The impact of Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy on adenoma detection in an organized screening program.

Background And Study Aims:  Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with biennial fecal occult blood test has been shown to reduce CRC mortality. For the effectiveness of the CRC screening program is crucial that a high-quality colonoscopy with a high adenoma detection rate (ADR) be performed. To improve ADR, various endoscopic devices have been developed.

Patient and physician views on the quality of care in inflammatory bowel disease: results from SOLUTION-1, a prospective IG-IBD study.

Introduction: Remarkable differences in quality of care (QoC) might be observed in different countries, affecting quality of life of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. The aim of this study was to assess patient and physician perceptions of the QoC in Italy.

Methods: A multicentre observational study on the quality of care in IBD (SOLUTION-1) was conducted in 36 IG-IBD (Italian Group for Inflammatory Bowel Disease) centres in Italy.

[Predictors of clinical response in patients with ulcerative colitis treated with granulocyte-monocyte apheresis: analysis of the apheresis registry data].

We analyzed predictors of clinical response after a cycle of granulocytemonocyte apheresis in 173 patients with ulcerative colitis. Hemoglobin levels independently predicted good clinical outcome.

The Italian Registry of Therapeutic Apheresis: granulocyte-monocyte apheresis in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. A multicentric study.

Leukocytes are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases; granulocyte-monocyte adsorptive (GMA) apheresis, an extracorporeal technique aimed at removing activated circulating leukocytes from the blood, may represent a safe and effective therapeutic tool in these patients. The Italian Registry of Therapeutic Apheresis performed an observational, multicentric study involving 24 Gastroenterology Units. In this study, laboratory data and clinical outcomes of 230 patients (148 males, mean age 43.

Clinical usefulness of serum pepsinogens I and II, gastrin-17 and anti-Helicobacterpylori antibodies in the management of dyspeptic patients in primary care.

Background: Several tests have been proposed for evaluating dyspeptic symptoms and their relationship to the underlying gastric disease. Serum pepsinogens and gastrin-17 are known to be useful biomarkers for the detection of gastric pathologies.

Aim: To evaluate the capability of screening dyspeptic patients in the primary care by analyses of serum pepsinogens I (sPGI) and II (sPGII), gastrin-17 (sG-17) and the IgG anti-Helicobacter pylori antibodies (IgG-Hp).

Topical treatment of distal active ulcerative colitis with beclomethasone dipropionate or mesalamine: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Goals: Therapy for active ulcerative colitis (UC) usually involves rectal formulations of corticosteroids (CS), which are characterized by the risk of systemic steroid-related adverse effects.

Background: To compare the efficacy and safety of the topically acting CS beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) versus mesalamine (5-ASA) in the treatment of active UC.

Study: Patients with mild to moderate distal active UC were randomized to a 6-week treatment with BDP 3 mg enema o.

Conscious sedation during endoscopic retrograde colangiopancreatography: implementation of SIED-SIAARTI-ANOTE guidelines in Belluno Hospital.

Aim: In this study we describe the results of adoption of local guidelines for conscious sedation (CS) during endoscopic-retrograde-cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in Belluno Hospital. Local guidelines were created referring to SIED-SIAARTI-ANOTE guidelines for CS in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Methods: Between January 2002 and February 2004, 300 ERCPs to be performed under CS have been scheduled.

[p-ANCA and ASCA antibodies in the differential diagnosis between ulcerative rectocolitis and Crohn's disease].

Unlabelled: Anti-Saccaromyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) seem to be associated with Crohn's disease (CD), while anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (p-ANCA) seem to be a recognised marker for ulcerative colitis (UC).

Aim: Of our study was to determine whether the presence of ASCA and p-ANCA antibodies could differentiate CD from UC and IBD from aspecific chronic colitis (ACC).

Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 23 patients with CD and 32 with UC, and from 13 patients with aspecific chronic colitis.

[Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infections using isotope-selective non dispersive infrared spectrometry with 13C-urea breath test].

Objective: The 13C-Urea Breath Test (13C-UBT) is a non-invasive simple and reliable test for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Widespread use of the test is limited by the high cost of isotope-ratio mass-spectrometry that is required for analysis of the breath samples. The aim of our study was: 1) evaluate the accuracy of a simple optical method called isotope-selective non-dispersive infrared spectrometry (NDIRS), which is designed to measure 13CO2/12CO2 ratio; 2) evaluate the possibility to reduce timing of breath samples collection after 13C-urea ingestion.

Altered plasma and mucosal concentrations of trace elements and antioxidants in active ulcerative colitis.

Background: The production of free radicals is increased in inflammatory bowel disease, and trace elements are crucial components of several antioxidants. Trace elements deficiency may therefore compromise the defense against oxidative damage. The aims of this study were to measure plasma and tissue concentration of trace elements and antioxidants and to relate this to disease activity.

Zinc, iron, and peroxidation in liver tissue. Cumulative effects of alcohol consumption and virus-mediated damage--a preliminary report.

In an attempt to elucidate further the mechanisms involved in alcohol-mediated liver damage and the correlation between alcohol and viruses in chronic liver lesions, we determined the levels of liver glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in 31 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (CAH), 6 with alcohol-related chronic hepatitis (CALD), 6 with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC), 8 with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and 10 healthy controls (C). Liver GSH was significantly lower in CALD and AC patients (p < 0.005).

Factors influencing the absorption of trace elements in healthy conditions and in gastrointestinal diseases.

Trace element metabolism is regulated by numerous factors among which absorption plays a key role. Nutritional imbalances or diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract are therefore often implicated in the development of deficiency states. An overview of dietary factors linked to trace element metabolism and intestinal factors influencing absorption is given with special reference to zinc, copper and selenium.

Zinc therapy in Wilson's disease: observations in five patients.

We report our experience with zinc (Zn) therapy in five patients with Wilson's disease (WD). In addition to neurologic examination, evaluation of Kayser-Fleischer rings and liver function tests, copper (Cu) and Zn concentrations in liver tissue, plasma, and urine were periodically evaluated by spectrophotometry. Many of the patients had had side effects due to penicillamine (PCA).