Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a widespread chronic liver disease. It is considered a multifactorial disorder that can progress to liver fibrosis and cause a worldwide public health concern. Coffee consumption may have a protective impact on NAFLD and liver fibrosis. However, the evidence from the previous studies is inconsistent. This meta-analysis summarizes available literature. This study comprises two meta-analyses. The first meta-analysis summarizes the effect of coffee consumption on NAFLD in those who did or did not drink coffee. The second analysis compares the risk of liver fibrosis development between NAFLD patients who did or did not drink coffee. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and confidence intervals (CI) of observational studies were estimated. Of the total collected 321 articles, 11 met our eligibility criteria to be included in the analysis. The risk of NAFLD among those who drank coffee compared to those who did not was significantly lower with a pooled RR value of 0.77 (95% CI 0.60-0.98). Moreover, we also found a significantly reduced risk of liver fibrosis in those who drink coffee than those who did not drink in the NAFLD patients with the relative risk (RR) of 0.68 (95% CI 0.68-0.79). Regular coffee consumption is significantly associated with a reduced risk of NAFLD. It is also significantly associated with decreased risk of liver fibrosis development in already diagnosed NAFLD patients. Although coffee consumption may be considered an essential preventive measure for NAFLD, this subject needs further epidemiological studies.

EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography biliary drainage (PTC) are the two alternate methods for biliary decompression in cases where ERCP fails. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies to compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic and percutaneous biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction in patients with failed ERCP. A total of ten studies were included, fulfilling the inclusion criteria, including four retrospective studies and six randomized controlled trials. We compared the technical and clinical success rates and the acute, delayed, and total adverse events of EUS-BD with PTC. The odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. There was no difference between technical (OR: 0.47 [95% CI: 0.20–1.07]; P = 0.27) and clinical (OR: 2.24 [95% CI: 1.10–4.55]; P = 0.51) success rates between EUS-PD and PTC groups. Procedural adverse events (OR: 0.17 [95% CI: 0.09–0.31]; P = 0.03) and total adverse events (OR: 0.09 [95% CI: 0.02–0.38]; P < 0.01) were significantly different between the two groups; however, delayed adverse events were nonsignificantly different (OR: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.34–1.57]; P = 0.97). This meta-analysis indicates that endoscopic biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is equally effective but safer in terms of acute and total adverse events than percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTC) for biliary decompression in patients with malignant biliary strictures who have failed an ERCP.

The early diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancers is essential for better survival and to reduce the burden of malignancies worldwide

Background/Objective: Acute gastroenteritis is a major cause of diarrheal illnesses throughout the United States. The purpose of this article is to review the current knowledge in diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on articles published within the last ten years. Results: There are multiple etiologies of gastroenteritis that affect the general population. Out of the many causes, norovirus continues to be a leading cause of acute diarrheal illness worldwide. Rotavirus was also a common form of diarrhea worldwide, but the development of routine vaccination has largely reduced its incidence. Bacterial gastroenteritis continues to be a significant burden on healthcare facilities worldwide. Supportive care remains the cornerstone of treatment, while using antibiotics remains crucial in severe bacterial forms of gastroenteritis. Conclusions: Acute gastroenteritis remains a significant global health concern requiring a multifaceted approach for effective management. Enhanced diagnostic techniques, vaccine development, and robust public health measures are essential in controlling the spread of gastroenteritis.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Pancreatic lesions consist of both neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions and often pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to similar clinical and radiological features. In recent years, pancreatic lesions have been discovered more frequently as incidental findings due to the increased utilization and widespread availability of abdominal cross-sectional imaging. Therefore, it becomes imperative to establish an early and appropriate diagnosis with meticulous differentiation in an attempt to balance unnecessary treatment of benign pancreatic lesions and missing the opportunity for early intervention in malignant lesions. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has become an important diagnostic modality for the identification and risk stratification of pancreatic lesions due to its ability to provide detailed imaging and acquisition of tissue samples for analysis with the help of fine-needle aspiration/biopsy. The recent development of EUS-based technology, including contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound, real-time elastography–endoscopic ultrasound, miniature probe ultrasound, confocal laser endomicroscopy, and the application of artificial intelligence has significantly augmented the diagnostic accuracy of EUS as it enables better evaluation of the number, location, dimension, wall thickness, and contents of these lesions. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the role of the different types of EUS available for the diagnosis and differentiation of pancreatic cancer from other pancreatic lesions while discussing their key strengths and important limitations.