Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection in radiation-induced oral mucositis.

Goal Of Work: The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection in mucositis during head and neck cancer radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Sixty patients with malignant head and neck tumor, eligible to receive radiotherapy, who were referred to the Dental Oncology Unit, entered the study. Sixteen patients (26.

Endoscopic variceal ligation vs. propranolol for prevention of first variceal bleeding: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Data in the literature regarding the role of endoscopic variceal ligation for the prevention of first variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients are controversial. To further explore this issue we have compared ligation and propranolol treatment in a prospective randomized study.

Methods: Sixty patients with cirrhosis and oesophageal varices with no history but at high risk of bleeding were randomized to ligation treatment (30 patients) or propranolol (30 patients).

Capsule endoscopy; the cumulative experience from its use in 193 patients with suspected small bowel disease.

Background/aims: This study presents our cumulative clinical experience from the use of wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in a large series of Greek patients with suspected small bowel (SB) diseases.

Methodology: Over an 18-month period, 193 patients were evaluated with WCE for suspected SB diseases [108 obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, 32 chronic diarrhea, 22 suspected and 6 diagnosed Crohn's disease, 16 abdominal pain, 4 refractory celiac disease, 3 polyposis syndromes, 1 Rendu-Osler-Weber disease and 1 Behcet disease]. All patients had undergone upper GI endoscopy and total colonoscopy.

Cloning, expression, and clinical significance of the major allergen from ash pollen, Fra e 1.

Background: Ash tree, an Oleaceae member, is considered an important source of pollen allergy in Central Europe. Fra e 1 is a protein of the Ole e 1-like family, which regulates pollen tube growth. It has been suggested to be a relevant allergen from ash pollen.

Tissue detection of natural killer cells in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells represent a first line of defence against a developing cancer; however, their exact role in colorectal cancer remains undetermined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of CD16 and CD57 [immunohistochemical markers of natural NK cells] in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Presence of NK cells was investigated in 82 colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Effect of PI-HAART on the prevalence of oral lesions in HIV-1 infected patients. A Greek study.

Objective: To investigate the association between the prevalence of oral lesions and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) including a protease inhibitor (PI).

Design: Prospective study.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-five consecutive patients, attending an AIDS Unit, in Greece entered the study.

Ischaemic necrosis of the rectum and sigmoid colon complicating systemic lupus erythematosus.

The case of a 37-year-old Caucasian female with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus, admitted to hospital due to progressively worsening abdominal pain and arthralgia. During hospitalisation, signs of acute abdomen developed. Laparotomy revealed perforation of the rectum, accompanied by necrosis of the rectosigmoid.

Oral candidiasis in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy with amifostine cytoprotection.

This controlled study assessed the incidence of oral candidiasis, a xerostomia-related complication, in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, with amifostine cytoprotection. Thirty-eight patients received 500 mg amifostine i.v.

Safety of extension of a previous endoscopic sphincterotomy: a prospective study.

Objectives: Data in the literature regarding complication risks after the extension of a previous endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (repeat endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy) are limited and controversial. To explore this issue, we prospectively studied complications after repeat sphincterotomy and compared them with those of biliary endoscopic sphincterotomy in consecutive patients with choledocholithiasis.

Methods: A total of 250 patients underwent endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy and 81 underwent extension of a previous one.

Pituitary non-secreting macroadenoma apoplexy in an adolescent. patient report and review of the literature.

Pituitary macroadenomas are rare in children and adolescents, and when encountered are usually hormone secreting. Symptomatic pituitary non-secreting macroadenoma apoplexy in an adolescent is rare and potentially life-threatening. A 15 year-old patient is described, hospitalized due to headache, fever and photophobia 4 days prior to admission.

Minimal expression of the proto-oncogene int-2 encoded protein in a series of colorectal carcinomas.

Background: Int-2 (fibroblast growth factor-3) is a gene that belongs to the fibroblast growth factor gene family. It has been implicated in the carcinogenesis of several types of cancer, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, breast, head, and neck and lung carcinomas; but no firm data on its biological activity regarding neoplasms arising from the glandular epithelia of the gastrointestinal tract exists.

Methods: In the present immunohistochemical study, we investigated the presence of int-2 encoded protein in a panel of 80 cases of colon carcinoma of various stages, grades and sizes.

Acute hepatitis associated with herb (Teucrium capitatum L.) administration.

Drug-induced hepatotoxicity due to medicinal plant administration has been infrequently reported. This case describes a 62-year-old Caucasian man with hypercholesterolaemia and hyperglycaemia, who started daily consumption of a tea containing the medicinal plant Teucrium capitatum L. Four months after initiation of this therapy he developed an acute icteric hepatitis-like illness.

Autoimmune hepatitis associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome.

The antiphospholipid syndrome has rarely been described in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Two cases with type I autoimmune hepatitis and antiphospholipid syndrome are presented. The first case is that of a 53-year-old Caucasian female with a history of arterial thrombosis and fetal loss who was submitted to clinical and laboratory testing due to persistent transaminasaemia and was found to have autoimmune hepatitis.

A case of haemosuccus pancreaticus.

Haemosuccus pancreaticus (Wirsungorrhagia or pseudohaemobilia) is a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis. We describe a 48-year-old patient with alcohol-induced chronic calcific pancreatitis and recurrent episodes of severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding but without abdominal pain. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed fresh blood oozing from the ampulla of Vater.