Background/Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing across the globe, more so in populous countries like India. We aimed to study the disease burden and epidemiological trends of IBD in India and look closer into the disease pattern across the country from 1990 to 2019. Methods: The burden of IBD was estimated in India using the data from the Global Burden of Disease estimate for 2019, which is a comprehensive worldwide project. The analysis included various parameters like incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years, years lived with disability, and years of life lost as age-adjusted rates (per 100,000 population). Using modeling, the prediction was also made for 2050 in India. Results: The age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability rates of IBD in India for 2019 were 2.34, 20.34, 0.40, and 13.04, respectively. These are lower than the global incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability rates of 4.97, 59.25, 0.54, and 20.15, respectively. The annual rates of change in incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability rates in India from 1990 to 2019 were 0.05, –0.02, –0.36, and –0.35, respectively. The annual rates of change in incidence and prevalence are higher than the global rate of –0.18 and –0.19, while the annual rates of change in mortality and disability are lower than the global rate of –0.19 and –0.26. Conclusions The incidence and prevalence of IBD in India are lower compared to the global population but are increasing at a faster rate than the global population.

Background/Aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is recognized to have variable clinical manifestations. The clinical presentation of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) having COVID-19 is unclear. Methods: We identified articles reporting about the clinical presentation of COVID-19 in those with underlying IBD from PubMed and Embase. The studies, irrespective of design or language, were included. The overall pooled frequency of various symptoms was estimated. Joanna Briggs Institute Critical appraisal checklist was used to assess the quality of studies. Results: Eleven studies, including 1,325 patients, were included in the pooled analysis. The pooled estimates for clinical presentation were; fever: 67.53% (95% confidence interval [CI], 45.38–83.88), cough: 59.58% (95% CI, 45.01–72.63), diarrhea: 27.26% (95% CI, 19.51–36.69), running nose: 27% (95% CI, 15.26–43.19) and dyspnea: 25.29% (95% CI, 18.52–33.52). The pooled prevalence rates for abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting were 13.08% (95% CI, 9.24–18.19), 10.08% (95% CI, 5.84–16.85) and 8.80% (95% CI, 4.43–16.70) per 100 population, respectively. Conclusions The clinical presentation of COVID-19 in IBD patients is similar to the general population.

Background/Aims: Sigmoid esophagus and/or megaesophagus are considered as an advanced stage in the natural history of achalasia cardia. The role of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in these subset of patients is emerging. We performed a systematic review and metanalysis to study the efficacy of POEM in advanced achalasia cardia with sigmoid and megaesophagus. Methods: A literature search in PubMed and Embase was done from inception till August 3, 2021 to look for studies reporting exclusively on the role of POEM in advanced achalasia cardia with sigmoid and/or megaesophagus. The random effect method with inverse variance approach was used for the computation of pooled prevalence. For 2 groups’ analysis of continuous outcome standardized mean difference was used as the summary measure. Results: Eleven studies with 428 patients were included for analysis. The pooled technical and clinical success was 98.27% (95% CI, 96.19-99.22; I 2 = 0%) and 89.38% (95% CI, 84.49-92.86; I 2 = 26%) and on subgroup analysis into sigmoid and megaesophagus it was (98.06% [95% CI, 95.41-99.19; I 2 = 0%], 98.47% [95% CI, 92.72-99.69; I 2 = 0%] and 87.92% [95% CI, 80.68-92.70; I 2 = 37%], 88.36% [95% CI, 62.62-97.17; I 2 = 77%]) respectively. The clinical success at < 1 year and 1-3 year follow-up was 89.37% (95% CI, 82.82-93.61; I 2 = 0%) and 88.66% (95% CI, 81.65-91.22; I 2 = 46%) respectively. There was a significant reduction in the post-POEM scores with standardized mean difference for Eckardt score (4.81), for integrated relaxation pressure at 4 seconds (1.93), and for lower esophageal sphincter pressure (2.06). Conclusions POEM is an effective modality of treatment even in the subset of patients of advanced achalasia cardia with sigmoid and megae sophagus.

A rapid and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the estimation of 17-desacetyl norgestimate in human plasma using solid-phase extraction technique. 17-desacetyl norgestimate D6 was used as the internal standard. Simple gradient chromatographic conditions and mass spectrometric detection enabled accurate and precise measurement of 17-desacetyl norgestimate at sub-picogram levels. The proposed method was validated for a linear range of 20–5000 pg/mL with a correlation coefficient Z 0.9988. The intra-run and inter-run precision and accuracy were within 10%. The overall recoveries for 17-desacetyl norgestimate and 17-desacetyl norgestimate D6 were 96.30%and 93.90%, respectively. The total run time was 4.5 min. The developed method was applied for the determination of the pharmacokinetic parameters of 17-desacetyl norgestimate following a single oral administration of a norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol 0.250 mg/0.035 mg tablets in 35 healthy female volunteers.