Segmental Colitis Associated With Diverticulosis Masquerading as Polyploid-Appearing Mucosa in the Rectosigmoid Area on Endoscopy and as Focal Thickening on Imaging.

Segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD) is an inflammatory disease affecting segments of the large bowel with diverticular disease. SCAD presents several challenges in diagnoses and treatment because it often mimics a range of disorders including inflammatory bowel disease and malignancy. Here, we present the case of a 72-year-old man with lower abdominal pain and bloody stools whose initial abdominal workup showed nonspecific large bowel thickening and concerns for malignancy. Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with mild SCAD and treated conservatively with a resolution of symptoms. He had no symptoms at the three-month and 1-year follow-ups. This case highlights the importance of including SCAD in the initial differential diagnosis to allow accurate identification and treatment.

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Diabetes Mellitus.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the leading liver disease globally. NAFLD patients can have a progressive phenotype, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that could lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer. There is a close bi-directional relationship between NAFLD and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); NAFLD increases the risk for T2DM and its complications whereas T2DM increases the severity of NAFLD and its complications. The large global impact of NAFLD and T2DM on healthcare systems requires a paradigm shift from specialty care to early identification and risk stratification of NAFLD in primary care and diabetes clinics. Approach to diagnosis, risk stratification and management of NAFLD is discussed. In addition to optimizing the control of coexisting cardiometabolic comorbidities, early referral of NAFLD patients at high risk of having NASH or significant fibrosis to hepatology specialist care may improve management and allow access for clinical trials. Lifestyle modifications, vitamin E, pioglitazone and metformin are currently available options that may benefit patients with T2DM and NAFLD. The burst of clinical trials investigating newer therapeutic agents for NAFLD and NASH offer hope for new, effective and safe therapies in the near future.

Gastric Glomus Tumor Diagnosed by Upper Endoscopy.

Gastric glomus tumors (GGTs) are benign tumors that typically occur in the submucosa of the gastric wall. Glomus tumors typically occur in the subungual region of the finger and rarely manifest in the stomach. Diagnosis is challenging as these tumors lack specific clinical features, radiographic findings, and endoscopic findings. In prior cases, endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration has been utilized to make a pre-operative diagnosis. In our case, pathology from general endoscopy was consistent with a GGT. Thus, our patient was accurately diagnosed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with conventional biopsy.

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer therapeutic roadmap: current and novel approaches in a nutshell.

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is a rare malignancy characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance of pathological variants of the CDH1 gene encoding E-cadherin, which is involved in cell-cell adhesion, maintenance of epithelial architecture, tumor suppression, and regulation of intracellular signaling pathways. Late-stage recognition of HDGC is typically associated with a poor clinical outcome due to its metastatic potential and risk of lobular breast cancer (LBC) development. The American College of Gastroenterology issued guidelines to evaluate HDGC, test for CDH1 genetic variants, and recommend prophylactic gastrectomy for carriers of CDH1 mutations. If surgery is not pursued, endoscopy is a surveillance alternative, although it carries a limited ability to detect malignant foci. As part of clinical research efforts, novel endoscopy advances are currently studied, and a center of excellence for HDGC was created for a comprehensive multidisciplinary team approach. Within this review, we cover current conventional treatment modalities such as gastrectomy and chemotherapy, as the mainstay treatments, in addition to Pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, as the last therapeutic resort. We also shed light on novel and promising approaches with emphasis on immunotherapy to treat HDGC. We further break down the therapeutic paradigms to utilize molecular tools, antibodies against checkpoint inhibitors, TGF-ß and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, cell-based adoptive therapies, and oncolytic viral therapies. We aim to expand the understanding on how to modulate the tumor microenvironment to tip the balance towards an anti-tumor phenotype, prevent metastasis of the primary disease, and potentially alter the therapeutic landscape for HDGC.

Epidemiology and Outcomes of Hospitalized Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients with Asthma in the United States.

Introduction Research on the epidemiology and outcomes of hospitalized inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with a history of asthma in the United States (US) is limited. This study aimed at identifying the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of hospitalized IBD patients with a diagnosis of asthma. We also examined the association between an asthma diagnosis and the length of stay (LOS) and in-hospital mortality among hospitalized IBD patients. Method Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for the years 2008-2013 and the ninth edition of the International Classification of Diseases codes, we identified adult hospitalized patients with IBD (N = 370,636) and used weighted multilevel hierarchical logistic regression models. Results The overall prevalence of asthma in our cohort of hospitalized IBD patients was 8%. Hospitalized IBD patients with asthma were more likely to be female, <45 years old, have Crohn's disease, and a higher Elixhauser comorbidity index (ECI). IBD patients with ECI of 3 or more had higher odds of having a prior diagnosis of asthma compared to those with no comorbidities (OR 63.33, 95% CI: 54.51-73.58). Having a prior diagnosis of asthma among hospitalized IBD patients was associated with lower odds of prolonged hospital stay and in-hospital mortality (OR 0.72, 95% CI: 0.69-0.74; OR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.43- 0.56, respectively). Patients with both IBD and asthma are more likely to seek medical care with earlier and aggressive treatment modalities, which may explain the lower in-hospital mortality in this group. Conclusion Lower in-hospital mortality and geographic variation are notable in the outcomes of IBD patients with asthma. Future prospective studies are necessary to improve our understanding of the management and interplay of IBD patients with asthma.

Recurrence of Gastric Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma in the Pleura: A Case Report.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is classified as marginal zone lymphoma, a form of low-grade malignant B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It affects the gastrointestinal tract with lung and pleural involvement considered to be rare. We describe a case of a 71-year-old man with a history of MALT lymphoma in remission who presented with dyspnea due to pleural effusion. Pleural fluid flowcytometry analysis showed monotypic B-cell population that expressed cluster of differentiation (CD)19, CD20, CD22, and kappa surface light chains. Medical pleuroscopy and pleural biopsy showed fibroadipose tissue with poorly defined lymphoid aggregates displaying a so-called "monocytoid" appearance, a histologic finding typical of marginal zone lymphoma. The patient underwent pleurodesis and achieved resolution of pleural effusion; however, the patient developed several complications and was discharged on home hospice.

Correlates, Trends, and Short-Term Outcomes of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The incidence and overall mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the US have been increasing over the past decade. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. This study aims at examining the epidemiology, risk factors, and short-term outcomes of VTE in hospitalized patients with HCC. METHODS: We utilized the National Inpatient Sample for the years 2008-2013. Using the International Classification of Diseases codes, ninth edition, we identified hospitalized adult patients with a prior diagnosis of HCC who were diagnosed with VTE. Weighted multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the effect of patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on the occurrence of VTE, and to evaluate the impact of VTE on in-hospital mortality and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: We identified a total of 54,275 hospitalized patients with a prior diagnosis of HCC. The prevalence of VTE in the study cohort was 2.8% (2.5% in 2008 to 3.0% in 2013, a statistically significant increase). Older age, African American ethnicity, history of metastasis, and higher Elixhauser comorbidity index were associated with higher odds of VTE. However, having a prior diagnosis of cirrhosis, hepatitis C, or diabetes mellitus were associated with lower odds of VTE in HCC patients. Furthermore, development of VTE was associated with longer hospital stay and increased in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: Our work highlights significant age, racial, and comorbid factors in the development of VTE in hospitalized patients with HCC in the US. These findings can help in stratification of HCC patients according to their VTE risk. Patients at higher risk of VTE may benefit from more aggressive pharmacologic prophylaxis, an area for future investigation.

Formation of Pancreatoduodenal Fistula in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas Decreased the Frequency of Recurrent Pancreatitis.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) of the pancreas are characterized by proliferation of mucin-secreting cells in the main pancreatic duct (PD) or its branches. The secreted thick mucin usually leads to PD obstruction and dilation. A common complication of IPMN is recurrent acute pancreatitis secondary to poor pancreatic fluid drainage, and rarely, pancreatobiliary and pancreatointestinal fistulae. We describe a unique case of IPMN in a 57-year-old male who was referred to our institution for evaluation of recurrent acute pancreatitis. After extensive evaluation, he was diagnosed with main duct IPMN. Intraductal PD biopsy revealed intestinal type IPMN with intermediate grade dysplasia. Patient was managed clinically by large caliber (10 French) PD stenting which eliminated his recurrent acute pancreatitis. The patient was initially referred for pancreatic resection; however, surgery was aborted and evaluated to be high risk with high morbidity secondary to the extensive adhesions between the pancreas and surrounding structures. Patient remained clinically stable for a few years except for an episode of acute pancreatitis that happened after a trial of stent removal. Subsequently, the patient did well after the PD stent was replaced. Recently, repeat abdominal imaging revealed a large pancreatoduodenal fistula which was confirmed on repeat endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. We were able to perform pancreatoscopy by advancing a regular upper scope through the fistula and into the PD. Interestingly, the fistula relieved the symptoms of obstruction and subsequently decreased the frequency of recurrent pancreatitis episodes with no further episodes at 6 months follow-up. This case highlights the importance of providing adequate PD drainage to reduce the frequency of recurrent acute pancreatitis in the setting of main duct IPMN, especially if the patient is not a surgical candidate. Also, physicians need to monitor for complications such as fistula formation between the pancreas and surrounding structures in the setting of chronic inflammation due to recurrent episodes of pancreatitis. Early identification of a fistula is important for surgical planning. Furthermore, since recent studies suggested a higher incidence of additional primary malignancies in patients with IPMN of the pancreas compared to the general population, patients may be considered for screening for other primary malignancies.

Rituximab and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Recurrent Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Postkidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a common cause of end-stage renal disease with a high rate of recurrence after kidney transplantation. Several factors, such as white race, rapid progression, and previous allograft failure due to recurrence, were found to be risks of recurrence. Data are limited on the benefits of rituximab and/or therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in preventing recurrence. In this study, we sought to assess the efficacy of rituximab and TPE for the prevention and treatment of recurrent FSGS after kidney transplantation. METHODS: We enrolled 66 patients with FSGS in this prospective observational study and followed their outcomes. Patients with high risk for recurrence received preventative therapy with TPE and/or rituximab. RESULTS: Twenty-three (62%) of the 37 patients who received preventative therapy developed recurrence compared with 14 (51%) recurrences of the 27 patients who did not receive any therapy (P = 0.21). There was a trend for less relapse when rituximab was used as a therapy for recurrent FSGS (6/22 vs 9/18, P = 0.066). We used a clinical score of 5 values to assess the prediction of FSGS recurrence. A score of 3 or more had a predictive receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.72. Treatment with TPE and/or rituximab resulted in better allograft survival than historical studies. Allograft failure because of recurrent FSGS occurred in only 6 (9%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Preventative therapies do not decrease the recurrence rate of recurrent FSGS. However, prompt treatment of recurrence with these therapies may result in improved outcomes.

Chronic dietary oxalate nephropathy after intensive dietary weight loss regimen.

BACKGROUND: Hyperoxaluria has been associated with nephrolithiasis as well as acute and chronic kidney disease. We present a case of end stage renal failure caused by excessive dietary oxalate intake in a dietary weight loss regimen. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old Caucasian male with the past medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, gout, hypertension and morbid obesity was referred to the primary care clinic after being found pale and easily fatigued. The patient had lost 36 kg over a 7-month period by implementing exercise and intense dietary measures that included 6 meals of spinach, kale, berries, and nuts. Physical examination revealed a blood pressure of 188/93 mm Hg with sunken eyes and dry mucus membranes. Laboratory workup was notable for blood urea nitrogen of 122 mg/dL, creatinine of 12 mg/dL, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 4.4 mL/min/1.73m2. Patient denied any history of renal disease or renal stones, or taking herbal products, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antifreeze (ethylene glycol), or any type of "diet pills." Family history was unremarkable for any renal diseases. After failing intravenous fluid resuscitation, patient was started on maintenance hemodialysis. Abdominal imaging was consistent with chronic renal parenchymal disease with no evidence of nephrolithiasis. Renal biopsy revealed numerous polarized oxalate crystal deposition and diabetic nephropathy class IIA. At this point the patient was instructed to adopt a low oxalate diet. A 24-hour urine collection was remarkable for pH 4.7, citrate <50 mg, and oxalate 46 mg. Importantly, serum oxalate level was undetectable. Repeat renal biopsy 5 months later while patient was still on maintenance hemodialysis revealed persistence of extensive oxalate crystal deposition. Patient has been referred for evaluation for renal transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians need to maintain a high index of suspicion for dietary hyperoxaluria as a potential etiology for acute or chronic kidney failure, particularly in patients pursuing intensive dietary weight loss intervention.

Self-limited membranous nephropathy after intravitreal bevacizumab therapy for age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal antibodies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), such as bevacizumab, are administered intravitreally for the treatment of wet or exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Systemic use of bevacizumab has been linked to a wide range of renal adverse effects including proteinuria and hypertension. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 77-year-old Caucasian male with a past medical history of hypertension, vitamin D deficiency and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who presented to primary care clinic with a 2-week history of bilateral lower extremity edema, 2 months after completing four monthly intravitreal injections of bevacizumab for ARMD. Examination was remarkable for blood pressure of 187/91 mm Hg and severe bilateral lower extremity edema. Work up revealed unremarkable complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), lipid panel, and echocardiography, except for 491 mg/dL albuminuria. Metoprolol and furosemide were added to hydrochlorothiazide and lisinopril. Work up by nephrology consult team five months later was notable for a urinalysis revealing 3 red blood cells/high power field (RBC/HPF), 24-hour urine protein of 8.6 g, and serum creatinine of 1.2 mg/dL. Viral hepatitis panel, total complement activity (CH50), C3, C4, anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), serum and urine protein electrophoresis were all unremarkable. Renal biopsy was consistent with membranous nephropathy. Age-appropriate cancer screening was negative. Random urine protein-to-creatinine ratio declined to 2 g/g and then to 0.56 g/g at 7 and 10 months follow up, respectively. Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine remained normal throughout the course of illness and patient did not require any immunosuppressive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The wide range of nephrotoxicity after systemic bevacizumab has been well documented. Our case describes a self-limited biopsy-proven membranous nephropathy after intravitreal bevacizumab injections.

Nuclear Imaging to Detect Diaphragmatic Perforation as a Rare Complication of Microwave Ablation.

Acquired diaphragmatic perforation leading to massive hepatic hydrothorax and respiratory failure is a rare complication of microwave ablation (MWA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Imaging modalities to detect pleuroperitoneal communication remain poorly described. We report a nuclear imaging technique used to efficiently diagnose and locate diaphragmatic defects. A 57-year-old male with cirrhosis and HCC presented with respiratory distress after undergoing MWA of a HCC lesion. He was admitted to the intensive care unit for noninvasive positive pressure ventilator support. Chest radiography revealed a new large right pleural effusion. Large-volume thoracentesis was consistent with hepatic hydrothorax. The fluid reaccumulated within 24 hours; therefore an acquired diaphragmatic perforation induced by the ablation procedure was suspected. To investigate, 99mTechnetium-labeled albumin was injected into the peritoneal cavity. The tracer accumulated in the right hemi thorax almost immediately. The patient then underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting in efforts to relieve portal hypertension and decrease ascites volume. Unfortunately, the patient deteriorated and expired after few days. Although diaphragmatic defects develop in cirrhotic patients, such small fenestrations do not normally lead to rapid development of life-threatening pleural effusion. MWA procedures can cause large diaphragmatic defects. Immediate detection of this complication is essential for initiating early intervention.

NASALANCE SCORES IN LEBANESE ENGLISH-SPEAKING ADULTS USING NASOMETRIC ANALYSIS.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain normative data for nasalance scores in Middle Eastern English-speaking adult population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 102 subjects were recruited in the study, 26 were excluded, thus, 77 Middle Eastern English-speaking adults (mean age = 23.77 ± 4.295; 39 males, 38 females) with normal speech and no hearing problems participated in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Using Nasometer II 6450, nasalance scores were obtained for each participant's readings of 3 passages: Zoo and Rainbow passages and nasal sentences. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean nasalance score, standard deviation and range. RESULTS: Mean nasalance scores for Zoo passage, Rainbow passage and nasal sentences were 25.21 ± 11.07, 34.04 ± 9.30 and 41.29 ± 9.87 respectively. Mean scores didn't differ significantly between males and females, though scores for the Zoo passage were slightly higher among males (26.51 ± 11.66) than females (23.87 ± 10.42). In within-session reliability testing, 86% of retests for all three passages fell within 5 nasalance points of the previous test. In across-session reliability testing, 93% of retests for all 3 passages were within 5 points of initial test. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study provides normative data for nasalance scores among Middle-Eastern adults, which can help make nasometer and determination of nasalance more clinically useful in this population.

Formant frequency in relation to body mass composition.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the relationship between total body mass composition and vowel formant frequency and formant dispersion in men. METHODS: A total of 60 healthy male volunteers were recruited. Formant frequencies and dispersions of F1, F2, F3, and F4 for the vowels /ɑː/ and /iː/ were determined using spectrographic analysis. RESULTS: The mean height and weight were 179.17 cm and 80.53 kg, respectively, with fat-free weight averaging to 67.02 kg (65.5% in the extremities vs 16.7% in the trunk). The body mass index (BMI) was 25.5 ± 3.34 kg/m(2). For the vowel /ɑː/, F1 and F4 correlated poorly with weight and trunk fat-free mass. There was also a poor negative correlation between F4 and muscle mass and body fat-free mass (r < 0.36). For the /iː/ vowel, there was a weak negative correlation between F2, F3, and F4 and height (r = -0.260, -0.299, and -0.320, respectively). Similarly, there was a negative correlation between F2 and muscle mass, trunk fat-free mass, and body fat-free mass (r = -0.291, -0.276, and -0.272, respectively). For the vowel /ɑː/, F1-F2 interspace correlated positively with fat weight, fat mass in the extremities, and trunk (r = 0.313, 0.350, and 0.264, respectively), whereas F2-F3 negatively correlated with weight (r = -0.255). For the /iː/ vowel, only F1-F2 negatively correlated with weight and BMI (r = -0.297 and -0.281). CONCLUSION: There is no significant correlation between body mass composition, formant frequencies, and dispersions. All the correlations were poor with r values less than 0.36.