Gastric adenocarcinoma causing biliary obstruction without ductal dilatation: a case report

Abstract Introduction Gastric adenocarcinoma is a known complication of partial gastrectomy. Jaundice from gastric adenocarcinoma usually occurs in the setting of hepatic nodal or parenchymal metastasis. This case demonstrates an unusual level of biliary obstruction from gastric adenocarcinoma. Case presentation An 84-year-old Caucasian man was diagnosed as having a new gastric adenocarcinoma at the level of the gastroenteric anastomosis of a prior Billroth II gastrectomy after presenting with painless jaundice. He had a non-dilated biliary tree on radiographic imaging despite evidence of large bile duct obstruction on liver biopsy. The obstruction was managed with endoscopic wire-guided stenting of the malignant tumor. Conclusions The unusual finding of a non-dilated biliary tree in the face of obstructive jaundice is likely to have resulted from the unusual post-surgical anatomy and hence distal level of obstruction. Endoscopic duodenal stenting is a novel method of managing obstructive jaundice in gastric adenocarcinoma

Recurrent Campylobacter jejuni Infection in an Immunodeficient Patient Treated with Repeated Faecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT)—A Case Report

There is limited evidence to guide successful treatment of recurrent Campylobacter infection in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) already managed on regular immunoglobulin therapy. The role of faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is uncertain. We report a case of recurrent Campylobacter jejuni infection in a patient with CVID treated with repeated FMT with 18 months of symptom resolution prior to relapse

Thiopurines and their optimization during infliximab induction and maintenance : a retrospective study in Crohn's disease

Background and Aim: Combining therapy with a thiopurine is favored when commencing infliximab in Crohn's disease; however, the optimal 6-thioguanine nucleotide (TGN) level and how long to continue thiopurines after induction are uncertain. We aimed to compare outcomes after induction and during maintenance in combination therapy versus infliximab monotherapy in Crohn's and to examine whether TGN levels were associated with outcomes. Methods: Crohn's patients induced with infliximab with or without concomitant thiopurines were retrospectively identified. Response to induction and clinical outcomes in subsequent 6-month maintenance semesters were analyzed. A TGN level ≥235 pmol/8 Ã 108 red blood cells was considered therapeutic. Results: In 89 patients, response to induction was higher in combination therapy than monotherapy (74 vs 47%, P = 0.04). This benefit was only seen in patients with a therapeutic TGN (odds ratio 3.72, confidence interval 1.07–13.0, P = 0.04). Combination therapy during induction yielded a three times longer time to subsequent need for treatment escalation or treatment failure compared with monotherapy (29 vs 9 months, P = 0.01), with both therapeutic and subtherapeutic TGNs independent predictors on multivariate analysis. Among 370 semesters, there was no difference in outcomes between combination therapy and monotherapy (P = 0.42), nor when combination semesters were stratified by therapeutic versus subtherapeutic TGN (P = 0.56). In semester 1 only, a significantly higher remission rate was observed with therapeutic compared with subtherapeutic TGN (76% vs 33%, P = 0.02). Conclusions: Combination therapy dosed with an optimized thiopurine was superior to infliximab monotherapy for induction of response, durability of response, and clinical outcomes in the first 6 months following induction. Thereafter, combination therapy yielded no clinical advantage, supporting consideration of thiopurine withdrawal on a case-by-case basis

Turmeric Induced Liver Injury: A Report of Two Cases

Turmeric is a commonly used oral herbal supplement with purported anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic properties. It is promoted as safe, with limited reports of severe adverse effects directly related to oral turmeric thus far in the literature. Herein we report two cases of turmeric supplement induced severe hepatitis. These cases highlight the need for physicians to be aware of patients taking this common supplement and the potential risks that exist

Depression, anxiety, and stress among inflammatory bowel disease patients during COVID-19:A UK cohort study

Background and Aim: Patients with chronic diseases are believed to be at increased risk of mental health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to assess the incidence of psychological morbidity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, explore for association with risk of severe COVID-19 and other factors, and establish patients' interest in psychological support. Methods: A survey including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, and Perceived Stress Scale tools for depression, anxiety, and stress was administered to IBD patients from a tertiary center in London, United Kingdom, in June 2020. Results: Two hundred seventy-four patients responded to the survey (57% response rate), with 271 (99%) completing it. Moderate–severe depression was observed in 61 (22.5%), while 49 (18%) had moderate–severe anxiety; 39 (14%) had both diagnoses. Mean (SD) stress score was 16.2 (7.4). There was no association between degree of severe COVID-19 risk and psychological morbidity. Flare symptoms and fatigue were associated with worse psychological morbidity, while accessibility of information regarding COVID-19 risk and reducing that risk was protective for depression (odds ratio [OR] 0.56 [0.33–0.94], P = 0.03), anxiety (OR 0.62 [0.4–0.96], P = 0.03), and stress (standardized β-coefficient −0.15 [−0.28 to −0.03], P = 0.02). Seventy-nine (30%) respondents were interested in receiving psychological support during the pandemic, while 200 (76%) expressed interest beyond the pandemic. Conclusions: Although depression, anxiety, and stress among IBD patients during the pandemic were common, their frequency was similar to pre-pandemic rates and recent general population levels. Ensuring easy access to personalized risk information with targeted psychological support may mitigate psychological burden as patients reintegrate into society and deal with future COVID-19 waves.</p