Opium Effects on Pancreatobiliary System in Opium Abusers Evaluated by Endoscopic Ultrasonography.

Opium use is a significant social and public health issue. There are numerous effects of opium documented as affecting the pancreatobiliary system. The aim of the study was to assess the pancreatobiliary changes in patients with opium addiction by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS).

The Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Pancreas by Endoscopic Ultrasonography.

Objectives: Pancreatic steatosis or fatty pancreas refers to the fat accumulation in the pancreas, which can lead to inflammation and fibrosis, β-cell dysfunction, fibrosis, and, possibly, pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to study the prevalence of fatty pancreas and its risk factors in patients referred to an endosonography center.

Methods: During 18 months, 228 patients who were referred to our endosonography center for various reasons were evaluated for fatty pancreas.

Pharmacological prophylaxis versus pancreatic duct stenting plus pharmacological prophylaxis for prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis in high risk patients: a randomized trial.

Background: Acute pancreatitis is a serious complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The aim of this noninferiority study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pancreatic duct (PD) stenting plus pharmacological prophylaxis vs. pharmacological prophylaxis alone in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in high risk patients.

Prevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Common Bile Duct Dilation in Patients Who Use Opium.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association of various opium-related factors with common bile duct (CBD) diameter in individuals who use opium in the general population and investigate the clinical importance and long-term outcomes.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study, 2,400 participants were randomly selected from the Golestan Cohort study. Opium consumption data were recorded.

Efficacy of Endoscopic Ultrasonography in Evaluation of Undetermined Etiology of Common Bile Duct Dilatation on Abdominal Ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND The cause of common bile duct (CBD) dilatation cannot be determined by imaging modalities in many patients. The aim of this study was to assess the value of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in detecting the cause of CBD dilatation in patients in whom ultrasonography could not demonstrate the cause of dilation. METHODS Prospectively, 152 consecutive patients who were referred for evaluation of dilated CBD (diameter ≥7 mm) of undetermined origin by ultrasonography were included in this study.

Opium use, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption in relation to pancreatic cancer.

Background And Aims: Although several studies have suggested opium as a risk factor for cancers of the esophagus, stomach, larynx, lung, and bladder, no previous study has examined the association of opium with pancreatic cancer. We aimed to study the association between opium use and risk of pancreatic cancer in Iran, using a case-control design. We also studied the association of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption with pancreatic cancer, for which little information was available from this population.

Emerging Epidemic of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Middle Income Country: A Nation-wide Study from Iran.

Background: The burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) hasn't been reported in Iran. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of IBD and its trend in Iran at national and subnational level from 1990 to 2012.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of English and Persian databases about the epidemiology of IBD.

Clinical and pathological features of non-functional neuroendocrine tumors of pancreas: a report from iran.

BACKGROUND Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are rare tumors with variable malignant potential, prognosis, and survival. We aimed to assess the characteristics of patients with non- functional PNET in our hospital. METHODS From Nov 2010 to Nov 2013 , all patients who came to endosonography unit of Shariati hospital , Tehran , Iran , and had pancreatic lesions were assessed .

Evaluation of opium effect on pancreatobiliary system in opium addicted patients by endoscopic ultrasonography.

Introduction: Pancreatobiliary abnormalities in patients with opium addiction have not been widely evaluated by endoscopic ultrasonography before.

Materials And Methods: Patients without any pancreatobiliary disease or symptom during 10 months were enrolled in this study. Common bile duct (CBD), pancreatic duct (PD) and portal vein (PV) diameters, gallbladder wall thickness and surface area of the papilla and abnormalities were evaluated in both groups by endosonography.

Utility of endoscopic ultrasonography in the evaluation of dilated common bile duct of undetermined etiology.

Introduction: Occasionally, common bile duct (CBD) dilatation is discovered while working up patients for various causes. Not infrequently, the usual imaging modalities fail to identify the cause and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) becomes necessary. The aim of this study is to assess the value of EUS in identifying the cause of CBD dilatation undiagnosed by transabdominal ultrasonography.

A randomized trial of rectal indomethacin and sublingual nitrates to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Objectives: Acute pancreatitis is the most common adverse event of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Recent data suggest that indomethacin can reduce the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in high-risk individuals. However, whether the combination of indomethacin and sublingual nitrates is superior to indomethacin alone is unknown.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the pancreas is a controversial entity of uncertain origin, as the pancreas is entirely devoid of squamous cells. Cases of pancreatic carcinomas that exhibit primary squamous morphology are rarely described in the literature. We report a case of primary SCC of the pancreas in a 66-year-old woman with complaints of epigastric pain of five months duration.

The effect of adding gentamicin to contrast media for prevention of cholangitis after biliary stenting for non-calculous biliary obstruction, a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: Cholangitis is the most common infectious complication of ERCP. In vitro studies showed that addition of aminoglycosides to contrast medium was effective in reducing cholangitis but the results of clinical trials are conflicting. We studied the effect of adding gentamicin to contrast medium in reducing the rate of post-ERCP cholangitis in patients with non-calculous obstructive jaundice.

Sampling error in histopathology findings of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a post mortem liver histology study.

Background: Many clinical trials and natural history studies on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) rely heavily on liver histology to define their endpoints. There are many indications that the liver is not uniformly involved in NAFLD thus sampling error is a major concern. This study aims to evaluate the uniformity of various histologic features in livers affected with NAFLD.

Assessment and treatment of choledocholithiasis when endoscopic sphincterotomy is not successful.

Background: Choledocholithiasis exists in approximately 15% of patients with gallstones and is present in 3%-10% of those undergoing cholecystectomy.

Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the outcome patients with choledocholithiasis that were managed by open common bile duct (CBD) exploration according to our center's protocol. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed for CBD stone clearance.

Diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography in patients with inconclusive magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of biliopancreatic abnormalities.

Aim: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in patients with inconclusive magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) in pancreatobiliary abnormalities.

Methods: During 10 months, patients with pancreatobiliary diseases referred to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) because of inconclusive MRI/MRCP diagnosis were scheduled to undergo endoscopic ultrasonography. Patients were divided into four major groups: patients with (i) resectable periampullary neoplasms who were referred to a surgeon, (ii) unresectable periampullary cancer who underwent ERCP for biliary stenting, (iii) bile duct stone who were referred to ERCP for stone extraction, and (iv) normal pancreatobiliary tract.

Prognostic factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma--a population-based study in Golestan Province, Iran, a high incidence area.

Golestan Province in northern Iran is an area with a high incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We aimed to investigate prognostic factors for ESCC and survival of cases in Golestan, on which little data were available. We followed-up 426 ESCC cases participating in a population-based case-control study.

Prognostic value of endoscopic ultrasound in acute pancreatitis.

Background/aims: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a useful modality to diagnose causes of pancreatitis. The role of EUS for prediction of pancreatitis severity has not been studied. The aim of this study was to identify the utility of EUS in determining the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP).

Sequential metronidazole-furazolidone or clarithromycin-furazolidone compared to clarithromycin-based quadruple regimens for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in peptic ulcer disease: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: Furazolidone is a much cheaper drug with a very low resistance against Helicobacter pylori compared to clarithromycin. We aim to evaluate safety and efficacy of a sequential furazolidone-based regimen versus clarithromycin-based therapy in H. pylori eradication for ulcer disease.

Methotrexate hepatotoxicity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND Increases in aminotransferases (transaminitis) are potential major adverse reactions seen with long-term use of methotrexate (MTX). The aim of this study, therefore was to evaluate the incidence of MTX induced hepatotoxicity and its risk factors among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS This retrospective study described 286 patients with RA who received ≥ 7.

Long-term follow-up of common bile duct diameter after endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with common bile duct stones.

Background And Aims: To determine the time to normalization of common bile duct (CBD) diameter after endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction in patients with choledocholithiasis.

Methods: Patients with CBD dilation due to choledocholithiasis were enrolled. CBD diameter was measured by transabdominal ultrasonography before, and repeated after one, three, six and twelve months after endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction, until normalization of CBD diameter.

A case-control study on risk factors of osteoporosisin patients with Crohn's disease.

Background: Osteoporosis has been frequently reported in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, especially Crohn's disease.

Methods: All consecutive Crohn's disease patients who attended the GI Clinics at Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from 2004 to 2007 were evaluated. A BMD-DEXA assessment was performed for all patients.