Minerva dietologica e gastroenterologica最新文献

A report is presented on 24 cases of acute pancreatitis treated with infusion of 5-fluorouracil. Though the action mechanism of the drug is still uncertain, fairly satisfactory results were obtained in terms of both clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, while the effect of the drug on the pain symptom could even be called spectacular. It is therefore considered that the treatment of acute pancreatitis with 5FU deserves serious consideration.

A clinico-endoscopic study has been carried out in a group of 22 patients treated with 1 g of naproxene + 2 g of rosaprostol compared in a blind situation with another group of 19 patients treated with a similar dose of naproxene + placebo in order to evaluate the cytoprotective action of rosaprostol. Analysis of the results showed a high correlation between intake of rosaprostol and low onset of algico-dyspeptic disturbances and mucosal lesions of some gravity, although the problem of the monitoring of patients undergoing long-term treatment with NSAID remains unsolved.

This review is un update of current data regarding the IgA. The synthesis, transport and biologic function of this class of immunoglobulin with special emphasis on secretory IgA is presented.

The heterogeneity of muscarinic receptors has been well supported by differential characteristics between pirenzepine and atropine both in receptor binding and in whole tissue pharmacology studies. Under these conditions pirenzepine has been classified as a selective receptor antagonist with high affinity for M1 receptors. The antisecretory properties of pirenzepine on gastric acid and pepsin secretion may be attributed to the antagonistic activity of the drug on muscarinic M1 receptors of gastric intramural plexuses, whereas the effect on parietal muscarinic M2 receptors seems of less importance. Additional inhibitory mechanisms on gastric secretion may be represented by pirenzepine-induced increase in somatostatin release from gastrointestinal system. Significant cytoprotective properties of pirenzepine have been observed on a variety of experimentally induced peptic ulcerations. This protective activity may be due to pirenzepine-induced increase in gastric mucosal blood flow as well as to the increase in gastric transmural electric potential difference. In accordance with this pharmacodynamic profile of pirenzepine, numerous clinical studies have revealed its efficacy in the treatment of both duodenal and gastric ulcerations. In addition to this, the clinical usefulness of the drug has been demonstrated in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, in stress ulceration, in acute gastrointestinal bleeding as well as in gastritis, duodenitis and non-ulcer dyspepsia. In most of the studies pirenzepine has been found to be well tolerated with a low incidence of antimuscarinic effects which may occur at salivary, ocular, cardiac and urinary sites. The clinical use of pirenzepine alone or in association with H2 blockers is recommended in the treatment of peptic ulcer patients, in the case of acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage and in patients non responders to H2 antagonists.

Constipation represents a common social phenomenon today, correlated with the habits of diet and life. Many studies have shown the lack of alimentary fiber as a cause of constipation. In analyzing the different types, the characteristics, the physical and metabolical action of fiber, it has been shown that it is necessary to introduce fiber into the everyday diet to be able to prevent or cure constipation. In addition, it has been seen that there has been a reduction in the consumption of fiber in many nations and some reasons have been investigated.

The results of a randomised prospective study conducted on 40 patients with erosive oesophagitis caused by gastro-oesophageal acid reflux are reported. The patients were divided into two groups and given either ranitidine or a placebo. The clinical and endoscopic evolution confirmed by the histological findings and pH figures demonstrated a significantly better performance in the patients treated with ranitidine. No clinically significant side effects were noted.

Intraluminal manometry was used to assess the motor activity of the oesophagus and upper (UES) and low (LES) oesophageal sphincter in 10 patients, 5 female and 5 male, average age 35.9 range 17-50, suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Non-invasive cardiovascular tests were also performed to evaluate autonomous neuropathy together with control tests of glyco-metabolic compensation (fructosamine and HbA1c). An increase in the basic tone of the UES was observed in 8 patients while in 3 this was associated with its incomplete release. Five patients evidenced aspecific motor disturbance such as spontaneous motor activity characterised by repetitive segmentary waves at times with biphasic appearance. IOS activity was within normal limits. It is considered that these disturbances may be attributable to the autonomous neuropathy that often complicates diabetes mellitus and that oesophageal motor disturbance, albeit aspecific, should be considered an early sign of autonomous neuropathy. It is therefore though that manometric oesophageal study may be considered a useful investigative tool for early evidencing of disturbances linked to autonomous neuropathy.

The functional alterations in the digestive tract observable during diabetes mellitus are frequent albeit often asymptomatic. They affect several different districts and are still not clearly defined aetiopathogenetically. It was therefore decided to evaluate the gastric transit times of a balanced liquid meal labelled with 99-Tc-colloidal sulphide in a group of patients suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes and in a group of 10 controls. The anatomical integrity of the oesophago-gastro-duodenal tract has been evaluated by endoscopy and histology. Transit times (T/2) proved significantly increased in diabetics (92.38 +/- 33.397 minutes) compared to the controls (48.63 +/- 16.423 minutes), p 0.001. No correlation was observed between gastric transit times, duration of the diabetic disease, degree of glyco-metabolic compensation and presence of autonomous neuropathy.

A classic case of Ménétrier's disease in an adult male, diagnosed by histological examination of operative biopsy is reported. Stress is laid on the clinical aspects of the disease and on the histological aspects of that particular type of hyperplastic gastropathy that underlies it. Brief mention is also made of the states of pseudohyperplastic gastropathy that may represent a source of diagnostic confusion, particularly from the radiological viewpoint.

Gastric lymphomas have been easier to diagnose since the introduction of digestive endoscopy combined with multiple target biopsy and possibly macrobiopsy. Personal experience of three primary non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the stomach is reported. Analysis of this endoscopic series reveals the multiplicity and polymorphism of the lesions that are never, in any cases, pathognomic of this pathology.