Nausea is a subjective symptom and can be defined as an unpleasant sensation of the imminent need to vomit, typically experienced in the epigastrium or throat. Vomiting refers to the forceful oral expulsion of gastrointestinal contents associated with contraction of the abdominal and chest wall muscles.
Gastroenterology
Fibrosis-4 (FIB4) Scoring System for Liver Fibrosis
The FIB4 index was developed in 2006 by Sterling as a non-invasive method to diagnose liver fibrosis and combines aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, platelet count, and age.
Clinical Diagnostic Criteria of IgG4-Related Sclerosing Cholangitis (IgG4-SC)
Sclerosing cholangitis (SC) is defined as a condition with progressive stenosis and destruction of the bile ducts due to diffuse inflammation and fibrosis and currently includes three categories: primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), secondary cholangitis, and IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC). SC categories share similar clinical features, such as cholestasis. Patients with SC present with cholestatic symptoms, including jaundice and pruritus, and blood tests reveal elevation of cholestatic enzymes.
Diagnosis of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD)
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new concept proposed in 2020. Unlike non-alcoholic fatter liver disease (NAFLD), the diagnosis of MAFLD requires the presence any of the following 3 metabolic risks, including overweight/obesity, presence of diabetes mellitus, and evidence of metabolic dysregulation.
Characteristics of Esophageal Motility Disorders
The esophageal motility disorders are categorized as secondary and primary disorders. The pathogenesis of secondary motility disorders is associated with systemic diseases.
Classification of Caustic-Induced Gastrointestinal Injuries
Caustic substances injure tissue by means of a chemical reaction on direct physical contact. Often thought of as acids or bases, caustics broadly include desiccants, vesicants, and protoplasmic poisons. The term “corrosive” is often used interchangeably with “caustic,” but corrosion implies a mechanical degradation, which does not always apply to caustics.
Classification of Ulcer-Related Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
The Forrest classification is a widely used classification of ulcer-related upper gastrointestinal bleeding. It was initially developed to unify the description of ulcer bleeding for better communication amongst endoscopists. However, the Forrest Classification is now used as a tool to identify patients who are at an increased risk for bleeding, rebleeding and mortality.
Lennard-Jones Diagnostic Criteria of Crohn’s Disease (CD)
Once the clinical suspicion is established, the diagnosis is based on the combination of clinical, biochemical, endoscopic, histological and/or radiological criteria.
Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory condition of the large intestine that is frequently associated with inflammation of the rectum but often extends proximally to involve additional areas of the colon. Once a diagnosis of UC is made, determining the severity of disease becomes important.
Indications for Testing for Helicobacter pylori Infection
Testing for H. pylori is recommended in patients with peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer, or gastric mucosa–associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALToma). Other recommended indications for testing include dyspepsia, prolonged use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs or aspirin, unexplained iron-deficiency anemia, and immune thrombocytopenia.