Inflammatory bowel disease: a proposal to facilitate the achievement of an unequivocal diagnosis.

Following the international guidelines criteria an adequate "diagnostic conclusion" of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be achieved only if clinical, endoscopic and laboratory findings, together with sample technical adequacy and unequivocal histomorphological signs of the disease are available. Thus, a conclusive diagnosis requires a complex combination of clinical, endoscopic and histological data. A considerable number of endoscopic biopsies obtained from IBD patients do not meet the above-mentioned requirements.

Influence of genetics on tumoral pathologies: the example of the adenocarcinoma arising in Barrett's esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus (BE) refers to an abnormal change (metaplasia) in the cells of the inferior portion of the esophagus. About 10% of patients with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have BE. In some cases, BE develops as an advanced stage of erosive esophagitis.

Gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal presentation in patients with celiac disease.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) may have a variety of different presentations. This study has aimed to explore the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) and non-GI symptoms in patients with CD according to data collected in Italy and Romania (Europe) and Iran (Middle East).

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in Iran, Romania and Italy with data collection during the period from May 2009 - May 2011.

Papillary thyroid cancer and ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis is associated with several malignancies. Here we report one such association, a rare one, with papillary thyroid carcinoma, and discuss the possible risk factors of such an association.

SpyGlass single-operator peroral cholangioscopy in the evaluation of indeterminate biliary lesions: a single-center, prospective, cohort study.

Background: SpyGlass single-operator peroral cholangioscopy appears to be a promising technique to overcome some limitations of conventional peroral cholangioscopy. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the SpyGlass system in a cohort of patients with indeterminate biliary lesions.

Methods: Patients with indeterminate strictures or filling defects at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were consecutively enrolled.

Histopathology in gastrointestinal neuromuscular diseases: methodological and ontological issues.

Gastrointestinal neuromuscular diseases (GINMDs) comprise a heterogenous group of chronic conditions associated with impaired gut motility. These gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, differing for etiopathogenic mechanisms, pathologic lesions, and region of gut involvement, represent a relevant matter for public health, because they are very common, can be disabling, and determine major social and economic burdens. GINMDs are presumed or proven to arise as a result of a dysfunctioning GI neuromuscular apparatus, which includes myenteric ganglia (neurons and glial cells), interstitial cells of Cajal and smooth muscle cells.

Antioxidant supplement and long-term reduction of recurrent adenomas of the large bowel. A double-blind randomized trial.

Background: Patients who undergo polypectomy are at increased risk of adenoma recurrence. The preventive potential of vitamins (A, C and E) and selenium supplementation represent an interesting opportunity for colorectal cancer prevention.

Methods: To assess the efficacy of a combination of these micronutrients in reducing the incidence of recurrent adenomas in subjects on post-polypectomy endoscopic follow-up, a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial was started in Italy in 1988.

Serrated polyps of the colon: how reproducible is their classification?

For several years, the lack of consensus on definition, nomenclature, natural history, and biology of serrated polyps (SPs) of the colon has created considerable confusion among pathologists. According to the latest WHO classification, the family of SPs comprises hyperplastic polyps (HPs), sessile serrated adenomas/polyps (SSA/Ps), and traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs). The term SSA/P with dysplasia has replaced the category of mixed hyperplastic/adenomatous polyps (MPs).

Celiac disease with mild enteropathy is not mild disease.

Background & Aims: Patients with celiac disease have varying degrees of damage to the small intestinal mucosa, ranging from lymphocytic duodenosis with normal villous structure to severe villous atrophy. We assessed whether the severity of mucosal lesions was associated with clinical and laboratory features of celiac disease.

Methods: We compared demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics among patients with celiac disease who were classified based on the severity of duodenal lesions.

The significance of duodenal mucosal atrophy in patients with common variable immunodeficiency: a clinical and histopathologic study.

Gastrointestinal manifestations and villous atrophy can be seen in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). In some patients, infectious agents may be responsible, whereas in others, celiac disease (CD) may be the cause. In this study, we investigate the causes and the histopathologic features seen in patients with CVID.

The role of colonic mast cells and myenteric plexitis in patients with diverticular disease.

Background: Gut mast cells represent an important cell population involved in intestinal homeostasis and inflammatory processes. However, their possible role has not to date been investigated in colonic diverticular disease.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate colonic mast cells in patients undergoing surgery for diverticular disease.

Microscopic Enteritis; clinical features and correlations with symptoms.

Aim: To assess the clinical characteristic of CD as well as correlation of symptoms and the degrees of intestinal mucosal lesions in Iranian children.

Background: Microscopic Enteritis (Marsh 0-II) is associated with malabsorption.

Patients And Methods: From August 2005 to September 2009, 111 cases with malabsorption and classical gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated.

Celiac disease in elderly adults: clinical, serological, and histological characteristics and the effect of a gluten-free diet.

Objectives: To compare celiac disease (CD) in older and younger adults and to assess the effects of a gluten-free diet (GFD).

Design: Retrospective retrieval of information prospectively entered into a structured database.

Setting: CD clinic, University and Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.

HLA-DQ typing in the diagnostic algorithm of celiac disease.

Objective: celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory disease associated with HLA-DQ2 and DQ8 molecules. We evaluated the role of HLA in the CD diagnostic algorithm in order to contribute to the development of practical indications for the use of HLA typing.

Material And Methods: we selected 317 subjects typed for DR-DQ genes.

Colonic diverticular disease: abnormalities of neuromuscular function.

Although diverticular disease of the colon (diverticulosis) is a frequent finding in Western countries, its pathophysiologic grounds are still only partially understood. Traditionally considered as an age-related condition, colonic diverticulosis is probably the final result of several factors concurring together to determine the anatomo-functional abnormalities eventually causing outpouching of the viscus' mucosa. Among these factors, a relevant role seems to be played by an abnormal neuromuscular function of the large bowel, as shown by abnormal myoelectrical and motor function repeatedly described in these patients, as well as by altered visceral perception.

Primary Extra-gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of Retroperitoneum.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. More rarely neoplasms with histology and immunohistochemistry similar to GISTs may occur outside the gastrointestinal tract ( omentum, mesentery and retroperitoneum) and are so-called Extra-gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (EGISTs). EGISTs arising in the retroperitoneum are extremely rare: to date, only 58 cases have been reported in the literature.

Chronic hepatitis in man and in dog: a comparative update.

Chronic hepatitis is a frequent pathologic condition encountered in both dogs and humans; however, in the latter etiologic factors are usually searched and found that allow targeted therapeutic approaches, whereas in dogs this is less frequent. This review will take into consideration chronic hepatitis in dogs, and discuss differences and similarities between the two species with respect to this disease.

Schaumann bodies in Crohn's disease: a case report and review of the literature.

Schaumann bodies are inclusion bodies, first described by Schaumann in 1941, typically seen in granulomatous diseases such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis and chronic beryllium diseases. Williams WJ, in 1964, reported Schaumann bodies to occur in 10% of Crohn's disease (CD). We report a case of Crohn's disease, initially misdiagnosed as a schistosoma-related colitis for the presence of numerous calcified bodies resembling calcified ova and scattered granulomas.