Variceal recurrence 4 years post endoscopic band ligation in hepatitis C patients who achieved sustained virological response with oral direct-acting antiviral therapy.

Oral Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are safe, highly effective altering disease burden and prognosis in hepatitis C patients. Sustained virologic response (SVR) is achieved nowadays in more than 90% of the treated patients and related to the improvements in functions of the liver, fibrosis plus survival. Furthermore, portal hypertension is thought to be improved with achievement of virological response, parallel to the improvements in hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. We aimed to assess the recurrence rate of oesophageal varices by long-term follow-up in patients treated with different DAAs regimens who had achieved SVR. We studied 176 Child A cirrhotic HCV patients who achieved SVR after DAAs treatment and had a history of endoscopic oesophageal varices obliteration and were on maximum tolerated propranolol dose. They were subjected to follow-up upper gastrointestinal endoscopy repeated every 6 months for 4 years. Fifty-two patients (29.5%) had recurrence of oesophageal varices observed during the 4-years follow-up upper GIT endoscopy. On multivariate analysis, platelet count was the only significant variable, P-value = .007*. HbA1C, HOMA IR, BMI 1 and BMI 2 showed non-significant differences between the studied groups. By ROC analysis, we identified baseline platelet count of 96 000/µL with 100% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI] [91%-100%]) and 74% specificity (95% CI [65%-81%]). Spearman correlation showed a positive correlation between AFP, age, AST, Bilirubin, creatinine, INR. Patients who achieved SVR post DAAs showed a significant decrease in oesophageal varices recurrence post endoscopic obliteration. Baseline platelet count was found to be a strong independent predictor for oesophageal varices recurrence.

EUS-guided intrahepatic portosystemic shunt with direct portal pressure measurements: a novel alternative to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting involves the creation of a low-resistance channel between the portal vein (PV) and the hepatic vein (HV), and is routinely performed under angiography. The aims were to evaluate (1) safety and technical feasibility; (2) procedural duration; and (3) subjective workload assessment of EUS-guided intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (EIPS). METHODS: Five Yorkshire pigs were used in the study. The HV or inferior vena cava (IVC) was identified using a linear-array echoendoscope and accessed with a 19-G FNA needle preloaded with a digital pressure wire. Mean pressure was recorded. The needle was advanced into the PV, where pressure measurements were again taken, and ultimately exchanged over a guidewire. A lumen-apposing metal stent was deployed under EUS and fluoroscopic guidance, with distal and proximal ends positioned inside the PV and HV (IVC), respectively. Dilation was performed, and pressure measurements repeated. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Task Load Index (TLI) was scored. Animals survived 2 weeks before necropsy. RESULTS: EIPS was successful in 5 out of 5 pigs. Mean time required for EUS identification, needle access, pressure measurement, and stent placement was 43 (31-55) minutes. NASA TLI scores revealed moderate workload. Mean baseline pressure measurements were PV 7.0 (5-9) and HV/IVC 5.0 (3-7) mm Hg and PV 6.3 (5-7) and HV/IVC 6.0 (4-7) mm Hg after. All animals survived 2 weeks. No bleeding was seen on necropsy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the technical feasibility of EIPS using LAMS, with direct portal pressure measurement, in a survival model. In addition, the procedure was performed quickly with moderate technical demand.

Peptic Ulcer Disease and its Treatments and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: a Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the seventh leading cause of death among cancers mortality. Pancreatic carcinogenesis remains poorly understood. There is still an urge to allocate other related risk factors that may help in better recognition of this pathogenesis. There is increasing evidence suggested that peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and its treatment might affect the development of PC however, studies findings reported conflicting results. Our meta-analysis aimed to study the association between PUD and its treatments (proton pump inhibitors [PPIs] and histamine-2 receptor antagonists [H2RAs]) and risk of PC. METHODS: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane library databases from inception through January 2022. We included case-control studies, cohort, and randomized control trials which reported the association between PUD, PPIs, and H2RAs and the risk of PC. Odds ratio (OR) were used to calculate pooled estimates for PC risk. The association were evaluated using random-effects models, in two sided statistical tests. RESULTS: A total of 22 publications were retained for the meta-analysis. PUD was associated with a significant increase in PC risk (OR 1.26, 95% CI= 1.01-1.57, P= 0.038, I2= 92%). The risk of developing PC were significant in patients receiving PPIs (OR 1.76, 95% CI= 1.26-2.46, P=0.001, I2= 98%) and H2RAs (OR 1.25, 95% CI = 1.042- 1.49, P= 0.016, I2= 80%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a 1.26-fold increase risk of PC in patients with PUD. The elevated PC is also attributable to 1.76-fold greater risk in PPIs group compared to 1.25-fold in H2RAs group.

On-treatment improvement of an emerging psychosomatic depressive disorder among salmonella carriers: a multicenter experience from Egypt.

BACKGROUND: As physicians in a referral hospital, we observed the association between history of enteric fever and somatic disorders associated with low mood. At the Al-Hussein University Hospital, Cairo and the National Liver Institute Hospital, Menoufia, we receive patients from all over Egypt, including rural areas where enteric fever is endemic. AIM: Here in, 60 Egyptian patients referred to us for evaluation of different somatic disorders are reported. METHODS: After extensive evaluations, the patients' symptoms were function-related. Also, their typhoid carrier states were documented, and the severity of depression using Hamilton-D (HAM-D) questionnaire was evaluated and recorded. All patients were treated with ceftriaxone, 2 gm, IV, daily for 15 days. The clinical evaluation and Hamilton score were reassessed at the end of the treatment and 6 weeks thereafter. The patients did not receive any anti-depressant nor anti-anxiety treatment during their course. Typhoid carrier was defined by documenting the history of typhoid fever that was diagnosed by culturing the Salmonella species, and not by serology, isolated from stool culture along with febrile condition, plus the absence of fever in the past 3 weeks. The Widal test was not accepted as a criterion for enrollment. RESULTS: Patients showed clinically significant improvement in the somatic complaints, and their HAM-D score immediately post-treatment that was consolidated for 6 weeks post-treatment completion. CONCLUSION: In this study, the typhoid carrier was associated with the psychosomatic depression that improved by antibiotic therapy.

Successful Treatment of Mixed Hepatitis C Genotypes in a Cirrhotic Patient With an All-Oral, Interferon-Free Regimen.

Mixed hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype infection is emerging with improved methods of detection. It is commonly seen in hemodialysis patients and intravenous drug users due to repeated HCV exposure and absence of protective immunity, and can contribute to treatment failure. Direct-acting antiviral regimens have been extensively studied in patients with different individual HCV genotypes; however, there are no reported data on their use in patients with mixed HCV genotype. We present a case of mixed HCV genotype 1a and 2 infection in a decompensated cirrhotic patient treated successfully with sofosbuvir, ledipasvir, and ribavirin.

The combined effect of radiofrequency and ethanol ablation in the management of large hepatocellular carcinoma.

Only a small percentage of patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may benefit out of surgical resection. Thus, most of these patients are in need of a form of local control, such as ethanol ablation, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiofrequency thermal ablation (RF), or laser induced thermotherapy (LITT). The purpose of this study was to assess the short-term effect of sequential RF and ethanol ablation in the management of large HCC (>5 cm). Our series included 40 patients with large HCC tumors (>5 cm in diameter). We adopted a protocol of overlapping RF applications, followed by repeated ethanol ablation sessions. Our results showed that the volume of tumor coagulative necrosis initially induced by RF has significantly risen after adjuvant ethanol ablation sessions (P < 0.001). Patients who achieved complete tumor necrosis after RF ablation were 52.5% of the series. This percent has jumped to 80% of the series at the end of the protocol. This indicates that such combined protocol is more effective than RF alone. Besides, it is valuable in reducing the number of RF sessions.

Mammographic and sonographic features of tuberculous mastitis.

From December 1999 to April 2001, 10 cases of tuberculous mastitis were presented to the Radiology Unit at the Medical Research Institute of Alexandria University for mammographic and sonographic evaluation. Sixty percent presented with masses, 50% mastalgia, 40% discharge, and 10% complained of skin sinus. In 30% of the patients the complaint was bilateral. All cases underwent full mammographic and ultrasonographic (US) studies, and US-guided fine needle aspiration. Also pathological, bacteriological analysis, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were done to all patients to prove the tuberculous nature of their lesions. Thirty percent of the cases had surgical excision on their masses. On mammography 30% were found to have mass lesion mimicking malignant tumors, 40% smooth bordered masses, 40% axillary or intramammary adenopathy, 30% asymmetric density, 30% duct ectasia, 20% with skin thickening and nipple retraction, 20% with macrocalcification, and 10% with skin sinus. On US 60% had hypoechoic masses, 40% focal or sectorial duct ectasia, and 50% axillary adenopathy. History of tuberculosis was found in 30% of the cases. Chest X-ray was positive in 20% and breast magnetic resonance imaging was done to one patient who had skin sinus.

Ultrasound assessment of elbow enthesitis in patients with seronegative arthropathies.

BACKGROUND: Enthesopathy is an evolving area for applied clinical research. MRI is the gold standard in the diagnosis of elbow joint pathology, but recent reports indicate that ultrasound imaging is more sensitive and accurate than MRI in detecting enthesopathy of the heels and knees. Too many patients are under-diagnosed and/or misdiagnosed because the early pathological changes of enthesitis in the different types of seronegative arthropathies are not detected. OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to describe the ultrasound features of elbow enthesitis in patients with seronegative arthropathies. METHODS: We studied 38 diseased elbows in 38 patients with spondyloarthropathies (26 men and 12 women, mean age 32 years). All had elbow enthesopathy without typical conventional radiographic findings. Patients with histories of degenerative changes and/or local steroid injections were excluded. An HDI 3000 ATL ultrasound machine was used with a 5-12 MHz linear transducer to examine the affected elbow joints. The elbows of 10 normal healthy individuals were examined as normal controls. The patients were examined in the supine position with the elbow flexed 30°-50°. Longitudinal and transverse scans were obtained of the radiohumeral joint, the ulnahumeral joint, and the olecranon fossa. Two independent observers unaware of the clinical diagnosis read the ultrasound images and assessed the collateral ligaments, intratendinous echogenicity, tendon calcification, tendon thickness, presence of fluid, synovial proliferation, and bony changes. The reliability of the sonographic images was assessed by review of video recordings of the ultrasound examinations. RESULTS: Ultrasound revealed loss of the fibrillar echopattern (100 %), lack of a homogenous pattern with loss of the tightly packed echogenic dots (100 %), peritendinous edema with flaring of the tendon margins (84.2 %), irregular fusiform tendon thickening (100 %), and hyperechoic intratendinous lesions with ill-defined focal defects (18.4 %). Ultrasound also detected intratendinous calcifications of both the common extensor and common flexor tendons (52.6 %). Bony erosions were seen at the tendon insertions into the lateral epicondyles (13.15 %). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic features of elbow enthesitis differed from those described in knee and heel enthesitis. Ultrasound clearly showed early signs of tendon calcification, tendon edema, peritendinitis, and bony entheseal erosions. However, in elbow enthesitis the early bone erosion was associated with bone marrow edema, and the common extensor tendon was diffusely thickened. Ultrasound is a reliable, reproducible bedside imaging procedure. It improves the documentation of disease activity, progression, and treatment responses in patients with spondyloarthropathies. We recommend its use for the diagnosis and post-treatment follow-up of patients with enthesitis and seronegative spondyloarthropathies.