Single-operator cholangioscopy unveiling a pinehole post-cholecystectomy biliary strictures.

77-year-old female with history of cholecystectomy was admitted at emergency department with fever and myalgia, without other complaints. Physical examination revealed fever, and laboratory tests indicated cholestasis (total bilirubin: 1.5xULN, glutamyltransferase: 20xULN, alkaline phosphatase: 5xULN). Computed Tomography revealed common bile duct (CBD) dilation (9mm), with suspected choledocholithiasis. Given the diagnosis of acute cholangitis, antibiotics were started and ERCP was performed. ERCP revealed a short CBD stenosis (< 2mm length), close to surgical clip, with upstream dilation of the CBD; an 8mm stone in the distal CBD was observed and successfully removed. As guidewire advancement failed after multiple attempts, a SpyGlass DS cholangioscopy was performed showing a fibrotic pinehole stenosis. Guidewire was passed through the stenosis under direct visualization, and an 80-mmx10mm fully covered metal stent deployed.

Duodenal lipoma - An unusual finding, location and presentation.

An 82-year-old man was admitted for acute cholangitis. He presented with jaundice and elevated hepatic cholestasis enzymes and C-reactive protein. Abdominal ultrasound and CT scan showed no evidence of gallstones and the main bile duct had 6 mm of diameter. Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was initiated and the patient was referred for Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography. During duodenoscopy, a pedunculated subepithelial lesion, measuring approximately 20-30 mm, and suggestive of being a lipoma was found, obstructing the papillary orifice and preventing its access. It was then removed using a diathermic snare. Subsequent cholangiography confirmed the absence of gallstones or any other cause of biliary obstruction. Histopathological analysis confirmed that the lesion was a duodenal lipoma. The patient evolved favorably and had no subsequent episodes of jaundice or cholangitis during follow-up.

Paraneoplasic Behçet's Syndrome associated with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

A 49-year-old man presented with a three-week history of abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea and fever. Reported oral ulcers, weight loss and asthenia, as well as papulo-pustular lesions on his limbs and a recurrent ulcer in the lip (Fig.1) in the previous year. During hospitalization, he developed pathergy at venipuncture sites and painful scrotum ulcers. Laboratory showed pancytopenia and elevated CRP. Viral and autoimmune tests were negative. Abdominal CT revealed thickening of the ileocecal region with adenopathies. Blood smear and myelogram were compatible with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). Bone marrow culture and BK were negative. Karyotype revealed no changes, namely, no trisomy of the 8th. Ileocolonoscopy revealed aphthoid erosions of the ileocecal mucosa and ovoid punched-out cecal ulcers. Biopsies showed intense chronic inflammation in the lamina propria and submucosa with erosions and ulcers. Thus, presenting 5 points in the International Criteria for Behçet's Disease, this diagnosis was assumed as a paraneoplastic manifestation of CML. Corticosteroids improved symptoms, but the patient died three weeks later due to a blastic crisis. BS has been reported in association with CML, some concurrent with, or following treatment with interferon-a or hydroxyurea. Although the pathogenesis remains unclear, there is increasing awareness of its link to hematological malignancies, and trisomy of the 8th.

IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 polymorphisms in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune systemic disease and in its pathogenesis participate several proinflammatory cytokines, including those produced by Th17 cells. We performed a systematic review aiming to assess the associations between polymorphisms in Th17 cytokines, namely IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21 and IL-22, and susceptibility to RA. METHODS: We searched three electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science) for observational studies assessing the association between susceptibility to RA (or its clinical presentation) and polymorphisms of the cytokines IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21 and IL-22. From the selected studies, we extracted information on the studied polymorphisms, assessed outcomes, and demographic characteristics of participants. We performed random effects meta-analyses assessing the associations between susceptibility to RA and different genotypes of the IL-17A rs2275913, IL-17Frs763780 andIL-17Frs2397084polymorphisms. Primary studies' quality was assessed using the Q-Genie tool. RESULTS: Fifteen studies were included in this systematic review. Five IL-17A polymorphisms were reported to be associated with susceptibility to RA. For the IL-17A rs2275913 polymorphism, our meta-analysis showed the AA genotype to be significantly associated with lower susceptibility to RA(OR = 0.76; 95%CI = 0.61-0.93;p = 0.01), while the opposite was observed for the GG genotype (OR = 1.20; 95%CI = 1.06-1.35;p = 0.01). Concerning IL-17Frs763780 polymorphism, theTT genotype was found to be significantly less frequent in RA patients(OR = 0.49; 95%CI = 0.31-0.77;p = 0.002), while the opposite was observed for the CT genotype (OR = 2.00; 95%CI = 1.03-3.87;p = 0.04). No significant associations were found regarding rs2397084polymorphisms. For IL-21, rs6822844 and rs4505848 were described to have significant associations with susceptibility to RA. No studies were found assessing IL-22 polymorphisms in RA. CONCLUSIONS: IL-17A rs2275913 and IL-17F rs763780 polymorphisms are significantly associated with susceptibility to RA and with different clinical characteristics of this disease.