Diverticulosis, Adenomas, and Cancer in the Colon: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Endoscopic Studies.

Goals: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of endoscopic studies to evaluate an association between diverticulosis and neoplastic lesions in the colon.

Background: Some epidemiological observations suggest an association between diverticulosis and adenoma/cancer in the colon. However, an increased risk of colon neoplastic lesions in diverticulosis subjects was found to be increased in some studies, but not in others, puzzling data interpretation.

Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Quality in Italy: A Nationwide Study.

Background And Aims: International guidelines advise improving esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) quality in Western countries, where gastric cancer is still diagnosed in advanced stages. This nationwide study investigated some indicators for the quality of EGD performed in endoscopic centers in Italy.

Methods: Clinical, endoscopic, and procedural data of consecutive EGDs performed in one month in the participating centers were reviewed and collected in a specific database.

Study protocol of a prospective single-arm multicenter clinical study to assess the safety and performance of the aXess hemodialysis graft: The pivotal study.

Background: Arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) are used for patients deemed unsuitable for the creation of an autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or unable to await maturation of the AVF before starting hemodialysis. However, AVGs are prone to infection and thrombosis resulting in low long-term patency rates. The novel aXess Hemodialysis Graft consists of porous polymeric biomaterial allowing the infiltration by cells and the growth of neotissue, while the graft itself is gradually absorbed, ultimately resulting in a fully functional natural blood vessel.

Quality performance measures in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for lesion detection: Italian AIGO-SIED-SIGE joint position statement.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) plays a crucial role in the management of gastroduodenal diseases by allowing a direct and accurate evaluation of the mucosa and the execution of several operative maneuvers. Despite a constant development of new imaging tools and operative devices, the widespread use of EGD has not resulted in a significant reduction of mortality for patients affected by esophageal/gastric cancer during the last three decades in Western countries. Evidence indicates that this disheartening scenario derives from a high variability of execution of EGD which determines its quality and diagnostic yield, delaying the diagnosis of neoplastic diseases.

Screening of unknown atrial fibrillation through handheld device in the elderly.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of unknown atrial fibrillation (AF) in the elderly population of the Veneto Region, Italy.

Methods: 1820 patients aged ≥ 65 years with no history of AF and not anticoagulated were enrolled in primary-care settings. They underwent an opportunistic electrocardiogram screening with a handheld device (MyDiagnostick) designed to specifically detect AF.

Syncope, Brugada syndrome, and COVID-19 lung disease.

A 52-year-old male with no history of familiar sudden death arrived at our Emergency Department after syncope with loss of consciousness occurred during high fever. The thoracic high-resolution computed tomography demonstrated bilateral multiple ground-glass opacities. The nose-pharyngeal swab resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Drug-coated balloon angioplasty in failing haemodialysis arteriovenous shunts: 12-month outcomes in 200 patients from the Aperto Italian registry.

Background: We evaluated the safety and technical and clinical outcomes of angioplasty with a drug-coated balloon for the management of venous stenosis in arteriovenous grafts and arteriovenous fistulas in patients undergoing haemodialysis.

Methods: Data were obtained from an ongoing prospective, non-randomised registry conducted at three Italian centres. Patients were treated with a drug-coated balloon according to standard procedures in each participating centre.

IBS clinical management in Italy: The AIGO survey.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most frequent functional gastrointestinal disorder, both in primary and secondary care.

Aims: (1) To describe diagnostic tools and treatments suggested to IBS patients by Italian gastroenterologists; (2) To evaluate patients' quality of life and psychological involvement and the relationship of these factors with symptom severity.

Methods: Twenty-six gastroenterologists recorded the demographic and clinical data of 677 IBS patients.

A Challenging Diagnosis of Jejunal Adenocarcinoma in a Celiac Patient: Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature.

Celiac disease (CD) is a common and chronic disorder requiring a long-life gluten-free diet. There is evidence that asymptomatic or subclinical presentation of CD has increased in the last decades, so that several cases are diagnosed during adulthood or even in the elderly. Celiac disease patients are at an increased risk of developing malignancies, particularly when the disease is diagnosed in the elderly.

Patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma need a personalized management: A lesson from clinical practice.

Unlabelled: The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) advanced stage (BCLC C) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) includes a heterogeneous population, where sorafenib alone is the recommended treatment. In this study, our aim was to assess treatment and overall survival (OS) of BCLC C patients subclassified according to clinical features (performance status [PS], macrovascular invasion [MVI], extrahepatic spread [EHS] or MVI + EHS) determining their allocation to this stage. From the Italian Liver Cancer database, we analyzed 835 consecutive BCLC C patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2014.

Why a surgically treated humeral shaft fracture became a nonunion: review of 11 years in two trauma centers.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate nonunion causes of surgically treated humeral shaft fractures in two different trauma centers.

Methods: A total of 327 cases of humeral shaft fractures were treated in 11 years in two trauma centers. We retrospectively reviewed in detail some factors in order to understand the reasons for nonunion: (1) fracture type, according to the AO classification, (2) grade of open fracture, according to Gustilo-Anderson, (3) timing, (4) reduction and (5) fixation.

First-line therapies for eradication: a critical reappraisal of updated guidelines.

(H. pylori) treatment remains a challenge for the clinician, as no available therapy is able to cure the infection in all treated patients. In the last two decades, several antibiotic combinations have been proposed, including triple therapies, bismuth-free therapies (sequential, concomitant, hybrid regimens), and bismuth-based quadruple therapy.

Lymphatic and blood vasculature in primary cutaneous melanomas of the scalp and neck.

Background: Scalp/neck melanomas have a poor prognosis, possibly because of a rich vascular supply that prompts tumor cells' dissemination.

Methods: We compared the accuracy of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining with morphology for the identification of lymphovascular invasion in 156 scalp/neck melanomas. We then analyzed the association of vessel invasion and density with pathological features and survival.

Impact of the learning curve in the use of a novel electronic chest drainage system after pulmonary lobectomy: a case-matched analysis on the duration of chest tube usage.

The objective of this investigation was to verify the impact of the learning curve involved after the introduction of a novel electronic chest drainage device on the duration of chest tube usage following pulmonary lobectomy. Propensity score case-matched analysis was used to compare the first consecutive 51 lobectomy patients managed with an electronic chest drainage (E) device with 51 controls managed with a traditional device (T). There was no difference in the characteristics of the two matched groups.

Cardiovascular reflexes in Parkinson's disease: long-term effects of levodopa treatment on de novo patients.

Twelve parkinsonian patients (6 men and 6 women), mean age 60.5 years, range 47-72, were examined with autonomic test when de novo and after 2 years of continuous levodopa treatment. They were all free from any disease interfering with autonomic examination.