A case of ceftriaxone-induced liver injury and literature review.

Background: Liver injury evoked by drugs spans various clinical manifestations ranging from mild biochemical abnormalities to acute liver failure. Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin often used in clinical practice for its long half-life, high tissue penetration rate, wide spectrum and good safety profile. Ceftriaxone, as other cephalosporins have little hepatotoxicity; however, few cases of toxic hepatitis induced by this antibiotic have been reported.

Colon metastasis from recurrent gallbladder cancer: a case report.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is associated with a poor prognosis. Colonic metastases representing approximately 1% of total colorectal cancers, are very rarely reported. According to more recent data in the literature, cases of colon metastases from GBC have not been reported.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) food supplements and hepatotoxicity: an integrated evaluation approach.

Introduction: Turmeric is the common name for the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. In the recent years, food supplements containing turmeric have been marketed and widely used by an increasing number of consumers. Spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions to food supplements are collected within the Phytovigilance system.

Immuno- and glyco-histochemistry as a tool to evaluate the oregano supplemented feed effects in pig gut.

Among oregano properties, its antioxidant and antibacterial effects are particularly interesting. Oregano is also able to induce a higher glycoconjugate production in gut, creating a physical barrier against microorganisms. This study evaluated the effects of adding an aqueous extract of oregano (OAE) to the diet of two homogenous groups of pigs during the finisher phase.

Sarcoidosis in an Italian province. Prevalence and environmental risk factors.

Background And Aim: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous inflammatory disease whose causes are still unknown and for which epidemiological data are often discordant. The aim of our study is to investigate prevalence and spatial distribution of cases, and identify environmental exposures associated with sarcoidosis in an Italian province.

Methods: After georeferentiation of cases, the area under study was subdivided with respect to Municipality and Health Districts and to the altitude in order to identify zonal differences in prevalence.

The way forward in Italy for iodine.

Italy is dealing with iodine deficiency since ancient times. In 1848 an ad hoc committee appointed by the king of Sardinia, identified extensive areas afflicted by endemic goiter and endemic cretinism in Piedmont, Liguria and Sardinia. Since then many epidemiological studies have been conducted in our country.

Daily iodine intake and the impact of salt reduction on iodine prophylaxis in the Italian population.

Background/objectives: Salt iodization is one of the preferred strategies to eradicate iodine-deficiency disorders worldwide. The aim of this study was (i) to estimate the daily iodine intake in the Italian population, (ii) to verify whether the recently recommended salt intake of 5 g/day in adults and less in children may be sufficient to achieve the adequate daily iodine intake, (iii) to estimate the contribution of iodine-enriched vegetables to the total daily iodine intake.

Subjects/methods: The content of iodine has been evaluated in 288 food samples highly representative of Italian eating habits.

Iron excretion in iron dextran-overloaded mice.

Background: Iron homeostasis in humans is tightly regulated by mechanisms aimed to conserve iron for reutilisation, with a negligible role played by excretory mechanisms. In a previous study we found that mice have an astonishing ability to tolerate very high doses of parenterally administered iron dextran. Whether this ability is linked to the existence of an excretory pathway remains to be ascertained.

Cadmium bioaccumulation in Mediterranean spider crab (Maya squinado): human consumption and health implications for exposure in Italian population.

Cd bioaccumulation pattern was investigated in Mediterranean spider crab (Maya squinado, Herbst, 1788) collected from the northern Adriatic Sea. Specimens were caught in the framework of a monitoring plan in order to quantify the Cd distribution into different organs and tissues of crab. For this purpose, Cd level was studied in appendages, cephalothorax, abdomen as well as gonads.

Human exposure to lead, cadmium and mercury through fish and seafood product consumption in Italy: a pilot evaluation.

The presence of selected toxic heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), was investigated in fish and seafood products, namely, blue mussel, carpet shell clam, European squid, veined squid, deep-water rose shrimp, red mullet, European seabass, gilthead seabream, Atlantic cod, European hake, Atlantic bluefin tuna and swordfish so as to assess their human exposure through diet. Metals were detected by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS) and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (Hg-AAS). Measurements of Cd, Pb and Hg were performed by means of analytical methods validated in compliance with UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025 [2005.

Obscure-occult bleeding: resolution of unexplained chronic sideropenic anaemia by colonoscopic removal of a colonic leiomyoma.

Although leiomyomas of the stomach or small intestine are relatively common, those of the colon or rectum are rare. Several cases of endoscopic resection of colorectal leiomyomas have been described. However, conventional polypectomy of leiomyomas can result in perforation.

Spontaneous right ventricular thrombus in a patient with active ulcerative colitis and protein C deficiency: a review with a case report.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic condition of gastrointestinal tract whose pathogenesis results from the complex interaction of genetic susceptibility and environmental influences. Is well known how IBD patients have an increased risk of thrombosis.

Objectives: To assess the frequency and characteristics of thromboembolic events (TEE) in IBD and the role of certain etiopathological factors in such thrombotic patients.

A real-time 2-D vector Doppler system for clinical experimentation.

A real-time hardware software 2-D vector Doppler system has been realized by means of the FEMMINA platform. The system operates by performing two independent 1-D Doppler estimations on the scan plane of a linear array probe along different directions; the probe is connected to a commercial scanner. The reconstructed velocity is presented in real-time as superposition on the conventional B-mode images.

Predictive factors of mortality from nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: a multicenter study.

Objectives: From an Italian Registry of patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH), we assessed the clinical outcomes and explored the roles of clinical, endoscopic, and therapeutic factors on 30-day mortality in a real life setting.

Methods: Prospective analysis of consecutive patients endoscoped for UGIH at 23 community and tertiary care institutions from 2003 to 2004. Covariates and outcomes were defined a priori and 30-day follow-up obtained.

Transcriptome profile of human colorectal adenomas.

Colorectal cancers are believed to arise predominantly from adenomas. Although these precancerous lesions have been subjected to extensive clinical, pathologic, and molecular analyses, little is currently known about the global gene expression changes accompanying their formation. To characterize the molecular processes underlying the transformation of normal colonic epithelium, we compared the transcriptomes of 32 prospectively collected adenomas with those of normal mucosa from the same individuals.

Selected treatments for duodenal perforation after ERCP. A report of three cases.

Perforation is one of the most serious complications of endoscopic sphincterotomy. In the last decade, the management has shifted towards a more selective approach. Three cases are reported here involving three different treatments.

[Reconversion after Hartmann's procedure. Our experience].

An increasing number of intestinal reconversion after Hartmann have been performed in recent years, especially due to improved surgical techniques and progressively lengthened lifespan. The authors report 33 cases of intestinal recanalization of 100 interventions according to Hartmann from 1984 to 1996 (21 not neoplastic pathologies, 12 neoplasias). The variables considered included: patient age, type of disease requiring intervention according to Hartmann, oncologic characteristic of patients with neoplasia, interval between the two interventions, preoperative examinations performed, morbidity and mortality after reconversion.

Endoscopic implantation of a biopolymer in the lower esophageal sphincter for gastroesophageal reflux: a pilot study.

Background: GERD is the most frequent disorder of the esophagus. Endoscopic minimally invasive treatment is desirable. However, the results of injection techniques have been disappointing.

Helicobacter pylori CagA-positive strains affect oxygen free radicals generation by gastric mucosa.

Background: Helicobacter pylori plays a key role in production of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs). However, the importance of virulent CagA-positive H. pylori strains remains to be determined.

Efficacy of a multistep strategy for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Background: Helicobacter pylori eradication therapies do not achieve 100% success rates. Antibiotic resistant strains are among the major causes of failure. Current recommendations concerning the management of treatment failures are not fully clear.

Five-day regimens containing ranitidine bismuth citrate plus high-dose clarithromycin and either amoxycillin or tinidazole for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC)-based triple therapies for a period of 7 days have proved to be an effective treatment for Helicobacter pylori.

Aim: To investigate the eradication efficacy, safety profile and patient compliance of two RBC-based triple therapies given for 5 days.

Methods: Eighty H.

Six-day or seven-day regimens with ranitidine bismuth citrate plus high-dose clarithromycin and tinidazole are both effective against Helicobacter pylori infection.

We compared the efficacy of two therapies to eradicate H. pylori infection including ranitidine bismuth citrate (400 mg twice daily), clarithromycin (500 mg twice daily), and tinidazole (500 mg twice daily), administered for six or seven days. Eighty H.

Hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis are associated with necroinflammatory injury and Th1-like response in chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: The involvement of a direct viral cytopathic effect or an immune-mediated mechanism in the progression of hepatic damage in chronic hepatitis C is controversial. The type of immune response is itself a matter of controversy, and histological data are lacking. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the progression of liver injury in 30 HCV/RNA-positive untreated patients with chronic hepatitis.