A Prefixed Four-Trunk Brachial Plexus with Anomalous Anatomy of All Subsequent Divisions, Cords, and Terminal Branches: A Cadaveric Case Report.

BACKGROUND The brachial plexus is a complex neural structure providing motor and sensory innervation to structures of the arm, shoulder, and upper chest. The anatomical structure is typically divided into roots, trunks, divisions, and cords. Due to the presence of multiple nerve roots and branches, anatomical variations are common. Awareness of variations from normal anatomy is important in imaging, administration of nerve blocks, and surgical procedures of the neck and shoulder region. CASE REPORT We present a case of multiple anatomic variations of the right brachial plexus identified in a cadaver during routine dissection. To summarize, we identified a prefixed plexus with anomalous contributions from the C4 nerve root. Nerve roots C4 and C5 emerged anterior to the anterior scalene muscle. Furthermore, 4 trunks, rather than the typical 3, gave rise to multiple anomalies in the branching pattern of the distal divisions and cords. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case reported in the published literature. CONCLUSIONS The current case report presents a combination of brachial plexus anomalies not previously described in the medical literature - specifically, a prefixed (C4-T1) brachial plexus positioned anterior to the anterior scalene muscle with anomalies of the trunks, divisions, cords, and terminal branches. The variations presented have implications in neurogenic compression, interscalene blocks, and trauma to the upper limb. Knowledge of these anomalies may better equip anatomists and clinicians to understand pathology and intervention of the upper limb.

The impact of Libman-sacks endocarditis on inpatient outcomes with systemic lupus erythematosus: A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: The existing literature offers limited insights into the influence of Libman-Sacks Endocarditis (LSE) on inpatient outcomes in individuals with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to explore the characteristics and prognosis of SLE patients with LSE and the impact of LSE in patients with SLE on inpatient outcomes including inpatient mortality, length of stay, acute heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). METHODS: This study included adult patients who were hospitalized with SLE between the years 2019 and 2020, using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. The total number of patients with a diagnosis of SLE in the years 2019 and 2020 in the NIS database was 150,411. Of those, 349 had a diagnosis of LSE. The study population was divided into two groups: one group with SLE and LSE, and another group with SLE but without LSE. RESULTS: Caucasians made up 54.9% of the patients with a diagnosis of SLE in our patient population, while African Americans made up 26.9% and the Hispanics accounted for 12.2%. Of patients with LSE, Caucasians and African Americans represented 42.9% each. Patients with a diagnosis of LSE had a higher inpatient mortality than those with SLE without LSE (aOR: 9.74 CI 1.12-84.79, p 0.04). Patients with SLE with LSE were more likely to have acute heart failure than those without LSE, although this was not statistically significant (aOR 1.18 CI 0.13-11.07, p 0.88). Similarly, patients with SLE with LSE were more likely to have atrial fibrillation than those without LSE (aOR 4.45 CI: 0.77-25.57, p 0.10). CVAs were significantly higher in SLE patients with LSE than those without LSE (aOR 141.43 CI 16.59-1205.52, p < .01). DISCUSSION: Patients who develop LSE were found to have significantly higher risks of inpatient mortality and cerebrovascular accidents. Early and precise detection of LSE in such patients may ensure timely intervention and prevention of the associated adverse outcomes. Further studies may attempt to develop screening methods for detection of LSE to effectively reduce morbidity and mortality associated with SLE.

Evaluation of Alternative Treatment Strategies for Bile Acid Malabsorption in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Bile acid malabsorption (BAM) is characterized by chronic watery diarrhea resulting from excessive bile acids in the feces. BAM is often an overlooked cause of chronic diarrhea, with its prevalence not being sufficiently researched. This review aimed to assess existing literature that explores diverse treatment strategies, to review the published studies that examine the various therapies for BAM patients, emphasizing their influence on clinical results. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of various databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Database, and EMBASE. Our criteria for inclusion focused on randomized controlled studies (RCTs) that evaluated the effectiveness of different treatment options for patients with BAM. To rank the treatments, we adopted the frequentist approach through the "netrank" function of the network meta-analysis (NMA). Moreover, we utilized the "netsplit" function in the NMA to separate direct and indirect evidence. Our analysis was carried out using RStudio version 1.4.1717 (2009 - 2021 RStudio, Inc.), and we used the "netmeta" and "meta" packages for NMA. Results: We found seven relevant articles involving 213 participants, the average age being approximately 50 years, including 53 males and 92 females. Of the drugs examined, tropifexor was proved to be the most effective in raising the fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) levels and reducing the 7 alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4) levels, compared to the placebo (mean difference (MD) = 335.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) (334.86, 335.74), MD = -24.60, 95% CI (-25.37, -23.83); respectively). Compared to colesevelam and the placebo, liraglutide was more efficient in decreasing fecal bile acid concentration (liraglutide; MD = -19, 95% CI (-37.61, -0.39)). Conclusions: Tropifexor has been identified as the most successful medication in mitigating BAM symptoms. To ensure more accurate results, there is a need for randomized controlled clinical trials that involve a larger participant pool.

Cement Embolism After Kyphoplasty.

Kyphoplasty is used for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. The procedure involves inflating a balloon at the compression site; then, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement is added into the space created by the balloon, where it polymerizes, achieving stabilization, with possible expansion of the vertebral angle. The process is guided by X-rays. Complications are rare, especially when compared to vertebroplasty, and one rare complication is pulmonary cement embolism (PCE). Although many cases are likely undetected due to a lack of symptoms, symptomatic cases require treatment, as they can sometimes prove fatal. We present a case of a patient who underwent kyphoplasty and later presented with a PCE. The PCE was diagnosed using X-rays and computed tomography (CT).

Comparing EUS-directed Transgastric ERCP (EDGE) Versus Laparoscopic-Assisted ERCP Versus Enteroscopic ERCP: A Network Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Management of choledocholithiasis in patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is challenging. This study aims to compare technical success rates, adverse events, and procedural time between 3 current approaches: endoscopic ultrasound-directed transgastric Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (EDGE), enteroscopy-assisted ERCP (E-ERCP), and laparoscopic-assisted ERCP (LA-ERCP). METHODS: A systematic search of 5 databases was conducted. Direct and network meta-analyses were performed to compare interventions using the random effects model. A significance threshold of P < 0.05 was applied. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included. On direct meta-analysis, technical success rates were comparable between EDGE and LA-ERCP (odds ratio: 0.768, CI: 0.196-3.006, P = 0.704, I2 = 14.13%). However, EDGE and LA-ERCP showed significantly higher success rates than E-ERCP. No significant differences in adverse events were found between EDGE versus LA-ERCP, EDGE versus E-ERCP, and LA-ERCP versus E-ERCP on direct meta-analysis. In terms of procedural time, EDGE was significantly shorter than E-ERCP [mean difference (MD): -31 minutes, 95% CI: -40.748 to -21.217, P < 0.001, I2 = 19.89%), and E-ERCP was shorter than LA-ERCP (MD: -44.567 minutes, 95% CI: -76.018 to -13.116, P = 0.005, I2 = 0%). EDGE also demonstrated a significant time advantage over LA-ERCP (MD: -78.145 minutes, 95% CI: -104.882 to -51.407, P < 0.001, I2 = 0%). All findings were consistent with network meta-analysis on random effects model. The heterogeneity of the model was low. CONCLUSIONS: EDGE and LA-ERCP showed superior technical success rates compared with E-ERCP. Adverse events did not significantly differ among the three approaches. Furthermore, EDGE demonstrated the shortest procedural duration. We recommend considering EDGE as a first-choice procedure.

Folfirinox vs. Gemcitabine + Nab-Paclitaxel as the First-Line Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The efficacy and safety of Folfirinox (FFX) or gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel (GnP) to be used as the first-line drugs for pancreatic cancer (PC) is yet to be established. We conducted an analysis of retrospective studies to assess the efficacy and safety of these two regimens by comparing their survival and safety outcomes in patients with PC. Methods: We conducted an extensive review of two electronic databases from inception till February 2023 to include all the relevant studies that compared FFX with GnP published and unpublished work. Retrospective studies were only included. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were pooled using hazard ratios (HRs), while objective response rate (ORR) and safety outcomes were pooled using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random effects model. Results: A total of 7,030 patients were identified in a total of 21 articles that were shortlisted. Pooled results concluded that neither FFX nor GnP was associated to increase the OS time (HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.83 - 1.04; P = 0.0001); however, FFX was more likely associated with increased PFS when compared to GnP (HR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81 - 0.97; P < 0.0001). ORR proved to be non-significant between the two regimens (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.64 - 1.27; P = 0.15). Safety outcomes included neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia and diarrhea. GnP was more associated with diarrhea (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.22 - 3.15; P = 0.001), while FFX was seen to cause anemia (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.51 - 0.98; P = 0.10) in PC patients. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were in-significant in the two drug regimens (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 0.92 - 1.31; P = 0.33 and OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.60 - 1.13; P = 0.23, respectively). Conclusion: FFX and GnP showed a significant difference in increasing the PFS, while no difference was observed while measuring OS. Safety outcomes showed that FFX and GnP shared similar safety profiles as FFX was associated with hematological outcomes, while GnP was more associated with non-hematological outcomes.

Evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in distinguishing strictures in Crohn's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to assess the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in distinguishing fibrotic from inflammatory strictures in Crohn's disease (CD) patients. METHODS: A rigorous and systematic exploration of five key databases yielded studies that met predefined criteria. Data were extracted for a comprehensive meta-analysis using MetaDiSC and MetaDTA software, providing diagnostic accuracy measures. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) tool was utilized for evaluating the methodological quality and potential bias within the studies. RESULTS: The systematic review involved the evaluation of 7437 records, culminating in the inclusion of 22 studies. In detecting fibrotic strictures in CD patients, MRI exhibited a pooled sensitivity of 85.20% (95% CI: 76.10-91.20%) and specificity of 96.00% (95% CI: 87.80-98.70%). For differentiating fibrotic strictures from inflammatory stenosis, the sensitivity was 81.5% (95% CI: 70.2-89.20%), and the specificity was 97.2% (95% CI: 90.0-99.3%). In terms of assessing the severity of strictures, sensitivity stood at 90.4% (95% CI: 78.1-96.1%) and specificity at 89.4% (95% CI: 57.4-98.2%). The consistency of the diagnostic accuracy was observed across different geographical locations and the various reference tests applied in the studies. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this meta-analysis underscore the robust diagnostic accuracy of MRI in detecting fibrotic strictures, distinguishing between fibrotic and inflammatory strictures, and evaluating stricture severity in CD patients. These findings support the integration of MRI into standard diagnostic protocols for patients with CD. Further large-scale, multicenter trials are warranted to confirm these results and to identify any potential limitations associated with the application of MRI in this clinical setting.

Continuous vs. intermittent terlipressin infusion for portal hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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. Independent reviewers selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met specific inclusion criteria. After assessing study quality and extracting necessary data, statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan), with results presented as risk ratios (RR) or mean differences. Results: Five RCTs (n=395 patients) were included. The continuous terlipressin group had a significantly lower risk of rebleeding (RR=0.43, P=0.0004) and treatment failure (RR=0.22, P=0.02) and fewer total adverse effects (RR=0.52, P<0.00001) compared to the intermittent group. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in mean arterial pressure (P=0.26), length of hospital stays (P=0.78), and mortality rates (P=0.65). Conclusion: This study provides robust evidence suggesting that continuous terlipressin infusion may be superior to intermittent infusions in reducing the risk of rebleeding, treatment failure, and adverse effects in patients with portal hypertension. However, further large-scale, high-quality RCTs are required to confirm these findings and to investigate the potential benefits of continuous terlipressin infusion on mortality and hospital stays.

9-Minute Withdrawal Time Improves Adenoma Detection Rate Compared With 6-Minute Withdrawal Time During Colonoscopy: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

INTRODUCTION: Adenoma detection rate (ADR) is a quality metric that has been emphasized by multiple societies as improved ADR leads to reduced interval colorectal cancer (CRC). It is postulated that increased withdrawal time (WT) can lead to higher ADR. Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were undertaken to evaluate this. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs to analyze the impact of higher WT on ADR during colonoscopy. METHODS: The following databases were comprehensively searched through November 8, 2022: Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Only RCTs were eligible for inclusion. We applied the random effects model using the DerSimonian Laird approach and calculated risk ratio (RR) for binary outcomes and mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes. 95% CI and P values were generated. RESULTS: A total of 3 RCTs with 2159 patients were included of which 1136 patients were included in the 9-minute withdrawal group (9WT) and 1023 patients in the 6-minute withdrawal group (6WT). The mean age range was 53.6 to 56.8 years and the male gender was 50.7%. The overall ADR was significantly higher for 9WT (RR=1.23; 95% CI, 1.09-1.40; P <0.001). The overall adenoma per colonoscopy (APC) was also higher for the 9WT group (MD: 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04-0.25; P =0.008). CONCLUSION: The 9-minute withdrawal time improved ADR and APC compared with the 6-minute withdrawal. Given the high-quality evidence, we recommend that clinicians at least perform a 9-minute withdrawal to achieve higher quality metrics including ADR to reduce interval CRC.

Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Adalimumab and Vedolizumab in Treating Moderate to Severe Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Numerous patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) do not respond to conventional or biological therapy. Adalimumab (ADA) and vedolizumab (VDZ), according to certain research, may be a useful alternative treatment for these people. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of using ADA and VDZ to treat moderate to severe IBD: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: We searched PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Clinicaltrials.gov, and WHO trials registry (ICTRP). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ADA or VDZ with placebo in participants with active CD or UC were included. The primary outcomes were the clinical response and remission at induction and maintenance phases and mucosal healing. The secondary outcome was the incidence of profound negative events. The research used Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3 (Biostat Inc., USA). Results: Eighteen RCTs were incorporated, in which 11 studies described the usefulness and safeness of ADA or VDZ in CD patients, and seven studies investigated the efficacy and safety of ADA or VDZ in UC patients. The meta-analysis revealed that both ADA and VDZ treatments were superior to placebo for producing clinical remission and eliciting clinical response at induction and maintenance phases in individuals with moderately to severely active CD or UC. Interestingly, we found that ADA was superior to VDZ as first-line treatment for patients with CD, but not UC. Conclusion: ADA and VDZ are effective and safe in CD and UC patients. However, RCTs of a larger number of patients are still required for better assessing the safety profile of ADA and VDZ.

Efficacy of Endocuff Vision compared to first-generation Endocuff in adenoma detection rate and polyp detection rate in high-definition colonoscopy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background and study aims Recently, the newer Endocuff Vision (ECV) has been evaluated for improving colonoscopy outcome metrics such as adenoma detection rate (ADR) and polyp detection rate (PDR). Due to lack of direct comparative studies between ECV and original Endocuff (ECU), we performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis to evaluate these outcomes. Methods The following databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Sciences to include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ECV or ECU colonoscopy to high-definition (HD) colonoscopy. Direct as well as network meta-analyses comparing ADR and PDR were performed using a random effects model. Relative-risk (RR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) was calculated. Results A total of 12 RCTs with 8638 patients were included in the final analysis. On direct meta-analysis, ECV did not demonstrate statistically improved ADR compared to HD colonoscopy (RR: 1.12, 95 % CI 0.99-1.27). A clinically and statistically improved PDR was noted for ECV compared to HD (RR: 1.15, 95 % CI 1.03-1.28) and ECU compared to HD (RR: 1.26, 95 % CI 1.09-1.46) as well as improved ADR (RR: 1.22, 95 % CI 1.05-1.43) was observed for ECU colonoscopy when compared to HD colonoscopy. These results were also consistent on network meta-analysis. Lower overall complication rates (RR: 0.14, 95 % CI 0.02-0.84) and particularly lacerations/erosions (RR: 0.11, 95 % CI 0.02-0.70) were noted with ECV compared to ECU colonoscopy. Conclusions Although safe, the newer ECV did not significantly improve ADR compared to ECU and HD colonoscopy. Further device modification is needed to increase the overall ADR and PDR.

Efficacy of tocilizumab in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The efficacy of tocilizumab (TOC), monoclonal antibody against interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients has led to conflicting results. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of addition of TOC to standard of care (SOC) versus SOC in patients with COVID-19. We performed a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, WHO COVID, LitCOVID, and Cochrane databases. Pooled outcomes (overall mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission, and secondary infections) were compared using DerSimonian-Laird/Random-effects approach. Risk difference (RD), confidence interval (CI), and p values were generated. A total of 23 studies with 6279 patients (1897 in TOC and 4382 in SOC group, respectively) were included. The overall mortality was lower in TOC group compared to SOC group (RD: -0.06; CI: -0.12 to -0.01; p = .03). Subgroup analysis including studies with only severe cases revealed lower mortality (RD: -0.12; CI: -0.18 to -0.06; p < .01) and need for mechanical ventilation (RD: -0.11; CI: -0.19 to -0.02; p = .01) in TOC group compared to SOC group. The addition of TOC to SOC has the potential to reduce mortality and need for mechanical ventilation in patients with severe COVID-19. Randomized controlled trials are needed to validate this.