by Oliver Reed  , Patrick B Allen  , Grant Caddy  , John Eccles  and Tony CK Tham

Received: 28 January 2019;  Published: 26 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1901015

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract which can result in luminal stenosis and up to 90% of patients requiring surgery during their lifetime. Medical management aims to reduce the inflammatory burden to prevent the development of inflammatory strictures, progression to fibro-stenosis and subsequent obstructive symptoms. Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) is a well-established, safe technique in the management of short strictures to prevent patients having multiple surgic [...]

by Ramareddy V Guntaka

Received: 20 December 2018;  Published: 13 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1901014

Liver fibrosis leading to cirrhosis and cancer affects millions of people and causes thousands of deaths all over the world. Many signaling pathways could be targeted to block fibrosis but these are not successful. Reviewing recent literature and from our own studies we identified novel target, such as YB-1, which is implicated in inflammation, angiogenesis and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). In addition we observed and showed that the end product of fibrosis, collagen gene, itself is a direct target fo [...]

by Marcel Tomaszewski  and Philip Wong

Received: 22 August 2018;  Published: 03 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1901013

There is evidence to suggest that older livers regenerate less well and display cellular senescence. Additionally, elderly patients with certain liver diseases have a less favourable course. Chronic liver disease, amongst the elderly, has a significant negative effect upon quality of life and functional independence. Frailty, commonly encountered in geriatric patients, remains a significant negative predictor of physical, psychological, functional and survival outcomes in chronic liver disease. Despite advances in [...]

by HIrotaka Yamamoto  , Maiko Kisino  , Shunichi Nakamura  and Kastutoshi Tokushige

Received: 12 November 2018;  Published: 27 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1804012

Objective: Elastography is a non-invasive examination method that can estimate the extent of liver fibrosis, measured as liver stiffness (LS). We examined the relationship between gastro-esophageal varices and the LS and how to predict esophageal varices and varices bleeding by LS. Methods: From 2014 to 2016, we conducted a retrospective study of 138 subjects, all of whom were patients with chronic liver disease, including NAFLD, alcoholic liver disease, primary biliary cholangitis, viral hepatitis, and others. LS [...]

by Atsushi Naganuma  , Satoru Kakizaki  , Takashi Hoshino  , Toshiyuki Tanaka  , Tetsushi Ogawa  , Shuya Sawada  , Satomi Adachi  , Yusuke Ogawa  , Toyoshi Sasaki  , Ken Sato  , Hitoshi Takagi  and Toshio Uraoka

Received: 25 September 2018;  Published: 26 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1804011

Background: Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are nutrients with a bitter taste, which causes low compliance in patients who need BCAA supplementation. Moreover, chronic liver disease is frequently complicated by taste impairment. The present study was designed to improve patient noncompliance regarding nutrients in liver disease. Methods: A taste questionnaire was administered to healthy controls, chronic hepatitis patients, and cirrhotic patients. Eleven different flavored powders that can be added to BCAA nutri [...]

by Amale Laouar

Received: 22 July 2018;  Published: 09 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1803010

Gut microbes and pathophysiology of sepsis: Spillage of gut microbial products, rather than systemic dissemination of gut microbes, is the potential initiator of septic morbidity

by Shechter Yonat  , Dagan Amir  , Ben-Haim Menachem  , Bar-Ziv Yaakov  , Brazovsky Eliyau  , Shteingart Shimon  , Dancour Alian  , Paz Kalman  and Lurie Yoav

Received: 17 February 2018;  Published: 01 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1803009

Cholangiocarcinoma is an uncommon adenocarcinoma with poor prognosis. Signet ring cell cholangiocarcinoma is an extremely rare disease, with only 11 cases reported to date. However, its incidence is increasing. Similarly, there is an increasing incidence of other SRC tumors (colon, gastric etc.) as well. Most cases have described a localized mass of signet ring cells, mostly in the common bile duct. A 69-year-old Caucasian man admitted for jaundice and abdominal pain that began 3 days prior to his hospitalization. [...]

by Katsuhisa Omagari  , Ayumi Fukuda  , Machiko Suga  , Ayumi Ogata  , Shinta Nishioka  , Kazuhito Suruga  , Mayuko Ichimura  and Koichi Tsuneyama

Received: 09 April 2018;  Published: 03 August 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1803008

Background: The pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is thought to be multifactorial, and oxidative stress may play an important role in the development of NASH. Peptides obtained by enzymatic decomposition of mackerel (EMP) including selenoneine were recently reported to possess antioxidative activity. Thus, EMP can be a candidate dietary strategy for the prevention of NASH. [...]

by Habibur P. Rahman  , DaiRicky H Bhogal  and Patricia F. Lalor

Received: 05 February 2018;  Published: 16 May 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1802007

Background & Aims. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of liver surgery and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The incidence of AKI following hepatic surgery can be as high as 94%, with highest rates seen following orthotopic liver transplantation, particularly when extended criteria grafts are used. Strategies to identify patients at risk of AKI may enable early interventions to prevent or minimise AKI. Methods. A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Medline, Cochrane and [...]

by Hidehiro Kamezaki  , Dai Sakamoto  , Daiki Okamura  , Koji Nakagawa  and Naoya Kato

Received: 10 December 2017;  Published: 14 March 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1801006

(1) Background: Endoscopy has become the primary diagnostic and treatment technique for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Despite advancements in therapeutic methods and instrumentation, endoscopic hemostatic failure occurs in 10% of patients. This study aimed to analyze endoscopic findings in patients with failed hemostasis and to elucidate strategies for endoscopists and gastroenterologists to facilitate improved treatment outcomes. (2) Methods: A total of 128 patients received hemostatic treatment fo [...]