Analysis of quality of life in patients after transgastric natural orifice transluminal endoscopic gallbladder-preserving surgery.

BACKGROUND: At present, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the main surgical treatment for gallstones. But, after gallbladder removal, there are many complications. Therefore, it is hoped to remove stones while preserving the function of the gallbladder, and with the development of endoscopic technology, natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery came into being. AIM: To compare the quality of life, perioperative indicators, adverse events after LC and transgastric natural orifice transluminal endoscopic gallbladder-preserving surgery (EGPS) in patients with gallstones. METHODS: Patients who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from 2020 to 2022 were retrospectively collected. We adopted propensity score matching (1:1) to compare EGPS and LC patients. RESULTS: A total of 662 cases were collected, of which 589 cases underwent LC, and 73 cases underwent EGPS. Propensity score matching was performed, and 40 patients were included in each of the groups. In the EGPS group, except the gastrointestinal defecation (P = 0.603), the total score, physical well-being, mental well-being, and gastrointestinal digestion were statistically significant compared with the preoperative score after surgery (P < 0.05). In the LC group, except the mental well-being, the total score, physical well-being, gastrointestinal digestion, the gastrointestinal defecation was statistically significant compared with the preoperative score after surgery (P < 0.05). When comparing between groups, gastrointestinal defecation had significantly difference (P = 0.002) between the two groups, there was no statistically significant difference in the total postoperative score and the other three subscales. In the surgery duration, hospital stay and cost, LC group were lower than EGPS group. The recurrence factors of gallstones after EGPS were analyzed: and recurrence was not correlated with gender, age, body mass index, number of stones, and preoperative score. CONCLUSION: Whether EGPS or LC, it can improve the patient's symptoms, and the EGPS has less impact on the patient's defecation. It needed to, prospective, multicenter, long-term follow-up, large-sample related studies to prove.

ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD CONSUMPTION AND RISK OF GALLSTONE DISEASE: ANALYSIS OF THREE PROSPECTIVE COHORTS.

BACKGROUND: Majority of dietary intake in US adults comes from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which have been linked to several adverse health outcomes. Gallstone disease is highly prevalent and constitutes a significant burden to the US health system but remains understudied. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the association between UPF consumption and incident gallstone disease risk. DESIGN: In this analysis, 44,149 males in the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study (HPFS: 1986-2022), 71,145 females in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS: 1986-2021) & 90,932 females in the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II: 1991-2021) were prospectively followed. Dietary intake was quadrennially assessed with semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires and used to identify UPFs. The primary outcome was defined as cholecystectomy. Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Baseline median age was 54y in HPFS, 53y in NHS and 36y in NHS II. We identified 32,374 incident gallstone disease cases over 5,077,059 person-years. Participants in the highest UPF quintile had a higher incidence of gallstone disease compared to those in the lowest quintile (aHR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.24-1.36, p<0.001). The incremental risk of incident gallstone disease was 2.8% per daily serving (95% CI: 2.4%-3.2%, p<0.001). This risk was driven by sugar-sweetened beverages and artificially-sweetened beverages on UPF subgroup-analyses. The proportion of risk mediated by obesity was 12.8% (95% CI: 7.7%-20.5%, p <0.001) in HPFS, 14.3% (95% CI: 10.4%-19.4%, p<0.001) in NHS and 39.4% (95% CI: 31.2%-48.1%, p<0.001) in NHS II. The partial population attributable risk was estimated at 15.9% (95% CI: 13.4%-18.3%). CONCLUSION: UPF consumption is associated with a higher risk of gallstone disease, particularly consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and artificially-sweetened beverages. A substantial proportion of this risk is potentially mediated by obesity in younger females.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus conservative management for adults with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones: the C-GALL RCT.

Background: Gallstone disease is a common gastrointestinal disorder in industrialised societies. The prevalence of gallstones in the adult population is estimated to be approximately 10-15%, and around 80% remain asymptomatic. At present, cholecystectomy is the default option for people with symptomatic gallstone disease. Objectives: To assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of observation/conservative management compared with laparoscopic cholecystectomy for preventing recurrent symptoms and complications in adults presenting with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones in secondary care. Design: Parallel group, multicentre patient randomised superiority pragmatic trial with up to 24 months follow-up and embedded qualitative research. Within-trial cost-utility and 10-year Markov model analyses. Development of a core outcome set for uncomplicated symptomatic gallstone disease. Setting: Secondary care elective settings. Participants: Adults with symptomatic uncomplicated gallstone disease referred to a secondary care setting were considered for inclusion. Interventions: Participants were randomised 1: 1 at clinic to receive either laparoscopic cholecystectomy or observation/conservative management. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was quality of life measured by area under the curve over 18 months using the Short Form-36 bodily pain domain. Secondary outcomes included the Otago gallstones' condition-specific questionnaire, Short Form-36 domains (excluding bodily pain), area under the curve over 24 months for Short Form-36 bodily pain domain, persistent symptoms, complications and need for further treatment. No outcomes were blinded to allocation. Results: Between August 2016 and November 2019, 434 participants were randomised (217 in each group) from 20 United Kingdom centres. By 24 months, 64 (29.5%) in the observation/conservative management group and 153 (70.5%) in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group had received surgery, median time to surgery of 9.0 months (interquartile range, 5.6-15.0) and 4.7 months (interquartile range 2.6-7.9), respectively. At 18 months, the mean Short Form-36 norm-based bodily pain score was 49.4 (standard deviation 11.7) in the observation/conservative management group and 50.4 (standard deviation 11.6) in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group. The mean area under the curve over 18 months was 46.8 for both groups with no difference: mean difference -0.0, 95% confidence interval (-1.7 to 1.7); p-value 0.996; n = 203 observation/conservative, n = 205 cholecystectomy. There was no evidence of differences in quality of life, complications or need for further treatment at up to 24 months follow-up. Condition-specific quality of life at 24 months favoured cholecystectomy: mean difference 9.0, 95% confidence interval (4.1 to 14.0), p < 0.001 with a similar pattern for the persistent symptoms score. Within-trial cost-utility analysis found observation/conservative management over 24 months was less costly than cholecystectomy (mean difference -£1033). A non-significant quality-adjusted life-year difference of -0.019 favouring cholecystectomy resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £55,235. The Markov model continued to favour observation/conservative management, but some scenarios reversed the findings due to uncertainties in longer-term quality of life. The core outcome set included 11 critically important outcomes from both patients and healthcare professionals. Conclusions: The results suggested that in the short term (up to 24 months) observation/conservative management may be a cost-effective use of National Health Service resources in selected patients, but subsequent surgeries in the randomised groups and differences in quality of life beyond 24 months could reverse this finding. Future research should focus on longer-term follow-up data and identification of the cohort of patients that should be routinely offered surgery. Trial registration: This trial is registered as ISRCTN55215960. Funding: This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 14/192/71) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 26. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

The C-GALL study assessed the benefits, in terms of symptoms, quality of life and costs, of cholecystectomy versus observation (conservative management: by the patient and general practitioner that might include dietary advice and pain management and surgery if needed). Four hundred and thirty-four patients with symptomatic gallstones were randomly allocated surgery or conservative management. The main symptom of ongoing bodily pain and some other quality-of-life measures were assessed over the next 2 years using postal questionnaires. After 2 years, 70% of those allocated to surgery had been operated on and 37% of the observation group either had an operation or were waiting for one. There was no difference in bodily pain or overall quality of life between the groups. However, participants in the surgery group reported fewer ongoing problems related to their gallstone disease or after surgery than those in the conservative management group. Surgery was, however, more costly than conservative management. The C-GALL study has shown that for some patients, a conservative management approach may be a sufficient and less costly way of managing their gallstone symptoms rather than going straight on the waiting list for surgery. More research is needed to identify which patients benefit most from surgery.

Acute Cholecystitis in a Patient With Situs Inversus.

A rare disorder called situs inversus partialis (SIP) is characterized by the transposition of organs in the abdomen or thoracic cavity from one side of the body to the other (the mirror image of normal). Autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, rare genetic mutations, and X-linked recessive inheritance patterns have been identified to be involved in this condition. Laparoscopic cholecystectomies have been successfully performed on patients with SIT. Due to challenges in spatial orientation and the identification of anatomical variations brought on by the abdominal organs' mirror image, surgery is more complicated and takes longer. We describe a 40-year-old female case who had acute cholecystitis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was used to treat this patient, a highly effective procedure for both the treatment and care of these patients. Post-surgical examination and follow-up revealed improvement in the patient's condition without subsequent complications.

The roles of metal ions in gallstones formation.

Gallstones (GSs) disease is a common disease worldwide. The mechanisms of their formation are diverse and complex and are related to cholesterol metabolism, gallbladder motility, biliary tract infection, the immune response, and ion metabolism. In recent years, with the application of inductively coupled plasma‒mass spectrometry and other methods, studies have suggested a correlation between the metabolism of metal ions and GSs formation. A literature search on gallstones and metal ions was instituted on PubMed and EMBASE. The specific topics of interest were etiology, formation mechanism, component Analysis and metabolism. References of papers were subsequently searched to obtain older literature. After reading and summarizing a large amount of literature, we found that calcium, iron, and copper can potentially promote the release of inflammatory factors and increase the level of reactive oxygen species, which is positively correlated with GSs formation. While magnesium and zinc, with their antioxidant effects, are negatively correlated with GSs formation. Metal ions are not only a component of GSs but are also important biological signals. Metal ion metabolism affects the formation of GSs and understanding its mechanism of action is of clinical significance for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of GSs.

A missed case of intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm associated with missed stones in extrahepatic bile duct: a case report.

The pathological features of intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm (IOPN) of the bile duct include tumor cells that are rich in eosinophilic cytoplasm and arranged in papillary structures. Herein, we report a missed case of IOPN of the bile duct because of concomitant gallstones. A 70-year-old woman was hospitalized with upper abdominal discomfort. The primary diagnosis was choledocholithiasis following imaging examination. However, an unidentified mass was detected after the gallstones were removed. The mass appeared as many papillary protuberances surrounded by fish-egg-like mucosa when viewed by the choledochoscope and was confirmed as IOPN by pathological examination. The patient underwent choledochectomy and no recurrence was observed at the 6-month follow-up examination. In this report, peroral choledochoscopy demonstrated its advantages for the diagnosis of biliary diseases and acquisition of tissue specimens. Therefore, it may solve the challenge related to the lack of preoperative pathological evidence for bile duct tumors.

Metagenomic Analysis of Biliary Microbial Flora in Patients with Gallbladder Cancer or Gallstones-Associated Chronic Cholecystitis.

Biliary dysbiosis is associated with gallbladder cancer (GBC). We aimed to look for biliary bacteria specifically detected in GBC patients. We used 16S rRNA-based metagenomic analysis to elucidate biliary microbiota in 30 GBC and 30 gallstones-associated chronic cholecystitis patients. Relative abundance of five genera, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Halomonas, Escherichia and Caulobacter was significantly associated with GBC. Of 15-species, 7 were detected significantly higher in GBC, Streptococcus anginosus, Streptococcus constellatus, Streptococcus intermedius, Actinomyces bowdenii, Actinomyces israelii, Actinomyces gerencseriae, and Escherichia fergusonii were biosafety level-2 infectious bacteria; other 8 species were biosafety level-1 bacteria. These bacterial species may be involved in pathogenesis of GBC.

Elevated TyG index associated with increased prevalence of gallstones in a United States cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the incidence of cholelithiasis. Research approach: In this investigation, a cross-sectional analysis was undertaken utilizing data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning the years 2017 to 2020. The TyG index served as an independent predictor, while gallstone prevalence was considered the dependent variable of interest. We employed a multivariate logistic regression model to evaluate the interplay between these independent and dependent variables. To assess the presence of potential non-linear associations, sensitivity analysis was executed, utilizing inverse probability weighted validation, smooth curve fitting, and threshold effect analysis. In cases where non-linear relationships were observed, likelihood ratios were utilized to pinpoint potential inflection points. Ultimately, subgroup analyses were conducted to identify specific populations demonstrating heightened susceptibility to gallstone prevalence. Results: Encompassing 838 patients who self-reported gallstones, a total of 7,794 participants were included in the analytical cohort. A statistically significant disparity in the TyG index was observed when all individuals were categorized into gallstone patients and non-patients (p < 0.05). Logistic regression findings indicated a positive correlation between the TyG index and gallstone disease prevalence (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.47), with a strengthening association as the TyG index increased (p trend <0.01). The results were corroborated by the use of inverse probability weighting. Additionally, a non-linear connection between the TyG index and gallstone prevalence was identified (log-likelihood ratio p < 0.01), with the optimal inflection point for TyG calculated at 8.96. In subgroup analysis, the positive relationship between the TyG index and gallstone prevalence was notably pronounced among black Americans under the age of 40 and female participants. Conclusion: Alterations in the TyG index may potentially correlate with shifts in the prevalence of gallstones among adult populations in the United States. Elevated TyG index values may coincide with an augmented likelihood of gallstone occurrence.

Cracking the silent gallstone code: Wait or operate?

The widespread availability of abdominal ultrasound has revealed the common occurrence of asymptomatic gallstones. While the treatment for symptomatic gallstones is clear, the benefits of minimally invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy have sparked debate about the best approach to managing silent gallstones. The potential for asymptomatic gallstones to become symptomatic or lead to complications complicates the decision-making process regarding surgical intervention, as it's uncertain when or which patients might develop complications. Consequently, risk stratification appears to play a critical role in guiding decisions about silent gallstones. However, there is no definitive evidence to direct management, and a consensus-based on high-quality evidence is yet to be established.

Is there a role for routine intraoperative cholangiogram in diagnosing CBD stones in patients with normal liver function tests? A prospective study.

Objectives: Cholecystectomy with or without intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) is an accepted treatment for cholelithiasis. Up to 11.6 % of cholecystectomies have incidental common bile duct (CBD) stones on IOC and 25.3 % of undiagnosed CBD stones will develop life-threatening complications. These will require additional intervention after primary cholecystectomy, further straining the healthcare system. We seek to examine the role of IOC in patients with normal LFTs by evaluating its predictive values, intending to treat undiagnosed CBD stones and therefore ameliorate these issues. Methods: All patients who underwent cholecystectomies with normal LFTs from October 2019 to December 2020 were prospectively enrolled. IOC was done, ERCPs were performed for filling defects and documented as "true positive" if ERCP was congruent with the IOC. "False positives" were recorded if ERCP was negative. "True negative" was assigned to normal IOC and LFT after 2 weeks of follow-up. Those with abnormal LFTs were subjected to ERCP and documented as "false negative". Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated. Results: A total of 180 patients were analysed. IOC showed a specificity of 85.5 % and a NPV of 88.1 % with an AUC of 73.7 %. The positive predictive value and sensitivity were 56.5 and 61.9 % respectively. Conclusions: Routine IOC is a specific diagnostic tool with good negative predictive value. It is useful to exclude the presence of CBD stones when LFT is normal. It does not significantly prolong the length of hospitalization or duration of the cholecystectomy hence reducing the incidence of undetected retained stones and preventing its complications effectively.

Bouveret's syndrome: A rare case of gallstone causing gastric outlet obstruction.

Key Clinical Message: The case highlights the importance of decisive action in addressing large gallstones causing gastric outlet obstruction. The chosen single-stage surgical approach reflects the need to manage both obstruction and the gallstone simultaneously. Abstract: Bouveret's syndrome is a rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction secondary to gallstones entering the enteric system through an acquired cholecystoduodenal fistula. Here, we present the case of an 85-year-old female who presented to our emergency department with gastric outlet obstruction secondary to a large gallstone in the third part of the duodenum. Abdominal X-ray did not demonstrate air-fluid levels but revealed a dilated gastric shadow, suggesting gastric outlet obstruction. EGD showed a dilated stomach and a hard, golf ball-sized gallstone in the duodenum. CT scan showed a distended stomach with a large gallstone obstructing the DJ junction and air in the biliary tree. Findings were suggestive of perforation of the gallbladder with stone impaction in the duodenojejunal (DJ) junction. The patient was managed surgically with a one-stage procedure comprising enterotomy, fistula closure, and cholecystectomy. Although Bouveret's syndrome is rare, it is important for practicing surgeons to have a high index of suspicion for this condition due to the high mortality associated with it.

Over 2000 gallstones of varying sizes and types during a cholecystectomy.

This rare case highlights the number of over 2000 mixed gallstones, which shows the importance of thorough evaluation in patients with RUQ pain to identify underlying conditions and associated complications.

Association between body roundness index (BRI) and gallstones: results of the 2017-2020 national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES).

BACKGROUND: Gallstones are associated with obesity, and the BRI is a new obesity index that more accurately reflects body fat and visceral fat levels. The relationship between BRI and gallstone risk is currently unknown, and we aimed to explore the relationship between BRI and gallstone prevalence. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing data from the 2017-2020 NHANES involving a total of 5297 participants. To assess the association between BRI and gallstones, we used logistic regression analysis, subgroup analysis, and interaction terms. In addition, we performed restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis and threshold effects analysis to characterize nonlinear relationships. We assessed the ability of BRI and Body mass index (BMI) to identify gallstones using receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis and area under the curve (AUC), and compared them using the Delong test. RESULTS: Of the 5297 participants aged 20 years and older included in the study, 575 had gallstones. In fully adjusted models, a positive association between BRI and gallstone prevalence was observed (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.12-1.20, P < 0.0001). Individuals in the highest quartile of BRI had a 204% increased risk of gallstones compared with those in the lowest quartile (OR = 3.04, 95% CI: 2.19-4.22, P < 0.0001). The correlation between BRI and gallstones persisted in subgroup analyses. RCS analyses showed a nonlinear relationship between BRI and gallstones. The inflection point was further found to be 3.96, and the correlation between BRI and gallstones was found both before and after the inflection point. ROC analysis showed that BRI (AUC = 0.667) was a stronger predictor of gallstones than BMI (AUC = 0.634). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated BRI is associated with an increased risk of gallstones in the U.S. population, and BRI is a stronger predictor of gallstones than BMI. Maintaining an appropriate BRI is recommended to reduce the incidence of gallstones.

Helicobacter pylori CagA Promotes the Formation of Gallstones by Increasing the Permeability of Gallbladder Epithelial Cells.

BACKGROUND: The formation of gallstones is often accompanied by chronic inflammation, and the mechanisms underlying inflammation and stone formation are not fully understood. Our aim is to utilize single-cell transcriptomics, bulk transcriptomics, and microbiome data to explore key pathogenic bacteria that may contribute to chronic inflammation and gallstone formation, as well as their associated mechanisms. METHODS: scRNA-seq data from a gallstone mouse model were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and analyzed using the FindCluster() package for cell clustering analysis. Bulk transcriptomics data from patients with gallstone were also extracted from the GEO database, and intergroup functional differences were assessed using GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed on gallbladder mucosal samples from asymptomatic patients with gallstone (n = 6) and liver transplant donor gallbladder mucosal samples (n = 6) to identify key bacteria associated with stone formation and chronic inflammation. Animal models were constructed to investigate the mechanisms by which these key pathogenic bacterial genera promote gallstone formation. RESULTS: Analysis of scRNA-seq data from the gallstone mouse model (GSE179524) revealed seven distinct cell clusters, with a significant increase in neutrophil numbers in the gallstone group. Analysis of bulk transcriptomics data from patients with gallstone (GSE202479) identified chronic inflammation in the gallbladder, potentially associated with dysbiosis of the gallbladder microbiota. 16S rRNA sequencing identified Helicobacter pylori as a key bacterium associated with gallbladder chronic inflammation and stone formation. CONCLUSIONS: Dysbiosis of the gallbladder mucosal microbiota is implicated in gallstone disease and leads to chronic inflammation. This study identified H. pylori as a potential key mucosal resident bacterium contributing to gallstone formation and discovered its key pathogenic factor CagA, which causes damage to the gallbladder mucosal barrier. These findings provide important clues for the prevention and treatment of gallstones.

The coincidence of beta-thalassemia and hereditary spherocytosis: A case report and literature review.

Key Clinical Message: When a person has both HS and beta-thalassemia, their clinical symptoms tend to be less severe. This is because these two conditions have contrasting features. If the clinical symptoms and laboratory results cannot be solely attributed to hemolytic anemia, it is important to consider the possibility of another form of hemolytic anemia coexisting. Abstract: We present a 26-year-old woman who has been experiencing abdominal pain, jaundice, and anemia for the past 15 years. Initially, she was diagnosed with gallstones and splenomegaly, but after a thorough hematology examination conducted by expert colleagues, it was discovered that she had both beta-thalassemia and hereditary spherocytosis. The osmotic fragility test confirmed this diagnosis. The patient was advised to undergo both splenectomy and cholecystectomy procedures. It is worth noting that the co-occurrence of these two conditions is rare.

Post-operative complications of cholecystectomy: what the radiologist needs to know.

Cholecystectomy is one of the most performed surgical procedures. The safety of this surgery notwithstanding, the sheer volume of operations results in a notable incidence of post-cholecystectomy complications. Early and accurate diagnosis of such complications is essential for timely and effective management. Imaging techniques are critical for this purpose, aiding in distinguishing between expected postsurgical changes and true complications. This review highlights current knowledge on the indications for cholecystectomy, pertinent surgical anatomy and surgical technique, and the recognition of anatomical variants that may complicate surgery. The article also outlines the roles of various imaging modalities in identifying complications, the spectrum of possible postsurgical anatomical changes, and the implications of such findings. Furthermore, we explore the array of complications that can arise post-cholecystectomy, such as biliary system injuries, gallstone-related issues, vascular complications, and the formation of postsurgical collections. Radiologists should be adept at identifying normal and abnormal postoperative findings to guide patient management effectively.

Massive gastropathy due to gallstone obstruction of the duodenum (Bourveret syndrome).

Gallstones are common in the general population and are often asymptomatic, but they can also cause complications such as cholecystitis and pancreatitis. In rare instances, they can lead to the formation of a cholecystoduodenal fistula and gallstone ileus. Gastric dilatation and distension following gallstone ileus are extremely uncommon and have rarely been reported in the literature. We report a fatal case of massive gastropathy as a result of Bouveret syndrome secondary to gallstone obstruction.

Routine upper gastro-intestinal tract endoscopy before elective cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones-justified.

Gallstones are common in Western countries and increasing in developing countries through adoption of western lifestyle. Gallstones may cause life-threatening complications, including acute cholecystitis, acute cholangitis, and acute pancreatitis. Cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstones. Presentation of symptomatic gallstones may be indistinguishable from that of other upper gastro-intestinal tract (UGI) pathologies. Some surgeons routinely perform preoperative UGI endoscopy to diagnose and treat concomitant UGI pathology. A prospective cross-sectional observational study was undertaken at University of Pretoria teaching hospitals to evaluate this practice. Patients aged 18 years and older, with symptomatic gallstones but did not satisfy Tokyo guidelines for acute cholecystitis were recruited. UGI endoscopy was performed before cholecystectomy. There were 124 patients, 110 (88.7%) females and 14 (11.3%) males, mean age 44.0 (13.2) (range: 22-78) years. Most common symptoms were right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain (87%), epigastric pain (59.7%), nausea (58.1%) and vomiting (47.9%). Clinically, 80% had RUQ tenderness and 52.4% epigastric tenderness. UGI endoscopy found 35.4% pathology, 28.2% were active, and comprised acute gastritis (27.4%), peptic ulcers (4.8%), duodenitis (3.2%) and oesophagitis (2.4%). Twelve patients had more than one pathology. This warranted treatment before elective cholecystectomy and justifies the practice of routine preoperative UGI endoscopy.

Exploring the Relationship Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Biliary Diseases: A Comprehensive Analysis Using the United States National Inpatient Sample (2016-2020).

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is widely recognized for its association with gastric diseases. Prior studies on the relationship between H. pylori infection and biliary diseases have faced constraints, including inadequate control of confounding factors and small sample sizes. This study aims to explore the association between H. pylori infection and biliary diseases using a large, population-based sample with adequate control for various covariates. METHODS:  The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2020 was used to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and biliary diseases. We identified patients with H. pylori infection using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code (B96.81). Descriptive analysis and inferential statistics, including univariate and multivariate regression, were performed to explore the relationship between H. pylori and selected biliary diseases.  Results: Overall, 32,966,720 patients were analyzed. Among them, 736,585 patients had biliary diseases (n=1,637 with H. pylori and n=734,948 without H. pylori). The baseline characteristics revealed notable differences in demographics and healthcare variables between both groups. Univariate regression analysis demonstrated significant associations between H. pylori infection and various biliary diseases such as gallbladder stones, gallbladder cancer, cholangitis, acute cholecystitis, and biliary pancreatitis, with the highest risk for chronic cholecystitis (odds ratio: 5.21; 95% confidence interval: 4.1-6.62; p<0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis, after adjusting for various covariates, confirmed these associations, providing insights into the potential causal relationship between H. pylori and biliary diseases. CONCLUSION:  This study strengthens the evidence suggesting a potential association between H. pylori infection and biliary diseases. The findings need to be validated in prospective clinical studies.

Cholesterol Gallstones and Long-Term Use of Statins: Is Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis Bridging over Uncertainties?

A total of 300 research participants-200 consecutive patients diagnosed with dyslipidemia (100 statin (+), treated for at least five years, and 100 statin (-)) and 100 healthy controls-were included in this observational study. The aim of the study was to deliver insights into the relationship between the long-term use of statins for dyslipidemia and gallstone disease (GSD), as well as insights into the background particularities of the gut microbiota. All study participants underwent clinical examination, laboratory workups, stool microbiology/stool 16S r RNA, next-generation sequencing, and abdominal ultrasound/CT exams. Results: The research participants presented with similarities related to age, gender, and location. Patients displayed comparable heredity for GSs, metabolic issues, and related co-morbidities. Gut dysbiosis (DB) was present in 54% of the statin (-) patients vs. 35% of the statin (+) patients (p = 0.0070). GSs were present in 14% of patients in the statin (-) group vs. 5% of patients in the statin (+) group (p = 0.0304). Severe dysbiosis, with a significant reduction in biodiversity, an increase in LPS (+) bacteria, and a notable decrease in mucin-degrading bacteria, mucosa-protective bacteria, and butyrate-producing bacteria were observed in the statin (-) group. Strong positive correlations between GSD and diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance (r = 0.3368, p = 0.0006), obesity (r = 0.3923, p < 0.0001), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (r = 0.3219, p = 0.0011), and DB (r = 0.7343, p < 0.0001), as well as significant negative correlations between GSD and alcohol use (r = -0.2305, p = 0.0211), were observed. The multiple regression equation demonstrated that only DB (95% CI: 0.3163 to 0.5670; p < 0.0001) and obesity (95% CI: 0.01431 to 0.2578; p = 0.0289) were independent risk factors predicting GSD in the group of patients treated with statins. Conclusion: The long-term use of statins in dyslipidemic patients was associated with a low risk of developing GSs. The gut microbiota associated with a long-term use of statins in dyslipidemic patients was characterized by a low risk of developing an imbalance of various functional bacteria and alterations in the metabolic microbiota. DB and obesity were found to be independent risk factors predicting GSD in statin (+) patients.