Prevalence and outcome of sarcopenia in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes a spectrum of conditions, progressing from mild steatosis to advanced fibrosis. Sarcopenia, characterized by decreased muscle strength and mass, shares common pathophysiological traits with NAFLD. An association exists between sarcopenia and increased NAFLD prevalence.

PREDICTORS OF FAILURE OF ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY IN CLEARING BILE DUCT STONES DURING INDEX PROCEDURE - A PROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Background: Common bile duct (CBD) stones are known to complicate 10-15% of gallstone diseases. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the therapeutic modality of choice for bile duct clearance in CBD stones but may fail to achieve stone clearance. This prospective study was done to identify the predictors of failure of CBD clearance with ERCP.

Prophylactic Lactulose Therapy in Patients with Cirrhosis and Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials.

Background And Aims: Lactulose is the first-line drug for both treatment and secondary prophylaxis for overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The use of lactulose for the primary prophylaxis of HE in patients with cirrhosis and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) has been debated. Hence, we conducted this meta-analysis to assess the role of lactulose in HE prophylaxis in patients with cirrhosis and AUGIB.

Role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for the diagnosis of gastric wall thickening: a retrospective study with meta-analysis.

Background: Tissue acquisition from a thickened gastric wall using biopsy forceps may not always lead to diagnosis, given the submucosal location of the pathology. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (TA) may serve as a minimally invasive diagnostic tool in such cases. Hence, we aimed to assess the diagnostic outcome and safety of EUS-TA from thickened gastric walls.

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab lenvatinib as first-line therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim Of The Study: Studies comparing atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATE/BEV) vs. lenvatinib (LEN) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) have shown conflicting results. With this background, we aimed to collate the available evidence comparing ATE/BEV and LEN in aHCC.

Diagnostic efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided liver biopsy for diffuse liver diseases and its predictors - a multicentric retrospective analysis.

Aim Of The Study: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided liver biopsy (LB) has become an increasingly popular method of tissue acquisition for evaluating liver diseases. Despite its advantages, EUS-LB has not been widely adopted in clinical practice due to concerns regarding efficacy and safety. Present data on EUS-LB from India are scarce.

Does a coaxial double pigtail stent reduce adverse events after lumen apposing metal stent placement for pancreatic fluid collections? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Lumen apposing metal stents (LAMSs) have a higher clinical success rate for managing pancreatic fluid collections. But they are associated with adverse events (AEs) like bleeding, migration, buried stent, occlusion, and infection. It has been hypothesized that placing a double pigtail stent (DPS) within LAMS may mitigate these AEs.

Prothrombotic states in portal vein thrombosis and Budd-Chiari syndrome in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Both Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) have been linked to various prothrombotic (PT) conditions. The PT profile in Asians is different from the west and there are no nationwide epidemiological surveys from India. Hence, the present meta-analysis was aimed at analyzing the prevalence of acquired and hereditary thrombophilia among Indian patients with non-cirrhotic PVT and BCS.

Prevalence of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy, (HE) although commonly associated with cirrhosis, has also been reported in non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). The importance of identifying and treating HE in NCPH lies in the fact that many patients may be wrongly diagnosed as having psychiatric or neurologic disorders. Hence, we aimed to systematically review the prevalence of HE in NCPH.

Comparison of suction techniques for EUS-guided tissue acquisition: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Despite the widespread use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition, the choice of optimal suction technique remains a subject of debate. Multiple studies have shown conflicting results with respect to the four suction techniques: Dry suction (DS), no suction (NS), stylet slow-pull (SSP) and wet suction (WS). Thus, the present network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to compare the diagnostic yields of above suction techniques during EUS-guided tissue acquisition.

Adverse events with EUS-guided biliary drainage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Multiple meta-analyses have evaluated the technical and clinical success of EUS-guided biliary drainage (BD), but meta-analyses concerning adverse events (AEs) are limited. The present meta-analysis analyzed AEs associated with various types of EUS-BD.

Methods: A literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus was conducted from 2005 to September 2022 for studies analyzing the outcome of EUS-BD.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Versus Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage After Failed ERCP: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may fail to achieve biliary drainage in 5% to 10% of cases. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) are alternative therapeutic options in such cases. The present meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of EUS-BD and PTBD for biliary decompression after failed ERCP.

Diagnostic performance and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition of gallbladder lesions: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (TA) is widely used for various target samples, but its efficacy in gallbladder (GB) lesions is unknown. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to assess the pooled adequacy, accuracy and safety of EUS-TA of GB lesions.

Methods: A literature search from January 2000 to August 2022 was done for studies analyzing the outcome of EUS-guided TA in patients with GB lesions.

Impact of macroscopic on-site evaluation on the diagnostic outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition is the preferred modality for diagnosing pancreatic lesions and mediastinal and abdominal lymph nodes. Rapid on-site cytologic evaluation improves the diagnostic outcome of EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) but is unavailable at many centers. Alternatively, macroscopic on-site evaluation (MOSE) may improve the diagnostic outcome of EUS-FNA, but data are limited.

Noninvasive differentiation of porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder from cirrhosis: a systematic review.

Background: Porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD) is one of the common causes of portal hypertension and has overlapping features with early cirrhosis. The differentiation of PSVD from cirrhosis requires a liver biopsy, which is invasive and has potential complications. This systematic review aimed at summarizing the current evidence on the performance of noninvasive modalities for differentiating PSVD from cirrhosis.

Influence of biliary stents on the diagnostic outcome of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition from solid pancreatic lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background/aims: This meta-analysis analyzed the effect of an indwelling biliary stent on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition from pancreatic lesions.

Methods: A literature search was performed to identify studies published between 2000 and July 2022 comparing the diagnostic outcomes of EUS-TA in patients with or without biliary stents. For non-strict criteria, samples reported as malignant or suspicious for malignancy were included, whereas for strict criteria, only samples reported as malignant were included in the analysis.

Transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition of lung masses: a case series with systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The diagnosis of intraparenchymal lung masses is challenging when lesions are located at sites inaccessible through bronchoscopy or endobronchial ultrasound. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (TA)-fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or fine-needle biopsy-provides a potentially useful diagnostic tool for lesions located adjacent to the esophagus. This study was conducted to analyze the diagnostic outcome and safety of EUS-guided tissue sampling of lung masses.

Efficacy and safety of endosonography-guided transvascular needle aspiration of thoracic and abdominal lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The diagnosis of intrathoracic and abdominal masses is challenging when lesions are located behind major vessels. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transvascular needle aspiration (TVNA) provides a potentially useful diagnostic tool for such lesions. Data with respect to the safety and outcome of E-TVNA are scarce.

Risk of Bleeding with Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Tissue Acquisition in Patients on Antithrombotic Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The present guidelines stratify endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) as a high-bleeding risk procedure in patients on antithrombotics. However, the data regarding the same are conflicting. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to analyze the bleeding event rates associated with EUS-TA in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Among Pregnant Women in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection during pregnancy is associated with perinatal transmission contributing to the pool of HBV infection in the population. There is a wide variation in the reported data on the seroprevalence of HBV in pregnant patients from various parts of India. Hence, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the pooled seroprevalence of HBV and its associated demographic factors.

Tenofovir versus entecavir for tertiary prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B infection after curative therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Entecavir (ETV) and Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are the first-line drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, the impact of these two antiviral agents on the outcome of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative therapy remains to be explored. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of ETV and TDF on recurrence and mortality after curative treatment for HBV-related HCC.