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Biomedical subjects

I De Vitis

Publications and source records attributed to I De Vitis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Increased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have an increased risk of thrombotic complications; moreover, mesenteric microvascular thrombosis has been hypothesized as a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. AIM: To assess the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis in inflammatory bowel disease by measuring the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery. METHODS: Fifty-two patients were enrolled in the study. Patients aged >45 years, with a history of cardiovascular disease and known risk factors for atherosclerosis were excluded from the study. Twenty healthy subjects were studied as controls. Carotid ultrasonography was performed in all patients and controls. intima-media thickness was measured proximal to the carotid bifurcation over both right and left common carotid arteries. The clinical characteristics and the laboratory parameters relevant to disease activity were recorded for all inflammatory bowel disease patients. In particular, plasma homocysteine, a well-known risk factor for thrombosis, was assessed. RESULTS: Common carotid artery intima-media thickness was significantly higher in inflammatory bowel disease patients (0.63 +/- 0.15 mm) compared with controls (0.53 +/- 0.08 mm). Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant association of carotid intima-media thickness with homocysteine levels and age. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory bowel disease patients have an increased risk of early atherosclerosis than healthy controls as showed by greater values of carotid intima-media thickness. Homocysteine levels and age resulted independently associated with the increased arterial wall thickness.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Prevalence of the K469E polymorphism of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 gene in Italian patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 plays an important role in the recruitment of leucocytes at sites of inflammation and is up-regulated in intestinal mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 gene lies on chromosome 19p13, implicated in determining susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease. Recently, the polymorphism K469E of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 gene has been identified. AIM: To assess the potential association of this polymorphism with inflammatory bowel disease. PATIENTS: A total of 165 inflammatory bowel disease patients, 75 with Crohn's disease and 90 with ulcerative colitis, and 187 controls were studied. METHODS: The K469E polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis. Statistical analysis was performed by chi2-test. RESULTS: In inflammatory bowel disease, the distribution of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 genotypes was 24.9% E/E, 44.2% E/K and 30.9% K/K. In controls, 11.8% showed E/E genotype, 55.6% E/K and 32.6% K/K. The frequency of the E/E genotype was significantly higher in inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) patients than in controls. Subgroup analysis showed that the frequency of the E469 allele was significantly increased only in Crohn's disease patients with ileocolonic location of disease and penetrating behaviour compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: We found an association of inflammatory bowel disease with the E/E genotype of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 gene, while allele E469 was associated with a subgroup of Crohn's disease patients with more extensive location of disease and penetrating behaviour. However, further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

An update on the medical treatment of Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic transmural inflammation that may involve any part of the alimentary tract. The affected patients show peculiar metabolic characteristics; they often have a reduced body weight, due to reduction of lipid stores (in spite of lean mass depletion) and an increased utilization of lipids as fuel substrate. An alteration of nutritional status, up to real malnutrition, is common in CD and malnutrition's effects influence the course of disease, acting as independent factors. We will give a description of the main pharmacological approaches in CD management; the first line therapy for CD patients remains the combinations of aminosalicylates, antibiotics, corticosteroids and immunomodulatory agents. The development of new biological agents for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases has added to the growing armamentarium of available therapy. We also will explain the importance of enteral nutrition, whose importance goes over the simple amelioration of nutritional status, especially in childhood CD, where it has shown to be as effective as traditional therapy.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2002

[Whipple's disease: progress in the diagnosis and review of the literature].

Whipple's disease is a rare, chronic, multisystemic disease characterized by the presence of fever, diarrhea, weight loss and malabsorption, preceded by arthritis. Although Whipple's disease almost always includes involvement of the small intestine and the presence of malabsorption, it commonly affects other organs, especially the heart, brain, eyes and joints. Whipple's disease greately mimics other diseases and is caused by a cultivation-resistant bacterium. The disease is fatal unless patients are treated with antibiotics. The diagnosis of Whipple's disease can be made by histologic analysis of small-intestinal biopsy specimens. Identification of Whipple bacterium, Tropheryma whippelii, has led to the development of the polymerase chain reaction This technique can be used to detect the bacterium in many organs and fluids, including synovial tissue and fluid. Affected patients tend to have dilated intestinal villi that are infiltrated with foamy macrophages.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2000

[Malabsorption: current diagnosis trends].

The aim of this study was to review the problem of malabsorption, listing the main causes and the methods currently used to evaluate the gravity of the syndrome. The study was based primarily on data reported in the literature and on our personal experience at the Institute of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at UCSC. Malabsorption is the term used to describe the defective passage through the intestinal mucosa of normal digestive products (this definition excludes the major chapter of maldigestion). Among the various methods currently used to study this problem, the authors list the most commonly used, highlighting two widely available instruments that are regarded as essential: anamnesis and objective examination. We have noticed that endless tests are often requested for a condition of malabsorption, which are not only expensive but also poorly tolerated by the patient, owing to the lack of a correct diagnostic approach based on a correct anamnesis and thorough objective examination. Lastly, we have put forward a number of guidelines based on personal experience to be followed when examining a patient with suspected malabsorption.

English Abstract↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and early diagnosis of coeliac disease in autoimmune thyroid disorders.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Coeliac disease is associated with several autoimmune disorders such as insulin-dependent diabetes, Sjogren's syndrome, Addison's disease and thyroid diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of coeliac disease in patients affected by autoimmune thyroid diseases by means of anti-gliadin and anti-endomysial antibodies. PATIENTS: We studied 92 patients affected by autoimmune thyroid diseases (47 chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, 22 Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 23 Graves' disease). Ninety patients with non autoimmune thyroid disorders (51 multifollicular goitre, 28 solitary nodule and 11 papillary carcinoma) and 236 blood donors also took part in the study as control groups. METHODS: Total serum IgA were measured in all subjects to exclude selective IgA deficiency; then we measured anti-gliadin antibodies and anti-endomysial antibodies. In patients with anti-gliadin/anti-endomysial antibody positivity and/or with haematinic and laboratory signs of malabsorption we carried out gastrointestinal endoscopy with duodenal histological examination. RESULTS: Among the 92 patients with autoimmune thyroid disease, 4 (4.3%) showed anti-gliadin and anti-endomysial positivity and had coeliac disease; among the 90 patients with non autoimmune thyroid diseases, 1 (1.1%) had coeliac disease; finally, among the blood donors, 1 subject (0.4%) was anti-gliadin-anti-endomysium antibody positive and had coeliac disease. Those subjects presenting with only anti-gliadin antibody positivity did not have coeliac disease. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the prevalence of coeliac disease in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases is significantly increased when compared with the general population (p = 0.009) but not with patients affected by non autoimmune thyroid disorders (p = 0.18). We suggest a serological screening for coeliac disease in all patients with autoimmune thyroid disease measuring anti-endomysial antibodies, considering that early detection and treatment of coeliac disease are effective in preventing its complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery in celiac patients and in healthy controls in fasting conditions and after saccharose ingestion.

We studied, by means of Doppler ultrasonography, the blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery in 12 untreated patients with celiac disease (nontropical sprue) and in 15 healthy controls; peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, mean velocity, flow volume, and resistive index were measured in the fasting state and at regular intervals after ingestion of 0.5 liter of water containing 50 g of saccharose. Under fasting conditions, celiac patients showed peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, mean velocity, and flow volume values significantly higher than those of normal subjects, whereas resistive index was significantly lower. After saccharose ingestion these parameters showed greater variations in normal subjects than in celiac patients. Fasting end diastolic velocity turned out to be the best parameter to distinguish celiac patients from healthy subjects. Doppler ultrasonography of the superior mesenteric artery could discriminate between normal subjects and celiac patients with overt disease. However, these data need further confirmation given the limited sample that we studied; moreover, the capability of this technique in distinguishing nontropical sprue from other gastrointestinal diseases that cause increasing splanchnic flow remains to be ascertained.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Prevalence of coeliac disease in type I diabetes: a multicentre study.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to point out the prevalence ratio and the clinical presentation of coeliac disease (CD) in a large group of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 1114 patients affected by IDDM were screened for CD using antigliadin and antiendomysium antibodies. Patients who were positive for at least one test underwent an endoscopic biopsy of the descending duodenum in order to verify the presence of villous atrophy. Subjects with CD started a gluten-free diet and underwent a clinical follow up. RESULTS: Villous atrophy was found in 63 patients (5.6%). Among the Italian population, the rate was 7%. Twenty-four percent of coeliac patients presented with diarrhoea, while 22% were completely symptom-free. A significant correlation was found between the presence of villous atrophy and the duration and onset of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CD in IDDM is higher than previously reported, although the ratio range in different centres from 1.7 to 10%, probably due to both environmental and genetic factors. Twenty-two percent of coeliac patients were completely symptom-free. The prevalence seems to be significantly related to the duration and onset of IDDM.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Ultrasonographic signs of sliding gastric hiatal hernia and their prospective evaluation.

This study was conducted to identify the sonographic findings that might be used to diagnose sliding gastric hiatal hernia. We first performed a retrospective evaluation of 12 patients known to have sliding hiatal hernia and 18 normal controls. In the controls the esophagogastric junction could be visualized clearly in all cases and the alimentary tract section at the diaphragmatic hiatus ranged from 7.1 to 10.0 mm. The esophagogastric junction was not visualized in any of the hernia patients, whose alimentary tract diameters ranged from 16.0 to 21.0 mm. These two markers (nonvisualization of the junction and diameter greater than 16 mm) were then evaluated for their ability to predict the occurrence of sliding hiatus hernia in a prospective study of 38 patients subsequently diagnosed by means of barium contrast examinations and endoscopy. In this group, each sign had a positive predictive value of 100%. The negative predictive value of the alimentary tract diameter was 90%; that of nonvisualization of the esophagogastric junction was 94.7%. Inclusion of ultrasonography in the initial work-up of patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux may reduce the need for more invasive diagnostic procedures.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Lipohyperplasia of the ileocaecal valve as a cause of intestinal haemorrhage: an ultrasound Doppler study.

We present a case of lipohyperplasia of the ileocaecal valve causing intermittent intestinal bleeding visualized by Doppler ultrasound of the lower abdominal quadrant as an intestinal mass with intralesional arteriovenous fistula. These findings, never described before, are suggestive of highly vascularized lesions of the ileocaecal region and their recognition may avoid the need to perform an angiographic study of the superior mesenteric artery.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Effects of different doses of fish oil on rectal cell proliferation in patients with sporadic colonic adenomas.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Fish oil supplementation can reduce cytokinetic anomalies in the flat rectal mucosa of patients with sporadic colorectal adenoma. This study attempted to identify an optimum dose for fish oil supplementation and evaluate the persistence of its effects during long-term administration. METHODS: In a double-blind study, 60 patients with sporadic adenomas received 2.5, 5.1, or 7.7 g of fish oil per day or placebo for 30 days. [3H]thymidine autoradiographic labeling indices were calculated in flat rectal mucosal biopsy specimens collected before and after supplementation. In a subsequent study, 15 patients with polyps received 2.5 g of fish oil per day. Proliferative parameters, mucosal fatty acids, and mucosal and plasma alpha-tocopherol levels were evaluated before, during, and after 6 months of supplementation. RESULTS: Mean proliferative indices and mucosal arachidonic acid levels decreased significantly (and to similar degrees) in all treated groups, whereas mucosal eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid levels increased. Significantly reduced proliferation was observed only in patients with abnormal baseline patterns. These effects persisted during long-term, low-dose treatment. A transient reduction in mucosal (but not plasma) alpha-tocopherol levels was observed after 1 month of treatment. Side effects were insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose fish oil supplementation has short-term and long-term normalizing effects on the abnormal rectal proliferation patterns associated with increased colon cancer risk.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
PubMed1993

Rectal epithelial cell proliferation patterns as predictors of adenomatous colorectal polyp recurrence.

To determine whether proliferative patterns in flat rectal mucosal samples can predict the recurrence of adenomatous colorectal polyps, after polypectomy, biopsy specimens from normal looking rectal mucosa were obtained at endoscopy from 55 patients diagnosed for the first time as having adenomatous colorectal polyps. Epithelial cell proliferation was assessed in biopsy specimens through 3H-thymidine autoradiography. After polypectomy, patients were followed for 24 months and underwent complete colonoscopy every 6 months to detect and remove any metachronous lesions. In 40 patients second biopsy specimens were taken during one of the follow up colonoscopies to evaluate the stability of proliferative indices over time. The ratio of labelled (S phase) to total cells (labelling index) for the entire crypt, as well as ratios for each of the five equal compartments into which the crypt had been divided longitudinally, was calculated for each patient. Mean labelling indices for upper crypt compartments 3 and 4 + 5 in the 22 patients in whom polyps recurred were significantly higher (respectively p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) than those of the 33 without recurrence suggesting that an upward shift of the crypt's replicative compartment is associated with polyp recurrence. Labelling indices remained essentially unchanged in those patients who underwent biopsy twice. Reproducible kinetic parameters such as these might be useful in planning follow up of patients with adenomatous polyps after polypectomy.

Adult↗