High-fibre diet and Lactobacillus paracasei B21060 in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease.

Aim: To investigate in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease the efficacy of symbiotics associated with a high-fibre diet on abdominal symptoms.

Methods: This study was a multicentre, 6-mo randomized, controlled, parallel-group intervention with a preceding 4-wk washout period. Consecutive outpatients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease, aged 40-80 years, evaluated in 4 Gastroenterology Units, were enrolled.

Treatment of periocular wrinkles with topical nifedipine.

The appearance of facial expression wrinkles is the result of chronic contraction of mimic muscles. Nifedipine is a dihydropyridinic calcium antagonist which blocks muscular cells' calcium channels, therefore inhibiting their contraction. We assumed that topical nifedipine was able to relax mimic muscular fibres in the same way, thus reducing the depth of wrinkles.

The effect of a new symbiotic formulation on plasma levels and peripheral blood mononuclear cell expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients with ulcerative colitis: a pilot study.

Background: During intestinal inflammation white blood cells are recruited from the blood, and they represent the major contributors to tissue perpetuation of inflammation via their production of chemokines and proinflammatory cytokines.

Objectives: Investigate the effect of a symbiotic formulation containing Lactobacillus Paracasei B 20160 versus placebo, on serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, IL-8, IL-1beta and IL-10 and on mRNA lymphomonocyte expression of TNFalpha, IL-8 and IL-1beta in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen patients entered the study with histologically proven not complicated ulcerative colitis, treated with mesalazine.

Clinical trial on the efficacy of a new symbiotic formulation, Flortec, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a multicenter, randomized study.

Objectives: Efficacy of symbiotics in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains unknown.

Methods: Patients were randomized to a prebiotic (n=135), or a symbiotic formulation containing Lactobacillus paracasei B21060 (Flortec, n=132). Primary efficacy was the responder rate for pain and global relief of symptoms in the overall population and in patients with predominant diarrhea (n=47).

In vivo association to human colon of Lactobacillus paracasei B21060: map from biopsies.

Background: Adhesion to the intestinal mucosa is one of the main suitable properties for probiotic bacteria. Several in vitro studies have been published, but a very few data are available about the in vivo adhesion to intestinal surfaces of probiotics. Moreover, there are no data regarding the distribution of a probiotic strain along the entire intestine.

An optimized experimental protocol based on neuro-evolutionary algorithms application to the classification of dyspeptic patients and to the prediction of the effectiveness of their treatment.

Objective: This paper aims to present a specific optimized experimental protocol (EP) for classification and/or prediction problems. The neuro-evolutionary algorithms on which it is based and its application with two selected real cases are described in detail. The first application addresses the problem of classifying the functional (FD) or organic (OD) forms of dyspepsia; the second relates to the problem of predicting the 6-month follow-up outcome of dyspeptic patients treated by helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication therapy.

Dyspepsia and Helicobacter pylori infection: a prospective multicentre observational study.

Objectives: Dyspepsia still represents an unsolved clinical enigma.

Aim: The aims of this study were to determine whether symptoms and Helicobacter pylori infection are predictors of organic disease in uninvestigated dyspepsia, and if H. pylori eradication improves symptoms in functional dyspepsia.