Publications by authors named "Yousaf Zafar"

Background: The prevalence and disease course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have evolved over the years. It is unknown how these factors have impacted all-cause mortality. Our study assesses IBD mortality trends in the United States over 20 years by age, sex, and race.

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Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a significant source of end-stage liver disease and liver failure and an indication for liver transplant (LT). Historically, LT for alcoholic liver disease (ALD) required 6 months of alcohol abstinence. Recently, it has been demonstrated that early LT (< 6 months of abstinence) in strictly selected group of patients provides survival benefit while keeping the relapse to harmful drinking at acceptable levels.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study re-analyzed genetic data from COVID-19 patients and found that genes related to eicosanoid synthesis were more active in patients with severe cases, particularly in goblet cells of the nasopharynx.
  • - Researchers compared lipid metabolites in infected vs. uninfected individuals and discovered higher levels of certain lipids like Arachidonic Acid (AA) and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) in COVID-19 patients, which correlated with the severity of the disease.
  • - The findings suggest a link between eicosanoid gene expression in the nasopharynx, increased serum inflammatory lipids, and the activation of DNA damage pathways in white blood cells, indicating a potential mechanism influencing the severity of COVID
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Objectives: Dysregulation of hepcidin-iron axis is presumed to account for abnormal iron status in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Our aim is to determine the effect of specific etiologies of CLD and of cirrhosis on serum hepcidin levels.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science were searched for studies comparing serum hepcidin levels in patients with CLD to that in controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

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(SM) is a multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative (GN) bacillus that is an increasingly recognized nosocomial and environment pathogen. It is intrinsically resistant to carbapenems, a drug commonly utilized in the management of necrotizing pancreatitis (NP). We report a 21-year-old immunocompetent female with NP complicated by pancreatic fluid collection (PFC) infected with SM.

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Background/aims: Colonoscopy for screening is associated with unpleasant experiences for patients, and abdominal compression devices have been developed to minimize these problems. However, there is a paucity of data supporting the therapeutic benefits of this strategy. This study examined the effects of using an abdominal compression device during colonoscopy on the cecal intubation time (CIT), abdominal compression, patient comfort, and postural changes.

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Background And Aim: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects patients both physically and mentally. Our study aimed to investigate the burden of psychiatric disorders in IBS patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the National inpatient sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2019.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the effects of three new glucose-lowering drug classes—GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, and DPP-4 inhibitors—on liver health in patients with and without type-2 diabetes, focusing on liver enzyme levels.
  • A meta-analysis of 40 clinical trials revealed that both SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists significantly reduced liver enzymes (AST and ALT), while DPP-4 inhibitors showed no significant effect.
  • The findings suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists may be more effective for improving liver parameters in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease compared
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Background Individuals living in the same household are exposed to common risk factors. We hypothesized that living with someone who has fatty liver disease increases the risk of having the same disease. Methods This was a retrospective study that included pairs of men and women who shared the same residential addresses, underwent screening non-contrast computed tomography for coronary calcium scoring and had Hounsfield Unit density for liver and spleen in the field of view available for measurement.

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Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided rendezvous (EUS-RV) endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an alternative to interventional radiology-guided rendezvous ERCP in patients who failed biliary cannulation with conventional ERCP. However, there is significant variation in reported rates of success and adverse events associated with EUS-RV-assisted ERCP. We performed a systematic review and a proportion meta-analysis to reliably assess the effectiveness and safety of the EUS-RV-assisted ERCP.

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Background And Aim: To determine the United States-based in-hospital gastroparesis mortality rate and independent predictors associated with it.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using the deidentified National Inpatient Sample and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project database between the years 2012 and 2014. The in-hospital gastroparesis mortality rate was calculated.

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Background: Endoscopic therapy using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a recommended treatment for Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia (BE-HGD) without a visible lesion which is managed by resection. However, currently, there is no consensus on the management of BE with low-grade dysplasia (BE-LGD) - RFA versus endoscopic surveillance. Hence, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of these comparative studies to compare the risk of progression to HGD or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) among patients with BE-LGD treated with RFA versus endoscopic surveillance.

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Background: Many studies have investigated the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its predisposing risk factors, but the conclusions from these studies have been conflicting. More challenging is the fact that no effective treatment is currently available for NAFLD.

Aim: To determine the effects of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 (PCSK9) inhibitors on fatty infiltration of the liver.

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species are known to cause enteritis. However, over the past 40-50 years, there have been reports of varying presentations, such as cellulitis, spondylodiscitis and bacteraemia. Of the species, is the most common culprit for causing bacteraemia, however, bacteraemia is becoming more prevalent.

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Background And Aims: The timing of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) remains controversial. Early EGD (E-EGD) (within 24 h of presentation) has been compared to late EGD (L-EGD) (after 24 h) in numerous studies with conflicting results. The previous systematic review included three randomized controlled trials (RCTs); however, the cutoff time for performing EGD was arbitrary.

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Colonic diverticula are small outpouchings from the colonic lumen secondary to mucosal herniation through the colonic wall. Clinical presentation usually involves an acute or subacute onset of abdominal pain typically localized in the left lower abdominal quadrant as well as nausea, low-grade fever, bowel habit changes, and elevated inflammatory markers. We present a case of complicated colonic diverticulitis with vaginal fistula with eventual formation of abdominal abscess, presenting as vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.

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We present the case of an 86-year-old African American gentleman who presented with fatigue, diarrhea, and weight loss. He had elevated liver enzymes in an obstructive pattern. A magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography scan showed edema around the stomach and duodenum, which prompted evaluation with an esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

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Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is an infection in the ascitic fluid. Despite published guidelines, an inappropriate diagnosis of SBP is frequent. In this study, we aim to evaluate guideline adherence in diagnosing SBP.

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Background: Colonoscopy is a safe and routine diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for evaluation of large bowel diseases. Most common procedure related complications include bleeding and perforation but rarely a splenic Injury.

Aim: To investigate the reason for colonoscopy, presentation of patient with spleen injury, types of injury, diagnosis, management and outcomes of patients.

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Background: () is a spore-forming, Gram-positive rod that is known to be associated with antibiotic use. It is one of the leading causes of nosocomial diarrhea in the industrialized world and therefore warrants further study of its nature. It isn't clear if co-infection by other organisms can affect the outcome of infection (CDI).

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Gastroparesis is a complex dysmotility disorder characterized by chronic dyspepsia and delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Postsurgical gastroparesis is the third most common cause and accounts for 13% of total cases. Studies have shown that catheter ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation can rarely result in gastroparesis, secondary to damage to the vagus nerve.

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Abdominal lymphangiectasia is a rare disease manifestation with a variety of anatomic locations and clinical presentations. The gastrointestinal tract may be affected, and lymphangiectasia originating in the wall of the intestine has rarely been described. We present a case of primary small bowel lymphangiectasia causing intussusception in a 30-year-old woman who presented with emesis and gastrointestinal bleeding.

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Alemtuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets surface molecule CD52, causes rapid and complete depletion of circulating T- and B-lymphocytes through antibody-dependent cell-mediated and complement-mediated cytotoxicity. Alemtuzumab has demonstrated superior efficacy compared to subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (SC IFNB-1a) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Alemtuzumab treatment causes a rare and distinct form of secondary immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), characterized by delayed onset, responsiveness to conventional therapies, and prolonged remission following treatment.

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Primary pancreatic lymphoma is a rare form of pancreatic cancer that represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to its rarity and presentation mimicking pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Herein, we report a case of a 57-year-old Caucasian male who presented with left-sided chest pain, epigastric pain, and melena. Abdominal imaging was remarkable for a large, necrotic mass near the tail of the pancreas extending into the splenic hilum and left kidney.

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We describe the case of a 49-year-old man who presented with a 6-day history of epigastric abdominal pain radiating to his right shoulder which started suddenly after swinging a golf club. A CT angiography of the abdomen was performed which showed dissection of the coeliac trunk extending into the splenic artery and splenic infarct. Anticoagulation was initially started but discontinued due to a small retroperitoneal haemorrhage.

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