Food Beliefs and the Risk of Orthorexia in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) believe that diet plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of their disease and the exacerbation of their symptoms. They often adopt restrictive diets that can lead to malnutrition, anxiety, and stress. Recent studies have found a correlation between IBD and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder).

COVID-19: The Development and Validation of a New Mortality Risk Score.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has found the whole world unprepared for its correct management. Italy was the first European country to experience the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the end of February 2020. As a result of hospital overcrowding, the quality of care delivered was not always optimal.

Ultrasound Parameters Can Accurately Predict the Risk of Malignancy in Patients with "Indeterminate TIR3b" Cytology Nodules: A Prospective Study.

The increase in the incidence of thyroid nodules with cytological findings of TIR3b requires the identification of predictive factors of malignancy. We prospectively evaluated 2160 patients from January 2018 to June 2022 and enrolled 103 patients with indeterminate cytology TIR3b nodules who underwent total (73 patients) and hemi-thyroidectomy (30 patients). Among them, 61 had a histological diagnosis of malignancy (30 classic papillary thyroid carcinoma, 19 had follicular papillary thyroid carcinoma variant, 3 had Hurtle cell carcinoma and 9 had follicular thyroid carcinoma), while 42 had a benign histology.

Evidence of greater severity of diabetic foot ulcers during COVID-19 pandemic: A real-life single-centre cohort study.

Aims: In the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic era, patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) manifested more severe forms of Sars-Cov-2 with greater mortality than non-diabetic patients. Several studies documented more aggressive forms of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) during the pandemic period even though the results were not unanimously confirmed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical-demographic differences between a cohort of Sicilian diabetic patients hospitalised for DFU in the pre-pandemic 3 years and a cohort of patients hospitalised in the pandemic 2 years.

N-Acetylcysteine for Preventing Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury: A Comprehensive Review.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is used as an antidote in acetaminophen (APAP) overdose to prevent and mitigate drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Our objective was to systematically review evidence of the use of NAC as a therapeutic option for APAP overdose and APAP-related DILI in order to define the optimal treatment schedule and timing to start treatment. Bibliographic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and MEDLINE) were searched for retrospective and prospective cohort studies, case series, and clinical trials.

Diabetic foot ulcers: Retrospective comparative analysis from Sicily between two eras.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the incidence, management and mortality of DFU in Sicilian Type 2 diabetic patients hospitalized between two eras, i.e. 2008-2013 and 2014-2019.

Predictive factors of polycystic ovary syndrome in girls with precocious pubarche.

Objective: The aim of this study is to clarify, in girls with premature pubarche (PP), the influence of premature androgenization on the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design And Patients: Ninety-nine PP girls, 63 who developed PCOS and 36 who did not develop PCOS, were retrospectively included. Clinical, anthropometric, and metabolic parameters were evaluated at the time of diagnosis of PP and after 10 years from menarche to find predictive factors of PCOS.

Perception of the Role of Food and Dietary Modifications in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Impact on Lifestyle.

Background: Diet has a relevant role in triggering symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from the patients' perspective, but there is gap the between patients' and doctors' perceptions. Few studies have addressed this topic. The aim of this study was to evaluate food habits and nutrition knowledge in a homogeneous cohort of patients with IBD from southern Italy.

Umbilical hernioplasty in cirrhotic patients with ascites A case control study.

Objective: Umbilical hernia is a very frequent pathology, and plastic with prosthetic material is the most frequently used surgical procedure currently used for its repair. In patients with cirrhosis in asciic phase, this pathology is particularly frequent, with a tendency to rapidly increase in size and to become symptomatic. In the past treatment with traditional surgery in cirrhotic patients was considered problematic and was viewed with reserve, and only recently is the surgical approach recommended also in these patients.

Recurrent sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease: the efficacy of minimal subcutaneous excision of the sinus and unroofing of pseudocystic cavity.

Unlabelled: Patients undergoing surgery for recurrent pilonidal disease are at high risk of developing re-recurrence. The present prospective analysis was performed to evaluate the outcome for recurrent pilonidal disease treatment with a technique that provides a minimal subcutaneous excision of fistula and of the skin above the cyst, with secondary healing of wounds.

Methods: 48 consecutive patients with previous surgical excision and recurrent pilonidal disease underwent surgery from January 2009 to December 2016, under local anaesthesia.

The association between education level and chronic liver disease of any etiology.

Background: The potential link between educational level and chronic liver diseases (CLD) were explored using the mortality records of liver cirrhosis, which lack accuracy and are unable to identify the different etiological factors of liver cirrhosis. Information on the association of low educational level with the severity of CLD is lacking.

Aim: To evaluate the potential association linking education level to etiology and clinical stage of CLD cases.

Inguinal hernioplasty in patients with cirrhosis and ascites: what preventive measures are needed for a safe procedure?

Background: Inguinal hernioplasty in patients with LC and ascites has been long discouraged for the incidence of postoperative complications. The aim is to evaluate the appropriateness of this elective surgical procedure in patients with LC and ascites.

Methods: Thirty consecutive LC patients with ascites and affected by inguinal hernia (LC group), who underwent elective open inguinal hernioplasty with mesh placement, have been matched with the same number of patients non-LC (non-LC group) who underwent the same surgical procedure in the same period of time.

Decreasing role of HCV and HBV infections as aetiological factors of hepatocellular carcinoma in Italy.

Background: The epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by a dynamical temporal trend of well-established and emerging risk factors.

Methods: We evaluated the temporal trend of aetiological factors of HCC over the last two decades in Italy. HCC cases were recruited from two previously published national studies in 1996 and in 2008 and HCC cases were also enlisted from two national surveys in 2001 and in 2014 enrolling consecutive subjects with chronic liver disease (CLD) referring to more than 80 liver units scattered all over the country for a 6-month period.

The burden of HBV infection in HCV patients in Italy and the risk of reactivation under DAA therapy.

Background: There is increasing awareness of HBV reactivation in HCV-RNA-positive/HBV-coinfected patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) treated with oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

Aim: To provide figures on the prevalence of HBV markers in HCV-RNA-positive subjects in Italy, where these findings are lacking.

Methods: All subjects aged ≥18 years with CLD consecutively referring to Italian liver units located throughout country were prospectively enrolled in two national surveys in 2001 and 2014.

Geographical pattern of chronic liver diseases in Italy: Results from two pooled national surveys.

Background: The information on the geographical characteristics of chronic liver diseases (CLD) in Italy is out-dated.

Aim: To provide up-dated information on the geographical pattern of patients with CLD born in Italy.

Methods: Patients with CLD were enrolled in two national surveys performed in 2001 and 2014, which prospectively recruited subjects aged ≥18 years referring to Italian liver units located throughout the country that apply a similar clinical approach and analytical methods.

Characteristics and Changes over Time of Alcohol-Related Chronic Liver Diseases in Italy.

Introduction: To evaluate the characteristics of alcohol-related chronic liver disease (CLD) in Italy and their potential changes over time.

Patients And Methods: Subjects with CLD were enrolled in two national surveys performed in 2001 and in 2014 in Italy. The two surveys prospectively recruited patients aged ≥ 18 years referring to more than 80 Italian liver units scattered all over the country using similar clinical approach, analytical methods, and threshold of risky alcohol intake definition (≥ 3 units/day in men and ≥ 2 units/day in women).

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Fasciitis after Intramuscular Injection.

Necrotizing soft tissue fasciitis (NSTIs) or necrotizing fasciitis is an infrequent and serious infection. Herein, we describe the clinical course of a female patient who received a diagnosis of NSTIs after gluteus intramuscular injection. We also report the results of our review of published papers from 1997 to 2017.

Anti-tumour necrosis factor-α antibodies and B cell homeostasis in human inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background: The expression of CD70 on T cells is greatly enhanced by antigen-presenting cell (APC)-associated signals, such as tumour necrosis factor(TNF)-α, which is constitutionally high in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Experimentally, the chronic activation of CD27 as a result of the constitutive expression of CD70 leads to the demise of B cells in bone marrow (BM) and the secondary lymphoid organs. The aim of this study was to assess the number and phenotype of circulating B cell in untreated IBD patients and their counterparts treated with biological anti-TNF drugs.

Gender differences in chronic liver diseases in two cohorts of 2001 and 2014 in Italy.

Background: Gender differences in chronic liver disease (CLD) have been partially investigated. To extend the present knowledge, we evaluated 12,263 patients with CLD enrolled in two national surveys (9997 in 2001 and 2557 in 2014).

Methods: The two surveys prospectively recruited patients aged ≥ 18 referring to Italian liver units throughout the country using a similar clinical approach and analytical methods.

Sex difference in the interaction of alcohol intake, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus on the risk of cirrhosis.

Background: The joint effect of the interaction of alcohol intake, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) on the risk of cirrhosis is still unexplored because a large sample size is required for this investigation.

Objective: Evaluation of interaction of HBV, HCV and alcohol abuse on the risk of cirrhosis.

Design: We analysed 12,262 consecutive patients with chronic liver disease of various aetiologies referring to 95 Italian liver units in 2001 or 2014.

Clinical Course and Genetic Susceptibility of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: Analysis of a Prospective Cohort.

Background: Natural history of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is partially characterized in patients from the Mediterranean area whose genetic background differs from that of Northern Europeans.

Objectives: We aimed to describe genetic susceptibility and clinical course of PBC in patients from Southern Italy.

Methods: Socio-demographic, clinical, biochemical and histological data at diagnosis as well as disease progression of 81 PBC consecutive patients were collected.

Characteristics of liver cirrhosis in Italy: Evidence for a decreasing role of HCV aetiology.

Background: Previous cross-sectional studies have shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection had been the main agent associated with liver cirrhosis in Italy.

Aim: To assess epidemiological, laboratory and clinical features of liver cirrhosis in Italy in 2014.

Patients: Out of the 2557 consecutive subjects evaluated in 16 hospitals located throughout Italy in 2014, 832 (32.

Hepatitis delta infection in Italian patients: towards the end of the story?

Background: The endemicity of hepatitis delta virus infection in Italy has decreased in the last decades.

Aim: To evaluate the current epidemiology of chronic delta infection in Italy and to compare the present findings with the corresponding figures from the previous studies.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 16 referral centres scattered all over the country in 2014.