Development of a risk score to predict portal vein tumor thrombosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is a common complication of hepatocellular carcinoma and is one of the most negative prognostic factors. The management of patients with PVTT is challenging. The aim of the study was to develop a score predictive of tumor thrombosis.

Low-carbohydrate diets and type 2 diabetes treatment: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aim: To assess whether LC diets are associated with long-term improvement in glycemic control and weight loss in people with T2DM, and their cardiovascular and renal safety.

Methods: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials lasting more than 3 months, retrieved through extensive search on PubMed, Embase, ClinicalTrial.gov, Cochrane databases up to March 1st, comparing LC diets and balanced carbohydrate diets in people with T2DM.

The influence of residents in the outcome of elective laparoscopic surgery: a prospective study comparing a teaching hospital and a private community hospital in Italy.

Objectives: We compared the outcome of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in a teaching hospital and a private communityhospital to assess the impact of the involvement of residents.

Materials And Methods: The following parameters were studied prospectively in patients who underwent elective LC during the period from September 2014 to February 2016 in a teaching university hospital (group A) and in a private community hospital (group B): age, sex, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score, length of surgery from skin incision to skin closure, use of drain, 30-day perioperative morbidity and mortality, and length of postoperative hospital stay.

Results: The group A consisted of 93 elective LC and the group B of 167 elective LC.

Small bowel intussussception due to metastatic melanoma of unknown primary site. Case report.

Malignant melanoma is characterized by metastases also to the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the small bowel. The diagnosis is often delayed because unspecific clinical presentation (frequently as chronic iron deficiency anemia, rectal bleeding or intestinal obstruction). We present a case of melanoma of unknown primary site, with clinical presentation of intestinal obstruction.

Biliodigestive fistulae and gallstone ileus: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations. Our experience.

The biliodigestive fistula is not a rare affection in the context of acute pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. It often affects patients between 63 and 85 years old , particularly the female sex, and the most common cause is acute or chronic cholecystolithiasis. Open issues are the delayed in the pre-operative diagnosis, and controversies exist regarding the best surgical approach.

Single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy is comparable to conventional laparoscopic and laparotomic appendectomy: our single center single surgeon experience.

Several studies have demonstrated the clinical and technical benefits of the laparoscopic surgery for complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis. Our retrospective study included 12 patient who underwent SILS appendectomy (SILS-A), 14 who received conventional laparoscopic surgery (VL-A), and 12 who received laparotomic appendectomy (OA); performed in all cases by the same surgeon (C.F.

[Role of metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in tumors].

Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in different physiological and pathological processes. They regulate several signaling pathways in cell growth, inflammation and angiogenesis. The MMPs modulate the complex tumor microenvironment and are involved in the early stages of carcinogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasic processes.

Impact of the introduction of a robotic training programme on prostate cancer stage migration at a single tertiary referral centre.

Objective: To evaluate the trend in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) use over time and to compare preoperative and pathological characteristics of patients treated with RARP or RRP at a single centre.

Patients And Methods: Between 2006 and 2010, 2511 consecutive patients treated with RP, with or without pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND), for prostate cancer (PCa) at a single tertiary care centre were analysed. Baseline patient characteristics and PCa risk distribution were compared according to treatment type (RRP vs RARP) in the overall population, as well as in three surgeons' initial 50 RARP and three surgeons' initial 50 RRP cases (n = 300).

Does the transrectal ultrasound probe influence prostate cancer detection in patients undergoing an extended prostate biopsy scheme? Results of a large retrospective study.

Objective: • To compare the prostate cancer detection rate and tolerance profile between a transrectal biopsy made with a 'side fire' (SF) and an 'end fire' (EF) ultrasound probe.

Patients And Methods: • We selected patients undergoing first biopsy and re-biopsy of the prostate with a 14- and 18-core template using EF and SF transrectal probes, respectively. • We compared the cancer detection rate between the two probes on first biopsy and re-biopsy and gauged patient tolerance using a visual analogue scale (VAS).

What is the definition of a satisfactory erectile function after bilateral nerve sparing radical prostatectomy?

Introduction: Different cut-offs of the erectile function (EF) domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) have been used as definition of postoperative EF recovery.

Aim: To test the correlation between patient satisfaction and IIEF-EF domain score cut-offs.

Main Outcome Measure: The IIEF was used to evaluate EF and satisfaction before and after bilateral nerve sparing radical prostatectomy (BNSRP).

Predicting erectile function recovery after bilateral nerve sparing radical prostatectomy: a proposal of a novel preoperative risk stratification.

Introduction: No multivariable model is currently available for the prediction of erectile function (EF) recovery after bilateral nerve sparing radical prostatectomy (BNSRP).

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a novel preoperative risk stratification aimed at assessing the probability of EF recovery after BNSRP.

Main Outcome Measure: The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) was used to evaluate EF after BNSRP.

When to perform bone scan in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer: external validation of the currently available guidelines and proposal of a novel risk stratification tool.

Background: Several guidelines have indicated that in patients with well-differentiated or moderately well-differentiated prostate cancer (PCa), a staging bone scan may be omitted. However, the guidelines recommendations have not yet been externally validated.

Objective: The aim of the study was to externally validate the available guidelines regarding the need for a staging bone scan in patients with newly diagnosed PCa.

Validation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay screening for quinolones in egg, poultry muscle and feed samples.

Quinolones are a group of chemotherapeutic agents with an excellent efficiency against poultry pathogens. Two commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests have been applied in parallel for the qualitative screening analysis of several quinolones in eggs, poultry muscle and feeds at the required levels. During the validation study, carried out according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC criteria, two different sample treatments were compared in foods: the simple and fast procedure suggested by the kit producer (Euro-Diagnostica) and a more complex solid-phase extraction (SPE) sample preparation.

Impact of surgical volume on the rate of lymph node metastases in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection for clinically localized prostate cancer.

Background: Previous trials have shown that the number of procedures done by a single surgeon, that is, surgical volume (SV), is associated with several outcomes after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Objective: To test the association between SV and the detection of lymph node metastases during extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND).

Design, Setting, And Participants: The study cohort consisted of 1020 men surgically treated for clinically localized prostate cancer.

Topical prilocaine-lidocaine cream combined with peripheral nerve block improves pain control in prostatic biopsy: results from a prospective randomized trial.

Objectives: To compare pain control results between periprostatic nerve block alone and combined with topical prilocaine-lidocaine cream as local anesthesia of prostate biopsy.

Methods: Three hundred patients were randomized to receive PNB (group 1), topical anesthesia of the anal ring, anal canal, and anterior rectal wall combined with PNB (group 2) and placebo (group 3). Patients were asked to use scale of 0-10 to complete a visual analogue scale questionnaire about pain during probe insertion (VAS1), periprostatic infiltration (VAS2), and cores (VAS3).

Cyclic treatment of chronic hepatic encephalopathy with rifaximin. Results of a double-blind clinical study.

Background: Chronic hepatic encephalopathy (HE) represents a frequent and serious complication of chronic liver disease. Aim of the study is to comparatively evaluate the effect of rifaximin, lactitol and their combination in treating chronic HE.

Methods: Forty out-patients (29 males, 11 females, mean age: 59 years, range 40-70), with viral liver cirrhosis and chronic HE (1st-2nd degree) were studied.

Overexpression of Arabidopsis phytochelatin synthase in tobacco plants enhances Cd(2+) tolerance and accumulation but not translocation to the shoot.

Phytochelatins (PCs) are metal binding peptides involved in heavy metal detoxification. To assess whether enhanced phytochelatin synthesis would increase heavy metal tolerance and accumulation in plants, we overexpressed the Arabidopsis phytochelatin synthase gene (AtPCS1) in the non-accumulator plant Nicotiana tabacum. Wild-type plants and plants harbouring the Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolB oncogene were transformed with a 35S AtPCS1 construct.

Sexual dysfunction is common in women with lower urinary tract symptoms and urinary incontinence: results of a cross-sectional study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions in women with urinary incontinence and/or lower urinary tract symptoms as compared to a general female population.

Methods: We extensively evaluated 227 consecutive women (mean age 52; age range 19-66) complaining of urinary incontinence (UI) and/or lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) with a comprehensive history (including several validated questionnaires), a complete physical examination and a urodynamic multichannel evaluation. Two hundred and sixteen patients were eligible for sexual function investigation because 11 out of 227 (5%) were not interested in dealing with questions regarding their own sexuality and were thus excluded from the final evaluation results.

Holmium laser enucleation versus transurethral resection of the prostate. Are histological findings comparable?

Purpose: We investigated if an adequate histological diagnosis can be made from tissue after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and whether it is comparable to transurethral prostate resection (TURP) tissue findings in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed 40 HoLEP and 40 age matched TURP tissue specimens from patients who underwent 1 of the 2 procedures between January 2001 and August 2002. Each histological specimen was reviewed by a single pathologist.

Human regional lymph nodes draining cancer exhibit a profound dendritic cell depletion as comparing to those from patients without malignancies.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are bone-marrow derived 'professional' antigen presenting cells (APC). They are considered as the most potent APC able to induce primary immune responses. DC efficiently capture and process proteic and non-proteic antigens.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in an area of southern Italy: main clinical, histological, and pathophysiological aspects.

Background/aims: Studies on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have included chronic liver damage attributed to various causes. Our investigation was held to observe the main clinical, histological, and pathophysiological aspects of NAFLD in patients not exposed to any known cause of chronic liver disease.

Methods: We evaluated, in 84 in-patients (male/female, 66/18; median age, 36 years), the clinical and biochemical characteristics of NAFLD, and particularly its association with diabetes, dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia and/or with the increase of parameters of oxidative stress (blood levels of malonyldialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal and total plasma antioxidant capacity).

Relationship of blood trace elements to liver damage, nutritional status, and oxidative stress in chronic nonalcoholic liver disease.

Trace elements are involved in chronic liver diseases because these elements may have a direct hepatic toxicity or may be decreased as a consequence of the impaired liver function, particularly in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and/or malnutrition. In this study, we determined plasma and erythrocytes trace elements in 50 inpatients with nonalcoholic chronic liver disease (11 with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis, 39 with cirrhosis [16 in stage A according to Child-Pugh criteria, 23 Child B+C]), and in a control group of 10 healthy subjects by the proton induced x-ray emission method. The relationship between trace element concentration and the extent of liver damage, the nutritional status (by anthropometric evaluations), and various blood markers of oxidative stress--reduced glutathione, total lipoperoxides and malonyldialdehyde--was investigated.

Can dietary intake influence plasma levels of amino acids in liver cirrhosis?

Background: Modifications in plasma amino acid patterns in cirrhotics are attributed to impaired liver function, being more evident in alcoholic than in viral cirrhosis.

Aim: To evaluate whether diet influences plasma amino acid concentrations in different aetiological groups of cirrhotics.

Patients: Study population comprised 40 patients with cirrhosis (25 virus- and 15 alcohol-related], all Child A, and 30 healthy subjects (controls).