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Helicobacter pylori infection is the etiologic agent of various gastric pathologies. The severity of disease outcome has been attributed to some H. pylori genotypes, which varies geographically. In Morocco, there are no data regarding the pattern of H. pylori genotypes; therefore, this is the first prospective study conducted in our country to investigate the genotype profiles ( vacA and cagA) of H. pylori in patients with gastric pain. Endoscopic biopsies were obtained in patients attending the gastroenterology department of the Hospital University Hassan II of Fez for gastric pain and were directly used for H. pylori detection and genotyping by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The SPSS software program was used to study the genotype correlation to different clinical outcomes. A total of 429 patients were included in this study, with an infection rate of 69.9%. cagA was detected in 42.3% of cases. However, vacA genotyping reveal a large predominance of s2m2. Infection with multiple strains was detected in 10.8% of cases and incomplete vacA was observed in 31.5%. In Morocco, vacA s1m1 was significantly associated to peptic ulcer diseases, while s2m2 was associated to gastritis. Moroccan H. pylori vacA genotype profiles differ from the Latin American, European, and South African profiles, with more similarities to the North African profile. Because of the small number of cases with gastric cancer, no correlations with H. pylori have been studied, so, further studies will be required in order to highlight the effects of those genes on this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune liver disease which represents the first cause of intrahepatic cholestasis. The aim of our work is to study the clinical, evolutionary and prognostic profile of PBC. This is a descriptive retrospective study collecting all the cases of PBC followed in our training from January 2010 until January 2020. We have identified all the clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects. For the results, fifty-eight cases of PBC were collected. They were women in 92% of cases. The average age was 57.8 years. The average diagnostic delay was 7 months. Cirrhosis was found in 48% of cases. The circumstances of discovery were pruritus (46%), jaundice (24%), asthenia (15%), ascites (10%) and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (5%). Cholestasis was found in all our patients. Anti-mitochondria type M2 antibodies were positive in 91% of cases. 34% of our patients had associated autoimmune diseases. The liver biopsy puncture was performed in 15% of cases in front of a seronegative PBC and suspicion of overlapping syndrome (CS). It revealed different lesions, mainly interface hepatitis, lesions of the bile ducts, ductopenia and granulomas. CS was found in 13 cases (24%). The treatment was based on the prescription of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), in combination with corticosteroid therapy for cases of overlap syndrome. The response rate to the UDCA was 62%. Seven patients died from decompensated cirrhosis.Our study shows the frequency of cirrhosis at the time of PBC diagnosis may explain the low response rate to UDCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Prevalence and distribution of Helicobacter pylori cagA and vacA genotypes in the Moroccan population with gastric disease," by S. Alaoui Boukhris and colleagues, that was published online on May 1, 2013, is presented.

This article discusses the results of endoscopic dilatation in patients with Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS), a rare condition primarily affecting young women. The study, conducted over a 10-year period, found that most patients experienced high dysphagia to solids and iron deficiency anemia. Endoscopic dilatation, performed with a balloon or candles, was successful in achieving satisfactory clinical results in the majority of cases. Factors such as the presence of anemia and the patient's sex did not significantly influence the outcomes. However, the article also highlights the risk of cancer associated with PVS and the importance of endoscopic surveillance. [Extracted from the article]

This article, titled "Emergency ERCP: what to expect," discusses the use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy as urgent treatments for severe angiocholitis. The study analyzed data from 153 patients who underwent therapeutic ERCP for severe acute angiocholitis between January 2010 and September 2023. The average age of the patients was 66.30 years, with no gender predominance. The article provides information on the patients' symptoms, etiology of angiocholitis, success rates of ERCP procedures, and post-ERCP complications. The study concludes that ERCP is an effective treatment for severe angiocholitis, with lower morbidity and mortality compared to surgical treatment. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, focuses on the treatment of peptic stenosis (PS) using endoscopy. PS is a rare condition that occurs as a result of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The study, conducted over an 18-year period, included 137 patients with an average age of 50.2 years. The primary symptom leading to consultation was dysphagia, accompanied by regurgitation and pyrosis. Upper digestive endoscopy revealed impassable or surmountable stenosis, primarily located in the lower 1/3 of the esophagus. Dilatation procedures using Savary-Gilliard candles or hydrostatic balloons were performed, with favorable outcomes and no reported complications. The study concludes that endoscopic dilatation, combined with proton pump inhibitors (PPI), is an effective treatment for peptic stenosis. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, discusses the endoscopic management of sigmoid volvulus, a condition that is a pressing medico-surgical emergency and the third leading cause of colonic obstruction. The study aims to provide retrospective insights into the endoscopic treatment of this condition. The results show that endoscopic devolvulation achieved success in 82% of patients, with a complication rate of 1%. The authors conclude that emergency endoscopic devolvulation improves patient outcomes, defers surgery for dolicho-sigmoid, and reduces postoperative complications. [Extracted from the article]

This article compares the effectiveness and potential complications of two treatments for hemorrhoids: sclerosis and elastic ligation. The study included 397 patients with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids, with 150 undergoing sclerotherapy and 247 opting for ligation over a 17-year period. The results showed that ligation was more effective than sclerosis, but it was associated with higher levels of pain and discomfort for the patients. Minor complications, such as bleeding, occurred in both treatment groups. The study concludes that ligation is a more efficacious intervention, but it may come with increased discomfort for the patient. [Extracted from the article]

Les localisations digestives de la maladie de Recklinghausen posent un certain nombre de problèmes diagnostiques, évolutifs et thérapeutiques. Plusieurs travaux récents ont attiré l'attention sur la forte incidence de tumeurs stromales gastro-intestinale (GIST) souvent multiples, dans le cadre de la maladie de Von Recklinghausen. Nous rapportons ici une observation supplémentaire, particulière par son mode de révélation par une hémorragie digestive basse massive, illustrant la fréquence de cette association qui doit être connue, et ne doit pas être confondue avec des neurofibromes permettant ainsi d'instaurer un schéma de surveillance vue leur risque de malignité potentielle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]