Notes

Multi-analytical examination based on serum miRNAs and protein quantification pertaining to ovarian cancers first detection.
The advent of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has provided an inimitable alternative for gaining biliary access in patients who fail conventional endoscopic drainage. The antimigratory features of the partially covered metal stent (PCMS), namely, the flange head and uncovered portion of the stent, makes it a valuable option in patients undergoing EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS). The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical outcome of EUS-BD via the hepaticogastrostomy approach using PCMS in patients with malignant biliary obstruction after failed ERCP.

This is a single-center retrospective observational study of patients with malignant biliary obstruction undergoing EUS-HGS after failed ERCP between January 2018 and May 2019. The end-point of the study was to assess the technical and clinical success rate, as well as the stent- and procedure-related complications.

There were 20 subjects in this study. The average age was 71.8 ± 7.6 years. Most patients were male, 16 (80%). Inaccessible papillae was the most common indication for this procedure, 16 (80%). Technical success was achieved in all patients. The average procedural time was 39.9 ± 1.3 min. Mean preprocedural bilirubin levels were 348.6 ± 28.8 and subsequently decreased to 108.94 ± 37.1 μmol/L at 2 weeks postprocedure. selleck inhibitor The clinical success rate was 95% (19/20), with one patient requiring percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). There were no stent- or procedure-related complications reported in this study.

EUS-HGS with PCMS is a feasible, effective, and safe alternative for biliary decompression in patients with failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
EUS-HGS with PCMS is a feasible, effective, and safe alternative for biliary decompression in patients with failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).Although most COVID-19 patients typically present with respiratory symptoms, many patients could experience digestive symptoms as the major complaint. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the exact prevalence of digestive symptoms and liver injury in COVID-19 patients and compare the difference between patients with and without digestive symptoms. PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Wanfang data, and CNKI were searched until 24 April 2020 to identify studies that reported digestive symptoms and liver injury in COVID-19 patients. A random-effect model was used to combine the data. Finally, 64 studies with 15 141 patients were included. The pooled rate of digestive symptoms and liver dysfunction was 31.8% (95 CI 21.0-42.5%, I2 = 97.6%) and 27.4% (95 CI 16.9-37.9%, I2 = 97.9%), respectively. Patients with digestive symptoms were more likely to present with fatigue (OR 2.28, 95 CI 1.66-3.14, P  less then  0.00001, I2 = 31%), myalgia (OR 1.96, 95 CI 1.06-3.65, P = 0.03, I2 = 69%), and acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS) (OR 2.94, 95 CI 1.17-7.40, P = 0.02, I2 = 0) and had a trend to present as severe/critical type (OR 1.87, 95 CI 0.98-3.57, P = 0.06, I2 = 58%). Severe/critical patients were more likely to present with diarrhea (OR 2.02, 95 CI 1.16-3.50, P = 0.01, I2 = 64) and have high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR 2.08, 95 CI 1.55-2.81, P  less then  0.00001, I2 = 13%,) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (OR 3.53, 95 CI 2.76-4.51, P  less then  0.00001, I2 = 0). The pooled rate of patients with digestive symptoms was 28.7% (95 CI 17.6-39.8%) and 42.8% (95 CI 23.4-62.3%) in studies from China and out of China, respectively. COVID-19 patients had a high rate of digestive symptoms and liver injury. Patients with digestive symptoms had a trend to develop severe/critical illness.We aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of Helicobacter pylori among asymptomatic South Asians based on available literature and highlight the importance of screening asymptomatic individuals and implementing preventive strategies for eradicating H. pylori. Electronic databases such as PubMed and Embase, a regional database of WHO South Asian Region, and gray literature sites were searched for relevant studies from 1983 to 5 May 2020. In addition, references of the included studies were thoroughly searched. The random-effect model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence with a 95% confidence interval (CI) along with subgroup analysis. Analysis of 19 studies showed a pooled prevalence of 56.5%, ranging from 10.3 to 91.7%. In subgroup analysis by country, the highest prevalence rate was reported from Bangladesh (86.3%, 95% CI 0.806-0.921), whereas the lowest prevalence was from Sri Lanka (10.3%, 95% CI 0.072-0.135). No differences were found between males and females. Prevalence among children and adolescents was 65.3% (95% CI 0.529-0.777), greater than adults, 56.9% (95% CI 0.353-0.785). The prevalence rate showed a decreasing trend upon comparison of studies conducted before and after 2000. Our analysis reveals the high prevalence of H. pylori infection among asymptomatic healthy populations in South Asia, particularly in children and adolescents. Public health awareness and sanitation interventions, pure drinking water, and respective strategies on a policy level to eradicate H. pylori and additional extensive multicentric cohort studies are necessary.
The purpose of this study was to review and analyze the nature of industry payments to gastroenterology and hepatology (GI) physicians.

We conducted a retrospective study of open payments (OP) data for the year 2017. Payments to individual physicians were aggregated using a unique physician profile identification number. General payments to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regions were also analyzed. The nature of financial transactions in general payments was reported overall and per physician payment. Research, ownership, and general payments were aggregated and analyzed by drug/device companies.

During the study period, more GI physicians received contributions in the form of general payments compared to ownership or research payments. A small percentage of physicians received contributions greater than $100 000. The most frequent contributions were for food and beverages. Only 10 manufacturers made about 71% ($43 271 938) of general payments.

We found that only a small number of GI physicians received a significant portion of industry payments.
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