sectional prospective study measured utility values of upper eyelid dermatochalasis to quantify its impact on quality of life and assess cost-effectiveness of upper blepharoplasty.

Methods: Utility of dermatochalasis was assessed using the standard reference gamble and time trade-off methods, with dual anchor points of perfect eye function and perfect health. The utility value obtained was used to create a Markov model and run a cost-effectiveness analysis of blepharoplasty as a treatment for dermatochalasis while utilizing the societal perspective.

Development and validation of an artificial intelligence based screening tool for detection of retinopathy of prematurity in a South Indian population.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to develop and validate an AI algorithm as a screening tool for the detection of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Participants: Images were collected from infants enrolled in the KIDROP tele-ROP screening program.

Methods: We developed a deep learning (DL) algorithm with 227,326 wide-field images from multiple camera systems obtained from the KIDROP tele-ROP screening program in India over an 11-year period.

Lymphocytic Esophagitis Presenting With Food Impaction.

Lymphocytic esophagitis (LyE) is a rare diagnosis made on esophageal biopsy whose pathogenesis is poorly understood. Since its appearance in the literature 15 years ago, it still remains an enigma due to its low prevalence. In this case report, a 71-year-old male presented with an episode of acute dysphagia due to food impaction.

The overall quality of evidence of recommendations surrounding nutrition and diet in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aim: Recently, there has been an increased focus on the role nutrition and diet play in maintaining health in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to assess the overall quality, strength, and transparency of conflicts among guidelines on nutrition/diet in IBD.

Methods: A systematic search was performed on multiple databases from inception until January 1, 2021, to identify guidelines pertaining to nutrition or diet in IBD.

A rare case of gouty arthropathy in the spine complicated with acute cord compression.

Gout is one of the most common inflammatory arthropathies in the developed world. However, involvement of the spine is relatively rare, and other sinister differential diagnoses will need to be considered. We describe an unusual case of gouty tophi deposition within the spine in an elderly patient presenting with signs and symptoms of acute cord compression.

Innumerable pulmonary nodules.

Early detection is critical with this aggressive disease. However, the patient's financial status prompted her to delay medical care.

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection: Best Practices for Gastrointestinal Endoscopists.

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is an endoscopic technique used to remove sessile or flat lesions from the gastrointestinal tract. This article reviews EMR and focuses on large colorectal polyps, which constitute the most common indication for EMR. Various methods of polyp evaluation can help gastroenterologists determine whether EMR is feasible and whether referral to an advanced endoscopist may be necessary.

Current Applications of Telemedicine in Gastroenterology.

Telemedicine generally refers to the use of technology to communicate with patients and provide health care from a distance. Advances in technology, specifically computers, cellphones, and other mobile devices, have facilitated healthcare providers' growing ability to virtually monitor and mentor patients. There has been a progressive expansion in the use of telemedicine in the field of gastroenterology (GI), which has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Large polyps: Pearls for the referring and receiving endoscopist.

Polyps are precursors to colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer in the United States. Large polyps, those with a size ≥ 20 mm, are more likely to harbor cancer. Colonic polyps can be removed through various techniques, with the goal to completely resect and prevent colorectal cancer; however, the management of large polyps can be relatively complex and challenging.

Difficult Biliary Cannulation in Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: An Overview of Advanced Techniques.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) plays a significant role in the treatment of a vast array of pancreatobiliary diseases. However, despite significant progress in the optimisation of ERCP methods and accessories, the technical and clinical success of ERCP can vary significantly due to a variety of patient and operator factors. Over the past several decades, a number of advanced techniques have been developed to improve cannulation success rates, including the use of double-guidewire, pancreatic duct accessory-assisted, precut, and rendezvous techniques.

Difficult Biliary Cannulation in Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: Definitions, Risk Factors, and Implications.

Over the past 50 years, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has become the preferred minimally invasive method of treating a vast array of pancreatobiliary diseases. An initial for ERCP success is selective ductal cannulation. Despite significant progress in the optimisation of ERCP methods and accessories, selective biliary cannulation using conventional techniques remains unsuccessful in approximately 15% of native papilla cases.

Gastrointestinal Luminal Stenting: The Early US Experience with the Duodenal HANAROSTENT.

Self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) are frequently utilized for palliation of malignant gastric and/or duodenal outlet obstruction (GDOO). Re-establishing luminal patency with accurate SEMS positioning while limiting migration and adjacent tissue injury is an important technical consideration and aim. The duodenal HANAROSTENT was introduced in the USA in 2019 and developed with these challenges in mind.

Telemedicine in Hepatology: Current Applications and Future Directions.

Telemedicine refers to the use of information and communication technologies for providing health care at a distance. Through the use of telecommunication technologies such as cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices, health care providers are able to conduct patient visits, mentor/train other providers, and monitor patients' chronic diseases remotely, potentially hundreds or thousands of miles away. Over the past 2 decades, the use of telemedicine has grown in the field of hepatology.

Global incidence, prevalence and features of primary sclerosing cholangitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background & Aims: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an idiopathic, cholestatic liver disease with a diverse range of clinical manifestations. Inter-regional data on PSC are variable, but its global geoepidemiology has not been well-studied. We aimed to examine the worldwide incidence, prevalence and features of PSC and PSC-inflammatory bowel disease (PSC-IBD).

Pre-procedural Preparation and Sedation for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Patients with Advanced Liver Disease.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy in patients with advanced liver disease poses various challenges, a major one being procedural sedation and its associated considerations. While sedation during endoscopy can improve patient comfort, decrease anxiety, and facilitate procedural completion, in patients with advanced liver disease, it is also associated with substantial and unique risks due to alterations in drug metabolism and other factors. As such, the choice of sedative agent(s) and related logistics may require careful inter-disciplinary planning and individualized considerations.