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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and its incidence is correlated with infections, chronic inflammation, diet, and genetic factors. An emerging aspect is that microbial dysbiosis and chronic infections triggered by certain bacteria can be risk factors for tumor progression. Recent data suggest that certain bacterial toxins implicated in DNA attack or in proliferation, replication, and death can be risk factors for insurgence and progression of CRC. In this study, we recruited more than 300 biopsy specimens from people undergoing colonoscopy, and we analyzed to determine whether a correlation exists between the presence of bacterial genes coding for toxins possibly involved in CRC onset and progression and the different stages of CRC. We also analyzed to determine whether CRC-predisposing genetic factors could contribute to bacterial toxins response. Our results showed that CIF toxin is associated with polyps or adenomas, whereas pks+ seems to be a predisposing factor for CRC. Toxins from Escherichia coli as a whole have a higher incidence rate in adenocarcinoma patients compared to controls, whereas Bacteroides fragilis toxin does not seem to be associated with pre-cancerous nor with cancerous lesions. These results have been obtained irrespectively of the presence of CRC-risk loci.

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Over the last 30 years, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy has become the investigation of choice for patients with symptoms referable to upper gastrointestinal tract. Owing to the increasing number of patients who should be undergone endoscopy with a consequent high cost and a marked workload and medical expenses for the hospitals, it has been recommended that pre-endoscopy screening strategies might identify patients at low risk of having major pathology. These patients could avoid prompt endoscopy and might safely undergo different management.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has gained worldwide acceptance as a treatment for early gastrointestinal cancers (EGICs). However, the management of these tumors in the Western world is still mainly surgical. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of ESD at a European center. Based on the knowledge transferred by one of the most experienced Japanese institutions, we conducted a pilot study on 25 consecutive patients with EGICs located in the esophagus (n = 3), stomach (n = 7), duodenum (n = 1), and colon (n = 14) at our tertiary center over a 2-year-period. The main outcome measurements were complete (R0) resection, as well as en-bloc resection and the management of complications. The R0 and en-bloc resection rates were 100% and 84%, respectively. There were three cases of bleeding and five cases of perforation. With a median follow up of 18 months, two recurrences were observed. We conclude that ESD for early esophageal and gastric cancers is feasible and effective, while colonic ESD requires more expertise.

Summary A strong association between type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM1) and coeliac disease (CD) is well documented, but it is known that prevalence values are underestimated. Serum anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA), considered diagnostic for CD because of their high sensitivity and specificity, belong to the IgA class, but the existence of EMA of IgG1 isotype in the presence or absence of IgA deficiency was reported. In order to re-evaluate the occurrence of CD in IDDM1 patients we performed a screening in IDDM1 patients using EMA of both isotypes. Ninety-four adults affected by IDDM1 (unaffected by CD before enrolling) were enrolled and 83 blood donors as controls. All subjects were on a gluten-containing diet. Histology and biopsy culture were performed. EMA IgA and IgG1 in sera and culture supernatants were detected. Serum EMA were positive in 13 of 94 IDDM1 patients (13·8%). Six of 13 presented IgA-EMA, seven of 13 presented IgG1-EMA. No EMA were found in the control population. Total intestinal atrophy was found in all six patients with serum IgA-EMA and in five of seven with serum IgG1-EMA. Diagnosis of CD was confirmed by histology and organ culture in all 13 patients with serum EMA. The prevalence of CD in the patients affected by IDDM1 was 6·4% for IgA-EMA-positive and 7·4% for IgG1-EMA-positive patients. We confirmed the prevalence of CD in the IDDM1 population obtained with IgA-EMA screening only (6·4%). This prevalence value increases dramatically to 13·8% when IgG1-EMA are also used in the screening. We conclude that IgG1-EMA should also be sought whenever an IDDM1 patient undergoes screening for CD.

According to the haemodynamic classification of varicocele type I is caused by renospermatic reflux due to a proximal nutcracker phenomenon or to valvular insufficiency of the left internal spermatic vein. Type II is due to ileospermatic reflux and type III may be characterized by a combination of I and II refluxes. Although this classification proposed by Coolsaet is precious for decision making, it is seldom used in clinical practice being based on a complex angiographic evaluation which is invasive and exposes the patient (often a teenager or with infertility disturbances) to excessive radiations. The aim of the present study was to work up an original ultrasonographic test for preoperative haemodynamic evaluation of varicocele in order to indicate the most appropriate microsurgical treatment. Sixty-three patients underwent a preoperative clinico-echographic dynamic test which allowed to classify 76.9% of the cases as haemodynamic type I, 10.7% as type II and 12.3% as type III. Microsurgical shunts were performed in all cases and evaluation of recurrences was accurately carried out with ultrasonographic measurement of residual varicosities. In 6% of the cases varicosities were consistently reduced in size and in 94% absence of varicosities was demonstrated. Varicocele increased in size or was unchanged in none of the cases. In conclusion the test hereby described was shown to be simple and easily reproducible. It allowed a haemodynamic and objective classification of varicocele offering a unique opportunity for tailoring to the individual patient the most appropriate treatment. Furthermore, ultrasonographic postoperative follow-up is the most reliable and objective method to control the "true" incidence of post-varicocelectomy recurrences.

Circumferential choledochoplasties with vascular grafts have rarely been attempted either experimentally or in clinical practice. In this study, choledochoplasties using autologous venous and arterial grafts were performed in rats. Sixty-four rats were randomly selected into five treatment groups: A) venous interpositional graft replacement of a choledochus gap without a stent; B) venous graft with prolene stent; C) venous graft with polyethylene stent; D) arterial graft; E) a control group with simple resection between ligatures in the choledochus. The operative mortality in treatment groups B, C, D, and E, was 0, and 13% in group A. At 12 weeks follow-up, all the rats in group E had died, whereas, 52.2% (P < .05) of the rats in group A, 30% of the rats in group B, 57% of the rats in group C, and 92.8% of the rats in group D survived treatment. Surviving animals were sacrificed at 3 months for further examination. The morphology and caliber of the common bile duct of these rats were normal in 25% of the rats in group A, 33% of the rats in group B, 25% of the rats in group C, and 84.6% of the rats in group D. Proximal dilations were found in the rats presenting with abnormal morphology. The dilations were less marked in the group treated by arterial choledochoplasties. Laboratory and clinical cholestatic parameters were within normal ranges in the presence of common bile duct dilations less than four times the normal duct caliber.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)