C. Marginean, E. Cinteză, C. Vasile, M. Popescu, V. Biciușcă, A. Docea, R. Mitrut, Marian-Sorin Popescu, P. Mitruț
{"title":"Features of Liver Injury in COVID-19 Pathophysiological, Biological and Clinical Particularities","authors":"C. Marginean, E. Cinteză, C. Vasile, M. Popescu, V. Biciușcă, A. Docea, R. Mitrut, Marian-Sorin Popescu, P. Mitruț","doi":"10.3390/gastroent14020012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/gastroent14020012","url":null,"abstract":"The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 has caused unprecedented pressure on public health and healthcare. The spectrum of COVID-19 onset is large, from mild cases with minor symptoms to severe forms with multi-organ dysfunction and death. In COVID-19, multiple organ damage has been described, including lung damage, acute kidney injury, liver damage, stroke, cardiovascular and digestive tract disorders. The aspects of liver injury are different, sometimes presenting with only a slight increase in liver enzymes, but sometimes with severe liver injury, leading to acute liver failure requiring liver transplantation. In patients with chronic liver disease, especially liver cirrhosis, immune dysfunction can increase the risk of infection. Immune dysfunction has a multifactorial physiopathological mechanism, implying a complement system and macrophage activation, lymphocyte and neutrophil activity dysfunction, and intestinal dysbiosis. This review aims to evaluate the most relevant studies published in the last years related to the etiopathogenetic, biochemical, and histological aspects of liver injury in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Liver damage is more evident in patients with underlying chronic liver disease, with a significantly higher risk of developing severe outcomes of COVID-19 and death. Systemic inflammation, coagulation disorders, endothelial damage, and immune dysfunction explain the pathogenic mechanisms involved in impaired liver function. Although various mechanisms of action of SARS-CoV-2 on the liver cell have been studied, the impact of the direct viral effect on hepatocytes is not yet established.","PeriodicalId":43586,"journal":{"name":"Gastroenterology Insights","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43355302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Value of Some Scoring Systems for the Prognosis of Rebleeding and In-Hospital Mortality in Liver Cirrhosis with Acute Variceal Bleeding","authors":"Duong Quang Huy, N. V. Chung, Dinh Tien Dong","doi":"10.3390/gastroent14020011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/gastroent14020011","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage, caused by acute esophageal variceal bleeding, is a common complication and a leading cause of death in patients with cirrhosis. Therefore, predicting the risk in order to employ an active management to prevent rebleeding and death is crucial. Currently, there are many prognostic scoring systems that have been proposed, but research is needed to find a valid score which can be applied in clinical practice in each country and population. Aims: To compare the value of ALBI (Albumin-Bilirubin), PALBI (Platelet Albumin-Bilirubin), AIMS65, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), and Child–Pugh scores (CPS) approaches in predicting early rebleeding and in-hospital mortality of acute variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis. Subjects and methods: We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study on cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding who were being treated at the Department of Gastroenterology, Intensive care unit—Military Hospital 103 and the Institute for Treatment of Digestive Diseases—108 Military Central Hospital from September 2020 to May 2022. We calculated ALBI, PALBI, AIMS65, MELD, Child–Pugh values and compared them with the rates of early rebleeding and in-hospital mortality. Then, determined and compared the prognostic value through an analysis of the area under the curve (AUC). Results: 222 patients with acute esophageal variceal bleeding were eligible for inclusion in the study. The rates of rebleeding and in-hospital mortality were 9.0% and 6.8%, respectively. Regarding the prognosis of early rebleeding, the ALBI and PALBI scores have good prognostic value (AUROC 0.74; 95% CI: 0.63–0.85 and AUROC 0.7; 95% CI: 0.59–0.81; p = 0.004, respectively), while the Child–Pugh, MELD, AIMS65 scores have little prognostic value, with AUROC < 0.70. Regarding prognosis of in-hospital mortality: the ALBI, PALBI, MELD and AIMS65 all have good value in predicting in-hospital mortality, with AUROC of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.68–0.93, respectively; p < 0.001); 0.8 (95% CI: 0.69–0.91; p <0.001); 0.83 (95% CI: 0.72–0.93; p < 0.001); and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.76–0.87, p < 0.001), respectively. While Child–Pugh score only has medium prognostic value, with AUROC 0.79 (95% CI: 0.66–0.92; p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between these prognostic scoring systems. Conclusion: the ALBI, PALBI, MELD and AIMS65 scores all had similar good value in predicting in-hospital mortality, but with early rebleeding prognosis, only ALBI and PALBI had good value. CPS does not show prognostic value like other scores, both in predicting early rebleeding and in-hospital mortality.","PeriodicalId":43586,"journal":{"name":"Gastroenterology Insights","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43339762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. Negoiță, C. Ghenea, G. Constantinescu, V. Şandru, Mădălina Stan-Ilie, O. Plotogea, Umar Shamim, Bogdan Florin Dumbrava, M. Mihăilă
{"title":"Esophageal Food Impaction and Foreign Object Ingestion in Gastrointestinal Tract: A Review of Clinical and Endoscopic Management","authors":"L. Negoiță, C. Ghenea, G. Constantinescu, V. Şandru, Mădălina Stan-Ilie, O. Plotogea, Umar Shamim, Bogdan Florin Dumbrava, M. Mihăilă","doi":"10.3390/gastroent14010010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/gastroent14010010","url":null,"abstract":"Foreign bodies in the digestive tract represent a frequent pathology for the emergency service. Foreign bodies are represented by impacted food bolus or voluntarily and involuntarily swallowed objects. Involuntary swallowing of objects occurs most frequently in children, especially between six months and three years of age. Food impaction is mostly encountered among adults with different pathologies. For the removal of swallowed foreign bodies, digestive endoscopy is the gold standard method, being successful in over 95% of cases without significant complications. For the endoscopic management of foreign bodies, it is crucial to be aware of the indications, devices, techniques and patient preparation in order to achieve successful and safe removal from the digestive tract. Recommendations in this article are based on a review of the literature and extensive personal experience.","PeriodicalId":43586,"journal":{"name":"Gastroenterology Insights","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43385533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bozhidar Hristov, D. Doykov, V. Andonov, Deyan Radev, K. Kraev, P. Uchikov, G. Kostov, Siyana Valova, E. Tilkiyan, K. Doykova
{"title":"Cholangioscopy-Assisted Laser Lithotripsy for Treatment of Postcholecystectomy Mirizzi Syndrome: Case Series","authors":"Bozhidar Hristov, D. Doykov, V. Andonov, Deyan Radev, K. Kraev, P. Uchikov, G. Kostov, Siyana Valova, E. Tilkiyan, K. Doykova","doi":"10.3390/gastroent14010009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/gastroent14010009","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. Mirizzi syndrome (MS) represents a rare clinical entity caused by impaction of one or multiple stones in the infundibulum of the gall bladder or the cystic duct resulting in partial or complete obstruction of the common hepatic or common bile duct (CBD). Though described more than a century ago, MS is still one of the most challenging diseases in the spectrum of biliary pathology. In recent years, endoscopic treatment has become an increasingly popular treatment modality. Patients and methods. Three consecutive patients subjected to cholangioscopy-assisted laser lithotripsy (CA-LL) for postocholecystectomy MS (pMS) were retrospectively evaluated. Case reports. Successful clearance of the cystic duct was achieved in all patients in one or two sessions. One complication in the form of mild cholangitis was observed. Clinical success was 100%. Discussion. According to current research, CA-LL achieves a high rate of ductal clearance and acceptable complication rate in patients with pMS. A 250 µm laser fiber seems to be the optimal choice for CA-LL. Our results suggest that procedure duration is closely associated to the stone size and possibly to the operator experience. In our opinion, upon obtainment of successful ductal clearance and drainage, prophylactic stenting does not improve clinical outcome. Conclusions. Our results demonstrate that CA-LL is a safe and effective treatment for pMS.","PeriodicalId":43586,"journal":{"name":"Gastroenterology Insights","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41856675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
I. Ilić, Pavle J. Ranđelović, Ž. Mijović, Maja Jovičić Milentijević, Biljana Radovanović Dinić, Jana Cvetković
{"title":"Significance of Micromorphological Characteristics and Expression of Intermediate Filament Proteins CK7 and CK20 in the Differential Diagnosis of Serrated Lesions of the Colorectum","authors":"I. Ilić, Pavle J. Ranđelović, Ž. Mijović, Maja Jovičić Milentijević, Biljana Radovanović Dinić, Jana Cvetković","doi":"10.3390/gastroent14010008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/gastroent14010008","url":null,"abstract":"Serrated lesions in the colorectum include all epithelial neoplastic lesions, which show a sawtooth-like morphology in the epithelial crypts. Classification systems nosologically divide colon serrated polyps into three different categories, primarily emphasizing their micromorphological growth pattern and cytodifferentiation: (1) hyperplastic polyps, (2) sessile serrated adenomas/polyps and (3) traditional serrated adenomas. Overall, 109 patients with serrated lesions of the colon, who underwent endoscopic or surgical polypectomy/tumorectomy during one or multiple endoscopic or surgical interventions, over a four-year period, were analyzed. The average age of patients was 62.8 ± 11.6 years. The frequency of serrated lesions of the colon in male patients was 2.4 times higher than in females (70.6% vs. 29.4%). All sessile serrated lesions without dysplasia were positive for CK7 and statistically significant compared to other serrated lesions, if this positivity was present in the complete crypt (p = 0.005). CK20 positivity, which is limited to the upper half of the crypt, is a special feature of hyperplastic polyps compared to other serrated lesions, which is statistically significant (p = 0.0078). Whereas, CK20 positivity of complete crypts is a statistically significant feature of traditional serrated adenomas (p < 0.01). Differences in the expression pattern of cytokeratin 7 and 20 in different serrated lesions may indicate different pathways of colorectal carcinogenesis, and be diagnostically and prognostically useful.","PeriodicalId":43586,"journal":{"name":"Gastroenterology Insights","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43604942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Congenital Gastrointestinal Anomalies in Europe 2010–2019: A Geo-Spatiotemporal and Causal Inferential Study of Epidemiological Patterns in Relationship to Cannabis- and Substance Exposure","authors":"A. Reece, G. Hulse","doi":"10.3390/gastroent14010007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/gastroent14010007","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Congenital anomalies (CA’s) of most of the gastrointestinal tract have been linked causally with prenatal or community cannabis exposure. Therefore, we studied this relationship in Europe. Methods: CA data were from Eurocat. Drug-use data were sourced from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Income data were taken from the World Bank. Results: When countries with increasing rates of daily cannabis use were compared with those which were not, the overall rate of gastrointestinal CA’s (GCA’s) was higher in the former group (p = 0.0032). The five anomalies which were related to the metrics of cannabis exposure on bivariate analysis were bile duct atresia, Hirschsprungs, digestive disorders, annular pancreas and anorectal stenosis or atresia. The following sequence of GCA’s was significantly linked with cannabis metrics at inverse-probability-weighted-panel modelling, as indicated: esophageal stenosis or atresia, bile duct atresia, small intestinal stenosis or atresia, anorectal stenosis or atresia, Hirschsprungs disease: p = 1.83 × 10−5, 0.0046, 3.55 × 10−12, 7.35 × 10−6 and 2.00 × 10−12, respectively. When this GCA series was considered in geospatial modelling, the GCA’s were significantly cannabis-related from p = 0.0003, N.S., 0.0086, 6.652 × 10−5, 0.0002, 71.4% of 35 E-value estimates and 54.3% minimum E-values (mEVv’s) > 9 (high zone) and 100% and 97.1% > 1.25 (causality threshold). The order of cannabis sensitivity by median mEVv was Hirschsprungs > esophageal atresia > small intestinal atresia > anorectal atresia > bile duct atresia. Conclusions: Seven of eight GCA’s were related to cannabis exposure and fulfilled the quantitative criteria for epidemiologically causal relationships. Penetration of cannabinoids into the community should be carefully scrutinized and controlled to protect against exponential and multigenerational genotoxicity ensuing from multiple cannabinoids.","PeriodicalId":43586,"journal":{"name":"Gastroenterology Insights","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46897846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P. Pal, Swathi Kanaganti, R. Banerjee, M. Ramchandani, Z. Nabi, D. Reddy, M. Tandan
{"title":"Systematic Review of Endoscopic Management of Stricture, Fistula and Abscess in Inflammatory Bowel Disease","authors":"P. Pal, Swathi Kanaganti, R. Banerjee, M. Ramchandani, Z. Nabi, D. Reddy, M. Tandan","doi":"10.3390/gastroent14010006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/gastroent14010006","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Interventional inflammatory bowel disease (IIBD) therapies can play a key role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) related stricture/fistula/abscess deferring or avoiding invasive surgery. Methods: A total of 112 studies pertaining to IIBD therapy for strictures/fistula/abscess between 2002 and December 2022 were included by searching Pubmed, Medline and Embase with a focus on technical/clinical success, recurrence, re-intervention and complications. Results: IIBD therapy for strictures include endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD), endoscopic stricturotomy (ES) and self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) placement. EBD is the primary therapy for short strictures while ES and SEMS can be used for refractory strictures. ES has higher long-term efficacy than EBD. SEMS is inferior to EBD although it can be useful in long, refractory strictures. Fistula therapy includes endoscopic incision and drainage (perianal fistula)/endoscopic seton (simple, low fistula) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage (pelvic abscess). Fistulotomy can be done for short, superficial, single tract, bowel-bowel fistula. Endoscopic injection of filling agents (fistula plug/glue/stem cell) is feasible although durability is unknown. Endoscopic closure therapies like over-the-scope clips (OTSC), suturing and SEMS should be avoided for de-novo/bowel to hollow organ fistulas. Conclusion: IIBD therapies have the potential to act as a bridge between medical and surgical therapy for properly selected IBD-related stricture/fistula/abscess although future controlled studies are warranted.","PeriodicalId":43586,"journal":{"name":"Gastroenterology Insights","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44619900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. Ielasi, B. Stefanini, F. Piscaglia, A. Granito, F. Tovoli
{"title":"A Case of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Bone Metastases Managed with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Aggressive Palliative Radiation Therapy: Role of Combination Therapy for Extending Survival","authors":"L. Ielasi, B. Stefanini, F. Piscaglia, A. Granito, F. Tovoli","doi":"10.3390/gastroent14010005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/gastroent14010005","url":null,"abstract":"We report the case of a 68-year-old man with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with multiple bone metastases (BM) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Despite an insufficient disease control on BM with a progression free survival (PFS) of 6 months, sorafenib was not discontinued and multiple radiation therapy (RT) sessions with a palliative purpose were performed. Thanks to this aggressive radiotherapy approach in order to control the bone tumor burden, the patient has continued sorafenib for 34.6 months achieving an overall survival (OS) of 41.3 months. This result highlights the importance of a tailored management of patients with advanced HCC and the role of the RT for BM control, even if at lower cumulative radiation dose, for extending patient survival.","PeriodicalId":43586,"journal":{"name":"Gastroenterology Insights","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43592442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Gastroenterology Insights in 2022","authors":"","doi":"10.3390/gastroent14010004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/gastroent14010004","url":null,"abstract":"High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]","PeriodicalId":43586,"journal":{"name":"Gastroenterology Insights","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44062525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Y. Uspenskiy, S. Ivanov, Alexander S. Krasichkov, M. Galagudza, Y. Fominykh
{"title":"Relationship between Undernutrition and Anemia in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis","authors":"Y. Uspenskiy, S. Ivanov, Alexander S. Krasichkov, M. Galagudza, Y. Fominykh","doi":"10.3390/gastroent14010003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/gastroent14010003","url":null,"abstract":"This study aimed to assess the relationship between malnutrition and anemia in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The cross-sectional retrospective study included 80 patients with UC. Body mass index and total body fat mass were derived retrospectively from bioimpedance measurements. Anemia was diagnosed retrospectively according to WHO criteria. A binary logistic regression was performed to study the relationship between nutritional status parameters and anemia, and adjusted for demographic and disease-associated characteristics. The prevalence of anemia in the study population was 40.0%. Among all included patients, 86.3% had acute disease corresponding to S1–S3 disease behavior. In the adjusted binary logistic model, total serum protein level below 64 g/L and low body fat percentage were associated with high odds for the of development of anemia, with odds ratios of 5.1 (95% CI 1.5; 17.8; p = 0.01) and 8.5 (95% CI 1.1; 63.6; p = 0.037), respectively. The adjusted model included sex, age, disease activity, extent of gut involvement, quantity of relapses from disease onset, and treatment with immunosuppressive drugs as confounders. Hypoproteinemia and low body fat percentage were associated with anemia in patients with UC. These results suggested that undernutrition may be involved as one of the causative factors of anemia in UC.","PeriodicalId":43586,"journal":{"name":"Gastroenterology Insights","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2022-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48270479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}