Probing liver function test patterns in COVID-19 pneumonia: Implications for disease severity assessment.

Objective: To explore the incidence of liver function test derangement, the precise patterns of derangement, and their relationship with coronavirus disease-2019 pneumonia severity.

Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at the Dow University Hospital and the Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases, Karachi, and comprised consecutive data from December 16, 2020, to March 16, 2021, of adults of either gender who had nasal swabs positive for coronavirus disease-2019 on real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Data regarding patients' demographics, co-morbidities, addictions, laboratory results, and standard information was retrieved from electronic and manual records.

The safety and efficacy of Houtou Jianweiling tablet in patients with chronic non-atrophic gastritis: a double-blind, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial.

Common symptoms of Chronic Non-atrophic Gastritis (CNAG) include nausea, stomach distension, and abdominal pain. The Houtou Jianweiling Tablet (HTJWT) is a chinese patent medicine (CN1368229A) and it has been used clinically for more than 20 years with proven clinical efficacy in treating CNAG, prompted us to establish the clinical efficacy and safety of HTJWT on patients with mild to moderate CNAG symptoms in Pakistani population. This phase II, double-blind, randomized, parallel-controlled trial was conducted in a single center between November 2022 and February 2023 in Pakistan.

Metabolic puzzle: Exploring liver fibrosis differences in Asian metabolic-associated fatty liver disease subtypes.

Background: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a liver condition marked by excessive fat buildup in the absence of heavy alcohol use. It is primarily linked with metabolic issues like insulin resistance, obesity, and abnormal lipid levels, and is often observed with other conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, whether the subtypes of MAFLD based on the metabolic disorder differentially impact liver fibrosis is not well explicated, especially in the Asian population.

Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Sarcopenia In Patients With Cirrhosis: An Observational Study.

Objective: To identify the prevalence and predictors of sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Karachi, from January 30 to July 31, 2021, and comprised cirrhotic patients of either gender between aged 18-60 years. Clinical and laboratory data was recorded for each patient.

Depression trends in Hepatitis-C PCR positive and PCR negative patients.

Objective: To determine the frequency of depression in Hepatitis-C patients and its association clearance of HCV.

Methods: It is cross sectional study that was conducted between 1 July to 31 December, 2020, at National Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (NILGID),, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS)..

Fulminant Hepatic Failure in Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficient Patients Caused by Hepatitis E Infection: A Single Disease With Different Spectrums.

One of the major causes of acute viral hepatitis in Pakistan is the hepatitis E virus. Virus-induced liver inflammation within sight of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) insufficiency might be related with intricacies, for example, extremely low hemoglobin, red blood cell (RBC) destruction, renal function collapse, a decline in brain function due to severe liver disease and even demise. Despite the two diseases being widespread, their effect on understanding patient ailment has not been studied in depth.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Cross-sectional Study in a Pakistani Population.

Background:  The prevalence of obesity is on the rise globally. Pakistan ranks ninth out of 188 countries in terms of obesity. Literature regarding any potential role of obesity in gastrointestinal manifestations is limited.

Effects of Life style factors on the symptoms of gastro esophageal reflux disease: A cross sectional study in a Pakistani population.

Background &objective: Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) broadly includes the whole spectrum of reflux disease symptoms like heartburn or acid regurgitation to endoscopic, reflux esophagitis or Barrett's esophagus. Our aim therefore was to study the association between Gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and various lifestyle factors.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the outpatient department of Darul Sehat Hospital, Zubaida Medical Center and Liaquat National Hospital & Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan from January 2018 to October 2018.

Zinc level assessment in patients having Viral Cirrhosis.

Objective: Zinc is a vital trace element and its deficiency in cirrhosis might potentiate the development of hepatic encephalopathy. The objective of this study was to assess the zinc levels in serum of patients having viral cirrhosis and compare it with normal healthy controls.

Methods: This study was conducted in Department of Gastroenterology, Liaquat National hospital and medical college, Karachi, Pakistan; from January 2014 to December 2014.

Initial results of efficacy and safety of Sofosbuvir among Pakistani Population: A real life trial - Hepatitis Eradication Accuracy Trial of Sofosbuvir (HEATS).

Objective: The uridine nucleotide analogue sofosbuvir is a selective inhibitor of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase approved for the treatment of chronic HCV infection with genotypes 1 - 4. The objective of the study was to evaluate the interim results of efficacy and safety of regimens containing Sofosbuvir (Zoval) among Pakistani population with the rapid virologic response (RVR2/4 weeks) with HCV infections.

Methods: This is a multicenter open label prospective observational study.

Midazolam for sedation during diagnostic or therapeutic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in cirrhotic patients.

Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of clinically overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in cirrhotic patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) who received midazolam for sedation.

Methods: This was an interventional study carried out at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi. Consecutive patients presenting to the service of a single consultant gastroenterologist for diagnostic or therapeutic UGE between January 2009 and January 2011, who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were prospectively recruited for the study.

Bouveret's syndrome: successful endoscopic treatment of gastric outlet obstruction caused by an impacted gallstone.

Bouveret's syndrome is defined as gastric outlet obstruction caused by duodenal impaction of a large gallstone which passes into the duodenal bulb through a cholecystogastric or cholecystoduodenal fistula. This is a report of a 62 years old female who presented with complaint of persistent vomiting and upper abdominal pain for the last 5 days. Ultrasound abdomen was suggestive of pneumobilia.

Glue embolism: a rare cause of pulmonary embolism.

N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate is widely used to sclerose bleeding gastric varices. We report the case of a 65-year-old lady, known case of cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis C infection, who presented to the emergency department with coffee ground vomiting and melena for four days. Gastroscopy showed non-bleeding small esophageal varices, mild portal hypertensive gastropathy and a large gastric fundal varix.

Frequency of common factors for post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis.

Objective: To determine the frequency of factors leading to post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis.

Study Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Gastroenterology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, from November 2007 to October 2008.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stenting in Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy.

Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy (PHG) is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with Chronic Liver Disease (CLD). This is the case report of a 46-year-old female known case of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) CLD, who presented with melena and coffee ground vomitings for 6 months. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed PHG while an ultrasound revealed chronic liver disease.