Helicobacter pylori may be an initiating factor in newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis patients: A pilot study

AIM To directly visualize Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) by the highly sensitive and specific technique of immunohistochemical staining in colonic tissue from patients newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis(UC).METHODS Colonoscopic biopsies from thirty patients with newly diagnosed UC and thirty controls were stained with Giemsa stain and immunohistochemical stain for detection of H. pylori in the colonic tissue. Results were confirmed by testing H. pylori Ag in the stool then infected patients were randomized to receive either anti H. pylori treatment or placebo.RESULTS Twelve/30(40%) of the UC patients were positive for H. pylori by Giemsa, and 17/30(56.6%) by immunohistochemistry stain. Among the control group 4/30(13.3%) and 6/30(20 %) were positive for H. pylori by Giemsa and immunohistochemistry staining respectively. H. pylori was significantly higher in UC than in controls(P = 0.04 and 0.007). All Giemsa positive patients and controls were positive by immunohistochemical stain. Four cases of the control group positive for H. pylori also showed microscopic features consistent with early UC.CONCLUSION H. pylori can be detected in colonic mucosa of patients with UC and patients with histological superficial ulcerations and mild infiltration consistent with early UC. There seems to be an association between UC and presence of H. pylori in the colonic tissue. Whether this is a causal relationship or not remains to be discovered.

Challenges in COVID-19 drug treatment in patients with advanced liver diseases:A hepatology perspective

The global incidence of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)continues to increase despite health care efforts.The disease is caused by coronavirus 2 with high transmission and mortality rates.Little is known about the management of COVID-19 in advanced liver disease.The aim of work was to propose a plan for management of this drastic disease in case of this specific population with review of medications that could be suitable for advanced liver disease.All the guidelines and medications available for treatment of COVID-19 were reviewed with selection of the less toxic medications that could be used in advanced liver disease.Drugs suitable to manage COVID-19 in patients with liver disease might include remdesivir intravenously,nitazoxanide+sofosbuvir,ivermectin,tocilizumab,convalescent plasma,and low molecular weight heparin in certain situations.Advanced liver disease is associated with portal hypertension and splenomegaly with reduction of blood elements and immune dysfunction and impaired T cell function.Thus,when confronted by cytokine storm as an immune response to COVID-19,there may be an increase in the mortality rate of these patients.Through this review,a plan to treat COVID-19 in this special group of patients with advanced cirrhosis is proposed.

Barriers for resuming endoscopy service in the context of COVID-19 pandemic:A multicenter survey from Egypt

BACKGROUND The current coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has affected routine endoscopy service across the gastroenterology community.This led to the suspension of service provision for elective cases.AIM To assess the potential barriers for resuming the endoscopy service in Egypt.METHODS A national online survey,four domains,was disseminated over a period of 4 wk in August 2020.The primary outcome of the survey was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the endoscopy service and barriers to the full resumption of a disabled center(s).RESULTS A hundred and thirteen Egyptian endoscopy centers participated in the survey.The waiting list was increased by≥50% in 44.9% of areas with clusters of COVID-19 cases(n=49)and in 35.5% of areas with sporadic cases(n=62).Thirty nine(34.8%)centers suffered from staff shortage,which was considered a barrier against service resumption by 86.4% of centers in per-protocol analysis.In multivariate analysis,the burden of cases in the unit locality,staff shortage/recovery and the availability of separate designated rooms for COVID-19 cases could markedly affect the resumption of endoscopy practice(P=0.029,<0.001 and 0.02,respectively)and Odd’s ratio(0.15,1.8 and 0.16,respectively).CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic has led to restrictions in endoscopic volumes.The staff shortage/recovery and the availability of COVID-19 designed rooms are the most important barriers against recovery.Increasing working hours and dividing endoscopy staff into teams may help to overcome the current situation.