Digestive manifestations in COVID-19: Prevalence and prognostic impact.

Background: Since its declaration in december 2019, a novel coronavirus, the SARS-CoV-2 was rapidly responsible for a major pandemic. COVID-19 is mainly manifested by respiratory symptoms,however, digestive manifestations have been reported, raising the hypothesis of the viral digestive tropism.

Aims: Specify the digestive manifestations due to the SARS-CoV-2, and their impact on the disease prognosis and describe the COVID-19 effect in patients with underlying digestive disease.

Clinical practice standards for colonoscopy.

Colonoscopy is considered as the most effective tool for preventing, screening, and diagnosing colorectal lesions. Effectiveness of colonoscopy was identified as a major priority, and it strictly depends on quality measures. Therefore, international guidelines were formulated on quality indicators for colonoscopy, aiming to reduce the rate of interval cancers related to missed lesions during colonoscopy.

Predictors of failure of endoscopic retrograde pancreatocholangiography during common bile duct stones.

Introduction: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography associated with sphincterotomy and stone extraction with balloon or Dormia basket represents the gold standard for the management of common bile duct stones. The aim of our study were to investigate the predictors of failure of standard endoscopic techniques during the management of common bile duct stones.

Methods: A retrospective study including all endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for common bile duct stones between January 2014 and December 2017 was conducted.

Hepatitis B and C viral infections screening in a Tunisian IBD population under immunosuppressive therapies.

Background: Immunosuppressive drugs have become a mainstay of therapy for the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). These treatments expose to a risk of hepatitis B and C reactivation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses in Tunisian IBD patients on immunosuppressive treatments.

QT interval abnormalities and heart rate variability in patients with cirrhosis.

Background And Study Aims: We aimed to assess the relationship of the QT interval and heart rate variability with the severity and aetiology of cirrhosis and determine the effect of propranolol on them.

Patients And Methods: This prospective study included 44 patients with cirrhosis categorised into three groups based on the Child-Pugh score: groups 1, 2 and 3 (with 12, 15 and 15 patients, respectively). Demographic characteristics, propranolol administration, severity of cirrhosis evaluated by the Child-Pugh score, aetiology of cirrhosis, and serum sodium, potassium and calcium levels were evaluated.

Confocal endomicroscopy for the diagnosis of pancreatic lesions.

Confocal endomicroscopy (EMC) is a thriving technology that allows real-time and non-invasive imaging in vivo. EMC demonstrated its effectiveness to differentiate neoplastic from normal tissue and to search dysplasia. In addition to the significant developments of this technique in Barrett oesophagus, celiac disease, characterization of colonic polyps, or monitoring of chronic inflammatory bowel disease, EMC is currently developing in bilio-pancreatic pathology.

Effect of low dose albumin administration in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis on renal function and survival.

Background And Study Aims: Current guidelines favour albumin administration during spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). However, its use is limited in clinical practice and low doses are preferred. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of low dose albumin perfusion during SBP on mortality and prevention of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) in cirrhotic patients.

Prognostic factors of survival during hepatocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Despite advances in diagnostic and therapeutic means,mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on liver cirrhosis remainsheavy in the absence of curative treatment.

Aim: To evaluate survival and to identify prognostic factors during HCC.

Methods: A mono centric retrospective study over a period of13 years (January 2002-October 2015), including all patients with HHConcirrhotic liver was performed.

Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in colorectal cancer: An immunohistochemical study.

Background And Study Aim: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in tumourigenesis and tumour progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) and leads to the activation of intracellular signaling pathways. The use of anti-EGFR-targeted therapy has increased for patients with metastatic CRC. Today, the clinical utility of immunohistochemistry has remained somewhat inconclusive.

Theses defended at Tunis Faculty of Medecine from 2004 to 2005: Scientific become and predictive factors of publications.

Introduction: Several theses are supported, every year, in the Faculty of Medicine of Tunis but their scientific become is this day unknown. The most part of specialities have not bibliometric data.

Objectives: This work had for objectives to study the still unknown future of theses of Tunis Faculty of Medecine during 2004-2005, in terms of publication in indexed reviews and to determine the predictive factors of their publication.

Known, new and emerging risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (review).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the commonest primary cancer of the liver and is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. And despite effective treatment of hepatitis B and C infection which is the prominent factor associated with HCC, the prevalence of this malignancy continues to rise probably due to other factors. So that, identifying risk factor of HCC is essential and effective surveillance programs are necessary in order to maximize patient outcomes.

Immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of dysplasia in chronic inflammatory bowel disease colorectal polyps.

Background And Study Aims: Development of cancer is the most significant complication in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Distinguishing true dysplasia from reactive atypia in polyps is difficult, leading sometimes to the unsatisfactory diagnosis of "indefinite for dysplasia". Therefore, there is a need for the development of markers that can help improve diagnosis.

Hypogammaglobulinemia associated with nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the intestine and pernicious anaemia.

Background: Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the gastrointestinal tract, recurrent acute pulmonary infections and autoimmune disease are well-recognized complications of common variable immunodeficiency.

Aim: We aimed to focus on clinical presentation and differential diagnosis of diffuse nodular lymphoid and hyperplasia of the gastrointestinal tract coexisting with hypogammaglobulinemia.

Case-report: We report the case of nodular lymphoid hyperplasia associated with pernicious anaemia in a young man with hypogammaglobulinemia and a long history of pulmonary infections.

Microbiological study and antimicrobial susceptibility of bile in biliary therapeutic endoscopy.

Background: Biliary obstruction together with bacterial colonization of the bile duct may lead to development of acute cholangitis. The reported incidence of infectious complications may reach up to 10%. Nevertheless, no antibiotic prophylaxis is administered routinely, prior to endoscopic therapeutic procedures.

[Cutaneous metastasis of a ring cell gastric adenocarcinoma].

Introduction: Cutaneous metastasis of gastric tumors are very rare. Their topography is generally near to the primitive tumor, in the abdominal wall but rarely in cervical region.

Aim: the aim of our study was to describe the topography and the clinic-pathological characteristics of cutaneous metastasis of ring cells gastric adenocarcinoma.

[Steatosis in chronic hepatitis C: prevalence and predictive factors].

Background: Patients with hepatitis C virus seem to often have hepatic steatosis.

Aim: To assess the prevalence and the predictive factors of steatosis during chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: We studied 50 HCV RNA positive subjects, who had liver biopsy performed.

[Survival in patients with gastric lymphoma].

Background: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma is a histological type of marginal zone non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Its clinical features and prognosis have seldom been reported because of its indolent clinical course.

Aim: To establish prognostic factors that should be considered for the staging and management of this disease.