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Abstract   Purpose Available literature data show that celiac disease (CD) is a frequent cause of recurrent miscarriage. However, data are lacking for pregnancy outcome when the patient is on a gluten-free diet (GFD). A case-control study about the effect of GFD on pregnancy was conducted from 1995 to 2006. A cohort of 13 women (mean age 32 years, range 22–38 years) affected by CD with recurrent miscarriages was observed. In all of them several causes of miscarriage (gynecological, endocrine, hematological, etc.) were excluded. All patients were started on a gluten-free diet and were reassessed throughout a long-term follow-up period to evaluate the outcome of pregnancy. Results Six of 13 became pregnant (46.15%) as follows: 1 patient (7.69%) 1 year after GFD was started, 3 patients (23.07%) 2 years after GFD was started, 1 patient (7.69%) after 3 years, and finally 1 (7.69%) 4 years after GFD was started. Moreover, two patients (16.66%) had multiple pregnancies (one had had two childbirths and another had undergone three births within a 7-year follow-up period under GFD). Conclusions GFD seems to favor a positive outcome of pregnancy in most CD patients with recurrent miscarriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract   Purpose There is no consensus about the correct definition of uncomplicated diverticulitis (UD) in clinical practice. We evaluated therefore whether clinical picture of UD differs from complicated diverticulitis (CD). Fifty consecutive eligible patients (21 males, 29 females, mean age 63.6 years, range 47–75 years) were studied. Symptoms, the inflammatory indices, and Computerized Tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen were assessed at the time of admission. Results Thirty-nine patients classified were affected by UD and 11 patients by CD. CD patients showed more severe clinical picture than UD and required urgent Hospital admission. Conversely, most of the patients affected by UD were treated as outpatients. CD patients showed higher symptom scores than UD patients, except the parameter “diarrhea”. All CD patients showed increases in all inflammatory indices. Conversely, all UD patients showed increased ESR, CRP and fibrinogen, but WBC and α1-acid glycoprotein were increased in only a few cases. CT scan in CD patients always showed signs of severe colonic and pericolonic inflammation. Conversely, UD patients often showed moderate localized signs of inflammation without complication. Conclusions Clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings may easily differentiate uncomplicated from complicated diverticulitis of the colon. This integrated approach may be helpful in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract??Forty consecutive patients affected by recurrent attacks of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon were evaluated to investigate the effectiveness of 2 different mesalazine therapeutic schedules in preventing recurrence of the disease. The patients were randomly enrolled and treated with mesalazine 1.6?g/d (group A) or mesalazine 1.6?g/d 10 days per month (group B). Thirty-four patients completed the study (85%): 3 (7.5%, 1 in group A and 2 in group B) were lost to follow-up, 2 (5%, both group B) were withdrawn from the study for protocol violation, and 1 (2.5%) for hospital admission for stroke (group A). Twenty-three patients (67.65%) were symptom free after 24 months of treatment (overall symptomatic score, 0): 14 of 18 in group A (per-protocol, 77.78%; intention to treat, 70% [95% confidence interval [CI], 61.5?91.8]), 9 of 16 in group B (per protocol, 56.25%; intention to treat, 45% [95% CI, 61.5?91.8];P< 0.05). Four patients (10%) improved, but were not completely symptom free. Six patients (15%) showed recurrence of symptoms: 1 in group A (5.56%) and 5 in group B (31.25%;P< 0.005; overall symptomatic score, 68). Daily mesalazine supplying seems to be more effective than cyclic supplying in maintaining remission in recurrent symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]