Endoscopic advances in the management of gastric cancer and premalignant gastric conditions.

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer and in 2018, it was the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Endoscopic advances continue to be made for the diagnosis and management of both early gastric cancer and premalignant gastric conditions. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology and risk factors of gastric cancer and emphasize the differences in early late-stage gastric cancer outcomes.

Endoscopic stenting for malignant biliary obstruction is technically successful in patients with preexisting duodenal stents.

There are limited data on the success of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction with a preexisting duodenal stent. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient and procedural outcomes of a cohort of patients with preexisting duodenal stents who underwent an attempt at ERCP for malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). This was a single-center retrospective study on consecutive patients with a preexisting duodenal stent who underwent attempted ERCP for MBO.

National trends of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography utilization and outcomes in decompensated cirrhosis.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can be challenging in patients with decompensated cirrhosis (DC) due to increased risk of adverse events related to liver dysfunction. Limited data exist regarding its national utilization in patients with DC. We aim to determine the trends in utilization and outcomes of ERCP among patients with DC in US hospitalizations.

Direct Percutaneous Endoscopic Jejunostomy: Procedural and Nutrition Outcomes in a Large Patient Cohort.

Background: Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) is used for enteral nutrition (EN) in patients with postoperative anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy/gastrectomy and at high risk for aspiration. We characterized the indications, technical success, procedural/nutrition outcomes, and adverse events in a large cohort of patients undergoing DPEJ insertion.

Methods: Patients undergoing DPEJ insertion between January 2009 and March 2015 were identified from an institutional endoscopy database.

Epidemiology of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. The highest incidence rates her found are in North America and in Western Europe while lower rates in Asian Africa, with age standard incidence rates of 7.2 and 2.

Predictors of Hospital Readmissions for Ulcerative Colitis in the United States: A National Database Study.

Background: Early readmissions are important indicators of quality of care. Limited data exist describing hospital readmissions in ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to describe unplanned, 30-day readmissions among adult UC patients and to assess readmission predictors.

A Nationwide Analysis of Outcomes of Weekend Admissions for Intracerebral Hemorrhage Shows Disparities Based on Hospital Teaching Status.

Background And Purpose: With the "weekend effect" being well described, the Brain Attack Coalition released a set of "best practice" guidelines in 2005, with the goal to uniformly provide standard of care to patients with stroke. We attempted to define a "weekend effect" in outcomes among patients with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) over the last decade, utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data. We also attempted to analyze the trend of such an effect.

National trends of acute kidney injury requiring dialysis in decompensated cirrhosis hospitalizations in the United States.

Background And Aims: Cirrhosis affects 5.5 million patients with estimated costs of US$4 billion. Previous studies about dialysis requiring acute kidney injury (AKI-D) in decompensated cirrhosis (DC) are from a single center/year.

Association between probiotic and yogurt consumption and kidney disease: insights from NHANES.

Background: Data from experimental animals suggest that probiotic supplements may retard CKD progression. However, the relationship between probiotic use, frequent yogurt consumption (as a natural probiotic source), and kidney parameters have not been evaluated in humans.

Findings: We utilized NHANES data, and analyzed the association of probiotic alone (1999-2012) and yogurt/probiotic (2003-2006) use with albuminuria and eGFR after adjustment for demographic and clinical parameters.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcome Trends of Acute Kidney Injury in Elective Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

Over the past decade, there has been a marked increase in the number of primary and revision total hip and knee arthroplasties performed in the United States. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of these procedures; however, little is known about its epidemiology in the elective arthroplasty population. We conducted a study to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of AKI after elective joint arthroplasty.

A National Perspective of Do-Not-Resuscitate Order Utilization Predictors in Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders are linked to poorer outcomes in patients with ICH, possibly due to less active management. Demographic, regional, and social factors, not related to ICH severity, have not been adequately looked at as significant predictors of DNR utilization.

Systematic oral hydration with water is similar to parenteral hydration for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy: an updated meta-analysis of randomised clinical data.

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is the third most common cause of hospital-acquired kidney injury and is related to increased long-term morbidity and mortality. Adequate intravenous (IV) hydration has been demonstrated to lessen its occurrence. Oral (PO) hydration with water is inexpensive and readily available but its role for CIN prevention is yet to be determined.

Spectrum of biliary complications following live donor liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation is the optimal treatment for many patients with advanced liver disease, including decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and acute liver failure. Organ shortage is the main determinant of death on the waiting list and hence living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) assumes importance. Biliary complications are the most common post operative morbidity after LDLT and occur due to anatomical and technical reasons.

The burden of dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury among hospitalized adults with HIV infection: a nationwide inpatient sample analysis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring renal replacement therapy ('dialysis-requiring AKI') and the impact on in-hospital mortality among hospitalized adults with HIV infection.

Design: A longitudinal analysis of a nationally representative administrative database.

Methods: We reviewed the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database, a large, nationally representative sample of inpatient hospital admissions, to identify all adult hospitalizations with an associated diagnosis of HIV infection from 2002 to 2010.

Effect of Gender on the Response to Hepatitis C Treatment in an Inner-City Population.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation in the United States. Response to treatment has improved with the addition of direct acting protease inhibitors. However, there are limited real-world data on the role of gender in achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR).

Trimetazidine Decreases Risk of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objectives: We sought to synthesize and analyze the available data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for trimetazidine (TMZ) in the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN).

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy after coronary angiography is associated with poor outcomes. Trimetazidine is an anti-ischemic drug that might reduce incidence of CIN, but current data are inconclusive.

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-induced serositis.

A 46-year-old man with a history of asthma and psoriatic arthritis on adalimumab presented with fever, tachycardia, and hypoxia. He was diagnosed with pleural effusion and started on antibiotics, as it was noted to be an exudative effusion. Patient failed to improve on multiple courses of antibiotics, and his blood and pleural fluid cultures were negative.

Clostridium septicum aortitis in a patient with extensive atheromatous disease of the aorta.

A 69-year man presented with 3 days of progressively worsening abdominal pain, radiating to his back, with nausea and vomiting. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed evidence of aortitis, for which he eventually underwent surgery. The surgical specimen of the aorta grew Clostridium septicum that was treated with antibiotics.