Yield of alarm features in predicting significant endoscopic findings among hospitalized patients with dyspepsia.

Background: Dyspepsia is a very prevalent upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms complex. Some of these symptoms might arise from serious underlying diseases, so the promotion of evidence-based guidelines could potentially better align evaluation and treatment.

Aim: To determine the value of alarm features as a predictive factor for significant endoscopic findings (SEFs) among hospitalized patients presenting with dyspepsia.

The additive diagnostic value of cytology in fine needle biopsy of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A tertiary center experience.

Objective: Endoscopic ultrasound guide fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) is the main diagnostic tool for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In most instances, only histology is obtained via FNB, without sending cytological slides. The aim of our study was to assess the additive diagnostic yield of cytology performed through FNB.

Endoscopic ultrasound- versus ERCP-guided primary drainage of inoperable malignant distal biliary obstruction: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background:  We assessed efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) vs. endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as first-line intervention in malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO).

Methods:  PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched until 01 /12 /2023 for randomized controlled trials of EUS-BD vs.

Ascites fluid calprotectin level is highly accurate in diagnosing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a preliminary proof of concept prospective study.

Ascites is the most common complication of liver cirrhosis. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a common complication of ascites. The diagnosis is made by an ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell count of ≥ 250/mm.

Predictors of spontaneous passage of ingested foreign bodies in adults: twelve years of experience.

Background: Foreign body ingestion in adults is commonly encountered in clinical practice. The therapeutic approach of whether to follow-up or extract is often controversial.

Aim: We aimed to explore predictors for spontaneous passage of ingested foreign bodies by focusing on foreign body type, length, and location of impaction.

Clinical Predictors of Gastrointestinal Bleeding Source before Computed Tomography Angiography.

Background: Acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a commonly encountered medical emergency. In cases of negative endoscopic evaluations, computed tomography angiography (CTA) is usually the next diagnostic step. To date, data regarding positive CTA examinations are lacking.

The Role of Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy as the Initial Investigative Modality for Significant Bile Leak following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Introduction: Currently, the rate of bile duct injury and leak following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is still higher than for open surgery. Diverse investigative algorithms were suggested for bile leak, shifting from hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) toward invasive and more sophisticated means. We aimed to analyze the use of biliary scan as the initial modality to investigate significant bile leak in the drain following LC, attempting to avoid potential unnecessary invasive means when the scan demonstrate fair passage of nuclear substance to the intestine, without leak.

Safety and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) has been constantly increasing, particularly in the treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs). While emerging data in this field are accumulating, we aimed to assess the pooled efficacy and safety of EUS-RFA for pNENs.

Methods: The PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases search was conducted to identify studies reporting EUS-RFA of pNENs with outcomes of interest (efficacy and safety).

The yield of cytology and histology obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and biopsy needles in the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and biopsy (EUS-FNA, -FNB) are the mainstay for tissue diagnosis of pancreatic lesions. Traditionally, FNA was performed for obtaining cytology and also histology if available from the puncture. Since their advent, however, FNB needles have been intended mainly to obtain core biopsies for histological specimens.

The diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound vs. contrast-enhanced computed tomography in local staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a bi-national multicenter study.

Background: Identification of pancreatic cancer (PC) local invasion is crucial to optimize patients' selection for surgery.

Aims: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in local staging of PC.

Methods: We performed a multicenter study including all patients with PC who underwent surgery.

Fatty pancreas was associated with a higher acute pancreatitis Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome score at hospital admission.

Background: Pancreatic fat infiltration was shown to be linked with acute pancreatitis and probably its severity. These interesting findings merit more investigation to elucidate the effect of fatty pancreas on acute pancreatitis severity.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients hospitalized with documented acute pancreatitis.

Modified Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy for the Diagnosis of Bile Reflux in One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass Surgery: a Prospective Multicenter Study.

Purpose: One-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is a relatively simple surgical procedure for those afflicted with severe obesity. Studies reported symptomatic biliary reflux gastritis and esophagitis as predominant complications. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HIDA) is the least invasive test for the diagnosis of bile reflux, with good sensitivity, patient tolerability, and reproducibility.

Endoscopic ultrasound guided radiofrequency ablation for pancreatic tumors: A critical review focusing on safety, efficacy and controversies.

The role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the last two decades has shifted from a diagnostic tool to an important therapeutic tool treating mainly pancreato-biliary disorders. In recent years, its applications for treating pancreatic diseases have broadened, including the implementation of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which has been traditionally used for treating solid tumors. In this critical in-depth review, we summarized all the papers throughout the literature regarding EUS-RFA for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms, adenocarcinoma, and pancreatic cystic lesions.

Bloating, Diarrhoea and Maldigestion in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: Are Fatty Pancreas and Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency the Missing Pieces of the Puzzle?

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) is a disorder causing symptoms such as maldigestion, malnutrition, diarrhoea, bloating, vitamin deficiency and weight loss [...

Exploring the Optimal Timing of Endoscopic Ultrasound Performance Post-Acute Idiopathic Pancreatitis.

Background: Patients with acute idiopathic pancreatitis (AIP) should undergo further imaging tests such as endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for further investigation. The time interval between an episode of AIP and EUS performance is still controversial.

Aims: We aimed to explore the optimal timing for performing EUS and to reveal parameters that might predict longer intervals needed for performing EUS.

Antibioprophylaxis in endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration in pancreatic cysts: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Antibioprohylaxis (ABP) for pancreatic cystic lesion is still a debated clinical indication. Although professional societies guidelines still recommend ABP in endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL), this standard of care recommendation was based on old and weakly planned studies with a small number of patients. Herein, in this work, we provide a critical review with pooled data analysis of the available literature.

Fatty Pancreas and Pancreatic Cancer: An Overlooked Association?

Background: fatty pancreas (FP) is an old observation, but a new disease with clinical implications and several associated comorbid conditions, ranging from mild to life-threatening diseases. Herein, we aimed to assess the association between FP and pancreatic cancer (PC) development.

Methods: we performed a retrospective cross-sectional study including all patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for hepatobiliary indications.

Endoscopic ultrasound role in pancreatic adenocarcinoma treatment: A review focusing on technical success, safety and efficacy.

The impressive technological advances in recent years have rapidly translated into the shift of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) from diagnostic modality into an interventional and therapeutic tool. Despite the great advance in its diagnosis, the majority of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cases are inoperable when diagnosed, thus demanding alternative optional therapies. EUS has emerged as an easy, minimally invasive modality targeting this carcinoma with different interventions that have been reported recently.

Diabetes mellitus is associated with a higher rate of acute cholangitis among patients with common bile duct stones: A retrospective study.

Common bile duct (CBD) stone is a commonly encountered disease that is associated with various clinical presentations ranging from the mild form of biliary colic to the severe complication of acute cholangitis. Recently, diabetes mellitus (DM) has been linked to the development of biliary diseases; however, no data regarding the association of DM with acute cholangitis development in the setting of CBD stone exist. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether DM represents a risk factor for acute cholangitis in patients with CBD stone.

The Possible Association of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Acute Cholangitis: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly encountered. It is associated with several comorbid diseases. However, its association with infectious biliary diseases is still unknown.

The Yield of Endoscopy and Histology in the Evaluation of Esophageal Dysphagia: Two Referral Centers' Experiences.

: The initial diagnostic test required to evaluate esophageal dysphagia is upper endoscopy (EGD) to assess the structure of the esophagus and the esophageo-gastric junction (EGJ). Taking biopsies during EGD has become a common practice in patients with dysphagia to rule out eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). The aims of this study were to evaluate the endoscopic findings of patients who underwent EGD for esophageal dysphagia, to assess the rate of biopsy taking from the esophagus to diagnose/exclude EoE, and to report histology outcomes of these biopsies.

A Novel Clinical Score Predicting the Presence of Fatty Pancreas.

Background: Fatty pancreas (FP) has become an increasingly encountered entity in recent years. Several studies have shown an association with several disease states.

Aims: we aimed to generate a simple non-invasive scoring model to predict the presence of FP.