Dietary Habits and Risk of Esophagitis and Barrett's Esophagus: A Multicenter Italian Case-Control Study.

Background: Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophagitis share potentially modifiable risk factors such as obesity, smoking, and alcohol. The role of diet on BE and esophagitis is still debated.

Aims: The objective of this study was to examine the association between some dietary habits and the risk of BE and esophagitis in Italy.

Alcohol consumption pattern and risk of Barrett's oesophagus and erosive oesophagitis: an Italian case-control study.

Knowledge about the association between alcohol and Barrett's oesophagus and reflux oesophagitis is conflicting. In this case-control study we evaluated the role of specific alcoholic beverages (red and white wine, beer and liquors) in 339 Barrett's oesophagus and 462 oesophagitis patients compared with 619 endoscopic controls with other disorders, recruited in twelve Italian endoscopic units. Data on alcohol and other individual characteristics were obtained from structured questionnaires.

Smoking as an independent determinant of Barrett's esophagus and, to a lesser degree, of reflux esophagitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of smoking in Barrett's esophagus (BE) and erosive esophagitis (E) compared to endoscopic controls with no BE or E. Smoking is considered a cause of both BE and E, but results on this topic are quite controversial.

Methods: Patients with BE (339), E (462) and controls (619: 280 with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)-negative and 339 with GERD-positive anamnesis) were recruited in 12 Italian endoscopy units.

Clinical presentation and outcome of colorectal cancer in HIV-positive patients: a clinical case-control study.

Background: Data on colorectal cancer (CRC) in HIV-positive patients are limited. The study objective was to investigate and compare clinical presentation and outcome between HIV-positive and HIV-negative CRC patients.

Patients And Methods: Between September 1985 and November 2003 we identified 27 cases of HIV-positive CRC patients from the cancer registry database - Italian Cooperative Group AIDS and Tumours (GICAT); the clinical presentation/outcome information was retrieved.

Long-term endoscopic surveillance of patients with Barrett's esophagus. Incidence of dysplasia and adenocarcinoma: a prospective study.

Objective: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition for which regular endoscopic follow-up is usually advised. We evaluated the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (AC) in patients with BE and the impact of endoscopic surveillance on mortality from AC.

Methods: A cohort of newly diagnosed BE patients was studied prospectively.

Endoscopic diagnosis and staging of gastric tumors.

Endoscopy, biopsy, and cytology represent the gold standard for the diagnosis of gastric malignancies. Guidelines have been developed to select the patient-population at risk of gastric cancer as well as for the appropriateness of endoscopic examination among large gastric cancer screening programs. Endoscopic ultrasound is an essential part of preoperative staging in view of gastric resection and may be useful to identify high-risk patients potentially eligible for investigational neoadjuvant treatment programs.