Neuroendocrine tumors diagnosed at the Antonio Cardarelli hospital (Naples, Italy) between 2006-2009: a single-institution analysis.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare, with an incidence of about 5 per 100,000 inhabitants. As no study on NETs has ever been specifically conducted on the population of Campania, we performed a retrospective analysis of all newly diagnosed NETs at the Antonio Cardarelli hospital between 2006-2009. A search of the registry of the Pathology Department of the Antonio Cardarelli hospital was carried out to retrieve available data on all newly diagnosed NET cases.

Natural history of hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal aminotransferase levels.

Background & Aims: Some patients with serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) have persistently normal aminotransferase (ALT) levels and are affected by cirrhosis. This study prospectively evaluated progression of the disease in a group of anti-HCV-positive patients with persistently normal ALT levels.

Methods: Thirty-seven subjects were studied.

Non-ulcer dyspepsia and Helicobacter pylori in type 2 diabetic patients: association with autonomic neuropathy.

Diabetic patients often suffer from symptoms arising from the gastrointestinal tract. Several factors are considered responsible for these alterations, including abnormalities of gastric motility. Recently Helicobacter pylori (HP) has been identified in a relevant aliquot of subjects with or without gastrointestinal abnormalities, but only scarce and controversial data are available on the prevalence of HP and the association between HP and chronic gastritis or peptic ulcer in diabetic patients.

Regional distribution of transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor in normal and portal hypertensive gastric mucosa in humans.

This study was designed to evaluate the concentration and the regional distribution of TGF-alpha and EGF in normal and portal hypertensive human gastric mucosa. To this end we measured by RIA the gastric and duodenal concentration of TGF-alpha and EGF in subjects with chronic hepatitis, who had normal gastric endoscopic appearance, and in patients with liver cirrhosis with and without congestive gastropathy. Our results show that TGF-alpha concentration is significantly higher than EGF concentration in both the stomach and duodenum.