Prevalence of intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus in patients endoscopically suspected for short Barrett's esophagus.

The clinical importance of Barrett's esophagus is related to its correlation to adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis is based on histologic demonstration of specialized intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of intestinal metaplasia of the distal esophagus in a population submitted to gastroscopy not selected for reflux disease, and with columnar lined distal esophagus between 0.5 and 2 cm. Four biopsies in the distal esophagus were done in 224 patients undergoing routine gastroscopy. Patients were not selected for gastroesophageal reflux. Other clinical parameters were recorded to assess any possible association. In four Centers 224 patients received endoscopy with biopsies demonstrating specialized intestinal metaplasia in 21% of cases. No association was present among the patients with esophagitis or hiatal hernia, as well as with reflux symptoms. A significant association was present in over 70 (females), as well as with the presence of antral intestinal metaplasia demonstrated in 45 patients by gastric biopsies. No other significant associations were present. Biopsy samplings can diagnose the presence of intestinal metaplasia during endoscopy in patients endoscopically suspected for Barrett's esophagus: at present there is not clear evidence to promote this screening to achieve mortality reduction of esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Hydropneumatic anal dilation in conservative treatment of chronic anal fissure: clinical outcomes and randomized comparison with topical nitroglycerin.

BACKGROUND: The surgical approach in chronic anal fissures (CAF) may, occasionally result in anal incontinence. The aim of this investigation was to study feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of hydropneumatic anal dilation (HAD) in conservative treatment of CAF and to compare it with local nitroglycerin (GTN) treatment. METHODS: Efficacy of HAD was evaluated in 109 patients (65 male, 44 female; mean age, 53.3 years), following anal dilation using Microvasive Rigiflex instrument (Otw 40 mm). Thereafter, 36 patients were randomly divided into two groups to undergo treatment with 0.25% GTN or HAD. RESULTS: Recovery rate with HAD was 79.8% after 10 days and 94.5% after 30 days. An immediate (within 24 hours) drop was observed in the level of pain; no significant complications or recurrence were reported within 2 years. Healing rate was 94.5% following HAD vs. 38.9% after GTN. CONCLUSION: HAD should be considered a new safe option in CAF treatment.

Randomized study of different 'second-line' therapies for Helicobacter pylori infection after failure of the standard 'Maastricht triple therapy'.

BACKGROUND: Triple therapy with proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin and amoxicillin and, in the event of eradication failure, quadruple therapy with proton pump inhibitor, bismuth, tetracycline and metronidazole have been proposed in Maastricht as the optimal sequential treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. AIM: To compare two second-line regimens with quadruple therapy. METHODS: One hundred and eighty patients with a previous failed course of standard therapy were randomly given one of the following 7-day treatments: ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.d. plus amoxicillin 1 g b.d. and tinidazole 500 mg b.d. (RBCAT), pantoprazole 40 mg b.d. plus amoxicillin 1 g b.d. and levofloxacin 500 mg/day (PAL) and pantoprazole 40 mg b.d., bismuth citrate 240 mg b.d., tetracycline 500 mg q.d.s. and metronidazole 500 mg b.d. (PBTM). The eradication rate was assessed by 13C-urea breath test. Side-effects and compliance were evaluated by a standardized questionnaire and by counting returned medication. RESULTS: The RBCAT, PAL and PBTM groups achieved mean intention-to-treat eradication rates of 85%, 63% and 83%, respectively (P<0.05 for PAL vs. either RBCAT or PBTM). Compliance was optimal in all patients, although side-effects were more commonly observed in the PBTM group than in the other two patient groups (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Both RBCAT and PBTM can be used as second-line therapies. Conversely, PAL did not achieve satisfactory eradication rates.

Diverticular disease as a risk factor for sigmoid colon adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Diverticular disease and colorectal neoplasia share similar epidemiological features and risk factors. AIM: To evaluate a possible association between diverticular disease and both adenomas and colorectal cancer in patients undergoing total colonoscopy. METHODS: Overall, 630 consecutive patients were recruited from the 3 Units. Inclusion criteria were age over 45 years and the performance of total colonoscopy. Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Adenomas were defined as advanced when their size was >1 cm in diameter, and/or the percentage of the villous component was >30% and/or high grade dysplasia was present. RESULTS: At endoscopy, 291 (47%) out of 630 patients presented evidence of diverticular disease. Adenomas were found in 92 (31.9%) patients with diverticular disease and in 98 (28.9%) patients without [p=ns]. The prevalence of adenomas located in the sigmoid colon was significantly higher in patients with diverticula than in controls (64.1% vs 41.8%; p<0.05). Similarly, the detection of advanced adenomas located in the sigmoid colon was more likely in patients with diverticula than in controls (59.6% vs 37.5%; p<0.05). Colorectal cancer prevalence was similar in patients with and without diverticula (8.3% vs 7.1%; p=ns), and no difference was detected regarding site, between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diverticular disease have a higher risk of harbouring adenomas and advanced adenomas in the sigmoid colon. This observation should be taken into account in screening and surveillance programmes for colorectal neoplasia.

Perendoscopic manometry of the distal ileum and ileocecal junction: technique, normal patterns, and comparison with transileostomy manometry.

The technique of perendoscopic manometry was used to study the motor patterns of the ileocecal junction and distal ileum. An expert endoscopist cannulated the distal ileum of 20 unsedated subjects in 260 +/- 252 (mean +/- SD) seconds, causing no discomfort beyond that of an ordinary colonoscopic examination. No sphincter-like motor activity was detected at the ileocecal junction, and four distinct motility patterns were identified in the distal ileum: (1) tone variations, (2) slow phasic contractions, (3) regular rapid phasic contractions, and (4) prolonged rapid phasic contractions. Previous appendectomy and insertion of the colonoscope into the distal ileum to position the manometric catheter did not affect the manometric recordings. Perendoscopic manometry of the distal ileum was compared with transileostomy manometry in 9 subjects. Perendoscopic and transileostomy manometric recordings showed the same motor patterns except for a longer occurrence of tone variations with perendoscopic manometry. In conclusion, this study shows that perendoscopic manometry of the distal ileum and ileocecal junction is feasible; recorded motor patterns are not affected.

Perendoscopic manometry of the distal ileum and ileocecal junction in humans.

Previous manometric studies of the ileocolonic junction were performed without assessing the precise spatial relationship between recording sensors and ileocolonic junction. In the present study, the motor activity of the ileocolonic junction was recorded using manometric sensors localized under direct colonoscopic control in 11 patients (4 men, 7 women; mean age, 55 years) referred for hematochezia with normal stool frequency. No medications were administered before and during endoscopy. A perfused catheter (OD 1.7 mm, with three side holes 4 mm apart and marked by evenly spaced black rings in the distal 6 cm) was passed through the biopsy channel of the endoscope and advanced through the ileocolonic junction and 6 cm into the ileum. The catheter was then withdrawn into the cecum by 1-cm steps, and motor activity was recorded for 4-6 minutes at each station. A single catheter taped to the endoscope continuously recorded cecal pressure. An ileocecal pressure gradient could not be identified in the majority of subjects; individual values ranged from -8 to +4 mm Hg, and gradients were maintained over the entire length of the ileum. In the distal ileum, tonic and phasic pressure waves were detected. Tonic variations were present for 70.1% of the recording time, either alone (44%) or together with phasic waves (56%). Phasic waves were present for 10.3% of the recording time and, according to their duration, were subdivided into those compatible with the rate of ileal slow waves and prolonged waves not compatible with the rate of ileal slow waves. Regular phasic waves could be either isolated or in clusters; prolonged waves were always isolated. A similar proportion of regular (27.9%) and prolonged (31.2%) phasic waves propagated aborally along the ileum or from ileum to cecum. Clusters presented an average of 8.7 +/- 0.6 peaks/min, and 44% of them propagated aborally. The manometric characteristics did not vary between the segments 5-3 cm and 2-0 cm proximal to the ileocecal junction. In conclusion, a powerful ileocecal sphincter was not detected at the human ileocecal junction, and motor activity of the distal ileum was characterized by tonic changes and rapid phasic contractions.

[Pharmacologic treatment of duodenal ulcer. Short and long-term results with pirenzepine in ambulatory patients]. / In tema di trattamento farmacologico dell'ulcera duodenale. Risultati a breve e lungo termine con pirenzepina in pazienti ambulatoriali.

Pirenzepine is an antimuscarinic drug highly selective for M1 receptors, which proved to be effective in the treatment of peptic ulcer. Aim fo the present study was to assess the frequency of relapses over a 12-month period subsequent to the anatomic healing of duodenal ulcer, obtained with pirenzepine (PRZ). Sixty patients (44 M, 16 F, mean age 42,9 years range 19-73) entered the study. They were allocated at random to a double-blind treatment with placebo or PRZ given at two different dosages, 50 or 100 mg/day respectively, over a consecutive period of 12 months. Clinical evaluations were foreseen every 3 months, while endoscopy and hematology, gastrin plasma levels and intra-ocular pressure assessment at the end of the 6th and 12th month. The intake of antacids or equivalent drugs, in addition to the baseline treatment, was not allowed. Statistical evaluation of the results was performed by chi-square test with Yates' corrections. Difference in percentage of patients without relapses at 6th month and at 12th month was clearly in favour of PRZ compared with placebo. Non changes in the indices of gastrin plasma levels, liver or renal functions and intraocular pressure were reported. No patients complained of side-effects pirenzepine-related. The treatment with full dosage (100 mg/day) did not increase the rate of positive responsiveness compared to that of standard dosage (50 mg/day). It might confirm the importance of the role played by nocturnal acid secretion. For this reason, a decrease in relapses could be expected with the dosage of 100 mg if it was given in a single evening dose. However, therapy with PRZ turned out effective and did not produce side-effects. Its selectivity avoided clinical effects related to a cholinergic system block.

Long-term treatment and follow-up studies with pirenzepine in duodenal ulcer: a double-blind study.

Pirenzepine, a new antimuscarinic drug which selectively binds to gastric mucosal muscarinic receptors, has been found to be as effective as cimetidine in promoting the healing of duodenal ulcer. Since recurrence is the major clinical problem in duodenal ulcer, the authors have performed a double-blind randomized study to evaluate the relapse rates during a follow-up period of six months after healing with pirenzepine. Fifty patients were admitted to the trial and randomly allocated to placebo (group C) or pirenzepine (50 mg daily, group A, and 100 mg daily, group B). Forty-four patients completed the trial. During the six months treatment 9 patients had relapses. No significant difference was found between three groups. No side-effects were observed. The 6-month treatment with 50 mg or 100 mg of pirenzepine was well tolerated and without side-effects. The relapse rate during the six months after healing was very low and no significant difference was found between relapse rates in the three treatment groups. These results suggest that seasonal treatment with pirenzepine will prevent duodenal ulcer relapses, increase patient compliance and reduce the social cost of peptic ulcer disease. Additional studies over 12 months of treatment should be undertaken to verify our findings.