Risk factors for endoscopic severity of diverticular disease of the colon and its outcome: a real-life case-control study.

Background: Diverticular disease is an increasing global problem.

Aims: To assess the factors associated with the severity of diverticular disease and its outcome, analyzing a real-life population.

Methods: A cohort of patients, submitted to colonoscopy from 1 January 2012 to 30 April 2018 was revised.

Long-term efficacy of rifaximin to manage the symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon.

Although rifaximin is currently advised in managing symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) of the colon, no long-term data are available. This retrospective study assessed the outcome of a large cohort of patients with SUDD, treated with rifaximin, during an 8-year follow-up. The study group (group A) included 346 patients with SUDD (median age 64 years, IQR 58-69, 62.

Autoimmune diseases in autoimmune atrophic gastritis.

Autoimmune diseases, characterized by an alteration of the immune system which results in a loss of tolerance to self antigens often coexist in the same patient. Autoimmune atrophic gastritis, characterized by the development of antibodies agains parietal cells and against intrinsic factor, leads to mucosal destruction that affects primarily the corpus and fundus of the stomach. Autoimmune atrophic gastritis is frequently found in association with thyroid disease, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and with type 1 diabetes mellitus, Other autoimmune conditions that have been described in association with autoimmune atrophic gastritis are Addison's disease, chronic spontaneous urticaria, myasthenia gravis, vitiligo, and perioral cutaneous autoimmune conditions, especially erosive oral lichen planus.

From Sidney to OLGA: an overview of atrophic gastritis.

Chronic gastritis is a long-lasting disease that can lead to a loss of appropriate gastric glands. Gastritis, as term, apply to an inflammation of the stomach, histologically proven, sometimes with structural mucosal changes. Worldwide Helicobacter pylori's infection play a pivotal role as the main etiological effector of chronic active gastritis.

Clinical manifestations of chronic atrophic gastritis.

Although the actual prevalence of chronic atrophic gastritis is unknown and it is probable that this entity goes largely underdiagnosed, patients in whom diagnosis is established usually present advanced stages of disease. Destruction of parietal cells, either autoimmune-driven or as a consequence of Helicobacter pylori infection, determines reduction or abolition of acid secretion. Hypo/achloridia causes an increase in serum gastrin levels, with an increased risk of the development of neuroendocrine tumors.

Epidemiology of gastric cancer and risk factors.

Gastric cancer is, still nowadays, an important healthcare problem worldwide. In Italy, it represents the fifth tumour by frequency in both men and women over 70 years old. A crucial point is represented by the percentage of early gastric cancers usually found, which is actually very low, and it carries to a worse morbidity and mortality.

Non-invasive method for the assessment of gastric acid secretion.

Methods for the measure of gastric acid secretion include invasive and non-invasive tests. The gold-standard to measure the acid output is the collection of gastric after in basal condition (Basal Acid Output, B.A.

A non-invasive method for the diagnosis of upper GI diseases.

Upper-GI diseases are one of the most relevant issue in primary care. Nowadays they are still responsible for about 100 million ambulatory care visits only in the US. The diagnosis of almost every upper-GI condition is still deputed to invasive tests such as upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, gastroesophageal manometry or radiography.

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and GERD.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is due to the chronic exposure of the esophageal mucosa to acid secretion from the stomach. Helicobacter pylori (H.p.

Diagnosis of GERD in typical and atypical manifestations.

The manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been recently classified into either esophageal or extra-esophageal syndromes. Clinical history, questionnaire data and response to antisecretory therapy are insufficient to make a conclusive diagnosis of GERD. Endoscopy had a low sensitivity.

Approach to gastroenterological diseases in primary care.

Gastroenterological diseases are a source of morbidity, mortality and costs, and have a high frequency in general practice; for this reason, we have evaluated the current literature regarding the knowledge and management of these disorders by general practitioners, finding little knowledge and adherence to guidelines, highlighting the need for continuous updating in this regard, and greater collaboration between specialists and general practitioners.

Epidemiology and risk factors of pancreatic cancer.

The most frequent pancreatic cancer is pancreatic adenocarcinoma. It has high and early locally and distant invasiveness; this is the reason why it often shows little sign or symptoms in early stage and poor prognosis after the diagnosis, frequently in advanced stage. Although it is possible to detect this tumor in early stage because of its neoplastic precursor (PanINs).

Development and usefulness of the new endoscopic classification: DICA.

Colonic Diverticulosis is one of the most common anatomical findings during colonoscopy. This condition has 60% incidence in the population over 60 years old. About 20% of patients will develop Diverticular Disease, and 5% of them will evolve into Diverticulitis.

Epidemiology and risk factors for diverticular disease.

Diverticulosis of the colon is the most frequent anatomical alteration diagnosed at colonoscopy. The prevalence of the disease is higher in elderly patients over 65 years old, recent studies show an increment also in youngers over 40 years old. Even its large prevalence in the population, its pathophysiology still remain poorly understood.

Nutrition and lipidomic profile in colorectal cancers.

Background: Adherence to a healthy diet has been reported to be essential for the primary prevention of colorectal cancer, through a reduction of tissue inflammation, a low concentration of circulating lipoproteins and lower levels of serum cholesterol. Since an altered expression of the fatty acids pattern has been demonstrated to be a crucial event in colorectal carcinogenesis, lipidomic analysis is considered able to identify early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of complex diseases such as colorectal cancer.

Methods: cell membrane fatty acid profile and serum lipoproteins pattern were evaluated by gas chromatography and electrophoresis method respectively.

The role of diet in the prevention and treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) - Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) - are chronic conditions characterised by relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. They represent an increasing public health concern and an aetiological enigma due to unknown causal factors. The current knowledge on the pathogenesis of IBD is that genetically susceptible individuals develop intolerance to a dysregulated gut microflora (dysbiosis) and chronic inflammation develops as a result of environmental triggers.

The impact of intestinal microbiota on bio-medical research: definitions, techniques and physiology of a "new frontier".

In recent years the metagenomics techniques have allowed to study composition and function of the intestinal microbiota. The microbiota is a new frontier of biomedical research to be explored and there is growing evidence of its fundamental health-promoting activity. The present review gives a synthetic overview on the characteristics and the role of the microbiota in the adult with particular reference to physiology, pathophysiology and relationships with the host and the environment.

Digestive disorders and Intestinal microbiota.

In the last decade, a barge body of scientific literature has suggested that specific alterations of the gut microbiota may be associated with ther development and clinical course of several gastrointestinal diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, gastrointestinal cancer and Clostridium difficile infection. These alterations are often referred to as "dysbiosis", a generic term designing reduction of gut microbiota biodiversity and alterations in its composition. Here, we provide a synthetic overview of the key concepts on the relationship between intestinal microbiota and gastrointestinal diseases, focusing on the translation of these concepts into clinical practice.

Effectiveness and Safety of Pylera® in Patients Infected by Helicobacter Pylori: A Multicenter, Retrospective, Real Life Study.

Background: Our aims were to assess the real life effectiveness and safety of the new bismuth-containing quadruple therapy in a large population of patients infected by Helicobacter pylori.

Methods: Consecutive dyspeptic H. pylori-positive patients were enrolled, both naïve for treatment and already unsuccessfully treated.