Background/Aims: Biliary obstruction drainage in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with symptom palliation, improved access to chemotherapy, and improved survival. Stent placement and exchange via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography biliary drainage risk traversing the HCC, a hypervascular tumor and causing bleeding. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) potentially prevents procedure-related bleeding. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of EUS-HGS as an alternative treatment for biliary obstruction in patients with HCC. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all EUS-HGS procedures performed in patients with HCC at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Japan, from February 2017 to August 2023. Results: A total of 14 EUS-HGS procedures (42.9% primary) were attempted in 10 HCC patients (mean age 71.5 years, 80.0% male). Clinical and technical success rates were 92.9% and 90.9%, respectively. The observed procedure details in the 13 successful procedures included B3 puncture (53.8%), 22-G needle (53.8%), fully covered self-expandable metal stent (100%), and mean procedure time (32.7 minutes). There was no bleeding. Mild complications occurred in 27.3%. All patients resumed oral intake within 24 hours. Conclusions EUS-HGS is a technically feasible and clinically effective initial or salvage drainage option for the treatment of biliary obstruction in patients with HCC.

Background/Aims: Biliary obstruction drainage in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with symptom palliation, improved access to chemotherapy, and improved survival. Stent placement and exchange via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography biliary drainage risk traversing the HCC, a hypervascular tumor and causing bleeding. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) potentially prevents procedure-related bleeding. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of EUS-HGS as an alternative treatment for biliary obstruction in patients with HCC. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all EUS-HGS procedures performed in patients with HCC at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Japan, from February 2017 to August 2023. Results: A total of 14 EUS-HGS procedures (42.9% primary) were attempted in 10 HCC patients (mean age 71.5 years, 80.0% male). Clinical and technical success rates were 92.9% and 90.9%, respectively. The observed procedure details in the 13 successful procedures included B3 puncture (53.8%), 22-G needle (53.8%), fully covered self-expandable metal stent (100%), and mean procedure time (32.7 minutes). There was no bleeding. Mild complications occurred in 27.3%. All patients resumed oral intake within 24 hours. Conclusions EUS-HGS is a technically feasible and clinically effective initial or salvage drainage option for the treatment of biliary obstruction in patients with HCC.

Background/Aims: Biliary obstruction drainage in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with symptom palliation, improved access to chemotherapy, and improved survival. Stent placement and exchange via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography biliary drainage risk traversing the HCC, a hypervascular tumor and causing bleeding. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) potentially prevents procedure-related bleeding. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of EUS-HGS as an alternative treatment for biliary obstruction in patients with HCC. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all EUS-HGS procedures performed in patients with HCC at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Japan, from February 2017 to August 2023. Results: A total of 14 EUS-HGS procedures (42.9% primary) were attempted in 10 HCC patients (mean age 71.5 years, 80.0% male). Clinical and technical success rates were 92.9% and 90.9%, respectively. The observed procedure details in the 13 successful procedures included B3 puncture (53.8%), 22-G needle (53.8%), fully covered self-expandable metal stent (100%), and mean procedure time (32.7 minutes). There was no bleeding. Mild complications occurred in 27.3%. All patients resumed oral intake within 24 hours. Conclusions EUS-HGS is a technically feasible and clinically effective initial or salvage drainage option for the treatment of biliary obstruction in patients with HCC.

Traumatic posterior atlantoaxial dislocation (TPAD) without an associated fracture is a rare and challenging spinal injury. This PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)-compliant case-based systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively explore TPAD, covering clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical and radiological outcomes. Following the presentation of a case of TPAD without an associated fracture, we conducted a systematic search of electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, from inception through October 2023, without language restrictions. Cases involving dislocations due to congenital anomalies or inflammatory processes were excluded. The search yielded 31 eligible cases of TPAD without an associated fracture. The majority (81%) of the cases were males, with traffic accidents being the leading cause (87%). Notably, 52% of the cases presented without any neurological deficits. Regarding treatment approaches, 23% of the cases were managed through closed reduction alone, 32% required fusion following closed reduction, and 45% underwent open reduction and fusion. A time delay exceeding 7.5 days was associated with a significantly higher risk of closed reduction failure (odds ratio, 56.463; p =0.011). This review identified key management strategies for TRAD without fracture, informed by the available evidence. Optimal management entails prompt closed reduction under C-arm while monitoring neurological status once hemodynamic stability is achieved. Surgical fusion is indicated for cases with magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed transverse ligament rupture or residual instability. If closed reduction fails, open reduction and fusion should be carried out. Posterior C1–C2 screws fixation is the preferred fusion technique, providing high levels of safety and biomechanical stability.

Traumatic posterior atlantoaxial dislocation (TPAD) without an associated fracture is a rare and challenging spinal injury. This PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)-compliant case-based systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively explore TPAD, covering clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical and radiological outcomes. Following the presentation of a case of TPAD without an associated fracture, we conducted a systematic search of electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, from inception through October 2023, without language restrictions. Cases involving dislocations due to congenital anomalies or inflammatory processes were excluded. The search yielded 31 eligible cases of TPAD without an associated fracture. The majority (81%) of the cases were males, with traffic accidents being the leading cause (87%). Notably, 52% of the cases presented without any neurological deficits. Regarding treatment approaches, 23% of the cases were managed through closed reduction alone, 32% required fusion following closed reduction, and 45% underwent open reduction and fusion. A time delay exceeding 7.5 days was associated with a significantly higher risk of closed reduction failure (odds ratio, 56.463; p =0.011). This review identified key management strategies for TRAD without fracture, informed by the available evidence. Optimal management entails prompt closed reduction under C-arm while monitoring neurological status once hemodynamic stability is achieved. Surgical fusion is indicated for cases with magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed transverse ligament rupture or residual instability. If closed reduction fails, open reduction and fusion should be carried out. Posterior C1–C2 screws fixation is the preferred fusion technique, providing high levels of safety and biomechanical stability.

Traumatic posterior atlantoaxial dislocation (TPAD) without an associated fracture is a rare and challenging spinal injury. This PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)-compliant case-based systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively explore TPAD, covering clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical and radiological outcomes. Following the presentation of a case of TPAD without an associated fracture, we conducted a systematic search of electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, from inception through October 2023, without language restrictions. Cases involving dislocations due to congenital anomalies or inflammatory processes were excluded. The search yielded 31 eligible cases of TPAD without an associated fracture. The majority (81%) of the cases were males, with traffic accidents being the leading cause (87%). Notably, 52% of the cases presented without any neurological deficits. Regarding treatment approaches, 23% of the cases were managed through closed reduction alone, 32% required fusion following closed reduction, and 45% underwent open reduction and fusion. A time delay exceeding 7.5 days was associated with a significantly higher risk of closed reduction failure (odds ratio, 56.463; p =0.011). This review identified key management strategies for TRAD without fracture, informed by the available evidence. Optimal management entails prompt closed reduction under C-arm while monitoring neurological status once hemodynamic stability is achieved. Surgical fusion is indicated for cases with magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed transverse ligament rupture or residual instability. If closed reduction fails, open reduction and fusion should be carried out. Posterior C1–C2 screws fixation is the preferred fusion technique, providing high levels of safety and biomechanical stability.

Background: and Purpose The safety and efficacy of tenecteplase in patients with ischemic stroke due to medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) are not well studied. We aimed to compare tenecteplase with alteplase in stroke due to MeVO. Methods: Patients with baseline M2-middle cerebral artery (MCA), M3/M4-MCA, P2/P3/P4-posterior cerebral artery (PCA), A2/A3/A4-anterior cerebral artery (ACA) occlusions from the Alteplase Compared to Tenecteplase (AcT) trial were included. Primary outcome was the proportion of 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–1. Secondary outcomes were 90-day mRS 0–2, ordinal mRS, mortality, quality of life measures (EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level, EuroQol visual analog scale), and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). Initial and final successful reperfusion were reported in patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Results: Among 1,558 patients with available baseline computed tomography angiography; 455 (29.2%) had MeVO of which 27.5% (125/455) were proximal M2; 16.3% (74/455) were distal M2; 35.2% (160/455) were M3/M4; 7.5% (34/455) were A2/A3/A4; and 13.6% (62/455) were P2/P3/P4 occlusions. EVT was performed in 87/455 (19.1%) patients. mRS 0–1 at 90 days was achieved in 37.9% in the tenecteplase versus 34.7% in the alteplase group (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91–1.25). Rates of 90-day mRS 0–2, sICH, and mortality were similar in both groups. No statistical difference was noted in initial successful reperfusion rates (13.0% vs. 7.5%) among the 87 patients who underwent endovascular thrombectomy. However, final successful reperfusion was higher in the tenecteplase group (71.7% vs. 60.0%, aRR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.61). Conclusion Intravenous tenecteplase had comparable safety, functional outcomes and quality of life compared to intravenous alteplase among patients with MeVO. Among those treated with EVT, tenecteplase was associated with higher successful reperfusion rates than alteplase.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Mosul Hospital, Iraq, in 2022. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from patients diagnosed with IBD in Mosul Hospital. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical data, including risk factors, symptoms, and treatment outcomes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: The study included 150 participants, with a mean age of (42.5. ± years and 56% being male. Women were found to be less likely to know the type of Crohn’s disease compared to men. 58.7% of participants did not have any other diseases, while 41.3% had multiple diseases. The CH type was known for 56.8% of participants, and the average disease duration was 70.41 months, ranging from 2 to 360 months. Most participants (72.1%) did not have involvement in a particular place, while 27.9% did. All participants had known involvement. 81.8% of participants did not use drugs, while 18.2% did, with partial or unknown drug usage reported in 39 individuals. Only 7.8% of participants had IBD in their family, while 92.2% did not. Most participants (95.2%) were smokers. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for increased awareness and early detection of IBD in Mosul Hospital. The identification of risk factors and symptoms can aid in the diagnosis and management of the disease. Further research is necessary to understand the underlying causes of IBD and to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Purpose: One of the essential goals regarding the successful control of rabies infection is the development of a safe, effective, and inexpensive vaccine. the current study aimed to evaluate the inactivation potential of β-propiolactone (βPL), binary ethyleneimine (BEI), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Materials and Methods: Estimating the inactivation kinetics of βPL, BEI, and H2O2 revealed that the tested inactivants could completely and irreversibly inactivate rabies virus within 2, 12, and 4 hours, respectively while maintaining its viral immunogenicity. The potency of βPL, BEI, and H2O2 inactivated vaccines was higher than the World Health Organization acceptance limit and were in the order of 3.75, 4.21, and 3.64 IU/mL, respectively. Monitoring the humoral and cellular immunity elicited post-immunization using Staphylococcus aureus derived hyaluronic acid (HA) and bacillus Calmette-Guérin purified protein derivative (PPD) adjuvanted rabies vaccine candidates were carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Results: demonstrated that both adjuvants could progressively enhance the release of anti-rabies total immunoglobulin G as well as the pro-inflammatory mediators (interferon-gamma and interleukin-5) relative to time. However, a higher immune response was developed in the case of HA adjuvanted rabies vaccine compared to PPD adjuvanted one. The harmful consequences of the tested adjuvants were considered via investigating the histopathological changes in the tissues of the immunized rats using hematoxylin and eosin stain. Lower adverse effects were observed post-vaccination with HA and PPD adjuvanted vaccines compared to that detected following administration of the currently used alum as standard adjuvant. Conclusion Our findings suggested that HA and PPD could serve as a promising platform for the development of newly adjuvanted rabies vaccines with elevated immune enhancing potentials and lower risk of health hazards.