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Background: Besides reducing the quality of obstetric care, the direct impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy and postpartum is uncertain. Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of pregnant women who died due to COVID-19. Search strategy: Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to February 2021. Selection criteria: Studies that compared deceased and survived pregnant women with COVID-19. Data collection and analysis: Relevant data were extracted and tabulated. The primary outcome was maternal co-morbidity. Main results: Thirteen studies with 154 deceased patients were included. Obesity doubled the risk of death (relative risk [RR] 2.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41–4.36, I2=0%). No differences were found for gestational diabetes (RR 5.71; 95% CI 0.77–42.44, I2=94%) or asthma (RR 2.05, 95% CI 0.81–5.15, I2=0%). Overall, at least one severe co-morbidity showed a twofold increased risk of death (RR 2.26, 95% CI 1.77–2.89, I2=76%). Admission to intensive care was related to a fivefold increased risk of death (RR 5.09, 95% CI 2.00–12.98, I2=56%), with no difference in need for respiratory support (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.23–1.48, I2=95%) or mechanical ventilation (RR 4.34, 95% CI 0.96–19.60, I2=58%). Conclusion: COVID-19 with at least one co-morbidity increases risk of intensive care and mortality.

Methods for the measure of gastric acid secretion include invasive and non-invasive tests. The gold-standard to measure the acid output is the collection of gastric after in basal condition (Basal Acid Output, B.A.O.) and after an i.m. injection of pentagastrin (Maximal Acid Output, M.A.O.). However, direct measurement of gastric acid production is out of order in clinical practice, but many GI symptoms are claimed to be related with acid disorders and empirically cured. Hypochlorhydria is associated with precancerous conditions such as chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). Acid measurement with non-invasive methods (pepsinogens) is supported by international guidelines. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Gastric cancer is, still nowadays, an important healthcare problem worldwide. In Italy, it represents the fifth tumour by frequency in both men and women over 70 years old. A crucial point is represented by the percentage of early gastric cancers usually found, which is actually very low, and it carries to a worse morbidity and mortality. The most important focus in this oncological disease, is to perform an effective detection of the most common precancerous lesion linked with this neoplasia, chronic atrophic gastritis, in order to avoid the future outcome of gastric cancer itself. (www.actabiomedica.it)

The manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been recently classified into either esophageal or extra-esophageal syndromes. Clinical history, questionnaire data and response to antisecretory therapy are insufficient to make a conclusive diagnosis of GERD. Endoscopy had a low sensitivity. Recently, the availability of multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH-monitoring (MII-pH) has modified the diagnostic approach towards atypical manifestations of GERD. There is a rising consensus that this technique should be considered as the gold standard for GERD diagnosis. Gastrin 17 (G-17) has been proposed as a non-invasive marker of GERD, due to the negative feedback between acid and the hormone. G17 levels seem able to identify patients with acid and non-acid reflux. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is due to the chronic exposure of the esophageal mucosa to acid secretion from the stomach. Helicobacter pylori (H.p.) infection, is a risk factor for the development of peptic ulcer, atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer, and causes various effects on gastric function. The relationship between GERD and H.pylori infection is still subject of debate.Background and aim: In literature no clear causal relationship has been established between GERD and H. pylori infection, although some papers support the onset of esophagitis in patients in whom the infection has been cured. Aim of this work is to review the most recent literature data about the relationship between reflux disease and H. pylori infection. Methods: Articles reviewed were found through literature searches on PubMed, Google Scholar using keywords such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, Helicobacter pylori, acid-related disorders, GERD and esophagitis. (www.actabiomedica.it)