Multiple colorectal adenomas syndrome: The role of MUTYH mutation and the polyps' number in clinical management and colorectal cancer risk.

Background & Aims: Multiple colorectal adenomas (MCRAs) can result from APC (AFAP) or biallelic MUTYH (MAP) mutations, but most patients are wild type and referred to as non-APC/MUTYH polyposis (NAMP). We aim to examine the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and the role of endoscopy in managing patients with MCRAs, with a specific focus on clinical features and genotype.

Methods: Records of MRCAs between 2000 and 2022 were retrospectively analysed.

Adenoma Detection Rate and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Fecal Immunochemical Test Screening Programs : An Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs based on fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) represent the standard of care for population-based interventions. Their benefit depends on the identification of neoplasia at colonoscopy after FIT positivity. Colonoscopy quality measured by adenoma detection rate (ADR) may affect screening program effectiveness.

Effectiveness of double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (DBE-ERCP): A multicenter real-world study.

Background And Aims: To investigate the effectiveness of double-balloon enteroscope-assisted retrograde cholangiopancreatography (DBE-ERCP) in patients with gastrointestinal surgically altered anatomy (SAA).

Methods: From May 2013 to October 2021, all consecutive patients undergoing DBE-ERCP in three gastroenterological referral centers in Northern Italy were enrolled in the study. Patients were assessed regarding their medical history, previous surgery, time from previous surgery to the DBE-ERCP procedure, and the success or failure of DBE-ERCP.

Efficacy of a computer-aided detection system in a fecal immunochemical test-based organized colorectal cancer screening program: a randomized controlled trial (AIFIT study).

Background: Computer-aided detection (CADe) increases adenoma detection in primary screening colonoscopy. The potential benefit of CADe in a fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program is unknown. This study assessed whether use of CADe increases the adenoma detection rate (ADR) in a FIT-based CRC screening program.

Adenoma detection by Endocuff-assisted versus standard colonoscopy in an organized screening program: the "ItaVision" randomized controlled trial.

Background: The Endocuff Vision device (Arc Medical Design Ltd., Leeds, UK) has been shown to increase mucosal exposure, and consequently adenoma detection rate (ADR), during colonoscopy. This nationwide multicenter study assessed possible benefits and harms of using Endocuff Vision in a fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based screening program.

Synchronous nodal metastatic risk in screening detected and endoscopically removed pT1 colorectal cancers.

Background: The population screening campaigns have resulted in increasing the prevalence of endoscopically resected colorectal cancers (CRCs) invading the submucosa (pT1). Synchronous nodal involvement occurs in less than 15 % of these tumors. Histologic criteria currently used for selecting patients needing resection are imprecise and most patients could have been simply followed-up.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection: Italian national survey on current practices, training and outcomes.

Background And Aims: Most of the evidence supporting endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) comes from Asia. European data are primarily reported by specialized referral centers and thus may not be representative of common European ESD practice. The aim of this study is to understand the current state of ESD practice across Italian endoscopy centers.

Falling Rates of Hospital Admissions for Alcoholic Liver Disease in Northeast Italy: A Retrospective Study on a Large Database.

Aim: To describe recent trends in hospital admission rates for alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in the Veneto region of Italy.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study is based on anonymous hospital discharge records (HDRs) for 2000-2017 from all public and accredited private hospitals operating within the context of the Regional (Veneto) Health Services that are conserved in National/Regional database. It examined the HDR's of all the hospitalizations of the residents of the Veneto region that were registered under an ALD diagnosis.

Molecular characterization of "sessile serrated" adenoma to carcinoma transition in six early colorectal cancers.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous group of diseases both from the morphological and molecular point of view. The sessile serrated adenoma/polyp (SSA/P) has been proposed as the precursor lesion of CRCs characterized by CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system deficiency, and BRAF gene mutations. However, no study so far investigated the molecular landscape of "sessile serrated" adenoma to carcinoma transition in early CRCs.

Tumor budding as a risk factor for nodal metastasis in pT1 colorectal cancers: a meta-analysis.

Worldwide, colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs have significantly increased the detection of submucosal (pT1) adenocarcinoma. Completion surgery may be indicated after endoscopic excision of these potentially metastasizing early cancers. However, the postsurgical prevalence of nodal implants does not exceed 15%, leading to questions concerning the clinical appropriateness of any post-endoscopy surgery.

Clean Colon Software Program (CCSP), Proposal of a standardized Method to quantify Colon Cleansing During Colonoscopy: Preliminary Results.

Background And Study Aims: Neoplastic lesions can be missed during colonoscopy, especially when cleansing is inadequate. Bowel preparation scales have significant limitations and no objective and standardized method currently exists to establish colon cleanliness during colonoscopy. The aims of our study are to create a software algorithm that is able to analyze bowel cleansing during colonoscopies and to compare it to a validate bowel preparation scale.

Mass spectrometry measurement of plasma hepcidin for the prediction of iron overload.

Background: Hepcidin has emerged as the primary regulator of iron homeostasis. Previous studies on assessing urinary hepcidin are limited. We developed a method for quantifying hepcidin-25 (Hep-25) in plasma using surface-enhanced laser-desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF/MS) and a 25-AA peptide as reference standard.

A 35-year follow-up of a large cohort of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis seen at a single centre.

Background: The natural history of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is still debated.

Aims: To evaluate: (i) long-term survival in a large cohort of PBC patients observed prospectively at a single centre and (ii) mortality in relation to baseline characteristics and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment.

Methods: We considered all consecutive patients between 1973 and 2007 (327 subjects; 310 females, 17 males).

Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis and adipokines: new markers for activity and disease progression?

Purpose: Cytokines may play an important role as inflammatory factors in liver diseases. There is some evidence suggesting a link between adiponectin-biliary function and liver disease. The aim of this study was to clarify the behavior of adipokines in autoimmune hepatitis type 1.

Pegylated interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin for naive patients with HCV-related cirrhosis.

Background: Data on the efficacy of antiviral therapy in patients with HCV-related compensated cirrhosis are generally drawn from analyzing subgroups in larger trials.

Aims: (1) To analyze the safety and efficacy of combination therapy in naive patients with HCV-related cirrhosis; (2) to evaluate the factors influencing the sustained virologic response (SVR) in cirrhotic patients by comparison with a group of noncirrhotic patients; (3) to analyze the outcome of cirrhotic patients either acquiring SVR and nonresponders to the antiviral therapy during the posttreatment follow-up.

Methods: We consecutively enrolled 365 patients with biopsy-proven HCV-related chronic hepatitis meeting the inclusion criteria for pegylated interferon a-2b plus Ribavirin: 87 patients had compensated liver cirrhosis and 278 had histologic stages between 1 and 4 according to Ishak's classification.

A novel multidrug-resistance protein 2 gene mutation identifies a subgroup of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and pruritus.

A single nucleotide polymorphism characterized by the substitution of valine for glutamate (V1188E) in exon 25 of the multidrug resistance protein 2 gene was found in a group of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. This heterozygous mutation was significantly associated with the presence of pruritus.

Intron 2 [IVS2, T-C +4] HFE gene mutation associated with S65C causes alternative RNA splicing and is responsible for iron overload.

Unlabelled: A patient with congenital liver fibrosis revealed a high transferrin saturation index and iron overload on liver biopsy. He did not carry the most frequent HFE mutations: C282Y or H63D. Heterozygosity was detected for S65C.

Clinical course and outcome of autoimmune hepatitis/primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome.

Unlabelled: Autoimmune hepatitis/primary sclerosing cholangitis (AIH/PSC) overlap syndrome is a relatively uncommon variant of PSC.

Aim: To evaluate the natural history of AIH/PSC overlap syndrome compared to a group of "classical" PSC.

Methods: Forty-one consecutive PSC patients, with a regular follow-up of at least 2 years, were prospectively included in the study.