Slow Heart Rate Recovery Is Associated with Increased Exercise-induced Arterial Stiffness in Normotensive Patients without Overt Atherosclerosis.

Background: This study evaluated whether blunted autonomic activity as measured by heart rate recovery (HRR) was associated with increased arterial stiffness, especially increased exercise-induced arterial stiffness, in normotensive patients without overt atherosclerosis.

Methods: One hundred fifty-four normotensive patients without overt atherosclerosis who had undergone a treadmill exercise test were consecutively enrolled. HRR was measured at one minute after exercise.

Post-ERCP pancreatitis: early precut or pancreatic duct stent? A multicenter, randomized-controlled trial and cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Pancreatitis is the most frequent complication due to ERCP. Pancreatic duct stent placement has been described as a preventive measure. There is also evidence pointing towards the preventive effect that early precut may provide.

Early precut is as efficient as pancreatic stent in preventing post-ERCP pancreatitis in high-risk subjects - A randomized study.

Background: The most common adverse event of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is pancreatitis. Precut sphincterotomy has been regarded as a risk factor. Some authors have stated that early precut may actually reduce post-ERCP pancreatitis risk.

Altered Esophageal Mucosal Structure in Patients with Celiac Disease.

Background/Aim. Reflux symptoms (RS) are common in patients with celiac disease (CD), a chronic enteropathy that affects primarily the small intestine. We evaluated mucosal integrity and motility of the lower esophagus as mechanisms contributing to RS generation in patients with CD.

[Hilar bile duct tumors: Endoscopic or percutaneous drainage? A prospective analysis].

Background And Objective: Both the endoscopic and the percutaneous approach are widely accepted for the drainage of hilar tumors. Our primary objective was to report on the effectiveness and complications of these procedures.

Methods: Prospective observational analysis of the endoscopic and/or percutaneous management of all hilar tumors treated at a referral hospital from October 2011 until October 2014.

[Sphincterotomy plus large balloon dilation versus sphincterotomy alone for the extraction of complex lithiasis: A prospective analysis].

Background And Purpose: Mid-size sphincterotomy associated with large balloon dilation is an alternative to wide sphincterotomy to remove complex lithiases. However, which of the two techniques is most effective remains unclear. Hence, we conducted this study to compare both methods prospectively.

[Quality and competence in endoscopic cholangiography. Towards certainty].

Introduction: The American Society of Gastroenterology (ASGE) and the American College of Gastroenterolog (ACG) have established indicators to recognize high-quality studies in endoscopic retrograde cholagiopancreatography (ERCP). The indicators were: a) Pre-procedure: adequate indication, informed consent, assessment of the degree of difficulty of the procedure and antibiotic prophylaxis. b) Intraprocedure: cannulation, choledocholithiasis extraction and stents placement rates.

Significant bone microarchitecture impairment in premenopausal women with active celiac disease.

Patients with active celiac disease (CD) are more likely to have osteoporosis and increased risk of fractures. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) permits three-dimensional exploration of bone microarchitectural characteristics measuring separately cortical and trabecular compartments, and giving a more profound insight into bone disease pathophysiology and fracture. We aimed to determine the volumetric and microarchitectural characteristics of peripheral bones-distal radius and tibia-in an adult premenopausal cohort with active CD assessed at diagnosis.

Acromegaly with Normal Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels and Congestive Heart Failure as the First Clinical Manifestation.

The leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with acromegaly is cardiovascular complications. Myocardial exposure to excessive growth hormone can cause ventricular hypertrophy, hypertension, arrhythmia, and diastolic dysfunction. However, congestive heart failure as a result of systolic dysfunction is observed only rarely in patients with acromegaly.

Exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the effects of Bifidobacterium infantis natren life start strain super strain in active celiac disease.

Background/aims: The aim of this exploratory trial was to establish if the probiotic Bifidobacterium natren life start (NLS) strain strain may affect the clinical course and pathophysiological features of patients with untreated celiac disease (CD). Positive findings would be helpful in directing future studies.

Methods: Twenty-two adult patients having 2 positives CD-specific tests were enrolled.

Serological tests for celiac disease as indicators of long-term compliance with the gluten-free diet.

Objectives: The efficacy of celiac disease (CD)-related antibodies in monitoring clinical outcome of patients remains unclear. Our aims were to determine dynamics of antibodies after diagnosis and to assess their performances in monitoring patients' long-term compliance with the gluten-free diet (GFD).

Methods: We prospectively estimated the performance of seven celiac disease-related antibody tests at diagnosis and at 1 year and more than 4 years after treatment initiation in 53 adults.

Extensive primary cardiac lymphoma diagnosed by percutaneous endomyocardial biopsy.

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is an extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma exclusively located in the heart and/or pericardium. It is rare in immunocompetent patients and represents 1.3% of primary cardiac tumors and 0.

Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with celiac disease and the effects of a gluten-free diet.

Background & Aims: Celiac disease (CD) patients often complain of symptoms consistent with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We aimed to assess the prevalence of GERD symptoms at diagnosis and to determine the impact of the gluten-free diet (GFD).

Methods: We evaluated 133 adult CD patients at diagnosis and 70 healthy controls.

Celiac disease serology in patients with different pretest probabilities: is biopsy avoidable?

Aim: To establish the diagnostic performance of several serological tests, individually and in combination, for diagnosing celiac disease (CD) in patients with different pretest probabilities, and to explore potential serological algorithms to reduce the necessity for biopsy.

Methods: We prospectively performed duodenal biopsy and serology in 679 adults who had either high risk (n = 161) or low risk (n = 518) for CD. Blood samples were tested using six assays (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) that detected antibodies to tissue transglutaminase (tTG) and deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP).

Hypersensitivity reactions to oxaliplatin.

Oxaliplatin is a third-generation platinum compound that is used as a single agent and in combination with fluorouracil (5-FU) to treat colorectal and gastric carcinoma. The patients treated with oxaliplatin may develop hypersensitivity and idiosyncratic reactions, although these complications are known to be rare. We report here on two patients who suffered with metastatic colorectal cancer and who underwent palliative combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin; they then developed hypersensitivity reactions to oxaliplatin.

[Treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal in the last 20 years in a gastroenterology hospital].

Unlabelled: Anal cancers compromise only 1.5% of all digestive tumors. At present, concurrent radiochemotherapy (RT-CT) is the treatment of choice for most of these lesions.