Intentional ingestion of elemental mercury requiring multi-step decontamination and prophylactic appendectomy: a case report and treatment proposal.

Background: Ingestion of elemental mercury (Hg0) is considered non-toxic. After massive ingestion, local intestinal complications may develop: retention within appendix is quite frequent but treatment is debated. We describe a case of intentional ingestion of Hg0 requiring multi-step decontamination and prophylactic appendectomy.

Evolving endoscopic technologies for the detection of dysplasia in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Patients with long-standing and extensive ulcerative colitis (UC) and colonic Chron's disease (CD) have an increased risk of CRC compared with the general population. Although no large controlled trials have proven that surveillance reduces mortality, cancer prevention in inflammatory bowel disease depends on the detection of dysplasia during scheduled surveillance colonoscopy and is widely recommended by gastroenterological associations. Dysplasia in IBD may occur in flat mucosa or in raised lesions (DALM) which have sometimes endoscopic features similar to adenoma (adenoma-like DALM).

CARD15 gene variants and risk of reoperation in Crohn's disease patients.

Objectives: Several studies have investigated, with conflicting results, the risk factors for reoperation in Crohn's disease (CD) patients. CARD15 gene variants have been identified as a major genetic risk factor for CD patients and associated with ileal disease, stenosis, and risk of surgery. However, data regarding the association between these variants and the need for reoperation are very few and conflicting.

Can calprotectin predict relapse risk in inflammatory bowel disease?

Objective: Assessing the clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients consists of periodical clinical evaluations and laboratory tests. We aimed to assess the role of calprotectin tests in predicting clinical relapse in IBD patients.

Methods: Ninety-seven patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 65 with Crohn's disease (CD) in clinical remission were prospectively included in the study.

Effect of penicillamine and zinc on iron metabolism in Wilson's disease.

Objective: The physiology of iron metabolism in Wilson's disease is largely unknown, and there is a paucity of data on the real presence and progression of iron accumulation. The purpose of this study was to assess the iron metabolism parameters, including hepatic iron concentration, in follow-up liver biopsies and serum, and urinary pro-hepcidin.

Material And Methods: Twenty-three Wilson's disease patients undergoing long-term treatment were enrolled in the study.

Small bowel exploration by wireless capsule endoscopy: results from 314 procedures.

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic efficiency of capsule endoscopy in a large group of patients with different indications, to weigh the reliability of the procedure for excluding small bowel lesions, and to identify factors associated with the likelihood of obtaining a definitive diagnosis.

Methods: Three hundred four consecutive patients (141 female, mean age 55 years, range 12-91 years) underwent capsule endoscopy in two different Gastroenterology Units, for a total of 314 procedures, and were followed-up for a median period of 15 months. Referrals were obscure occult/overt gastrointestinal bleeding (203 patients), suspected small bowel disease (74), gastrointestinal polyposis (18), suspected/previous intestinal or endocrine malignancies (13), previously diagnosed intestinal lymphangectasia (3), and vascular abnormalities (3).