Publications by authors named "Zohaib Ahmed"
Background And Aims: Fully covered self-expandable metallic stents (FCSEMS) are often used in the management of post-sphincterotomy bleeding which is refractory to conventional endoscopic treatments. In this meta-analysis, we have evaluated the efficacy and safety of FCSEMS in the management of post-sphincterotomy bleeding.
Methods: We reviewed several databases from inception to November 6, 2024 to identify studies that evaluated the efficacy, and/or safety of FCSEMS in the management of post sphincterotomy bleeding.
Debridement of infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis is indicated to treat and prevent sepsis-related multiorgan failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the EndoRotor-powered endoscopic debridement system to remove solid debris under direct endoscopic visualization. Search strategies were developed for PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to June 2022, in accordance with Preferred Reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The recommended duration of vasoactive drugs in esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) spans 2-5 days. Prior meta-analyses of randomized trials include only a few studies that compared short vs. long vasoactive drug durations approximating this time range, including older management techniques, and only assessed variceal rebleeding at 5 days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The safety and technical success of endoscopic ultrasound-guided antegrade treatment (EUS-AG) compared to balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic cholangiopancreatography (BE-ERCP) for choledocholithiasis in Roux-en-Y gastrectomy has not been well documented. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the safety and efficacy of the 2 procedures.
Methods: A systematic search of multiple databases was undertaken through January 25, 2024, to identify relevant studies comparing the 2 procedures.
Esophageal manometry is utilized for the evaluation and classification of esophageal motility disorders. EndoFlip has been introduced as an adjunctive test to evaluate esophagogastric junction (EGJ) distensibility. Treatment options for achalasia and EGJ outflow obstruction (EGJOO) include pneumatic dilation, myotomy, and botulinum toxin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground/objectives: Dental caries, a prevalent issue among children, often leads to discomfort and potential complications. Utilizing caries-arresting treatments to slow down its progression offers a practical alternative. Previous research indicates that topical fluorides can deactivate and remineralize enamel caries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study aimed to investigate the role of spirituality, intolerance of uncertainty (IU), and fear of COVID-19 as correlates and predictors of psychological distress among older adults in Pakistan and also assess the gender differences among research variables. Using a quantitative correlational survey research design, a sample of 150 (75 = Men, 75 = Women) older adults aged 55 years and above from different cities of Pakistan were approached through a non-probability purposive sampling strategy. Participants completed the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale IUS-12, Fear of COVID-19, and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-K10.
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- The study explores the application of deep learning in precision medicine to enhance clinical decision-making, specifically in the context of diagnosing vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (VTDR) using complex datasets that include image data.
- A novel hybrid model called "NIMEQ-SACNet" is introduced, which combines the Enhanced Quantum-Inspired Binary Grey Wolf Optimizer with a self-attention capsule network to improve the accuracy of VTDR classification.
- The model demonstrates superior performance in accurately classifying various stages of VTDR, backed by comprehensive evaluations using key metrics like Accuracy, Sensitivity, and F1-Score, showcasing its advantage over existing classification methods.
Article Synopsis
- Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a common and serious infection in patients with cirrhosis, leading to high mortality rates, but guidelines lack specific timing recommendations for diagnostic paracentesis.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of 116,174 patients found significantly lower in-hospital mortality with early paracentesis (within 12 hours or 1 day) compared to delayed procedures (greater than 12 hours or 1 day).
- Early paracentesis not only reduced mortality but also shortened hospital stays by an average of 5.38 days, highlighting the importance of timely intervention in hospitalized cirrhosis patients with ascites.
Article Synopsis
- Many patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) do not respond to traditional treatments, leading researchers to explore adalimumab (ADA) and vedolizumab (VDZ) as alternative therapies.
- The study analyzed randomized controlled trials to compare the effectiveness of ADA and VDZ against placebo for treating moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), focusing on clinical response, remission, and safety outcomes.
- Results showed that both treatments were more effective than placebo for achieving remission and response in patients, with ADA being particularly more effective than VDZ for CD, but further studies on a larger scale are needed for better safety assessments.
Background/aims: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a commonly performed procedure in patients with liver cirrhosis to treat portal hypertension-related conditions, including variceal bleeding and refractory ascites. However, while the increased risk of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after TIPS is important to consider when determining whether a patient is a good candidate for TIPS, currently there is no widely used method to predict the development of post-TIPS HE, although the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is used to predict post-TIPS mortality. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate sarcopenia as a risk factor for HE and mortality in patients undergoing TIPS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Endoscopic mucosal resection is a frequently employed method for removing colonic polyps. Nonetheless, the recurrence of these polyps over a healed submucosal base can complicate the extraction of leftover lesions through standard procedures. EndoRotor, a non-thermal device specifically designed for endoscopic mucosal resection, has recently been assessed for its utility in removing colonic polyps, non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus, and pancreatic necrosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHepatic encephalopathy with proton pump inhibitor use in post tips patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Minerva Gastroenterol (Torino)
September 2024
Introduction: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after Trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a common clinical problem. According to recent studies, Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use can serve as an independent risk factor for HE. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the association between HE with PPI use versus without PPI use in patients undergoing TIPS.
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- This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate how accurately magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can differentiate between fibrotic and inflammatory strictures in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).
- The analysis included 22 studies, revealing that MRI has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting fibrotic strictures: 85.2% sensitivity and 96% specificity, and it also performed well in distinguishing between types of strictures.
- The findings advocate for incorporating MRI into standard diagnostic practices for CD patients, while also suggesting the need for larger trials to further validate these results and address any limitations.
Background: Portal hypertension, a major complication of chronic liver disease, often leads to life-threatening variceal bleeding, managed effectively with vasoactive drugs like terlipressin. However, the most optimal method of terlipressin administration, continuous versus intermittent infusion, remains a subject of debate, necessitating this systematic review and meta-analysis for evidence-based decision-making in managing this critical condition.
Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the PRISMA standards and explored multiple databases until 6 April 2023, such as MEDLINE through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL.
Background: Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) are promising tumor markers for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Yet, their diagnostic performance differs throughout HCC investigations. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of PIVKA-II and AFP in the diagnosis of HCC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: The current standard of practice is to use a duodenoscope for the evaluation of the major duodenal papilla (MDP). Recently, cap-assisted endoscopy (CAE), which uses a transparent cap at the tip of a standard front-viewing endoscope, has emerged as an alternative.
Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in several databases from inception to January 2023 to identify studies evaluating the efficacy of CAE for the evaluation of the MDP.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the trend of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) mortality rates in the U.S. before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Researchers analyzed deidentified data from the CDC to estimate age-standardized mortality rates and used linear regression to project mortality rates for 2021 based on trends from 2012 to 2019.
- Findings indicate that UGIB mortality rates significantly increased from 3.3 to 4.3 per 100,000 between 2012 and 2021, suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced UGIB-related deaths.
Background: Esophageal food impaction (EFI) is a common GI emergency. Push and pull methods are used currently for EFI retrieval. We aim to review current available literature to compare success rates and evaluate adverse event rates of the two techniques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and percutaneous radiological gastrostomy (PRG) are commonly utilized to establish access to enteral nutrition. However, data comparing the outcomes of PEG vs. PRG are conflicting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Monkeypox caused by the Monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, is currently considered a major concern among healthcare authorities due to its high transmissibility rate. Currently, no specific treatment is available for this disease, due to which healthcare professionals, specifically Dentists, are required to look out for symptoms at early stages to prevent its spread.
Objective: To analyze the role of dentists in identifying Monkeypox cases and limiting its spread.
Article Synopsis
- Crohn's disease is a chronic condition that can require surgery, and preventing recurrence after surgery is crucial for patient health; biologic agents like infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA) are key in maintaining remission.* -
- A study analyzed data from various medical databases and included 3 studies with 268 patients to compare the effectiveness of ADA and IFX in preventing recurrence, finding no significant differences in endoscopic or clinical outcomes between the two drugs.* -
- The findings suggest that both ADA and IFX are similarly effective, indicating that treatment choices should consider factors like cost, side effects, and patient preference, and highlight the need for further research to better understand these treatments.*
Background And Aims: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is often used in patients with cirrhosis to manage portal hypertension-related complications. Unfortunately, 35-50% of patients develop overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after TIPS. However, data on lactulose and rifaximin to prevent post-TIPS HE is limited.
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