Comparison of standard auxiliary (contrast or elastography) endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration/biopsy in solid pancreatic lesions: A meta-analysis.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration/biopsy (EUS-FNA/B) is the most common modality for tissue acquisition from pancreatic masses. Despite high specificity, sensitivity remains less than 90%. Auxiliary techniques like elastography and contrast-enhanced EUS may guide tissue acquisition from viable tumor tissue and improve the diagnostic outcomes theoretically.

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in People Living With HIV/AIDS: Unraveling the Paradox of Lean Phenotype and Fibrosis.

Background And Aim: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has emerged as the leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV/AIDS infection (PLHIV), with the advent of newer antiretroviral drugs. However, the metabolic alterations, biochemical analysis, and associated significant fibrosis, when compared to primary MASLD, remain poorly understood. We conducted a study comparing PLHIV with MASLD and primary MASLD subjects.

Reintervention After Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Choledochoduodenostomy for Distal Malignant Biliary Obstruction.

Introduction: Studies analyzing the factors associated with reintervention after endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) are limited. We aimed to analyze the incidence and predictors of reintervention in patients with malignant biliary obstruction undergoing EUS-CDS.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction undergoing EUS-CDS from 8 tertiary care centers in India.

Adverse events with endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy for gastric outlet obstruction-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The technical and clinical effectiveness of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided gastroenterostomy (GE) has been reported by several meta-analyses, but few of them have addressed the adverse events (AE). The goal of the current meta-analysis was to analyze the AEs associated with various types of EUS-GE.

Methods: All relevant studies reporting the AEs with EUS-GE were searched from 2000 to 31st March 2023 in MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus.

Role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for differentiation of benign vs. malignant portal vein thrombosis in hepatocellular carcinoma - A systematic review a meta-analysis.

Introduction/purpose: Patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can develop both benign and malignant portal vein thrombosis (PVT). Characterising the nature of PVT is important for planning an optimal therapeutic strategy. In the absence of typical findings or contraindications to computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) could help in this differentiation.

Novel predictors of response to therapy with terlipressin and albumin in hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury.

Background: A combination of terlipressin and albumin is the first-line pharmacologic treatment for hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI). We assessed the response rates to terlipressin-albumin therapy in patients with HRS-AKI and determined early predictors of treatment response and survival.

Methods: A total of 84 patients with HRS-AKI (International Club of Ascites definition 2015) treated with terlipressin-albumin were included.

Standard and Extended Thromboprophylaxis in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Literature Review.

Unlabelled: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, frequently experience venous thromboembolism (VTE), a potentially fatal consequence. The pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to VTE include inflammation, modifications in coagulation factors, endothelial dysfunction, and platelet activation. Numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6, have a significant impact on the thrombotic cascade.

Prothrombotic states in portal vein thrombosis and Budd-Chiari syndrome in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Both Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) have been linked to various prothrombotic (PT) conditions. The PT profile in Asians is different from the west and there are no nationwide epidemiological surveys from India. Hence, the present meta-analysis was aimed at analyzing the prevalence of acquired and hereditary thrombophilia among Indian patients with non-cirrhotic PVT and BCS.

The Role of Gastroenterologists in Preoperative Assessment and Management of Prospective Renal Transplantation Candidates.

Unlabelled: Renal transplant is the most common organ transplant worldwide, accounting for 65% of the total number of transplants. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) often has multiple significant comorbidities. Among the gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), cholelithiasis, and colon and liver diseases increase the risk of posttransplant morbidity.

Validation of Spleen Shear Wave Elastography for the Screening of High-risk Varices in Patients with Compensated Advanced Chronic Liver Disease.

Objectives: Total number of avoided endoscopies using Baveno VI criteria is relatively low. Spleen elastography is an attractive tool and when compared with liver stiffness, it better represents the dynamic changes occurring in portal hypertension. The aim of the study was to evaluate spleen shear wave elastography (SWE) in compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) patients for ruling out the presence of esophageal high-risk varices (HRV).

Barrett's Esophagus: A Comparison Study between Two Cohorts of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Introduction: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is seen among 15% of GERD patients as per a population-based study by Ronkainen et  al. Barrett's has malignant potential and annual progression to carcinoma depends on the presence or absence of dysplasia.

Diagnostic performance and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition of gallbladder lesions: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (TA) is widely used for various target samples, but its efficacy in gallbladder (GB) lesions is unknown. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to assess the pooled adequacy, accuracy and safety of EUS-TA of GB lesions.

Methods: A literature search from January 2000 to August 2022 was done for studies analyzing the outcome of EUS-guided TA in patients with GB lesions.

Outcome of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Portal hypertension in cirrhosis brings about a complex interplay in the risks of bleeding and thrombosis. It is unclear whether hospitalized patients with cirrhosis need pharmacological prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE), as it may increase the risk of bleeding. We aimed to compare the outcome of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis with and without pharmacological thromboprophylaxis.

CRAB score for prediction of colectomy within 2 years following admission for acute severe ulcerative colitis.

Background: The Oxford and Swedish indexes were developed to predict in-hospital colectomy in acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC), but not long-term prediction, and all these indexes were based on Western data. Our study aimed to analyze the predictors of colectomy within 3 years of ASUC in an Indian cohort and derive a simple predictive score.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary health care center in South India over a period of 5 years.

Influence of biliary stents on the diagnostic outcome of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition from solid pancreatic lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background/aims: This meta-analysis analyzed the effect of an indwelling biliary stent on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition from pancreatic lesions.

Methods: A literature search was performed to identify studies published between 2000 and July 2022 comparing the diagnostic outcomes of EUS-TA in patients with or without biliary stents. For non-strict criteria, samples reported as malignant or suspicious for malignancy were included, whereas for strict criteria, only samples reported as malignant were included in the analysis.

Comparative outcome of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt with or without variceal obliteration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been used for the secondary prevention of variceal bleeding. TIPS can be combined with variceal embolization (TIPS-VO), but its benefit remains controversial. The present systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to compare the incidence of rebleeding, adverse events, and mortality among patients with TIPS alone and with TIPS-VO.

Risk of Bleeding with Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Tissue Acquisition in Patients on Antithrombotic Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The present guidelines stratify endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) as a high-bleeding risk procedure in patients on antithrombotics. However, the data regarding the same are conflicting. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to analyze the bleeding event rates associated with EUS-TA in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy.

Assessment of Visceral Fat Volume and Its Correlation with the Severity of Hepatic Fibrosis in Patients with NAFLD.

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease. The spectrum of NAFLD includes simple steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Our study aimed to calculate visceral fat volume at the L3-L4 vertebral level and its association with hepatic fibrosis assessed by transient elastography.

Association of Sarcopenia with Health Related Quality of Life in Cirrhotics.

Background & Objectives: Sarcopenia is one of the most common complication associated with mortality in cirrhotic patients. However, the lack of an objective and reliable method to quantify muscle mass has limited the general incorporation of sarcopenia into cirrhosis prognostic scores. In this article, we highlight crosssectional imaging-based estimation of skeletal muscle mass for diagnosing sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients and its effect on health related quality of life.

Low Abundance in the Lower Gut Microbiota Is Associated With -Related Gastric Ulcer and Gastric Cancer.

infection in stomach leads to gastric cancer, gastric ulcer, and duodenal ulcer. More than 1 million people die each year due to these diseases, but why most -infected individuals remain asymptomatic while a certain proportion develops such severe gastric diseases remained an enigma. Several studies indicated that gastric and intestinal microbiota may play a critical role in the development of the -associated diseases.

Validation of Baveno VI Criteria for Screening of Esophageal Varices in a Cohort of South Asian Patients with Compensated Chronic Liver Disease.

Objectives: A patient with liver stiffness by Vibration controlled Transient elastography(TE) <20 kPa and a platelet count >150,000/mm3 does not require screening endoscopy according to Baveno VI consensus. The Baveno consensus statement on esophageal varices screening has not been validated in the South Asian population. TE may not be widely available in resource limited areas.

Quality of life, caregiver burden and mental health disorders in primary caregivers of patients with Cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Caregivers are needed for cirrhotic patients as there is progressive decline in cognition and self-care. We intend to study the quality of life (QOL), psychosocial burden and prevalence of mental health disorders among caregivers.

Methods: Cross-sectional study where caregivers, defined as person who takes responsibility of providing care to patient, of cirrhotic patients were included.

Seroprevalance of Rubella in an Urban Infertility Clinic - Observations and Challenges Ahead.

Background: Rubella is a contagious viral illness that can be prevented by vaccination. Currently, vaccination is being offered to children and adolescents. Since an infection in pregnancy can have teratogenic effects, identification of susceptive women and vaccination before conception would be ideal.