Quadruple therapy versus standard triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in Kuwait.

Background And Study Aims: Chronic infection caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. Eradication of H.

Demography and clinical course of ulcerative colitis in Arabs - a study based on the Montreal classification.

Objective: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is generally considered a disease of the Caucasian populations in developed countries, but its incidence is increasing rapidly in many developing countries, including the Middle East. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical epidemiology of UC in Arabs.

Material And Methods: This cross-sectional medical record-based descriptive study collected sociodemographic and clinical information on 182 Arab patients with UC in Kuwait.

Association between Helicobacter pylori genotypes and severity of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric mucosal interleukin-8 levels: Evidence from a study in the Middle East.

Background: The varied clinical presentations of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection are most likely due to differences in the virulence of individual strains, which determines its ability to induce production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the gastric mucosa. The aim of this study was to examine association between cagA, vacA-s1 and vacA-s2 genotypes of H.

Pegylated interferon-alpha2b plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection in patients with normal serum ALT.

Background: Approximately one-third of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection have persistently normal liver enzymes reflected by a normal serum alanine transaminase (ALT). Data with regards the efficacy and safety of treatment in patients chronically infected with Hepatitis C virus genotype 4 and normal serum ALT are limited.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin combination therapy in this population.

Clinical epidemiology of Crohn's disease in Arabs based on the Montreal Classification.

Background: There has been a remarkable increase in the incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) among Arabs in recent years. We conducted this study to determine the clinical epidemiology of CD in Kuwait.

Methods: Sociodemographic and clinical information was collected for a continuous series of 206 Arab patients with CD and age at diagnosis and location and behavior of disease was determined according to the Montreal Classification.

Hepatitis C virus and the skin.

Background/aims: It is well recognized that chronic hepatitis C infection causes liver disease ranging from mild chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C virus is also associated with extrahepatic manifestations that may be the first clinical presentation of infection. Cutaneous disease can constitute a significant part of the wide spectrum of extrahepatic abnormalities associated with Hepatitis C infection.

Diagnostic performance of gastric imprint smear for determination of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Despite the availability of several methods (invasive and noninvasive) for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection, no test is considered to be the 'gold standard'. Endoscopy-based tests are regarded as the reference method in most studies.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of imprint cytology smears of antral biopsies compared with Gram-stained smears, the rapid urease test and culture methods, separately and in combination.

Endoscopic management of gastric variceal bleeding with cyanoacrylate glue injection: safety and efficacy in a Canadian population.

Background:  Gastric variceal bleeding (GVB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with portal hypertension. Endoscopic band ligation and standard sclerotherapy have been used but have significant limitations. Decompression through transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt insertion has been shown to be effective.

Pegylated interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 in adolescents.

Background: Hepatitis C is endemic in the Middle East where genotype 4 accounts for most cases. Data regarding the safety and efficacy of peginterferon plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children and adolescents, particularly those infected with genotype 4 is limited. Aim.

A rare case of isolated duodenal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma associated with p53 and ki-67 expression: a case report.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary tumor of the liver worldwide. The incidence of HCC is increasing in North America secondary to rises in chronic liver disease from alcohol abuse and viral hepatitis. HCC most commonly metastasizes hematogenously or through lymphatics to the lungs and regional lymph nodes.

Pancreatic pseudocyst with fistula to the common bile duct resolved by combined biliary and pancreatic stenting--a case report and literature review.

Pancreatic pseudocysts develop in 10% to 20% of patients with chronic pancreatitis, and can cause a variety of complications such as infection, bleeding or development of fistulae. However, fistulous communication with the common bile duct is very rare. The present report describes an unusual case of a patient with a large, symptomatic pancreatic pseudocyst with a fistula to the common bile duct that was treated successfully by combined biliary and pancreatic stenting.

Migration of an intrauterine contraceptive device into the sigmoid colon.

We present a case of migrating copper-T intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) into the bowel wall at the recto-sigmoid junction, and the colonoscopic retrieval of the device. This case introduces the possibility of safe rectal retrieval of migrating IUCD implanted into the bowel wall.

Biliary brush cytology: factors associated with positive yields on biliary brush cytology.

Aim: To evaluate the yield of brushing biliary strictures and the factors associated with a positive result in biliary strictures.

Methods: Data on all consecutive patients (01/02-10/05) who were identified to have a biliary stricture and who underwent biliary brush cytology were collected. The yield of positive biliary brush cytology was evaluated and compared to results with the gold standard for diagnosis (defined as either definitive surgical histology or clinical course).

Epithelioid angiosarcoma of the small bowel.

Background: Angiosarcoma is a rare soft-tissue neoplasm that occurs most often in the skin and the subcutaneous tissues but very rarely in the GI tract.

Design: We report a case of multifocal epithelioid angiosarcoma involving skin and bowel and review the 18 previously reported cases of epithelioid intestinal angiosarcoma.

Main Outcome Measurements: Our patient presented with weakness from anemia.

Fatal postlymphoma chemotherapy hepatitis B reactivation secondary to the emergence of a YMDD mutant strain with lamivudine resistance in a noncirrhotic patient.

Hepatitis B reactivation is a well-known complication during or after chemotherapy in chronic hepatitis B (HBV) carriers. The current practice guidelines in Canada and the United States recommends patients receive antiviral prophylaxis prior to the onset of chemotherapy in chronic HBV carriers with lamivudine. We report a case of a 57-year-old man with follicular lymphoma on lamivudine prophylaxis and no clinical evidence of cirrhosis, and developed fatal HBV reactivation after the emergence of a YMDD mutant strain of HBV that confers lamivudine resistance.

Post-dialysis retention of blood lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in patients with end-stage renal disease on maintenance haemodialysis in Kuwait.

Background: The commonest cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) is coronary heart disease (CHD). It has been suggested that dyslipidaemia, an important CHD risk factor, may be worsened by dialysis. This study evaluated changes in blood lipoproteins and apolipoproteins after dialysis in ESRD patients on MHD.