Hepatic encephalopathy increases the risk for mortality and hospital readmission in decompensated cirrhotic patients: a prospective multicenter study.

Introduction: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) affects the survival and quality of life of patients with cirrhosis. However, longitudinal data on the clinical course after hospitalization for HE are lacking. The aim was to estimate mortality and risk for hospital readmission of cirrhotic patients hospitalized for HE.

Datterino Trial: A Double Blind, Randomized, Controlled, Crossover, Clinical Trial on the Use of Hydroponic Cultivated Tomato Sauce in Systemic Nickel Allergy Syndrome.

A low-nickel (Ni) diet, a key treatment for Systemic Nickel Allergy Syndrome (SNAS), is difficult in the long term and strongly impacts quality of life (QoL). Hydroponic agriculture could be an alternative to allow the reintroduction of tomato, an essential food in the global diet. In a first interventional, randomized, double-blind, single-center crossover study, we compared the possible effects of eating tomato puree deriving from hydroponic agriculture versus tomato puree from conventional cultivation, collecting data on subjective control of SNAS symptoms, adherence to treatment, and impact on QoL.

Effect of a Multistrain Probiotic on Leaky Gut in Patients with Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Pilot Study.

Background: A probiotic mixture prevented epithelial barrier impairment in various experimental models. The objective was to evaluate its effects in patients suffering from IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) with confirmed leaky gut.

Methods: IBS-D patients with increased intestinal permeability measured by radionuclide tracers were enrolled in this pilot, open-label, prospective, interventional, single-center, Phase IV study.

Impact of Food Additive Titanium Dioxide on Gut Microbiota Composition, Microbiota-Associated Functions, and Gut Barrier: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Animal Studies.

Background: Titanium dioxide (TiO) is used as a food additive in pastries, sweets, and sauces. It is recognized as safe by food safety authorities, but in recent years, governments and scientists have raised concerns about its genotoxicity. This systematic review aims to assess the potential associations between food TiO exposure and microbiota composition and functions.

Missed linkage to care for patients who screened positive for Hepatitis C in a tertiary care centre: Results of the Telepass project.

Italy is one of the countries on track with the WHO's agenda to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030. Healthcare facilities play a crucial role in seeking patients who are infected but have not yet been treated. We assessed the effectiveness of a recall strategy, named 'Telepass' project, for patients exposed to HCV infection who have not yet been linked to care in a large tertiary care centre.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the daily management of biotechnological therapy in inflammatory bowel disease patients: Reorganisational response in a high-volume Italian inflammatory bowel disease centre.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having a major clinical as well as organisational impact on the national health-care system in Italy, particularly in high-volume hospitals which are usually active for many essential clinical needs, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, we report major clinical and organisational challenges at a high-volume Italian IBD centre one month after the start of the Italian government's restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All routine follow-up IBD visits of patients in remission were cancelled or rescheduled for 8-12 weeks' time.

A Durum Wheat Variety-Based Product Is Effective in Reducing Symptoms in Patients with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: A Double-Blind Randomized Cross-Over Trial.

Patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) do not have celiac disease, but their symptoms improve after a gluten-free diet (GFD). However, to date, it is uncertain if gluten or other components of wheat are responsible for these symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an organic durum wheat variety with those of standard commercial wheat in patients with known NCGS.

Author Correction: Binge Drinking among adolescents is related to the development of Alcohol Use Disorders: results from a Cross-Sectional Study.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Binge Drinking among adolescents is related to the development of Alcohol Use Disorders: results from a Cross-Sectional Study.

Binge drinking (BD) is a common pattern of alcohol consumption among adolescents. At present few data are available on the possible relationship between BD and alcohol use disorders (AUD) in adolescents. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of BD and relationship between BD behavior and AUD among adolescents.