Archives of Gastroenterology Research

Commentary Open Access

Viable but Nonculturable Gastrointestinal Bacteria and Their Resuscitation

Stephanie Göing, Kirsten Jung

Viable but nonculturable (VBNC) bacteria are deeply dormant phenotypic variants that are characterized by a loss of culturability in conventional culture media, yet retain some viability markers. Thus, low metabolic activity, nutrient uptake, membrane integrity, and respiration are all detectable in these dormant cells. In 1982, the VBNC state was first described for Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae. Shortly afterwards, VBNC Salmonella enteriditis were found to regain culturability

Short Communication Open Access

Pregnancy and Hepatitis B Immunization: A Commentary on Maternal Knowledge and Vertical Transmission Risks

Lolwa Al-Obaid, Rebecca Roediger, Mauricio Lisker-Melman

The paper Maternal knowledge of the risk of vertical transmission and offspring acquisition of hepatitis B, recently published in Annals of Hepatology, provides unique insight on a topic not previously studied in the USA. The research paper discusses important topics on maternal hepatitis B infections.

Review Article Open Access

Advances in Functionalized Hybrid Biopolymer Augmented Lipid-based Systems: A Spotlight on Their Role in Design of Gastro Retentive Delivery Systems

Pratap Basim, Shashank Gorityala, Mallesh Kurakula

Biopolymers have earmarked their importance in the biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Researchers are still working for the facilitation of better therapeutic effects and medical benefits. In this context, several strategies are on a play like functionalization of biopolymers with physicochemical modification, functionalization of lipids with biopolymers, development of composites or hybrid systems for bringing together the benefits of individual moieties/systems

Commentary Open Access

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Liver Biopsy, Is It Ready for Prime Time?

Neal Sharma, Ahmad H. Ali, Ghassan M. Hammoud

Liver biopsy continues to be the gold-standard with regards to diagnosis and staging of the majority of liver diseases. Serologic markers certainly have helped in diagnosing various autoimmune and viral-related liver diseases. Furthermore, laboratory testing and imaging studies such as liver elastography have allowed us to non-invasively assess fibrosis. Unfortunately, there are shortcomings with these forms of testing. False positives or laboratory errors will lead to misleading diagnoses. Situations can also arise during which there are diagnostic dilemmas, such as an obese patient with positive autoimmune serology and elevated liver chemistries.

Review Article Open Access

Bouveret’s Syndrome: An Extensive Summary of the Literature

Karim T. Osman, Amr Wahba, Adel Farhoud, Ahmed Maher Abdelfattah, Daniel B.Maselli

Cholelithiasis is a prevalent disease, affecting 7.1% of the United States population; however, the vast majority of cases are asymptomatic and without consequence. It is estimated that less than one percent of patients develop complications, the most common of which include acute/ chronic cholecystitis, cholangitis, choledocholithiasis, and pancreatitis. An exceptionally rare complication is gallstone-related luminal gastrointestinal (GI) tract obstruction, reported to occur at rates of 0.3-0.5%, and comprising no more than five percent of small bowel obstructions.

Editorial Open Access

DILI, HILI, RUCAM Algorithm, and AI, the Artificial Intelligence: Provocative issues, Progress, and Proposals

Rolf Teschke

Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques represent a fascinating, provocative, and challenging discipline, are pervasive and of global importance. The European Commission summarized the current state in a White Paper on AI issues released on 19 February 2020, discussing various AI concepts that revolutionized many complex processes