Fidaxomicin treatment for Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aim: Although fidaxomicin is an effective first-line treatment for Clostridioides difficile infection, it has not been well studied in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of fidaxomicin for the treatment of C. difficile infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Number of bottles of esophageal biopsies in the evaluation of eosinophilic esophagitis and clinical outcomes.

Background: The number of bottles of esophageal biopsies needed for the evaluation of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is unclear, despite cost differences.

Aims: Assess the clinical outcomes between patients with one and two bottles of esophageal biopsies for the assessment of EoE.

Methods: Retrospective study of adults who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for esophageal symptoms between January 2015 and June 2021 and findings of ≥15 eosinophils per high power field (eos/hpf).

Burn Pits: A Possible Trigger for Achalasia.

A 45-year-old female veteran of the United States Air Force (USAF), who was exposed to burn pits on multiple occasions while deployed in the Middle East, presented for a second opinion regarding ongoing chest pain and regurgitation after a Heller myotomy for achalasia. An esophageal X-ray showed no meaningful peristalsis, a slight diverticulum in the distal esophagus, and easy passage of liquids through the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Esophageal manometry findings were consistent with type 3 achalasia.

Development of a Risk Stratification Model for Pre-liver-Transplant Screening Colonoscopy.

Background And Aims: Colonoscopies are routinely obtained before liver transplantation, although their utility is a highly debated topic in the literature. We aimed to determine the risk factors in patients with decompensated cirrhosis (DC) for post-colonoscopy complications (PCC).

Materials And Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective study of patients with DC undergoing colonoscopy as part of their pre-liver-transplant evaluation.

First Carpometacarpal Joint Motion and Proximal Migration of the First Metacarpal After Tensioning of a Suture Device Suspensionplasty Compared With Trapeziectomy: A Biomechanical Cadaver Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this cadaveric biomechanical experiment was to evaluate the effects of suture button suspensionplasty of the first carpometacarpal joint on thumb biomechanics and thumb position compared with an intact, arthritic specimen.

Methods: Six tendons in 8 cadaver hands were loaded to simulate 6 activities of daily living and passively moved through a circumduction motion. Proximal migration of the base of the first metacarpal was measured using optical motion sensors in the intact hand, after trapeziectomy, and following insertion of a suture button suspensionplasty with nominal tightening (approximately 4.

Carpal Motion in Chronic Geissler IV Scapholunate Interosseous Ligament Wrists.

Purpose: This study evaluated the biomechanics of Geissler IV (G4) wrists in cadavers and compared them with intact specimens after multiple ligament sectioning to create scapholunate instability. It also evaluated carpal motion changes after sectioning of the lunotriquetral interosseous ligament (LTIL).

Methods: Eight cadaver wrists determined to be G4 arthroscopically were tested using a wrist joint motion simulator.