Use of enteroscope without the overtube in incomplete colonoscopies.

Colonoscopy is the gold standard diagnostic method for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Despite the progress in the endoscopy technology field, a small percentage of colonoscopies is still incomplete. The reasons for that are mostly associated with anatomic features, such as fixed, angulated, long and loopy colon, intra-abdominal adherences and female gender.

Quality in upper gastrointestinal endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Progress in the endoscopy technology field led to an increase in the diagnosis of early gastrointestinal (GI) superficial lesions and to an improvement of their treatment. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been developed in Japan with the aim of removing such lesions in one piece, in order to obtain a curative resection and to minimize the risk of local recurrence, and to preserve the native organ. ESD is widely used in Asia for the treatment of early upper and lower GI lesions and is currently gaining attention in Western countries too.

Over-The-Scope-Clip pre-mounted onto a double balloon enteroscope for fast and successful closure of post-EMR jejunal perforation: case report.

Background: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare, autosomal dominant disease clinically characterized by the early onset of many adenomatous polyps throughout the colon, which turn into colon cancer, if left untreated. In FAP patients, polyps can also occur in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially in the duodenum. Adenomas beyond duodenum are rare and mostly located in the proximal jejunum and distal ileum.

Time trend occurrence of duodenal intraepithelial lymphocytosis and celiac disease in an open access endoscopic population.

Background: Duodenal intraepithelial lymphocytosis (DIL) is a histological finding characterized by the increase of intraepithelial CD3T-lymphocytes over the normal value without villous atrophy, mostly associated to coeliac disease (CD), (Hp) gastritis and autoimmune diseases.

Objective: To assess the occurrence of DIL, CD and Hp gastritis in an endoscopic population over a 13 year period.

Methods: From 2003 to 2015 we included adult patients who consecutively underwent oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD) with duodenal biopsies assessing the overall and annual occurrence of DIL and CD and the prevalence of Hp gastritis.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms related to vitamin B12 serum levels in autoimmune gastritis patients with or without pernicious anaemia.

Background: Autoimmune gastritis may present as pernicious anaemia arising from vitamin B12 malabsorption, but also with iron deficiency anaemia due to iron malabsorption. These different clinical presentations might have a genetic basis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with vitamin B12 levels have not been investigated in autoimmune gastritis.

Occurrence of gastric cancer and carcinoids in atrophic gastritis during prospective long-term follow up.

Objective: Atrophic gastritis (AG) is a risk condition for gastric cancer and type I gastric carcinoids. Recent studies assessing the overall risk of gastric cancer and carcinoids in AG at long-term follow up are lacking. This study aimed to investigate in a prospective cohort of AG patients the occurrence of gastric cancer and carcinoids at long-term follow up.

Acute fulminant hepatitis E virus genotype 3e infection: description of the first case in Europe.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most important causative agent of acute hepatitis in developing countries. The disease is usually characterized by a self-limiting, benign course. However, when particular conditions coexist (pregnancy, old age, pre-existing liver disease) it may run an unfavourable course.

Role of gut microbiota in food tolerance and allergies.

Alterations of commensal flora may cause various gastrointestinal and extraintestinal diseases, including food intolerances and food allergies. According to the 'microflora hypothesis', alterations in the composition of gut microbiota in industrialized countries have disturbed the mechanisms of mucosal immune tolerance. Over the past few years several studies have looked for a role for probiotics in the treatment of food allergies with promising results.

The metabolic and toxicological considerations for mTOR inhibitors in the treatment of hepatocarcinoma.

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide. Several molecular pathways involved in HCC growth and progression have recently been identified. Rapamycin analogs are able to inhibit one of the most active oncogenic molecular pathways in HCC cells: the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway.

Gut microbiota and obesity.

Intestinal epithelium, mucosal immune system, and bacterial flora represent a morpho-functional system on dynamic balance responsible for the intestinal metabolic and trophic functions, and the regulation of mucosal and systemic host's immunity. Obesity is a pathological condition affecting a growing number of people especially in the Western countries resulting from the failure of the organism's energetic balance based on the perfect equality of income, waste, and storage. Recent evidences explain the mechanisms for the microbial regulation of the host's metabolism both in health and disease.