Long-term aspirin use in patients hospitalized with ischemic colitis.

Background: Ischemic colitis is a form of mesenteric ischemia that often presents in patients with vascular disease. Long-term aspirin use has been shown to improve the outcomes in patients with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease. However, the relationship between aspirin use and ischemic colitis is unclear.

The impact of aspirin use on outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Insights from a national database.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an inflammatory disorder that can increase the risk of mortality. Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory drug used for primary prevention of cardiovascular events. A single center analysis previously reported that aspirin use did not impact major outcomes in IBD.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Outcomes of Ischemic Colitis: A Nationwide Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Ischemic colitis is the most common presentation of mesenteric ischemia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Coagulopathy has been associated with the development of ischemic colitis. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection can lead to a variety of pathology and physiological derangements, including coagulopathy.

McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome: A rare cause of chronic diarrhea treated with endoscopic polypectomy.

Chronic diarrhea is a commonly encountered complaint and a principal cause of health care utilization worldwide. Although there are various etiologies of chronic diarrhea, McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome is a rare syndrome defined as a large villous adenoma with secretory diarrhea causing severe fluid imbalances. We report a case of a patient with McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome who was successfully treated with endoscopic resection.

Does use of long-term aspirin impact outcomes in patients with acute pancreatitis?

Introduction: Although the effect of rectal indomethacin in post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis is well established, the effect of aspirin on acute pancreatitis (AP) is not well studied. We investigate the effect of aspirin on AP.

Methods: We collected data from the National Inpatient Sample database from 2016 to 2020, to identify adult patients with acute pancreatitis.

The burden of acute pancreatitis on COVID-19 in the United States.

Background: Although SARS-CoV-2 primarily affects the respiratory system, gastrointestinal symptoms were also seen. Our study analyzed the prevalence and impact of acute pancreatitis (AP) on COVID-19 hospitalizations in the United States.

Methods: The 2020 National Inpatient Sample database was used to identify patients with COVID-19.

Iron Man: Non-HFE Hemochromatosis Without Significant Fibrosis.

Hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder marked by abnormally high levels of intestinal iron absorption leading to severe end-organ damage. It is classically associated with HFE gene mutations, including C282Y and H63D, but in recent years, many non-HFE mutations along with novel variants have been discovered, particularly among non-Whites. We describe a case of an elderly Japanese patient who was evaluated for markedly elevated ferritin found to have hemochromatosis, with no hepatic fibrosis while being negative for HFE and common non-HFE gene mutations.

The burden of Clostridioides difficile on COVID-19 hospitalizations in the USA.

Background And Aim: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of hospital acquired-infectious diarrhea in the USA. In this study, we assess the prevalence and impact of CDI in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the USA.

Methods: We used the 2020 National Inpatient Sample database to identify adult patients with COVID-19.

Hospitalization Outcomes of Acute Pancreatitis in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) carries a significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. AP is a potential complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) although its incidence remains unclear. HSCT recipients are at increased risk of AP due to various factors but the effect of AP on mortality and resource utilization in the adult population has not been studied.

Hospital frailty risk score predicts worse outcomes in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Background: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a pathological fibroinflammatory response to persistent inflammation or stress to the pancreas. The effect of frailty on outcomes in patients with CP has not been previously examined. In this study, we examined the effect of frailty on outcomes in hospitalized patients with CP.

as a Rare Cause of Small Bowel Obstruction.

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is an extremely common condition for hospitalization throughout the world. Although most causes of are due to post-operative adhesions, there are much less common causes which remain important to consider as differentials due to diagnostic and treatment implications. To the best of our knowledge, we are presenting the first case of SBO caused by induced terminal ileitis.

A Rare Case of Rectal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Nigro Protocol.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the rectum is a rare malignancy, and the optimal treatment strategy remains unknown. Cases are limited in the literature, and although historically treated with surgical resection, more recent cases have suggested success with chemotherapy. Although Nigro protocol was initially developed for anal SCC, we present a case of rectal SCC successfully treated with the Nigro protocol.

Gender differences in esophageal variceal bleeding in the United States.

Background And Aims: Esophageal variceal bleeding is a common reason for hospitalization in patients with cirrhosis. The main objective of this study was to analyze the effects of gender differences on outcomes in hospitalizations related to Esophageal variceal bleeding in the United States.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was performed using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for all hospitalizations with a discharge diagnosis of esophageal varices with hemorrhage from 2016 to 2019.

Marked Hyperbilirubinemia Associated with Primary Myelofibrosis Responsive to Ruxolitinib.

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder seen in older adults which can present both with hepatosplenomegaly as well as mild nonspecific liver enzyme abnormalities. Mild elevations in bilirubin can occasionally be seen due to both intravascular hemolysis as well as extramedullary hematopoiesis. Marked hyperbilirubinemia as a presenting sign of PMF progression, however, has not been reported.

Emphysematous Pancreatitis Mimicking Bowel Perforation.

Emphysematous pancreatitis is a rare complication of acute necrotizing pancreatitis, which carries a mortality rate of up to 70%. It has only been described in isolated case reports. We report a patient who presented with suspected bowel perforation and was subsequently found to have emphysematous pancreatitis that was managed successfully with multidisciplinary team involvement.

Acute esophageal necrosis complicated by refractory stricture formation.

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a rare presentation of severe esophageal injury. The optimal long-term management of complications related to AEN, particularly stricture formation, are not well defined. We report a case of AEN in a patient who presented with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and had dysphagia due to refractory stricture formation after mucosal healing occurred.

Leflunomide treatment of Crohn's disease patients intolerant to standard immunomodulator therapy.

Background: Immunomodulator therapy with the purine analogs azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), is efficacious in the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD), but is not tolerated by a significant minority of patients. The pyrimidine analog, leflunomide, has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Because established RA immunomodulator agents may demonstrate success in the treatment of CD, we reviewed our clinical open-label experience with leflunomide in a refractory CD population.

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and other functional biliary disorders: evaluation and treatment.

Functional biliary disorders encompass the conditions of SOD and gallbladder dysmotility, both of which result in clinical pain syndromes. Obtaining objective diagnostic and outcomes data for both disorders has been an ongoing challenge over the last two decades. SOD, although initially believed to be strictly a biliary disorder, has now been implicated in recurrent pancreatitis.

Case report: "Popcorn" dystrophic ileal calcification in a patient with Crohn's disease.

Small bowel calcification is a rare finding, often associated with chronic infection or small intestinal neoplasms. The authors report a patient who developed dystrophic ileal calcification in the setting of medically refractory Crohn's disease. The patient had longstanding, obstructive ileal Crohn's disease, treated with corticosteroids for a 10-year period.

Volume and yield of screening colonoscopy at a tertiary medical center after change in medicare reimbursement.

Objective: Starting July 1, 2001, Medicare began to reimburse for screening colonoscopy in asymptomatic adults older than 50 yr with no risk factors for colorectal cancer. We sought to determine the short-term impact of the change in Medicare reimbursement on the demand for and yield of screening colonoscopy at our tertiary institution.

Methods: Asymptomatic patients older than 50 referred for first screening colonoscopy after the change in Medicare reimbursement from July 1, 2001 to December 31, 2001 were compared with a similar cohort screened before Medicare coverage for a family history of cancer or polyps during the same months the previous year (July 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000).