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Biomedical subjects

E Di Giulio

Publications and source records attributed to E Di Giulio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Occurrence and risk factors for benign epithelial gastric polyps in atrophic body gastritis on diagnosis and follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Benign epithelial gastric polyps have been reported to be more common in atrophic body gastritis. The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in the induction of gastric atrophy is well-known. The development of hyperplastic polyps may be in relation to H. pylori infection. AIM: To investigate occurrence of benign epithelial gastric polyps in atrophic body gastritis patients at diagnosis and follow-up, and the role of H. pylori and other risk factors for the development of benign epithelial gastric polyps. METHODS: A total of 259 consecutive atrophic body gastritis patients included in a follow-up programme, of whom 202 were followed up for median period of 4 years (range: 2-11). At baseline and follow-up gastroscopies, the presence of benign epithelial gastric polyps was evaluated. Biopsies for histology were obtained from all detected benign epithelial gastric polyps. RESULTS: Frequency of benign epithelial gastric polyps in atrophic body gastritis patients were 4.6% at baseline and 5.9% at follow-up. About 91.7% were hyperplastic polyps. H. pylori infection was detected in 79.2% atrophic body gastritis patients with benign epithelial gastric polyps, and in 70.8% without benign epithelial gastric polyps. Smoking was more frequent among patients with benign epithelial gastric polyps [42% vs. 20%, OR 2.8 (95% CI: 1.2-6.9)]. CONCLUSIONS: Benign epithelial gastric polyps occur in about 5% of atrophic body gastritis patients, and the vast majority are hyperplastic polyps. Smoking habit, but not H. pylori infection, increases the risk for benign epithelial gastric polyps in atrophic body gastritis patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Large hiatal hernia in patients with iron deficiency anaemia: a prospective study on prevalence and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Although large hiatal hernia may cause bleeding from Cameron erosions, its role in iron deficiency anaemia has been debated, and no data are available on the treatment of these patients with proton pump inhibitors. Aims : To determine the prevalence of large hiatal hernia in out-patients with iron deficiency anaemia and the role of proton pump inhibitors in the prevention of recurrence of anaemia. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-eight out-patients underwent upper/lower endoscopy. Those with large hiatal hernia were given an oesophagogram, discontinued iron supplementation and received proton pump inhibitor treatment with (group 1) or without (group 2) surgery. Anaemia was re-assessed during 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS: Large hiatal hernia was the likely cause of anaemia in 21 patients (9.2%). The median haemoglobin and ferritin values at the diagnosis of anaemia were 7.9 g/dL and 6 micro g/L, respectively. Cameron erosions were found in 33% of patients. Ten and eleven patients were included in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Haemoglobin values were 13.8 g/dL and 13.4 g/dL at 3 months of follow-up, and 13.4 g/dL and 13.8 g/dL at 1 year of follow-up, in groups 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Large hiatal hernia may cause iron deficiency anaemia, even without Cameron erosions. Surgery in combination with proton pump inhibitor therapy is no better than proton pump inhibitor therapy alone in preventing the recurrence of anaemia.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Use of radioisotopic esophageal transit in the assessment of patients with symptoms of reflux and non-specific esophageal motor disorders.

The purposes of this study were to assess the esophageal clearance of a radioisotopic bolus in patients with symptoms of reflux and evaluate the impact of manometric abnormalities on scintigraphic esophageal transit. Esophageal clearance was assessed in a supine position and indicated by the retained radioactivity in the esophagus at 10, 20, 30 and 40 s after the ingestion of a liquid bolus labeled with 2 mCi 99 mTc-SC. The study included 214 consecutive patients with symptoms of reflux and 11 normal controls. The results were compared to the motility findings detected on manometry performed on a separate occasion. Esophageal manometry was normal in 93 patients. Nonspecific esophageal motor disorders were identified in 121 patients and were classified into: 'predominantly nonpropagated activity', 'predominantly low-amplitude peristaltic contractions' and 'miscellaneous disorders' diagnosed in 27, 47 and 47 patients, respectively. The radionuclide clearance was significantly delayed in the overall group of patients compared with that of normal controls (P < 0.001); in patients with reflux symptoms and nonspecific esophageal motor disorders compared with patients with reflux symptoms and 'normal manometry' (P < 0.01 at 20 s); and in patients with reflux symptoms and 'normal manometry' compared with the control group (P < 0.01 at 20 s). Abnormal radioisotope clearances were detected in 88% of patients with 'predominantly nonpropagated activity', in 70% of patients with 'predominantly low-amplitude peristaltic contractions' and in 57% of patients with 'miscellaneous disorders'. Radioisotopic esophageal clearance abnormalities are frequently observed in patients with reflux symptoms and are more likely to be associated to hypomotility disorders, i.e. nonpropagated motor activity or low-amplitude contractions.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Role of small bowel investigation in iron deficiency anaemia after negative endoscopic/histologic evaluation of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of small bowel investigation in iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) patients is controversial. AIM: To evaluate the presence of small bowel lesions likely to cause IDA in patients with unexplained IDA after negative gastroscopy with biopsies and colonoscopy (CS). METHODS: A total of 117 outpatients, referred for unexplained IDA, underwent gastroscopy with biopsies and colonscopy. In 17 (14.5%) patients, endoscopic/histological investigations were negative. Of these patients, 13 underwent small bowel follow-through (SBFT) and if necessary to confirm the diagnosis, further gastrointestinal (GI) investigations. RESULTS: Small bowel lesions likely to cause IDA were found in five (38%) patients. Four of these lesions were detected by SBFT, two of them were malignant. These findings, confirmed at surgery and ileoscopy (IS), led to the final diagnoses ofjejunal and ileal adenocarcinoma, idiopathic ileal ulcers and ileal Crohn's disease. In one case, after negative SBFT, jejunal angiodysplasia was detected by video capsule endoscopy (VCE). Faecal occult blood test (FOBT) was positive in four (31%) patients, all of whom presented lesions likely to cause IDA, detected in three cases by SBFT and in one case by VCE. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the importance of investigating the small bowel in IDA patients after negative upper and lower GI endoscopy, particularly if FOBT is positive.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2003

Endoscopic evaluation of the upper gastrointestinal tract is worthwhile in premenopausal women with iron-deficiency anaemia irrespective of menstrual flow.

BACKGROUND: In premenopausal women, iron-deficiency anaemia is common and menstrual flow is often held responsible, but it is not clear whether these women should be submitted to gastrointestinal (GI) evaluation. We aim to prospectively investigate whether premenopausal women with iron-deficiency anaemia benefit from GI evaluation regardless of menstrual flow. METHODS: The study population comprised 59 consecutive premenopausal women with iron-deficiency anaemia. Excluded were women with obvious or suspected causes of anaemia and those < or = 21 years. Heavy menstrual loss was not considered an exclusion criterion. All subjects had: complete blood count, ferritin, non-invasive testing by faecal occult blood (FOB), 13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT), anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) and gastrin levels. Gastroscopy with antral (n = 3), corporal (n = 3) and duodenal (n = 2) biopsies was performed in women with positive 13C-UBT or tTG titre or hypergastrinaemia. RESULTS: Heavy menstrual loss was present in 50.8%. Non-invasive tests were positive in 40/59 (67.8%): 30 had positive 13C-UBT, 12 had hypergastrinaemia, 7 had positive tTG and 3 had positive FOB. Women tested positive were similar to those tested negative as far as concerned age, haemoglobin and ferritin levels and heavy menstrual flow (55% versus 42.1%). All 40 women tested positive underwent gastroscopy with biopsies. Four (10%) had bleeding-associated lesions and 34 (85%) had non-bleeding-associated lesions. As regards upper GI findings, no differences were observed between women with normal and those with heavy menstrual flow. No lower GI tract lesions were detected in the three women with positive FOB. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that premenopausal women with iron-deficiency anaemia benefit from endoscopic evaluation of the upper GI tract irrespective of menstrual flow.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Role of Helicobacter pylori serology in atrophic body gastritis after eradication treatment.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that 50% of patients with atrophic body gastritis have positive Helicobacter pylori antibody titres only. In atrophic body gastritis, a decrease in H. pylori antibodies after eradication treatment has been reported, suggesting that serology may indicate an active H. pylori infection. AIM: To investigate the time course of H. pylori antibodies and gastric inflammation after eradication treatment in patients with atrophic body gastritis, and to determine whether serology alone can be considered as a valid tool to assess the efficacy of eradication treatment in patients with atrophic body gastritis. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with atrophic body gastritis (12 serologically H. pylori-positive only, ABG-S+; 15 H. pylori-positive at histology and serology, ABG-H+) were included in the treatment group, and 17 patients (all ABG-S+) in the no treatment group. All patients had gastroscopy plus biopsies evaluated according to the updated Sydney system and H. pylori immunoglobulin G determination: in the treatment group, at baseline and 6 and 24 months after eradication (bismuth-based triple regimens); in the no treatment group, at baseline and after 3 years. RESULTS: In the treatment group, in ABG-S+ patients, H. pylori antibodies decreased significantly 6 months after treatment [37.5 U/mL (16-100 U/mL) vs. 15 U/mL (0--100 U/mL), P < 0.01], but 2 years after treatment no further decrease occurred. In addition, in ABG-H+ patients, a significant decrease in H. pylori antibodies occurred 6 months after treatment [45 U/mL (12.5-100 U/mL) vs. 31 U/mL (0-65 U/mL), P < 0.01], but a further decrease was also observed 2 years after treatment [20 U/mL (0-56 U/mL), P < 0.01]. In ABG-S+ patients, no correlation was observed between the H. pylori antibodies and gastric inflammation score, whereas, in the ABG-H+ group, this correlation was extremely significant (r=0.5991, P < 0.0001). In the no treatment group, at follow-up, a significant decrease in H. pylori antibodies was observed [26 U/mL (15-100 U/mL) vs. 22 U/mL (0-53 U/mL), P < 0.05], but the gastric body inflammation remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that, in ABG-S+ patients after eradication treatment, serology does not keep in step with gastric inflammation. This suggests that, in patients with atrophic body gastritis, serology alone may not be valid for the assessment of the efficacy of eradication treatment.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

The long-term effects of cure of Helicobacter pylori infection on patients with atrophic body gastritis.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection induces atrophic body gastritis, but the long-term effect of its cure on body atrophy is unclear. AIM: To investigate the long-term effects of H. pylori cure on gastric morpho-functional parameters in patients with atrophic body gastritis. METHODS: Forty patients with atrophic body gastritis were cured of H. pylori infection. Gastroscopy with biopsies, gastrin and pepsinogen I levels and basal and stimulated acid secretion were evaluated before and 6-12 months after treatment. RESULTS: At eradication assessment (6-12 months), in eight of the 40 patients, body atrophy was no longer observed, whereas in 32 of the 40 it remained substantially unchanged (2.03 +/- 0.12 vs. 1.83 +/- 0.15). In the eight patients with reversed body atrophy, gastrinaemia decreased significantly with respect to pre-treatment values (265 +/- 59.9 pg/mL vs. 51.8. +/- 6.04 pg/mL), and basal and stimulated acid secretion increased significantly after cure. In the 32 patients still presenting body atrophy, gastrinaemia was similar topre-treatment values (457 +/- 76.04 pg/mL vs. 335.1 +/- 58.8 pg/mL). At follow-up (21-25 and 32-70 months), the eight patients with reversed body atrophy continued with normal gastrinaemia (35.3 +/- 10.1 pg/mL vs. 38.5 +/- 8.8 pg/mL), but in the 19 patients with continued atrophy, both corporal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia remained substantially unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Following successful treatment in patients with atrophic body gastritis and H. pylori infection, long-term histological investigations are crucial in order to detect reversed body damage or to confirm continued body atrophy.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Computed tomographic colonography (virtual colonoscopy): blinded prospective comparison with conventional colonoscopy for the detection of colorectal neoplasia.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Computed tomographic colonography (CTC), also known as virtual colonoscopy, is a recently introduced imaging modality for the detection of colorectal neoplasia. The aim of our study was to evaluate the performance of CTC in a blinded comparison with conventional colonoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 66 consecutive, symptomatic patients underwent spiral computed tomography (CT) examination after standard bowel preparation. CT images were analyzed and subsequently compared with conventional colonoscopy findings. RESULTS: Conventional colonoscopy detected 15 colorectal carcinomas and 52 polyps. CTC correctly identified all carcinomas, 13 of 14 polyps greater than 10.0 mm (sensitivity 92.8 %; 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI); 77 - 100), 11 of 13 polyps between 6.0 and 9.0 mm (sensitivity 84.6 %; 95 % CI; 62 - 100), and six of 25 polyps smaller than 5.0 mm (sensitivity 24 %; 95 % CI; 6 - 42). The per-patient sensitivity and specificity were 93.7 % and 94.1 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomographic colonography is an accurate imaging modality for the detection of colorectal neoplasia, especially for lesions larger than 6.0 mm in diameter.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

First endoscopic-histologic follow-up in patients with body-predominant atrophic gastritis: when should it be done?

BACKGROUND: Body-predominant atrophic gastritis is considered a risk factor for gastric cancer and carcinoid. Timing of follow-up for patients with this disorder has not been defined. This study was undertaken to determine the optimal time for the first endoscopic/histologic follow-up in patients with body-predominant atrophic gastritis. METHODS: Forty-two patients with body-predominant atrophic gastritis were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 follow-up intervals: group A (n = 22) at 24 months and group B (n = 20) at 48 months. At baseline and follow-up patients underwent gastroscopy at which biopsies were obtained from the antrum and body for histopathology and evaluation for enterochromaffin-like cells. RESULTS: In group A patients, 2 antral hyperplastic polyps (9.1%) were present at baseline and 4 antral hyperplastic polyps (18.2%) were found at follow-up. In group B patients, baseline gastroscopy revealed 2 antral hyperplastic polyps (10%) and follow-up 2 antral hyperplastic polyps (10%) and 1 carcinoid tumor (5%) in the body. Atrophy and intestinal metaplasia scores in gastric body and antral mucosa in both groups did not change significantly between baseline and follow-up, except an increase in antral mucosa atrophy in group B patients (p = 0.02) was revealed. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that performing the first follow-up in patients with body-predominant atrophic gastritis need not be earlier than at 4 years after diagnosis. This interval is satisfactory for detection of potential neoplastic lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Emergency treatment of bleeding esophageal varices].

BACKGROUND: The hemorrhage from breakup of the varix esophageal is a dramatic complication of the hypertension of the circle portal, numerous attempts have stayed performed for identify the patients that present taller risk of hemorrhage, to the purpose of to establish the preventive more proper measures to arrive before the first episode of hemorrhage. The treatment of the patient with high pressure portal stays still today extremely controversial, to concern the choice of the more opportune strategies, that for it as concerns the choice of the better moment for effect the single therapies. METHODS: We have taken 63 patients treatises in urgency for esophageal variceal bleeding in consideration, we of the initial group of the 63 patients have subjected endoscopic 34 patients, subjected elastic binding of the varix 20 patients, and to derivative interventions in urgency 9 patients. RESULTS: The results to distance after surgical treatment for it as concern the rise of encephalopatia it show a percentage of the 60% of patient and the actuarial survival to 5 ages is of the 33.3%. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion seem us of power affirm that the role of the endoscopic of the esophageal varix is prominent in the management of massive acute esophageal bleeding.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Combined oral sodium butyrate and mesalazine treatment compared to oral mesalazine alone in ulcerative colitis: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Butyrate represents the main source of energy for colonic epithelial cells; however, its availability/utilization is impaired in ulcerative colitis (UC). In the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study, the safety and efficacy of colonic targeted oral sodium butyrate tablets, coated with a pH-dependent soluble polymer, have been evaluated in ulcerative colitis. Thirty patients with mild to moderate colitis underwent a six-week course of oral sodium butyrate (4 g/day) plus oral mesalazine (2.4 g/day), (Group A) or of oral mesalazine plus placebo (Group B). Clinical, endoscopic, and histologic data were collected at the beginning and the end of the study. Twenty-five patients completed the study (12 in group A, 13 in group B). No untoward side effects were reported. In group A, seven patients underwent remission and four improved; in Group B the numbers were 5 and 5, respectively. After treatment, all clinical parameters had significantly improved in both treatment arms compared to pretreatment findings. The UC disease activity index (UCDAI) score decreased from 7.27 +/- 2.02 to 2.58 +/- 2.19 (P < 0.05) in the combined treatment group and from 6.07 +/-1.60 to 3.46 +/- 1.98 (P < 0.05) in group B. The endoscopic and histologic scores also significantly improved after treatment in both groups (P < 0.05). The difference between the two treatment arms was not significant, but a significantly better improvement vs baseline values (P < 0.05) was observed in the combined treatment group vs the mesalazine group, when considering both the clinical index (delta9.58 +/- 4.19 vs 5.92 +/- 3.48) and the UCDAI score (delta4.67 +/- 2.19 vs 2.54 +/- 2.18). A more favorable trend, although not significant, was observed for all individual parameters in group A. In conclusion, results of the present pilot study indicate that oral butyrate is safe and well tolerated. These data also suggest that oral butyrate may improve the efficacy of oral mesalazine in active ulcerative colitis and prompt the need of a large scale investigation to confirm the present findings.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

[Caroli's disease: 2 case reports and review of the literature].

The most appropriate management of Caroli's disease is still controversial: in fact many surgical modalities have been proposed for patients exhibiting cholangitis or intrahepatic lithiasis, but these approaches have been seldom performed on asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic patients. However, this figure, due to the surgical risk related with a bilio-enteric anastomosis or with an hepatic resection, should be always compared with the possible development of a cholangiocarcinoma within the enlarged biliary tree (7%), as clearly shown in the 2 cases herein reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Gastric angiodysplasia: a rare cause of bleeding from the upper digestive tract].

Two cases of bleeding gastric angiodysplasia treated with a different approach, on the basis of the endoscopic features, are reported. Arteriovenous malformations may arise from any site of the digestive tract: gastric angiodysplasia represents one of the less frequent localizations, causing 2-5% of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Several diagnostic tools are currently available and the choice of the most appropriate therapeutic strategy depends on many features: site and number of the lesions, patient's hemodynamic conditions, endoscopic skill. Surgery is preferred only when multiple and disseminated lesions within the gastric wall occur or when endoscopic approach fails.

Angiodysplasia↗
PubMed1991

[The echographic aspects of the splenoportal axis in patients with esophageal varices].

In the present study the A. try to assess the usefulness of ultrasound in detecting blending risk in portal hypertension. Endoscopic and sonographic findings of 35 cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices were compared to a control group of 27 hepatopathy patients without portal hypertension, observed in the same department and in the same interval. The medium caliber of portal vein was 14.64 +/- 2.59 and 11.8 +/- 1.33 mm, respectively in the study and in the control group (p less than 0.01). Statistic correlations were also found in subgroups of patients with varices of different degrees. A portal vein greater than 16 mm was found in 10 of 11 patients with large varices; this pattern provides a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 94.1%. In our experience this echographic finding should represents a clear indication for close endoscopic follow-up, even in patients without previous bleeding from esophageal varices.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Management of esophageal varices in the Western world--the state of the art.

The treatment by Western countries of bleeding from esophageal varices was reviewed from three definite viewpoints: prevention of first bleeding or prophylactic treatment, control of acute bleeding or emergency treatment, and prevention of rebleeding or elective treatment. Even though prophylactic surgery has been abandoned on the basis of several randomized studies, some authors still perform esophageal transection and report encouraging results. In emergency situations, the role of surgery has been limited by the prohibitive hospital mortality and by the introduction of vasoactive drugs and endoscopic sclerotherapy. Nevertheless, good immediate and long term results have been obtained in specialized centers in which bleeding patients undergo surgery no later than 8 hours after their admission. As regards the prevention of rebleeding, non selective portal decompression gives adequate protection against rebleeding, however, hepatoencephalopathy follows in considerable incidence. In order to avoid this complication, direct operations on varices have been performed, largely with good results. The Warren shunt offers results showing advantage over the non-selective shunt in the first postoperative period but later on, it behaves hemodynamically as a total shunt and the advantage is then cancelled. We report herein a review of the literature and also describe our personal experience with treating bleeding esophageal varices.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗