Background and aim The progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is believed to be the driver for future development of fibrosis and cirrhosis. Nevertheless, there remains a lack of noninvasive methods for the diagnosis of NASH. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting histological severity in NAFLD. Patients and methods We performed a single-center retrospective study in EMMS Nazareth Hospital from July 2014 to May 2017. Liver biopsies were evaluated using the steatosis, activity, and fibrosis scoring system, which includes three components: (i) steatosis (0–3), (ii) activity grade (0–4), and (iii) fibrosis (0–4). Patients were divided into two groups. The first group was considered to have NAFLD when fibrosis grade was 0–1 and inflammatory activity was 0–1, whereas the second group included patients with fibrosis grade of 2–4 and inflammatory activity grade of 2–3, considered to have NASH. Results Ninety-one (91) patients with biopsy-proven fatty liver were included. The average age was 42.13 ± 11.5 (18–74) years. Fifty-seven (62.6%) patients were male. Univariate analysis revealed several factors to be associated with advanced fibrosis and inflammatory activity, including NLR, C-reactive protein, and HOMA-IR, which correlated with fibrosis [odds ratio (OR): 1.405, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21–1.63, P < 0.0001; OR: 1.329, 95% CI: 1.05–1.68, P = 0.016; and OR: 1.922, 95% CI: 1.18–3.11, P = 0.007, respectively], and NLR, triglycerides, and HOMA-IR, which correlated with hepatocyte inflammation (OR: 1.210, 95% CI: 1.08–1.35, P = 0.0009; OR: 0.984, 95% CI: 0.97–0.99, P = 0.01; and OR: 2.069, 95% CI: 1.28–3.34, P = 0.003, respectively). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, NLR remains independently associated with advanced fibrosis grade and inflammatory activity (OR: 0.734, 95% CI: 0.631–0.854, P < 0.0001, area under the curve: 0.8622 and OR: 0.836, 95% CI: 0.74–0.95, P = 0.006, area under the curve: 0.7845, respectively). Our second major finding was defining an NLR cut-off point that was associated with inflammatory activity and fibrosis grade using receiver operating characteristic analysis based on the Youden index (J), which is defined by the maximal sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion NLR showed significant independent correlation with advanced inflammation and fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. This simple available laboratory tool may be incorporated into future diagnostic scores.

Background and Aim. Rapid identification of patients with complications related to acute diverticulitis who require urgent intervention in the emergency department (ED) is essential. The aim of our study was to determine the role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting severity of diverticulitis as assessed by Hinchey classification. Patients and Methods. We performed a single retrospective study in EMMS Nazareth Hospital from 4/2014 to 4/2018. Patients were categorized into two groups: group A with mild to moderate complicated diverticulitis (Hinchey 1-2) and group B with severe complicated diverticulitis (Hinchey 3-4). Results. Two hundred twenty-five patients were included. Two hundred seven patients were in group A, and 18 patients were in group B. On univariate analysis, age, NLR, and PLR correlated with advanced Hinchey classification and disease severity (stages 3-4) (OR 1.038, 95% CI 1.001–1.076, P=0.0416; OR 1.192, 95% CI 1.093–1.300, P<0.0001; and OR 1.011, 95% CI 1.005–1.017, P=0.0005, respectively). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the NLR and PLR remain significantly correlated with Hinchey 3-4 (OR 1.174, 95% CI 1.071–1.286, P=0.0006, and OR 1.008, 95% CI 1.001–1.015, P=0.0209, respectively). The area under the curve (AUC) for the NLR and PLR on univariate analysis was 0.7526 and 0.6748, respectively, and 0.7760 and 0.7391 on multivariate logistic regression analysis, respectively, and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn. Conclusion. The NLR and PLR independently associated with diverticulitis severity and positively correlated with advanced Hinchey classification. This simple available laboratory tool can be implemented into clinical practice to optimize patient management.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a major cause of chronic liver disease. Several extrahepatic manifestations have been reported in relation to NAFLD. However, data regarding pancreatobiliary manifestation are scarce. Aim: We aimed to explore the association of pancreatobiliary manifestation with NAFLD. Methods: A retrospective multicenter study that included all patients who underwent an endoscopic ultrasound performed for hepatobiliary indications and for whom the endosonographer reported on the presence or absence of fatty liver. The endoscopic ultrasound reports were reviewed and all pathological findings were reported. Results: Overall, 545 patients were included in the study, among them, 278 patients had fatty liver (group A) as compared to 267 who did not have (group B). The average age in group A was 64.5 ± 13.5 years vs. 61.2 ± 14.7 years in group B. Male sex constituted 49.6 and 58% in groups A and B, respectively. On multivariate analysis, fatty pancreas [odds ratio (OR) 4.02; P = 0.001], serous cystadenoma (SCA) (OR 5.1; P = 0.0009), mucinous cystadenoma (MCA) (OR 9.7; P = 0.005), side-branch intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) (OR 2.76; P < 0.0001), mixed-type IPMN (OR 16.4; P = 0.0004), pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET) (OR 8.76; P < 0.0001), gallbladder stones (OR 1.9; P = 0.02) and hilar lymphadenopathy (OR 6.8; P < 0.0001) were significantly higher among patients with NAFLD. After adjustment for fatty pancreas, the association remained significant for SCA (OR 3; P = 0.01), MCA (OR 4.6; P = 0.03), side-branch IPMN (OR 1.7; P = 0.02), mixed-type IPMN (OR 5.5; P = 0.01) and pancreatic NET (OR 4.5; P = 0.001). Conclusion: Pancreatobiliary manifestations are common among patients with NAFLD. Assessment of these coexistent manifestations should be considered in the setting of patients with NAFLD.

Background and Aim Our aim was to assess adequacy and diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound‐fine needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) specimens with or without rapid on‐site evaluation (ROSE) from pancreatic, upper gastrointestinal tract (UGIT) and adjacent masses. Method A retrospective cohort study based on patients’ files who underwent EUS‐FNA in Galilee Medical Center in a 4 years period. Number of needle passes, repeated EUS and ROSE effect on tissue adequacy and diagnostic accuracy were reported. Results One‐hundred sixty‐one patients were included. Ninety‐three patients (57.7%) underwent EUS‐FNA without ROSE (group A) compared to 68 patients (42.3%) with ROSE (group B). The most common location was in the pancreas (55% in group A vs 81% in group B). Addition of ROSE yielded a significantly higher specimen adequacy (65% in group A vs 92.6% in group B (Chi‐Square < 0.0001, OR 6.72, 95% CI 2.45‐18.38). The matching rate (accuracy) between ROSE diagnosis and final histopathological diagnosis was noticed in 61 out of 68 patients (89.7%, 95% CI 0.7993‐0.9576). The Kappa coefficient correlations of matching rate between ROSE and final histopathological diagnosis of all lesion and in pancreatic lesions were 0.7558, (95% CI 0.625‐0.887) and 0.7814, (95% CI 0.639‐0.924), respectively. Conclusions EUS‐FNA with ROSE significantly improve specimen adequacy and was associated with high diagnostic accuracy.