Gastroduodenal Involvement in AL Amyloidosis: Case Report and Literature Review.

Gastrointestinal amyloidosis is a rare condition commonly found in the setting of systemic AL amyloidosis. Amyloid can deposit throughout the gastrointestinal tract and the resulting symptoms vary depending on the site of deposition. Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations can range from weight loss or abdominal pain, to more serious complications like gastrointestinal bleeding, malabsorption, dysmotility, and obstruction. This case describes a patient with known history of IgG lambda AL amyloidosis, presenting with epigastric pain and unintentional weight loss found to have gastroduodenal amyloidosis. The definitive diagnosis of GI amyloidosis requires endoscopic biopsy with Congo red staining and visualization under polarized light microscopy. There are currently no specific guidelines for the management of GI amyloidosis. Generally, the goal is to treat the underlying cause of the amyloidosis along with symptom management. Our patient is being treated with cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) and started on hemodialysis due to progression of renal disease.

From Emergence to Endemicity: A Comprehensive Review of COVID-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), later renamed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was first identified in Wuhan, China, in early December 2019. Initially, the China office of the World Health Organization was informed of numerous cases of pneumonia of unidentified etiology in Wuhan, Hubei Province at the end of 2019. This would subsequently result in a global pandemic with millions of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and millions of deaths reported to the WHO. We have analyzed most of the data published since the beginning of the pandemic to compile this comprehensive review of SARS-CoV-2. We looked at the core ideas, such as the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, diagnostics, histopathologic findings, consequences, therapies, and vaccines. We have also included the long-term effects and myths associated with some therapeutics of COVID-19. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 virology, vaccines, medicines, and significant variants identified during the course of the pandemic. Our review article is intended to provide medical practitioners with a better understanding of the fundamental sciences, clinical treatment, and prevention of COVID-19. As of May 2023, this paper contains the most recent data made accessible.

Conservative Management of Duodenal Penetration by Inferior Vena Cava Filter: Case Report and Review.

Duodenal penetration is a late complication associated with the placement of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters. In this case report, we are presenting a case of asymptomatic duodenal penetration by IVC filter that was managed conservatively.

Abdominal Calcifications in a Patient From the Congo Basin with History of Snake Meat Consumption: Radiographic Evidence of Prior Armillifer Infection.

We report a case of a 60-year-old asymptomatic male with history of consumption of uncooked snake meat while living in the Congo basin and prior imaging showing multiple abdominal calcifications. Patient had multiple subepithelial colonic lesions identified during screening colonoscopy and microscopic examination of the lesions demonstrated a calcified nodule in the submucosa with overlying normal mucosa. However, no parasite was identified within the calcified nodule. Given the history of consumption of uncooked snake meat and the typical radiographic feature of multiple abdominal calcifications, it is very likely that the patient's radiographic abnormalities are due to prior Armillifer armillatus infection, a parasitic infection acquired from consumption of uncooked snake meat. Patient was asymptomatic at the time of evaluation and was not given anti-parasitic treatment.

Epidemiology of Gastric Cancer: Global Trends, Risk Factors and Premalignant Conditions.

This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, and premalignant conditions of gastric cancer. Worldwide, gastric cancer is one of the most common and most fatal cancers. The incidence and mortality remain high in regions such as East Asia and Eastern Europe. Although there is a lower incidence in the United States, it remains a deadly disease. Age, gender, and race are non-modifiable demographic risk factors for developing gastric cancer. There have been several dietary and lifestyle risk factors such as salt preserved foods, N-nitroso compounds containing foods, tobacco smoke, alcohol use, and obesity that have been shown to contribute to the development of gastric cancer. Infections have additionally been shown to have a clear role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer as Helicobacter pylori eradication has shown a significant reduction in the incidence of gastric cancer as well as other pathogens such as Epstein-Barr virus. There are certain premalignant lesions that increase the risk of developing gastric cancer. These include atrophic gastritis, and intestinal metaplasia amongst others.

Pyloric Stenosis: A Rare Manifestation of Crohn's Disease.

We are presenting a rare case of pyloric stenosis due to Crohn's disease. A 53-year-old woman with prior history of colonic Crohn's disease was admitted to the hospital with gastric outlet obstruction. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated pyloric stenosis and biopsy was consistent with Crohn's disease. She was treated with corticosteroids and her condition improved.

Silica Desiccant Canister: An Unusual Colonic Foreign Body.

We are reporting a case of incidental identification and removal of two silica desiccant canisters from the cecum in a patient undergoing screening colonoscopy.

Stomach Within a Large Inguinal Hernia.

We are reporting a case of massively enlarged left inguinal hernia containing the stomach and presenting with coffee ground emesis. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) identified a non-ischemic stomach with three small gastric ulcers. The patient opted for non-surgical management.

COVID-19-Associated Ischemic Colitis: A Rare Manifestation of COVID-19 Infection-Case Report and Review.

Following the first report of COVID-19 infection in December 2019 as a respiratory illness, it has proven to be a multisystem disease. There are few reported cases of ischemic colitis with COVID-19 infection in the medical literature to date and we have limited understanding of its pathophysiology. We report 2 cases of ischemic colitis as the only manifestation of COVID-19. In addition, we review the current limited literature regarding COVID-19-associated ischemic colitis.

An Exceedingly Rare Case of Liraglutide-Induced Liver Injury.

Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We are reporting the second case of liraglutide-induced liver injury, with complete resolution of liver injury after discontinuation of the drug.

Metastatic Gastric Cancer to the Colon.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide, especially amongst older males. Current data suggest gastric cancer is the fifth most common neoplasm and the third most deadly cancer, with an estimated 783,000 deaths in 2018. Risk factors associated with the development of gastric cancer include obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Helicobacter pylori infection, and low socioeconomic status. Diagnosis of gastric cancer can be accomplished by endoscopy, which allows the clinician to obtain a biopsy specimen. Endoscopic ultrasound is also an important modality that is helpful in assessing tumor invasion. The most common sites of metastatic gastric cancer in descending order are the liver, peritoneum, lung and bone. Rarely will gastric cancer metastasize to the colon. Here we present a rare case of colonic metastasis of a primary gastric adenocarcinoma.

A case of recurrent obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: Heyde's syndrome - case report and review.

Gastrointestinal bleeding from angiodysplasias in patients with aortic stenosis is termed as 'Heyde's syndrome'. We report a case of Heyde's syndrome successfully treated with trans-catheter aortic valve replacement.