The complex relationship between magnesium and serum parathyroid hormone: a study in patients with chronic intestinal failure.

In this study we compared the content of muscle free [Mg2+] assessed by 31P MRS to that of serum total Mg assessed by routine colorimetric assays in 15 patients affected by Chronic Intestinal Failure (CIF) on long-term Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) or who had undergone isolated intestinal transplantation. We also investigated in the same cohort of patients the relationship of muscle free [Mg2+] and serum total Mg with parathyroid hormone (PTH) serum content. All patients showed a normal cytosolic free [Mg2+] in the calf muscle despite about half of them having a content of total serum [Mg] below or at the lower edge of the boundary limits.

[Home parenteral nutrition and intestinal transplantation in the intestinal failure].

Home parenteral nutrition is the primary treatment for intestinal failure. Intestinal transplantation is indicated when home parenteral nutrition fails or when there is a risk of death because of underlying disease. Survival after transplantation is related to the appropriateness of the indication and the timing of listing for transplantation.

Endogenous ethanol production in a patient with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

The case of the gastrointestinal production of ethanol from Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a Caucasian man with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is reported. The patient, who declared to have always abstained from alcohol, was hospitalized for abdominal pain, belching and mental confusion. The laboratory findings showed the presence of ethanol in the blood.