[Acute pancreatitis and AIDS]. / Pancreatite acuta e AIDS.

It's well known that patients was acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) can develop various kinds of hepatobiliopancreatic diseases, for causes related to AIDS and for causes not related to HIV infection. The authors describe a case to their attention due to a suspected acute pancreatitis. The patient presented with abdominal pain, increased serum alkaline phosphatase and amylase levels. Serological test and stool concentration didn't show any opportunistic infection (Cytomegalovirus, Cryptosporidium). Abdominal ultrasonography showed enlargement of the head of the pancreas, gallbladder with biliary sludge, and a little dilatation of the biliary tree. The patient didn't feel better despite the medical treatment, so considering the probability of the migration of calculus, the patient underwent cholecystectomy. After the operation the patient felt better quickly. This case confirms the presence in HIV patients of pancreatitis for causes unrelated to AIDS like cholelithiasis as we showed, alcoholism, hypercalcemia, and the importance of an opportune surgical treatment that was resolutive.

[Chronic gallbladder disease & its surgical therapy, personal experience]. / Incidenza della colecistopatia cronica e suo trattamento chirurgico: esperienza personale.

The chronic alitiasic cholecystopathy represents an unusual trmorphological disease not well defined in literature; it is characterized by a chronic alteration of gallbladder without gallstones. The authors present a retrospective study on a group of 21 patients having undergone cholecistectomy from January 1992 to January 1995. The choice for the surgical treatment was made on the basis of blind gallbladder after i.v. cholangiography, and cholecystography and/or tickning of the gallbladder wall performed through ultrasonography, in patients with hystory of biliary pains not responding to the pharmacological therapy. The removed gallbladder has been histologically examined, observing the absence of gallstone and the presence of chronic inflammation of the gallbladder wall. The c.a.c. is a pathology whose etiopatogenesis is yet discussed, some authors assert in fact that on its basis there are functional symptoms. Although in the past these kinds of disease were considered functional disorders this study revealed that in some cases there are organic problems and that the surgical treatment is necessary.

Colon cancer in Argentina. II: Risk from fibre, fat and nutrients.

A case-control study has been conducted to investigate the relationship between total energy intake, fibre and nutrients and colon cancer in Argentina. Cases are 110 newly diagnosed patients from 10 hospitals between 1985 and 1986. Two neighbourhood controls per case were matched on age, sex and place of residence. The intake of calories, fibre and nutrients was estimated from the information collected on food consumption during the 5-year period up to 6 months prior to interview of subjects, based on a pilot study and standard portion sizes in Argentina. In conditional regression models, dietary fibre is highly protective (odds ratio (OR) = 0.07 per 19.02 g/day; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.02 to 0.25) and total energy intake increases risk (RR = 1.82 per 1000 kcal/day; 95% CI: 1.20 to 2.77), each with adjustment for the other. Analysis of caloric components (fat, protein and carbohydrates) reveals that carbohydrates are the most important factor driving the total energy effect. Other nutrients make little apparent contribution to risk.

Colon cancer in Argentina. I: Risk from intake of dietary items.

A case-control study has been conducted to investigate the relationship between dietary components and risk of colon cancer in the La Plata area of Argentina. Cases are 110 patients newly diagnosed with colon cancer in 10 major hospitals between 1985 and 1986. Two neighbourhood controls per case were individually matched by age, sex and place of residence. Personal interviews elicited information on frequency of consumption of 140 food items during the 5-year period up to 6 months prior to interview. Risk is analyzed by quartiles of individual food items and groups of items. Multivariate conditional logistic regression modelling indicates that consumption of eggs is associated with increased risk for colon cancer (odds ratios by quartile: 1.0, 1.58, 2.02, 4.66), as are some dairy products (ORs of 1.93 for the highest quartile of consumption of cheese). Intake of vegetables, fish and poultry is associated with statistically significant decreasing risk (ORs of 0.075, 0.39 and 0.39, for the highest categories of consumption of vegetables, fish and poultry, respectively). The risk for red meat does not consistently increase as consumption increases. Risks are not altered by the inclusion of potential confounders such as education or body mass index. These findings confirm those of several previous studies and are of particular interest, since the Argentinean diet typically includes a high intake of red meat.