The Impact of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A Retrospective Nationwide Study.

Background: The "remission theory" is an emerging concept that suggests the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) results in decreased disease severity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. This theory is based upon evidence that implicates CD4 T-lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This study sought to elucidate the legitimacy of this theory.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with worse outcomes in ischemic colitis: a nationwide retrospective study.

Background: Ischemic colitis (IC) occurs when the blood supply of the large intestine becomes compromised. Several cardiovascular conditions, such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and atrial fibrillation, are well-established risk factors for the development of IC. The effects of pulmonary conditions, namely chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), on IC have not been well studied.

Cirrhosis Is Associated With Worse Outcomes in Ischemic Colitis: A Nationwide Retrospective Study.

Background: Ischemic colitis (IC) occurs when the blood supply of the large intestine becomes compromised. Cirrhosis is a disease entity in which there is a delicate balance between pro-coagulant and anti-coagulant states. Our aim was to examine the impact cirrhosis has on outcomes in patients with ischemic colitis.

Epidemiology of esophageal cancer: update in global trends, etiology and risk factors.

Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common type of cancer worldwide and constitutes the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths. It is characterized by its high mortality rate, poor prognosis at time of diagnosis and variability based on geographic location. Present day, the prevalence of esophageal cancer is in transition.

An Unpleasant Surprise: Abdominal Presentation of Malignant Mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer associated with asbestos exposure with median survival time of 8 to 14 months following diagnosis. Given that mesothelial cells also line the peritoneum and pericardium, malignant mesothelioma can present in unusual sites and in patients with nonrespiratory complaints. A 73-year-old male presented to the emergency department for worsening intermittent diffuse abdominal pain for the past 3 months with associated unintentional 40-pound weight loss, early satiety, and diarrhea.

Acute esophageal necrosis: A rare case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding from diabetic ketoacidosis.

Acute esophageal necrosis, also known as black esophagus or acute necrotizing esophagitis is a rare condition with roughly 154 cases reported in the literature. This condition is classically diagnosed on its endoscopic findings of a circumferentially black esophagus that abruptly ends at the gastroesophageal junction and transitions to normal gastric mucosa. When present, acute esophageal necrosis potentially signifies a poor prognosis with an overall mortality up to 36%.

Rare Hematological Disease of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria With Profound Implications for a Gastroenterologist: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare type of thrombophilia and hematopoietic stem cell disorder characterized by mutation of the X-linked PIG-A gene. Patients with PNH present either with clinical features of intravascular hemolysis or thrombosis. Visceral vein thrombosis is associated with increased mortality risk.

Implementing visual cues to improve the efficacy of screening colonoscopy: exploiting the Hawthorne effect.

Background: Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon cancer screening. Adenoma detection rate and a withdrawal time of 6 min are quality metrics to measure the efficacy of colonoscopy in colon cancer screening. The aim of our study was to exploit the Hawthorne effect in an effort to ensure adherence to a minimum 6-min withdrawal time and subsequently increase adenoma detection rate.

Squamous Cell Papilloma of the Esophagus: A Case Series Highlighting Endoscopic and Histologic Features.

Esophageal squamous papillomas are rare epithelial lesions typically discovered incidentally during EGD. Their prevalence is estimated to be less than 0.01% in the general population.

Esophageal Cancer: An Updated Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Database Analysis.

Background: Esophageal cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the eighth most common cancer worldwide with a 5-year survival rate of less than 25%. Here we report the incidence, risk factors and treatment options that are available currently, and moving into the future.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database made available by the National Cancer Institute in the USA.

A Novel Approach for Management of Bleeding Stomal Varices: A Case Report of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Sclerotherapy.

Ileostomy variceal bleeds can be a serious complication in patients with cirrhosis and ileostomy but make up a small portion of total variceal bleeds. Multiple modalities have been described as therapeutic options for stomal variceal bleeding, but an optimal intervention has yet to be established. We present a case of a 51-year-old patient with preserved ejection fraction heart failure, hepatitis C cirrhosis, recent esophageal varices banding, and colectomy with ileostomy who developed bleeding ileostomy varices that were effectively treated under direct ultrasound-guided percutaneous injection of sodium tetradecyl sulfate to the feeding superior mesenteric venous flow.

Epidemiology of colorectal cancer: incidence, mortality, survival, and risk factors.

According to GLOBOCAN 2018 data, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most deadly and fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. Nearly 2 million new cases and about 1 million deaths are expected in 2018. CRC incidence has been steadily rising worldwide, especially in developing countries that are adopting the "western" way of life.

Epidemiology of gallbladder cancer.

According to GLOBOCAN 2018 data, gallbladder cancer (GBC) accounts for 1.2% of all global cancer diagnoses, but 1.7% of all cancer deaths.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis: diagnosis and clinical perspectives.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a digestive disorder in children and adults that is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration in the stomach and intestine. The underlying molecular mechanisms predisposing to this disease are unknown, but it seems that hypersensitivity response plays a major role in its pathogenesis, as many patients have a history of seasonal allergies, food sensitivities, asthma, and eczema. Symptoms and clinical presentations vary, depending on the site and layer of the gastrointestinal wall infiltrated by eosinophils.

Gastric Diverticulum: A Comprehensive Review.

Background: Gastric diverticula (GD) are outpouchings of the stomach wall that typically form in the fundus. They are the least common gastrointestinal diverticula, and are very rare anatomic abnormalities overall.

Summary: Although most GD are asymptomatic and are usually discovered incidentally during routine diagnostic testing, they can present with variable symptoms.

An updated review of cystic hepatic lesions.

Cystic hepatic lesions are commonly encountered in daily practice. The diagnosis of these lesions ranges from benign lesions of no clinical significance to malignant and potentially lethal conditions. The prevalence of hepatic cyst (HC) has been reported to be as high as 15-18% in the United States.

Achalasia Cardia Resulting in Bronchial Obstruction - A Case Series and Literature Review.

Achalasia is a motility disorder of the esophagus that is characterized by loss of ganglionic neurons within the myenteric plexus of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) resulting in failure of the LES to relax. Clinically this disorder presents with simultaneous dysphagia to solids and liquids, and if left untreated, leads to esophageal dilation, which can give rise to many adverse consequences. Extrinsic compression of respiratory structures is one such consequence, and rarely, cases of tracheal compression secondary to achalasia have been reported.

Epidemiology of Pancreatic Cancer: Global Trends, Etiology and Risk Factors.

Pancreatic cancer is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. However, its toll is higher in more developed countries. Reasons for vast differences in mortality rates of pancreatic cancer are not completely clear yet, but it may be due to lack of appropriate diagnosis, treatment and cataloging of cancer cases.

New onset Heyde's syndrome presenting after total aortic valve replacement.

Heyde's syndrome is a well-documented entity in the medical literature that can result in life-threatening gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. It is a syndrome that is characterized by the combination of GI angioectasias and aortic stenosis. In most cases, the GI angioectasias resolve entirely with correction of the stenotic valve by way of total aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Pancreatic cancer and obesity: epidemiology, mechanism, and preventive strategies.

The prevalence of obesity has seen a global increase in the past decades, escalating to one of the major epidemiological challenges today. Global economic growth has caused changes in dietary and physical activity patterns fueling obesity across age, gender, and income groups. The implications are many, as obesity has been associated with numerous serious health conditions, ultimately affecting morbidity and mortality.

Burkitt's Lymphoma of the Gastrohepatic Omentum: A Malignant Presentation of Pseudoachalasia.

Achalasia is an intrinsic disorder of the esophagus that results from loss of ganglion cells in the lower esophageal sphincter. Clinically it is manifested by dysphagia to solids and liquids, weight loss, regurgitation, and chest pain. Pseudoachalasia, in contrast, is a rare entity that causes identical symptoms, but has a divergent underlying pathogenesis.

Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, a Rare Cause of Hematochezia.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare disorder with a wide array of clinical manifestations. It is primarily a disorder of vascular malformations that is classically associated with the development of hemangiomas and venous malformations. Rarely will KTS present with visceral involvement.