Acute hepatitis has always been a public health concern, but the recent clustering of cases in various parts of the world has drawn some special attention. The sudden rise in cases has mainly been among the pediatric population of around 35 countries around the world, including developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and European countries. The outbreaks have had a devastating impact, with around 10% of the affected patients developing liver failure. The clinical presentation of patients resembles any other case of acute hepatitis, with the major symptoms being: jaundice (68.8%), vomiting (57.6%), and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain (36.1%) and nausea (25.7%). Interestingly, the cases have tested negative for hepatotropic viruses Hep A, B, C, and E, thus giving rise to the terms Hepatitis of Unknown Origin or non-HepA–E hepatitis. Many causes have been attributed to the disease, with major evidence seen for adenovirus and SARS-CoV-2. International agencies have stressed on establishing diagnostic and management protocols to limit these outbreaks. As the understanding has evolved over time, diagnostic and management faculties have found more shape. The current review was designed to comprehensively compile all existing data and whittle it down to evidence-based conclusions to help clinicians.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a fatal malignant disease. It is well known that the relationship between PC and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complicated bidirectional relationship. The most important factors causing increased risks of pancreatic cancer are hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinemia, pancreatitis, and dyslipidemia. Genetics and the immune system also play an important role in the relationship between diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer. The primary contributors to this association involve insulin resistance and inflammatory processes within the tumour microenvironment. The combination of diabetes and obesity can contribute to PC by inducing hyperinsulinemia and influencing leptin and adiponectin levels. Given the heightened incidence of pancreatic cancer in diabetes patients compared to the general population, early screening for pancreatic cancer is recommended. Diabetes negatively impacts the survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Among patients receiving chemotherapy, it reduced their survival. The implementation of a healthy lifestyle, including weight management, serves as an initial preventive measure to mitigate the risk of disease development. The role of anti-diabetic drugs on survival is controversial; however, metformin may have a positive impact, especially in the early stages of cancer, while insulin therapy increases the risk of PC.

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder with unclear pathogenesis, characterized by diverse symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and altered bowel habits. Medical imaging, particularly ultrasound, has gained importance in diagnosing and managing IBS due to its non-invasiveness and affordability. We aim to evaluate the utility of ultrasound (US) in diagnosing and monitoring IBS by assessing various aspects such as intestinal motility, gallbladder function, urinary bladder, gastric function, autonomic dysfunction, and vagus nerve assessment. Methods: Studies were collected from PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, and the Web of Science. Eligible studies were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Data extraction covered study characteristics (such as country, US device type, patients, age, site of US evaluation, and dyspepsia) and the role of the US in bowel-wall thickness, sigmoid colon motility, gallbladder function, gastric function, autonomic dysfunction, and vagus nerve assessment. Results: Twenty studies were included, encompassing diverse ultrasound modalities and patient populations. Ultrasound showed promise in assessing bowel-wall thickness, sigmoid colon motility, gallbladder function, gastric function, autonomic dysfunction, and vagus nerve assessment in IBS patients. Notably, ultrasound demonstrated potential for distinguishing between IBS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and aiding in disease prediction and severity assessment. Conclusion: This comprehensive review underscores the value of ultrasound in diagnosing and managing IBS, offering insights into its diverse applications and diagnostic accuracies across various aspects of gastrointestinal function. However, further research is warranted to address the limitations and optimize the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in IBS management.