The Effect of Oral Iron Supplementation/Fortification on the Gut Microbiota in Infancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: Iron is an essential metal for the proper growth and neurodevelopment of infants. To prevent and treat iron deficiency, iron supplementation or fortification is often required. It has been shown, though, that it affects the synthesis of gut microbiota.

H. Pylori Treatment in the COVID-19 Era. What Have We Learned So Far?

Purpose Of Review: CoronaVirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has negatively influenced the management of multiple conditions in regards to the gastroenterology patient. An equivalent change in the management of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-related diseases was reported, as practically no eradication treatment was offered during most of the pandemic.

Advances in the pharmacological and regulatory management of multidrug resistant .

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) hampers the success of eradication and in recent years multidrug resistance (MDR) shows an increase worldwide.

Areas Covered: This review covers current aspects of pharmacological and regulatory management of MDR-resistant H.

The Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Children Undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a valuable diagnostic tool but often requires sedation to complete, especially in children. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is an a2 agonist, for which there are experimental findings that support its potential neuroprotective effects. Given the potential risks of anesthetic drugs, we ran this study to examine DEX's effectiveness and cardiopulmonary safety as a sedative drug for children undergoing MRI.

Current role of narrow band imaging in diagnosing gastric intestinal metaplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of its diagnostic accuracy.

Background: Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) can be missed by random gastric biopsies taken during white light endoscopy. Narrow band imaging (NBI) may potentially improve the detection of GIM. However, pooled estimates from prospective studies are lacking and the diagnostic accuracy of NBI in detecting GIM needs to be more precisely defined.

Non-Typical Clinical Presentation of COVID-19 Patients in Association with Disease Severity and Length of Hospital Stay.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of non-typical symptoms in ambulatory patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection and their potential association with disease progression.

Materials And Methods: Data on the symptomatology of COVID-19 patients presenting to the fast-track emergency department were collected between March 2020 and March 2021. Fever, cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue-weakness were defined as "typical" symptoms, whereas all other symptoms such as nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, gastrointestinal symptoms, etc.

Current role of tailored therapy in treating Helicobacter pylori infections. A systematic review, meta-analysis and critical analysis.

Background And Aims: Recent guidelines dictate that all Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infected subjects should receive curative therapy. The efficacy of empirical regimens for H.

Covid-19: exploring the "new normal" in gastroenterology training.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to unprecedented disruptions in fellowship training programs worldwide. In gastroenterology, the strain in healthcare service provision and the emphasis on preventing viral transmission has adversely impacted hands-on training opportunities, with trainees facing the constant pressure to meet training requirements under the continuous threat of viral transmission. Emerging evidence highlight the scale of the problem, specifically with regard to endoscopy competence due to cancellation of elective endoscopic procedures, provision of inpatient and outpatient consultative care as well as academic education and the mental well-being of trainees.

Comparative Efficacy and Tolerability of Janus Kinase Inhibitor Therapies for Moderate to Severe Crohn's Disease: Α Network Meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: A number of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors (tofacitinib, filgotinib, upadacitinib) have been tested for moderate and severe Crohn's disease (CD) in randomized control trials (RCTs). However, data on their comparative efficacy and tolerability is lacking. We aimed to study their performance comparatively, by means of network meta-analysis (NWM).

Comparative effectiveness of 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonists in irritable bowel syndrome: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

Background: There is evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonists (5-HT) for the treatment of non-constipated irritable bowel syndrome (NC-IBS). We aimed to determine the comparative effectiveness of 5-HT antagonists in NC-IBS, as evidenced by the results of a network meta-analysis (NWM) of published relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: We searched the PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for relevant RCTs through September 2020 and data from each selected RCT were extracted.

When in Trouble Think of the Bubble: Paradoxical Cerebral Arterial Gas Embolism after Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography.

Air embolism (a result of direct communication with the vasculature and an external pressure gradient from the gastrointestinal or the biliary tract), although rare, is a potentially devastating adverse event seen in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. Whether venous, arterial, or paradoxical, the clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic patients to cardiorespiratory arrest. This is of particular importance because it makes the diagnosis of air embolism even more difficult in an already sedated patient.

Basket versus balloon extraction for choledocholithiasis: a single center prospective single-blind randomized study.

Background And Study Aims: endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is essential when dealing in patients with choledocholithiasis. However, the proper extraction device selection is, often, a matter of the endoscopists' preference. We conducted a single center prospective randomized controlled study to access success rates for basket versus balloon catheters for small stones.

Gastrointestinal involvement in COVID-19 patients: a retrospective study from a Greek COVID-19 referral hospital.

Background: Much attention has been paid to the study and reporting of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, an increasing number of COVID-19 patients have been noted to experience hepatic and pancreatic injury. In this study, we retrospectively investigated symptoms and laboratory findings related to the GI system in a single center in Athens, Greece, and assessed the role of these parameters in relation to survival and disease severity.

Gastric ischemic preconditioning may reduce the incidence and severity of anastomotic leakage after οesophagectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy is a severe and life-threatening complication. Gastric ischemic preconditioning is a strategy for the improvement of anastomotic healing. Aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the impact of gastric ischemic preconditioning on postoperative morbidity.

10-Day Versus 14-Day Quadruple Concomitant Nonbismuth Therapy for the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection: Results From a Randomized Prospective Study in a High Clarithromycin Resistance Country.

Goals: The aim of this study was to investigate the implementation of a 14-day quadruple nonbismuth concomitant regimen, as proposed by recent Guidelines and Consensus Statements.

Background: In Greece, a region with >20% clarithromycin resistance where bismuth is unavailable, the 10-day quadruple concomitant scheme has already been adopted as the accepted first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment.

Study: Our prospective randomized study included 364 patients with newly diagnosed H.

Sinus Bradycardia During Targeted Temperature Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The beneficial effect of sinus bradycardia during targeted temperature management (TTM) in cardiac arrest patients remains doubtful. We aimed to investigate the impact of sinus bradycardia on survival and neurological outcome. MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.

Size does matter: when a large plastic biliary stent ends up in the root of the mesentery.

Duodenal perforations due to biliary stenting migration, although rare, can occur. We report a unique case of duodenal perforation due to a large in length plastic stent with no (or marginal) migration, which ended up in the root of the mesentery, explaining the normal laboratory values and minimal imaging findings observed. Any clinical symptom during the postprocedural period should raise the suspicion of a major complication and prompt quick management decisions.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct : case report and review of the literature.

A variant of bile duct carcinoma, intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a rare disease mainly found in Eastern Asia which encompasses a spectrum of intraductal papillary growth occurring anywhere along the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic biliary tree that carries a high potential for malignancy. We report the case of a patient with episodes of recurrent cholangitis that was diagnosed with IPNB, our clinical and diagnostic approach, the radiographic and endoscopic findings, the interventions used, while discussing the therapeutic options.

Gastroesophageal junction and gastroesophageal junction carcinoma : a short update.

Cancer of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), although rare, is now considered a separate entity with a distinct pathophysiological and molecular profile. Although much progress has been made over the past decades in delineating the multiple environmental and genetic pathways involved GEJ carcinoma, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying disease initiation and progression are still poorly understood. This is of paramount importance for the treating physician as the disease bears a poor therapeutic response.

Quality of life in adults with cystic fibrosis: the Greek experience.

Introduction: Recent developments in treatment have steadily raised the median predicted age of survival for people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). We report the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in CF adult patients and correlate our findings with the patients' demographic characteristics.

Material And Methods: The Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life (CFQoL) questionnaire was answered by 77 CF adult patients.

An intraoperative case of spontaneous restoration of circulation from asystole: a case of lazarus phenomenon.

This case report refers to a victim of intraoperative cardiac arrest, who restored spontaneous circulation despite of cessation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The victim, a 53-year-old man, was undergoing a surgical investigation and rehabilitation of a thigh hematoma. Two minutes after discontinuation of a 46 min CPR, a normotensive sinus node rhythm appeared at monitor.