Direct Aspiration Versus Combined Technique for Anterior Distal, Medium Vessel Occlusions Stroke: The JET Distal Vessel Occlusion Study.

Background And Objectives: The optimal mechanical thrombectomy technique for distal, medium vessel occlusion (DMVO) stroke remains unknown. We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of 2 thrombectomy first-line approaches, direct aspiration (DA), and combined technique (CT) in patients with DMVOs.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively collected multicenter database of patients with DMVOs (at or distal to M2 and A1), who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with JET D reperfusion catheters between January 2020 and December 2021.

Percutaneous thermal segmentectomy for liver malignancies over 3 cm: mid-term oncological performance and predictors of sustained complete response from a multicentric Italian retrospective study.

Introduction: Percutaneous thermal segmentectomy is a single-step combination of microwave ablation, performed during arterial occlusion obtained with a balloon micro catheter, followed in the same session by balloon-occluded TACE. The aim of this multicenter retrospective study is to report the mid-term oncological performance of this technique for liver malignancies > 3.0 cm and to identify risk factors for the loss of sustained complete response.

Risk of hepatic decompensation from hepatitis B virus reactivation in hematological malignancy treatments.

In this editorial, we discussed the apparent discrepancy between the findings described by Colapietro , in their case report and data found in the literature. Colapietro reported a case of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatic decompensation in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia and a previously resolved HBV infection who was receiving Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor therapy. First of all, we recapitulated the main aspects of the immune system involved in the response to HBV infection in order to underline the role of the innate and adaptive response, focusing our attention on the protective role of anti-HBs.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and AMPK/mTOR pathway in the treatment of liver fibrosis: Should we consider further implications?

This editorial contains comments on the article by Zhao in print in the . The mechanisms responsible for hepatic fibrosis are also involved in cancerogenesis. Here, we recapitulated the complexity of the renin-angiotensin system, discussed the role of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) autophagy in liver fibrogenesis, and analyzed the possible implications in the development of hepatocarcinoma (HCC).

Comparison of Transient Elastography and Point Shear Wave Elastography for Analysis of Liver Stiffness: A Prospective Study.

Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by Fibroscan is the most used non-invasive method to assess liver fibrosis. Recently, point-shear wave elastography (pSWE) has been introduced as a simple alternative non-invasive test. Therefore, we aimed to compare the results of these two techniques.

Investigating the prilling/vibration technique to produce gastric-directed drug delivery systems for misoprostol.

Prilling/vibration technique to produce oral microcapsules was explored to achieve local delivery of misoprostol (MIS), a prostaglandin E1 analogue indicated for the treatment of gastric-duodenal ulcers, at the gastric mucosa. To improve MIS chemical stability and reduce its associated systemic side effects, drug delivery systems were designed and developed as microcapsules consisting of a core of sunflower oil and MIS (F and F) or a MIS complex with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) (F), confirmed by specific studies, and a polymeric shell. The produced microcapsules showed high encapsulation efficiencies for those with MIS solubilized in sunflower oil (>59.

Woven EndoBridge Device for Unruptured Wide-Neck Bifurcation Aneurysm: A Multicenter 5-Year Follow-up.

Background And Objectives: This multicenter study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device for treating unruptured wide-neck intracranial bifurcation aneurysms (WIBAs) with short-, mid-, and long-term follow-ups (FUPs).

Methods: Consecutive patients with unruptured WIBAs treated with WEB between December 2014 and January 2018 were included. Patient, aneurysm, and device characteristics were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

Natural History and Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Spontaneous Seroclearance in Hepatitis B Virus e-Antigen (HBeAg)-Negative Patients with Inactive Chronic Infection: A Multicenter Regional Study from South Italy.

Spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance has been mainly studied in populations from Asia, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and Polynesia. For the first time, we evaluated the spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance and its possible associated factors and the risk of disease progression in HBeAg-negative patients with inactive infection all coming from the same region in South Italy. In this multicenter retrospective study, 146 patients were selected after 18 months of observation and followed for a median of 82 months (IQR 60-107).

The Italian data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in transplanted patients support an organ specific immune response in liver recipients.

Introduction: The study of immune response to SARSCoV-2 infection in different solid organ transplant settings represents an opportunity for clarifying the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and the immune system. In our nationwide registry study from Italy, we specifically evaluated, during the first wave pandemic, i.e.

Hepatic encephalopathy increases the risk for mortality and hospital readmission in decompensated cirrhotic patients: a prospective multicenter study.

Introduction: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) affects the survival and quality of life of patients with cirrhosis. However, longitudinal data on the clinical course after hospitalization for HE are lacking. The aim was to estimate mortality and risk for hospital readmission of cirrhotic patients hospitalized for HE.

Effect of Long-Term Proton Pump Inhibitor Use on Blood Vitamins and Minerals: A Primary Care Setting Study.

Background And Objectives: Long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is frequently encountered in primary care. Its effect on micronutrient absorption is known, as vitamin B12, calcium or vitamin D insufficiency may occur in such patients.

Materials And Methods: We recruited patients using a PPI (pantoprazole) for >12 months.

Malnutrition assessment by Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Malnutrition can play an important prognostic role in terms of survival in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this clinical context, applying criteria defining malnutrition requires particular attention, especially in the initial stage of the disease. This article discusses the application of the most recent criteria used for the definition of malnutrition when applied to patients with ALS.

HCV-positive kidney transplant patients treated with direct-acting antivirals maintain stable medium-term graft function despite persistent reduction in tacrolimus trough levels.

Background/aim: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have improved the treatment of HCV-positive kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). However, their medium-term follow-up effects on graft function are conflicting. This study aimed to analyze how the interplay between DAAs, calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), and HCV eradication impacts 12-month kidney graft function.

Risk of obesity during a gluten-free diet in pediatric and adult patients with celiac disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Context: Obesity is a significant risk factor for many pathological conditions. Whether a gluten-free diet (GFD) is a risk factor for overweight or obesity remains controversial.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of body mass index (BMI) categories at disease presentation and the variation in BMI category from underweight/normal to overweight/obese and vice versa during a GFD.

Assessment of body composition: Intrinsic methodological limitations and statistical pitfalls.

Evaluation of body composition (BC) is crucial for an adequate assessment of nutritional status and its alterations, to ensure the optimal tailoring of nutritional therapies during several pathologic conditions. The need for feasible and reliable methods for BC measurement, which could be applied either in healthcare across the lifespan as well as in clinical research and epidemiologic studies, has led to the development of various techniques. Unfortunately, they have not always produced equivalent results due to the fact that they are based on completely different principles or suffer intrinsic biases related to specific conditions.

Irisin Serum Levels and Skeletal Muscle Assessment in a Cohort of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Patients.

Background: Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) indicates a group of inherited polyneuropathies whose clinical phenotypes primarily include progressive distal weakness and muscle atrophy. Compelling evidence showed that the exercise-mimetic myokine irisin protects against muscle wasting in an autocrine manner, thus possibly preventing the onset of musculoskeletal atrophy. Therefore, we sought to determine if irisin serum levels correlate with biochemical and muscle parameters in a cohort of CMT patients.

Possible role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in the progression of human colon precancerous lesions.

Background: Increased levels of oxidative stress/cell inflammation contribute to colorectal cancer (CRC) onset. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its controlled growth factor erv1-like (Gfer) gene regulate redox-sensitive and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, respectively, which can contribute to promoting cancer development.

Aim: We evaluated Nrf2 and Gfer RNA expression and Nrf2 protein expression in colon mucosa in order to establish their possible involvement in the early stage of CRC.

Liver involvement in inflammatory bowel disease: What should the clinician know?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may show a wide range of extraintestinal manifestations. In this context, liver involvement is a focal point for both an adequate management of the disease and its prognosis, due to possible serious comorbidity. The association between IBD and primary sclerosing cholangitis is the most known example.

Esophageal Eosinophilia and Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Celiac Children: A Ten Year Prospective Observational Study.

Unlabelled: The association between eosinophilic esophagitis and celiac disease is still controversial and its prevalence is highly variable. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of esophageal eosinophilia and eosinophilic esophagitis in a large group of children with celiac disease, prospectively followed over 11 years.

Methods: Prospective observational study performed between 2008 and 2019.

Long-term safety of rituximab in rheumatic patients with previously resolved hepatitis B virus infection.

Conflicting results can be found in the literature on the frequency of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation (HBVr) on rituximab (RTX) in rheumatic patients with previously resolved HBV (prHBV) infection. Here, we report the frequency of HBVr in a large historical cohort of caucasian rheumatic patients with prHBV receiving RTX. Registry data of rheumatic patients treated with RTX were retrospectively analysed.

Twelve Months with COVID-19: What Gastroenterologists Need to Know.

Corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) is the latest global pandemic. COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets and, apart from respiratory symptoms, patients often present with gastrointestinal symptoms and liver involvement. Given the high percentage of COVID-19 patients that present with gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS), in this review, we report a practical up-to-date reference for the physician in their clinical practice with patients affected by chronic gastrointestinal (GI) diseases (inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, chronic liver disease) at the time of COVID-19.

Minimal portosystemic encephalopathy: A new nosological entity in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Background: Portosystemic shunts in Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) are often overlooked by conventional imaging although they could reduce hepatic clearance of gut-derived toxins.

Aims: To evaluate, the presence of subclinical neurological alterations (SNAs), that we named "minimal portosystemic encephalopathy" (mPSE) in HHT patients without advanced liver disease (ALD).

Methods: In this cross sectional study, consecutive HHT outpatients were firstly screened by critical flicker frequency (CFF) test (abnormal ≤39Hz), and the simplified animal naming test (S-ANT) (abnormal <15) was used to confirm the diagnosis of mPSE.

Iodine Absorption in Celiac Children: A Longitudinal Pilot Study.

non-autoimmune thyroid disorder is a common finding in celiac patients, more frequent than in the general population. An impairment of iodine absorption has been hypothesized, but it has never been investigated so far. We aimed to evaluate the iodine absorption in children and adolescents with newly diagnosed celiac disease.

Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Effects of Probiotics in Gut Inflammation: A Door to the Body.

Hosting millions of microorganisms, the digestive tract is the primary and most important part of bacterial colonization. On one side, in cases of opportunistic invasion, the abundant bacterial population inside intestinal tissues may face potential health problems such as inflammation and infections. Therefore, the immune system has evolved to sustain the host-microbiota symbiotic relationship.