Outcome of endoscopic sphincterotomy in post cholecystectomy patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction as predicted by manometry and quantitative choledochoscintigraphy.

Background: Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is diagnosed at manometry and, after cholecystectomy, non-invasively at quantitative choledochoscintigraphy. Patients may benefit from endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of choledochoscintigraphy compared with manometry in predicting outcome of sphincterotomy in post cholecystectomy patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

[Teaching humanities to the students of the medical faculties, reasons and why].

There are many reasons to include a programme of human sciences, literature and art in the undergraduate medical curriculum. In the present text, the implications of three reasons are described, namely the increasing demand of health by a rapidly changing society, the need for practising whole person medicine and for improving the doctor the rational and moral awareness of his/her clinical objectives. The possible ways of introducing humanities in the medical curriculum, some international experiences and the role of Medical faculites in interacting with other University disciplines are discussed.

Identification of a new coeliac disease subgroup: antiendomysial and anti-transglutaminase antibodies of IgG class in the absence of selective IgA deficiency.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to increase the sensitivity of the antiendomysial antibody (EMA) test by evaluating also EMAs of IgG1 isotype.

Design And Subjects: Over the last 2 years, serum EMAs IgA and IgG1 were determined in 1399 patients, referred to our gastrointestinal unit due to clinical suspicion of malabsorption. Serum anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibodies IgA and IgG, as well as total IgA levels, were also investigated.

Combined oral sodium butyrate and mesalazine treatment compared to oral mesalazine alone in ulcerative colitis: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Butyrate represents the main source of energy for colonic epithelial cells; however, its availability/utilization is impaired in ulcerative colitis (UC). In the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study, the safety and efficacy of colonic targeted oral sodium butyrate tablets, coated with a pH-dependent soluble polymer, have been evaluated in ulcerative colitis. Thirty patients with mild to moderate colitis underwent a six-week course of oral sodium butyrate (4 g/day) plus oral mesalazine (2.

From Roma88 to Roma99: back to the future.

Some objectives of the Rome International Congress of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy (1988) and their development during the past eleven years are described in the perspective of Roma99, the Seventh United European Gastroenterology Week.