The use of a pocket-sized ultrasound device improves physical examination: results of an in- and outpatient cohort study.

Background: The performance of pocket mobile ultrasound devices (PUDs) is comparable with that of standard ultrasonography, whereas the accuracy of a physical examination is often poor requiring further tests to assess diagnostic hypotheses. Adding the use of PUD to physical examination could lead to an incremental benefit.

Aim: We assessed whether the use of PUD in the context of physical examination can reduce the prescription of additional tests when used by physicians in different clinical settings.

[Haemostatic abnormalities and thyroid disorders: the prospective observational MITH study].

Haemostatic abnormalities are a common phenomenon in patients with thyroid diseases. On one hand the condition of hyperthyroidism is associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events, on the other in severe hypothyroidism can be found a haemorrhagic tendency, as opposed to the subclinical hypothyroidism seems to correlate with increased thrombotic risk. The prospective, single center, observational MITH study (Mantua Investigation on Thyroid and Haemostasis), whose results are presented, aims to evaluate coagulation parameters in patients with thyroid disease, to establish the prevalence of haemostatic abnormalities in various conditions, to analyse the implications and clinical response to therapy established.

Pure white cell aplasia induced by mesalazine in a patient with ulcerative colitis.

Unlabelled: Objectives and importance: Mesalazine is a widely used and generally safe drug for the treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. Neutropenia rarely complicates this treatment and very few cases have been reported in the literature.

Clinical Presentation: We report here the case of a patient with ulcerative colitis who developed a severe febrile neutropenia during treatment with mesalazine.

Helicobacter pylori-associated idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a narrative review.

The Gram-negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori has a well-demonstrated role in several gastroduodenal diseases, including peptic ulcer disease, chronic active gastritis, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma. In addition, more recently, several studies have focused on the possible causal role of H. pylori in various extragastric disorders, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, skin, and autoimmune conditions.

[From treatment to palliative care: difficult news in oncology].

The transition from oncological treatment to palliative care represents one of the most difficult moments in communicating bad news to patients. Even the most experienced doctor can feel profoundly affected when facing these moments.

An experimental biological test to diagnose hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin: new horizons for an old problem.

Carboplatin, a second-generation platinum compound, is a chemotherapeutic drug effective in many types of cancers. Its use is limited by the development of systemic allergic reactions in up to 30% of the cancer patients. Therefore, it is very important to make a correct diagnosis of true carboplatin allergy, for the crucial clinical implications.

High prevalence of radiological vertebral fractures in women with prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas.

Hyperprolactinemia may cause bone loss but data on fractures are scanty. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of vertebral fractures in women with prolactin (PRL)-secreting adenoma. In this cross-sectional study, 78 women (median age 45.

The spectrum of coagulation abnormalities in thyroid disorders.

The hemostatic balance is a complex system where the delicate equilibrium is regulated by several factors including hormones. A variety of endocrine disorders have been reported to be associated with coagulation abnormalities, ranging from mild laboratory changes to clinically relevant thrombotic or bleeding manifestations. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the main abnormalities of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems associated with thyroid dysfunctions.

Hemostatic abnormalities in endocrine and metabolic disorders.

The hemostatic balance is a complex system where the delicate equilibrium is regulated by several factors, including hormones. This review summarizes current knowledge of the effects of most frequent endocrine and metabolic diseases (such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, GH-related pituitary dysfunctions, pituitary prolactin-producing adenomas, polycystic ovary syndrome, primary hyperparathyroidism, and metabolic syndrome) on coagulation and fibrinolysis. Overt hypothyroidism appears to be associated with a bleeding tendency, whereas all other endocrine diseases appear to be associated with a thrombotic tendency.

Serum TSH values and risk of vertebral fractures in euthyroid post-menopausal women with low bone mineral density.

Introduction: There is evidence that variations of thyrotropin (TSH) even in its reference range may influence bone mineral density (BMD). In fact, low-normal TSH values have been associated with high prevalence of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. However, data associating TSH and risk of fractures are scanty and limited to subjects with subclinical thyrotoxicosis.

Vertebral fractures in males with type 2 diabetes treated with rosiglitazone.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between osteoporotic vertebral fractures and rosiglitazone treatment and the influence on this association of bone mineral density (BMD) and duration of diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated BMD by DXA and the prevalence of radiological vertebral fractures identified by a quantitative morphometric analysis in 43 males with type 2 diabetes under metformin alone (22 cases) or associated with rosiglitazone (21 cases) and in 22 control non-diabetic subjects attending an out-patient bone clinic.

Results: Vertebral fractures were found in 46.

Thyroid dysfunction and hemostasis: an issue still unresolved.

Thyroid hormones exert various effects on the hemostatic system, as documented by the fact that subclinical or overt thyroid dysfunctions may be associated with hypocoagulable or hypercoagulable states. In this review, the hemostatic balance (primary hemostasis, coagulation factors, and fibrinolytic system) in different thyroid disorders is analyzed from a laboratory, pathogenic, and clinical point of view. Although limited, the published studies suggest that patients with hyperthyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism have an increased thrombotic risk, whereas patients with overt hypothyroidism have a bleeding tendency.

Thyroid-associated autoimmune coagulation disorders.

Abnormalities of blood coagulation are not rarely observed in patients with thyroid dysfunctions and may range from subclinical laboratory abnormalities to clinically significant hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on thyroid-associated autoimmune coagulation disorders (i.e.

Neuroendocrine tumors secreting growth hormone-releasing hormone: Pathophysiological and clinical aspects.

Hypothalamic GHRH is secreted into the portal system, binds to specific surface receptors of the somatotroph cell and elicits intracellular signals that modulate pituitary GH synthesis and/or secretion. Moreover, GHRH is synthesized and expressed in multiple extrapituitary tissues. Excessive peripheral production of GHRH by a tumor source would therefore be expected to cause somatotroph cell hyperstimulation, increased GH secretion and eventually pituitary acromegaly.

Bioavailability of trans-resveratrol from red wine in humans.

Many in vitro studies demonstrated significant biological effects of trans-resveratrol. Thus, understanding the rate of intestinal absorption and metabolization in vivo of trans-resveratrol is the prerequisite to evaluate its potential health impact. Bioavailability studies mainly in animals or in humans using the pure compound at very high doses were performed.

Sodium sensitivity as a main determinant of blood pressure changes during early withdrawal in heavy alcoholics.

Background: Stimulated sympathetic nervous system, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, vasopressin, and cortisol are thought to affect blood pressure in early withdrawal of alcoholics. Hyperactivity of sodium-retaining systems with consequent volume expansion also could interact with sodium sensitivity as previously found in long-term withdrawing alcoholics.

Methods: To investigate this hypothesis, blood pressure and sodium balance were measured during the first 8 days of withdrawal in 18 chronic alcoholics on a 150 mM Na diet.