Slope until reaching the plateau: a new predictor of valve response obtained by lumbar infusion test for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Background: Diagnosis of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is based on clinical, radiological, and hydrodynamic data of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained by invasive methods such as lumbar infusion test, which is used to determine the resistance to CSF outflow (Rout). However, Rout has limitations, and its value as predictor of valve response is questioned. Other variables can be obtained by lumbar infusion test, such as the time to reach the plateau (TRP) and the slope until reaching the plateau (SRP).

Aminopenicillins vs non-aminopenicillins for treatment of enterococcal lower urinary tract infections.

Aminopenicillins (APs) achieve urinary concentrations that exceed typical minimum inhibitory concentrations for enterococcal lower urinary tract infection (UTI). The local clinical microbiology laboratory discontinued routine susceptibilities on enterococcal urine isolates, and reports that 'APs are predictably reliable for uncomplicated enterococcal UTI'. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes of APs with non-APs (NAPs) for enterococcal lower UTIs.

Ischemic Conditioning in the Right Colon and Terminal Ileum: An Experimental Rat Model.

Introduction: Preoperative gastric ischemic conditioning (IC) improves the outcome of esophageal replacement gastroplasty and is associated with low morbidity. However, when the stomach cannot be used for esophageal replacement, a colonic replacement is required. The study aim was to assess the viability of right colon and terminal ileum IC in a rat model and the histological damage/recovery sequence and determine if neovascularization is a potential adaptive mechanism.

Advances in the study of supercooled water.

In this review, we report recent progress in the field of supercooled water. Due to its uniqueness, water presents numerous anomalies with respect to most simple liquids, showing polyamorphism both in the liquid and in the glassy state. We first describe the thermodynamic scenarios hypothesized for the supercooled region and in particular among them the liquid-liquid critical point scenario that has so far received more experimental evidence.

Structure and dynamics of nanoconfined water and aqueous solutions.

This review is devoted to discussing recent progress on the structure, thermodynamic, reactivity, and dynamics of water and aqueous systems confined within different types of nanopores, synthetic and biological. Currently, this is a branch of water science that has attracted enormous attention of researchers from different fields interested to extend the understanding of the anomalous properties of bulk water to the nanoscopic domain. From a fundamental perspective, the interactions of water and solutes with a confining surface dramatically modify the liquid's structure and, consequently, both its thermodynamical and dynamical behaviors, breaking the validity of the classical thermodynamic and phenomenological description of the transport properties of aqueous systems.

Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems: The Central Role of Water/Solid Interfaces in Adsorption, Reactivity, and Transport.

The structure, chemistry, and charge of interfaces between materials and aqueous fluids play a central role in determining properties and performance of numerous water systems. Sensors, membranes, sorbents, and heterogeneous catalysts almost uniformly rely on specific interactions between their surfaces and components dissolved or suspended in the water-and often the water molecules themselves-to detect and mitigate contaminants. Deleterious processes in these systems such as fouling, scaling (inorganic deposits), and corrosion are also governed by interfacial phenomena.

Structural aspects of an energy-based water classification index and the structure-dynamics link in glassy relaxation.

An energy-based structural indicator for water, [Formula: see text], has been recently introduced by our group. In turn, in this work we aim at: (1) demonstrating that [Formula: see text] is indeed able to correctly classify water molecules between locally structured tetrahedral (T) and locally distorted (D) ones, circumventing the usual problem of certain previous indicators of overestimating the distorted state; (2) correlating [Formula: see text] with dynamic propensity, a measure of the molecular mobility tendency, in order to seek for the existence of a connection between structure and dynamics within the supercooled regime. More specifically, in the first part of this work we will show that [Formula: see text] accurately discriminates between merely thermally deformed local molecular arrangements and truly distorted molecules (defects).

Topical Analgesia with Lidocaine Plus Diclofenac Decreases Pain in Benign Anorectal Surgery: Randomized, Double-blind, and Controlled Clinical Trial.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a topical formulation containing lidocaine plus diclofenac (CLIFE1) compared to lidocaine (CLIFE2), to decrease pain in benign anorectal surgery (BARS) to date not evaluated. More than 50% of patients undergoing BARS, especially hemorrhoidectomy, suffer from moderate and severe postoperative pain. This remains an unresolved problem that could be addressed with the new CLIFE1 topical treatment.

New Methylation Biomarker Panel for Early Diagnosis of Dysplasia or Cancer in High-Risk Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

Background: The risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) is increased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of the colon. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of selected methylation gene panel for the early detection of CRC in high-risk IBD patients.

Methods: In a discovery phase, 73 biopsies of 48 IBD patients (associated or not to CRC) were analyzed from genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using the Illumina Human Methylation 450K BeadChip.

Comprehensive analysis of copy number aberrations in microsatellite stable colon cancer in view of stromal component.

Background: Somatic copy number aberrations (CNAs) are common acquired changes in cancer cells having an important role in the progression of colon cancer (colorectal cancer, CRC). This study aimed to perform a characterisation of CNA and their impact in gene expression.

Methods: Copy number aberrations were inferred from SNP array data in a series of 99 CRC.

Discovery and validation of new potential biomarkers for early detection of colon cancer.

Background: Accurate detection of characteristic proteins secreted by colon cancer tumor cells in biological fluids could serve as a biomarker for the disease. The aim of the present study was to identify and validate new serum biomarkers and demonstrate their potential usefulness for early diagnosis of colon cancer.

Methods: The study was organized in three sequential phases: 1) biomarker discovery, 2) technical and biological validation, and 3) proof of concept to test the potential clinical use of selected biomarkers.

Relationship between methylation and colonic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between the methylation status in the SLIT2 and TGFB2 promoters and colonic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Methods: We evaluated the methylation status of 2 genes (SLIT2 and TGFB2) in 226 biopsies taken from 62 colonoscopies of 38 patients (29 ulcerative colitis and 9 Crohn's colitis) using methylation-specific melting curve analysis. The relationships between methylation status and clinical, biological, endoscopic and histological activities were evaluated.

Anti-inflammatory effects of ischemic preconditioning on rat small bowel allografts.

Introduction: Minimizing the inflammatory events that follow intestinal transplantation may influence immediate graft function and improve outcome. Ischemic preconditioning (IPc) has been shown to ameliorate early inflammatory responses, and it may also attenuate the potentially damaging inflammation after intestinal transplantation. Herein, we examine the influence of intestinal IPc on inflammatory indices (tissue expression of ICAM-1, CD11a, and CD44 and serum levels of the soluble ICAM-1, sICAM-1) after heterotopic intestinal transplantation.

Aberrant gene expression in mucosa adjacent to tumor reveals a molecular crosstalk in colon cancer.

Background: A colorectal tumor is not an isolated entity growing in a restricted location of the body. The patient's gut environment constitutes the framework where the tumor evolves and this relationship promotes and includes a complex and tight correlation of the tumor with inflammation, blood vessels formation, nutrition, and gut microbiome composition. The tumor influence in the environment could both promote an anti-tumor or a pro-tumor response.

Comparison of the long-term outcome of two therapeutic strategies for the management of abdominal abscess complicating Crohn's disease: percutaneous drainage or immediate surgical treatment.

Aim: The management of abdominal abscesses complicating Crohn's disease is complex and involves a difficult choice between medical, radiological and surgical procedures. The long-term outcome was compared for two strategies for the management of abdominal abscess: percutaneous drainage (PD) followed by rescue surgery in the case of failure vs direct immediate surgery (IS). We also compared the results of IS with surgery performed after PD failure.

DNA methylation biomarkers for noninvasive diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

DNA methylation biomarkers for noninvasive diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and precursor lesions have been extensively studied. Different panels have been reported attempting to improve current protocols in clinical practice, although no definite biomarkers have been established. In the present study, we have examined patient biopsies starting from a comprehensive analysis of DNA methylation differences between paired normal and tumor samples in known cancer-related genes aiming to select the best performing candidates informative for CRC diagnosis in stool samples.

Nanofluidic digital PCR for KRAS mutation detection and quantification in gastrointestinal cancer.

Background: Concomitant quantification of multiple mutant KRAS (v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) alleles may provide information in addition to that provided by standard mutation-detection procedures. We assessed the feasibility of a nanofluidic digital PCR array platform to detect and quantify KRAS mutations simultaneously in clinically relevant samples.

Methods: We assessed 2 groups of patients (colorectal and pancreatic disease): Group 1 consisted of 27 patients with colorectal carcinomas, 14 patients with adenomas, and 5 control individuals; group 2 consisted of 42 patients with pancreatic carcinoma, 4 with adenocarcinomas of the ampulla, and 6 with chronic pancreatitis).

Novel methylation panel for the early detection of neoplasia in high-risk ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis patients.

Background: Patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colonic disease are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the study was to analyze the methylation status of selected genes as a risk marker for CRC in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Methods: We evaluated the methylation status of four genes (TGFB2, SLIT2, HS3ST2, and TMEFF2) in biopsies of four groups of patients: 60 patients with sporadic CRC, 32 patients with IBD-associated neoplasia, 85 patients with IBD without associated neoplasia (20 at high risk and 65 at low risk), and 28 healthy controls.

Long-term results of surgery plus fibrin sealant for anal fistula.

Aim: The long-term recurrence rate of fibrin glue treatment was analysed in patients with trans-sphincteric cryptoglandular fistula operated by a two-phase procedure: (i) fistulectomy with seton placement; (ii) fibrin sealant (Tissucol Duo®, Baxter) insertion in the track.

Method: Clinical data were collected prospectively for all patients operated between 2004 and 2010. The statistical association of clinical variables and recurrence was analysed and a disease-free curve was constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Novel methylation panel for the early detection of colorectal tumors in stool DNA.

Background: Previous studies showed that the assessment of promoter hypermethylation of a limited number of genes in tumor biopsies may identify the majority of colorectal tumors. This study aimed to assess the clinical usefulness of a panel of methylation biomarkers in stool DNA in the identification of colorectal tumors, using methylation-specific melting curve analysis (MS-MCA), a technique that simultaneously analyzes all cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) residues within a promoter.

Materials And Methods: The promoter methylation status of 4 tumor-related genes (RARB2, p16INK4a, MGMT, and APC) was analyzed in DNA stool samples and corresponding tissues in an initial set of 12 patients with newly diagnosed primary colorectal carcinomas and 20 patients with newly diagnosed colorectal adenomas, using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction.

Time course of necrosis/apoptosis and neovascularization during experimental gastric conditioning.

Apoptosis, necrosis and neovascularization are three processes that occur during ischemic preconditioning in a range of organs. In the stomach, the effect of this preconditioning (the delay phenomenon) has helped to improve gastric vascularization prior to esophagogastric anastomosis after esophagectomy. Here we present a sequential study of the histological recovery of the gastric fundus and the phenomena of apoptosis, necrosis and neovascularization in an experimental model of partial gastric ischemia.

Caspase-3 activity, response to chemotherapy and clinical outcome in patients with colon cancer.

Background And Aims: The prognostic value of the degree of apoptosis in colorectal cancer is controversial. This study evaluates the putative clinical usefulness of measuring caspase-3 activity as a prognostic factor in colonic cancer patients receiving 5-fluoracil adjuvant chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated caspase-3-like protease activity in tumours and in normal colon tissue.

[Long-term results of emergency surgery for colon cancer compared with elective surgery].

Introduction: Currently, the mechanisms that worsen the prognosis of complicated colon cancers are still not well known. Moreover, the possible effect of using sound oncological principles in emergency surgery on long-term prognosis has not been studied in detail.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to analyze the 5-year efficacy of curative oncological surgery for complicated colon cancer performed in an emergency setting in terms of tumor recurrence and survival compared with elective surgery of uncomplicated tumors.

Interleukin-4 and interleukin-4 receptor polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) modulate inflammation and are associated with the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma progression and the metastatic capacity. IL-4 also causes a dose-dependent reduction of proliferation in colorectal cancer cells. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether genetic variants within IL4 and IL4R could affect the individual risk to develop colorectal cancer.

Tumor thymidylate synthase 1494del6 genotype as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients receiving fluorouracil-based adjuvant treatment.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the value of germline and tumor thymidylate synthase (TS) genotyping as a prognostic marker in a series of colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant fluorouracil (FU) -based treatment.

Patients And Methods: One hundred twenty-nine colorectal cancer patients homogeneously treated with FU plus levamisole or leucovorin in the adjuvant setting were included. TS enhancer region, 3R G > C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and TS 1494del6 polymorphisms were assessed in both fresh-frozen normal mucosa and tumor.