Stage II endometrial cancer: The diagnostic power of hysteroscopic excisional biopsy and MRI in the pre-operative cervical stroma assessment.

Introduction/background: Stage II Endometrial cancer (EC) accounts only for 12% of cases. Recent evidences redraw the weight of radicality in this stage as it would seem to have no impact on survival outcomes claiming for radicality when free surgical margins are not ensured to be achieved by simple hysterectomy. Thus, an accurate pre-operative evaluation might be crucial.

Predictivity of early and late assessment for post-surgical recurrence of Crohn's disease: Data from a single-center retrospective series.

Background And Aims: Post-surgical recurrence of Crohn's disease (CD) after ileocolonic resection is common. Early identification of features associated with recurrence is a standard procedure of postoperative management, but the prognostic role of such features when detected at later time points is unclear. We compared the predictivity for Crohn's disease recurrence of common clinical-instrumental variables when assessed early (<12 months) or late (>36 months) after surgery.

Liver Function Test Abnormalities in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Hospital-based Survey.

Background And Aims: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are frequently associated with altered liver function tests (LFTs). The causal relationship between abnormal LFTs and IBD is unclear. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence and etiology of LFTs abnormalities and their association with clinical variables in a cohort of IBD patients followed up in a single center.

Correlation of neonatal weight with maternal serum levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A during the first trimester of pregnancy: a retrospective study.

Aim: Evaluate the relationship between neonatal weight and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A.

Methods: Retrospective study on 2564 singleton pregnancies with healthy term neonates in three groups of women with different values of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A who underwent the combined test during the first trimester. Non-parametric test and correlation analysis for statistical elaboration were carried out.

CT enterography as a powerful tool for the evaluation of inflammatory activity in Crohn's disease: relationship of CT findings with CDAI and acute-phase reactants.

Purpose: Few studies have correlated computed tomography enterography (CTE) findings with Crohn's disease (CD) clinical and biochemical activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate correlations between CTE findings with CD activity.

Materials And Methods: The CTE datasets from 62 patients were retrospectively reviewed for different parameters: bowel wall thickening and hyperenhancement, mesenteric alterations, abdominal free fluid and complications related to the disease (fistulas, strictures, abscesses).

Randomized controlled clinical trials in mild-moderate ulcerative colitis.

The Authors review and critically discuss the most recent published evidence on treatment of mild-moderate ulcerative colitis both in the induction and maintenance of remission. Evidence on each drug is introduced by the related statement of ECCO guidelines. A brief introduction on disease classification and the need of standardizing indexes of clinical and endoscopic activity is also provided.

Fecal calprotectin in clinical practice: a noninvasive screening tool for patients with chronic diarrhea.

Background: Surrogate markers of colorectal inflammation are increasingly being recognized as important in differentiating organic from functional intestinal disorders. Fecal calprotectin (FC) can be easily measured in the stool, being released by leukocytes in inflammatory conditions.

Aim: We evaluated FC as an index of inflammation in consecutive outpatients referred for colonoscopy for chronic, nonbloody diarrhea.

Fluoroquinolone-induced liver injury: three new cases and a review of the literature.

Purpose: Fluoroquinolones are popular and widely used in primary care and hospital settings. Premarketing studies showed a favourable side-effect profile. However, significant morbidity and the need for liver transplantation for acute liver failure have been reported.

Adalimumab in steroid-dependent Crohn's disease patients: prognostic factors for clinical benefit.

Background: Corticosteroids are effective in the treatment of Crohn's disease but some patients relapse during tapering or after discontinuation. We report data on efficacy and prognostic factors of response of adalimumab in steroid-dependent patients.

Methods: In all, 110 steroid-dependent patients were treated with adalimumab (80/40 or 160/80 mg every other week followed by 40 mg every other week).

Serology in adults with celiac disease: limited accuracy in patients with mild histological lesions.

Celiac disease (CD) is a gluten-triggered enteropathy, presenting with insidious clinical patterns. It can occasionally be diagnosed in asymptomatic subjects. Our aim was to define the relationship among symptoms at diagnosis, serological markers [tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA), anti-endomysium antibodies (EMA) anti-actin antibodies (AAA)] and degree of mucosal damage.

Genetic predisposition to thrombophilia in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is linked to a definite risk of thromboembolic events (TE), but data on the role of prothrombotic genetic mutations are conflicting.

Study: Fourteen genetic factors involved in TE pathogenesis were investigated in a homogeneous cohort of Sicilian patients with IBD with and without history of TE and in healthy controls. Forty IBD patients (21 CD, 19 UC) and 20 healthy individuals were enrolled.