Mosquito Iridescent Virus: New Records from Nature and Infections Using Strelkovimermis spiculatus (Mermithidae) as a Vector Under Laboratory Conditions.

Iridoviridae is a DNA virus family that affects both vertebrates and invertebrates. Immature aquatic stages of many dipteran species infected with iridovirus have been found in different places worldwide. The most represented genera of the Culicidae family are Aedes and Psorophora. To date, sixteen species of Aedes naturally infected with iridoviruses have been reported. Moreover, there are four records for the genus Psorophora, one for Culiseta, and two for Culex. In this paper, we report two new mosquito species as natural hosts of iridoviridae in Argentina: Aedes albifasciatus (Macquart) and Culex dolosus (Lynch Arribalzaga). We also analyzed the ability of a Cx. pipiens-Invertebrate Iridescent Virus to replicate in vivo in the larval stage of two mosquito species, Culex apicinus Philippi and Ae. aegypti (L.) using Strelkovimermis spiculatus as a vector, under laboratory conditions. Although Ae. aegypti is the most recognized mosquito vector of important arboviruses responsible for emergent diseases, Cx. apicinus and Ae. albifasciatus may also be implicated in enzootic or epizootic cycles of virus transmission, such as the St. Louis Encephalitis virus and the Western Equine Encephalomyelitis virus.

[Endoscopic prosthetic treatment of the esophagojejunal leaks after total gastrectomy: clinical experience]. / Il trattamento endoscopico protesico delle fistole anastomotiche esofago-digiunali dopo gastrectomia totale per cancro dello stomaco: esperienza clinica.

The Authors, on the basis of their experience on the use of self-expanding prostheses in abdominal surgery, report on the use of these prostheses in two patients who, having undergone a gastrectomy for cancer, developed a fistula of the esophago-jejunal anastomosis. Given recent data from literature, using a prosthesis for an anastomotic fistula may be a valid alternative to a second operation, which, apart from obvious difficulties, has a high mortality rate in patients in weakened general health conditions. In these cases, after the application of a stent, excellent results can be obtained and, after some days, the patients can begin a semi-liquid diet, then proceeding to a semi-solid diet, improving quality of life; in addition, within a reasonable time span, after the healing of the fistula, the prosthesis can easily be removed by endoscopy.

Anger and ego-defence mechanisms in non-psychiatric patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome is commonly accepted as a disorder closely influenced by affective factors, which can either trigger the symptoms or contribute to their persistence, independently from their aetiology. It has been previously documented that irritable bowel syndrome patients respond to a variety of emotional states (anger, fear and anxiety) with an increase in colonic motility. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the experience and the expression of anger and the prevalent ego-defence mechanisms in a group of non-psychiatric patients with irritable bowel syndrome. SUBJECTS: Fifty-two patients with irritable bowel syndrome (18 males, 34 females) and 100 healthy volunteers from the community (44 males, 56 females) matched for age, level of education and social-status were enrolled. METHODS: Assessment was conducted using the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and the Defence Mechanism Inventory. RESULTS: No important differences between the two examined groups were found using the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and Defence Mechanism Inventory. CONCLUSIONS: It can be hypothesised that stable personality features and habits, such as anger disposition and defence mechanisms, play only a marginal role in irritable bowel syndrome, while psychological and psychosocial influences may act as predisposing or precipitating factors which contribute to the pathogenesis or expression of irritable bowel symptoms.

[Caroli's disease: literature review and characteristics of a clinical case]. / La malattia di Caroli: revisione della letteratura e particolarità di un caso clinico.

The Author's report the case of the simple form of Caroli's disease, a rare malformation, and review literature pointing out the difficulty of an early diagnosis, because disease can be silent for a long time too and it is identified for complication. Today, imaging, endoscopy and interventionist radiology are the most valid tools for a correct diagnosis and treatment, above all in a case of emergency, when other therapeutic solutions are not possible.

Endoscopic treatment of Barrett's epithelium with Argon Plasma Coagulation. Long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition for the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Recently, many endoscopic therapies based on thermal or photobiologic ablation of BE have been provided, with positive short-term results in 60-100% of cases, but long-term results are still lacking. The aim of this study is to evaluate long-term results of BE endoscopic ablation with Argon-Plasma Coagulation (APC). METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive patients were treated (every 3 weeks) with APC until the eradication of BE and the squamous epithelium restoration were assessed. During the treatment and the first 6 months of follow-up, patients received 40 mg/die omeprazole; then the proton pump inhibitors (PPI) dose was 20 mg/die. Endoscopic and histologic controls have been performed every 6 months. The study considered the fìrst 32 patients who completed at least 24 months of follow-up, whose median was 49.5 months (range: 24-60). RESULTS: The ablation of BE was achieved with a median of 2.0 APC sessions, without side- effects. The recurrence of SIM (specialized intestinal metaplasia) was detected in 3 patients, while nor dysplasia or cancer developed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that APC can lead both to eradication of BE and the restoration of squamous epithelium. As recent reports indicated the persistence of SIM beneath the new epithelium and even a neoplastic growth (adenocarcinoma) in the treated area, despite APC, 2 questions have arisen: is APC unable to radically ablate BE or on the contrary are these findings due to defects of the ablative technique needing improvement? To settle more precise conclusions, further investigation with larger numbers of patients and for longer follow-up is required.

[Endoscopic sphincterotomy in acute biliary pancreatitis]. / La sfinterotomia endoscopica nella pancreatite acuta biliare.

Six patients, 4 females and 2 males, mean age 58 (range 30-75) underwent an early endoscopic sphincterotomy because of acute pancreatitis. Serum amylases were 8N in 4 patients and greater than 20N in 2 cases. Ranson's criteria average was 2.2 for each patient. Ultrasonography showed gallbladder stones in 4 patients (2 patients underwent previously a cholecystectomy), choledochal stones in 1 patient, dilatation of main bile duct in 2 patients. Meteorism hid bile duct in 3 cases and pancreas in 5 cases. Duodenoscopy showed: papilla obstructed by gallstones in 2 patients, bulging intramural common bile duct in 2 patients; outlet of microstones and pus from papilla in 1 patient and in 1 case outlet of pus from papilla. Papillary obstruction was due to impacted stones in 4 patients, microstones in 1 patient and benign papillary stenosis in 1 patient. We performed standard sphincterotomy 3 times and in 3 patients we had to perform infundibolotomy. After endoscopic sphincterotomy and stones extraction, all the patients improved quickly and biochemical signs become normal in few days. We must not report any complication.