by Rachel Rutherford  and Patrick B Allen

Received: 25 February 2019;  Published: 12 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1903031

Crohn's Disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory, relapsing and remitting condition that leads to structural damage of the bowel wall. It can be located in any part of the gastrointestinal tract with associated extra-intestinal manifestations. It varies in severity having many complications resulting in significant morbidity. In the past decade medical management of CD has evolved rapidly and with ongoing research it continues to show promising novel therapies. In this article we aim to give an overview of current li [...]

by Marta Ramirez  and Mercedes Fernandez

Received: 25 February 2019;  Published: 31 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1903030

This review describes our current understanding of the pathogenic role of angiogenesis in chronic liver disease and portal hypertension, emphasizing its involvement not only in the liver but also in extrahepatic complications such as the formation of portosystemic collaterals and increased splanchnic blood flow, and highlighting different molecular and cellular mechanisms involved.

by Danielle Graham  , Takahiro Ito  , Ronald Busuttil  and Fady Kaldas

Received: 05 May 2019;  Published: 29 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1903029

Acute pancreatitis is a highly morbid condition widely recognized and well-defined in the general population. In this article, we summarize the current literature on acute pancreatitis in the setting of solid organ transplant axiom, including patients who are listed for or have undergone transplantation. The literature is summarized by organ transplant type, including cardiac, lung, pancreas, kidney, intestine, and liver. Our review suggests that providers should have a high index of suspicion for acute pancreatiti [...]

by Daniel Hughes  , Alex Gordon-Weeks  and Michael A Silva

Received: 30 April 2019;  Published: 19 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1903028

(1) Background: Hereditary Pancreatitis is a rare cause of acute pancreatitis. These patients usually present at a young age with recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis that usually progresses to chronic pancreatitis with associated endocrine and exocrine failure. Hereditary pancreatitis also carries an increased lifetime risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. These high risk patients need early intervention where appropriate by specialist multidisciplinary teams and tailored long term management. (2) Methods [...]

by Kazuyuki Suzuki  , Akinobu Kato  and Yasuhiro Takikawa

Received: 04 February 2019;  Published: 16 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1903027

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome showing a wide spectrum and one of the serious complications seen in patients with acute and chronic liver disease or spontaneous portal-systemic shunting. Recently, HE has been classified into two categories: covert HE, which involves minimal HE and is identified solely through psychometric or neurological tests, and overt HE (coma grade II-IV). Although recent therapies based on evidence-based results have improved the therapeutic outcomes of HE patients, [...]

by Samantha Varley  , Kirsten Rossi  , Meghan Murray  and Alissa Nichole

Received: 17 May 2019;  Published: 12 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1903026

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas and is one of the most common ailments of the gastrointestinal system that results in significant morbidity and mortality. The main etiologic causes of AP are alcohol consumption, gallstones, hypertriglyceridemia, and biliary stones. The clinical signs and symptoms, and diagnostic criteria of AP are well established in the literature and multiple studies. Multiple scoring systems have been used to predict the severity, prognosis, and mortality a [...]

by Kevin Bobeck  , Sarah Ordway  , Brett Sadowski  , Adam Tritsch  and Manish Singla

Received: 31 January 2019;  Published: 28 June 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1902025

Diseases of the liver are commonly encountered in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). While the differential for IBD patients with elevated liver associated enzymes is broad, it is similar to that of the general population. This differential includes including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver disease in North America. When initial work-up for elevated liver associated enzymes is negative and patients have steatosis on ultrasound, we counsel IBD patients aggressively about [...]

by Richell Booijink  and Ruchi Bansal

Received: 27 March 2019;  Published: 21 June 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1902024

Chronic liver diseases affects millions of people worldwide each year. Upon chronic liver injury, a wound healing process ensues, leading to the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. If the injury persists, this leads to liver fibrosis with excessive scarring of the liver and loss of liver function. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a signaling molecule has shown to be involved in various biological processes, including wound healing process. Elevated plasma levels of LPA and its catalyst autotaxin (ATX), [...]

by Kurt Grüngreiff  , Thomas Gottstein  and Dirk Reinhold

Received: 15 March 2019;  Published: 13 June 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1902023

Acute and in particular chronic liver disease of viral, alcoholic and non-alcoholic genesis is a large, often unnoticed health hazard around the world. It can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the course of decades. Liver fibrosis, conversion of functional parenchyma to connective tissue (scar tissue) as a consequence of chronic liver damage, is a connecting pathogenic process in all chronic liver diseases. Zinc is an essential micronutrient in human health, playing a fundamental role in cellu [...]

by Michal Kawka  , Tamara MH Gall  and Long R Jiao

Received: 25 February 2019;  Published: 05 June 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1902022

Background: Severe necrotising pancreatitis (SNP) is characterised by high mortality, severe complications and bad prognosis despite progress in understanding of aetiology and progression of the disease. Traditionally, necrotic changes were removed by open necrosectomy but the paradigm has shifted towards more conservative management and minimally-invasive surgical procedures. However, there is still no consensus on the best management pathway. Minimally-invasive procedures percutaneous drainage, endoscopic transl [...]