Ischemic colitis: surging waves of update.

Ischemic colitis is the most common type of intestinal ischemia, and it represents the consequences of acute or, more commonly, chronic blockage of blood flow through arteries that supply the large intestine. Ischemic colitis is manifested through a continuum of injury and considered as an illness of the elderly. The incidence of ischemic colitis has been underestimated, because many mild cases may go unreported.

Mesenteric ischemia: still a deadly puzzle for the medical community.

The main goal of this article is to update etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of the various causes of mesenteric ischemia in order to elucidate its labyrinthine clinical riddle, by reviewing the current English medical literature. Mesenteric ischemia is a quite uncommon disorder, observed in the emergency department. It is a life-threatening vascular emergency that requires early diagnosis and intervention to restore mesenteric blood flow and to prevent bowel necrosis and patient death.

Review. Animal models of carcinogenesis in the digestive system.

Digestive system malignancies are quite common, accounting for 25% of deaths from cancer in the European Union. Various etiological factors of carcinogenesis include hereditary mutations and susceptibility polymorphisms, inflammation due to infectious agents, environmental and dietary factors. Transgenic, knockout or mutant animal models are very useful in reproducing cancers of the digestive tract that occur in humans.

Genetic association studies in digestive system malignancies.

The multifactorial process of carcinogenesis in the digestive system involves mutations in oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, as well as influence of environmental etiological factors. In recent years, common DNA polymorphisms in low penetrance genes emerged as genetic factors that seem to modulate an individual's susceptibility to malignancy, through interaction with environmental factors, such as diet or smoking. The increasing number of publications of genetic association studies on digestive system neoplasias has produced both important true association results and negative or controversial results.