Predicting mortality in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeders: validation of the Italian PNED Score and Prospective Comparison with the Rockall Score.

Objectives: We sought (i) to validate a new prediction rule of mortality (Progetto Nazionale Emorragia Digestiva (PNED) score) on an independent population with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) and (ii) to compare the accuracy of the Italian PNED score vs. the Rockall score in predicting the risk of death.

Methods: We conducted prospective validation of analysis of consecutive patients with UGIB at 21 hospitals from 2007 to 2008.

Predictive factors of mortality from nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: a multicenter study.

Objectives: From an Italian Registry of patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH), we assessed the clinical outcomes and explored the roles of clinical, endoscopic, and therapeutic factors on 30-day mortality in a real life setting.

Methods: Prospective analysis of consecutive patients endoscoped for UGIH at 23 community and tertiary care institutions from 2003 to 2004. Covariates and outcomes were defined a priori and 30-day follow-up obtained.

Pathogenesis of gastric ulcer.

The cause of gastric ulcer is still poorly understood, even though a certain number of pathophysiologic abnormalities have been described in subgroups of gastric ulcer patients. It is not known whether these abnormalities lead to ulceration or occur as a result of ulcers. Environmental factors, such as aspirin intake or stressful life events, may be related to gastric ulcer in some patients.

[Evaluation of the cost of maintenance therapy (6 months) with 150 mg ranitidine vs 20 mg omeprazole vs 20 mg omeprazole every other day in duodenal ulcer].

Prevention of ulcer relapse and of its complications is a problem which remains to be solved. Our study involved 250 patients, with healed duodenal ulcer. We evaluated efficacy and costs of three different maintenance therapies: ranitidine 150 mg/day, omeprazole 20 mg/day every other day and omeprazole 20 mg/day.

[Current problems of infectious endocarditis. Clinico-diagnostic considerations on 17 cases].

Seventeen cases of Infective Endocarditis diagnosed over a seven-year period by clinical-echocardiographic criteria in a Division of General Medicine are reviewed. More significant aspects regard the observation of the disease in some subjects at risk (elderly persons, patients with normal native valves affected by cirrhosis, by intravenous drugs abuse, by haematological neoplasms), the diagnostic difficulties in cases with oligosymptomatic or atypical beginning, and the frequent negative blood cultures. The value and the limitations of echocardiography and some aspects of therapy are discussed.