Daily Archives: December 21, 2015

Question: A 72-year-old man with a history of hypertension presents with 5 days of vomiting, persistent hiccups, and early satiety. He also complained of constipation and periumbilical pain. Abdominal examination revealed abdominal distension and mild … Continue reading →

The main concern of Mehta et al, and Vitale et al, is that we might have over-estimated the waitlist life expectancy of patients with HCC who have low MELD scores. This concern, which is addressed below, does not change any of the conclusions of the … Continue reading →

We read with interest a recent study by Berry K, et al1 about the comparison of liver transplant (LT) related survival benefit in patients with vs. without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).1 Continue reading →

Shah NH, LePendu P, Bauer-Mehren A, et al. Proton pump inhibitor usage and the risk of myocardial infarction in the general population. PLoS One 2015;10:e0124653. Continue reading →

Shah NH, LePendu P, Bauer-Mehren A, et al. Proton pump inhibitor usage and the risk of myocardial infarction in the general population. PLoS One 2015;10:e0124653. Continue reading →

We read with interest the article by Berry and Ioannou1 examining the net transplant survival benefit in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when compared to those without HCC based on analysis of the UNOS … Continue reading →

We read with interest the article by Berry and Ioannou1 examining the net transplant survival benefit in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when compared to those without HCC based on analysis of the UNOS … Continue reading →

Question: A 63-year-old man visited our hospital because of epigastric discomfort. He had no family history of pancreatic cancer, and abdominal examination was unremarkable. Serum levels of elastase 1 (1199 ng/dL; normal 100–400) and DUPAN2 (190 U/mL; normal <150) were elevated; however, serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin, insulin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide were normal. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a well-marginated round mass, 6 cm in diameter, in the pancreatic head, as well as a dilated caudal main pancreatic duct. Continue reading →

Question: A 63-year-old man visited our hospital because of epigastric discomfort. He had no family history of pancreatic cancer, and abdominal examination was unremarkable. Serum levels of elastase 1 (1199 ng/dL; normal 100–400) and DUPAN2 (190 U/mL; normal <150) were elevated; however, serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin, insulin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide were normal. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a well-marginated round mass, 6 cm in diameter, in the pancreatic head, as well as a dilated caudal main pancreatic duct. Continue reading →

In the conclusion to their randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effect of amitriptyline and escitalopram in functional dyspepsia (FD), Talley et al 1 report that “amitriptyline appeared beneficial in FD”. In the edi… Continue reading →