Optimization of systemic treatments for chronic plaque psoriasis. Recommendations for switching and transitioning.

AIM: The aim of this study was to provide practical recommendations for optimizing the use of conventional and biological systemic treatments for moderate-severe chronic plaque psoriasis, particularly in case of transitioning and switching. METHODS: A total number of 147 dermatologists from 33 different countries including Italy achieved consensus in providing practical recommendations for the use of conventional and biological treatments for moderate to severe psoriasis based on systematic literature review and/or expert opinion. RESULTS: In general, the continuous treatment regimen should be preferred in order to achieve a complete and long-term control of psoriasis. However, the treatment could be stopped or the dose reduced in case of complete disease clearance. A conventional drug could be associated to biological treatment in selected cases. Transitioning and/or switching could be considered in case of inefficacy or intolerance. A period of wash up is required if transitioning or switching is due to safety issues. CONCLUSION: This study provides practical suggestions for the optimal use of conventional and biological treatments for chronic plaque psoriasis.

Two Case Reports of Biliary Tract Injuries during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Background and Study Aims. Biliary tract injuries (BTI) represent the most serious and potentially life-threatening complication of cholecystectomy occurring also during laparoscopic approaches. Patients and Methods. We describe and discuss two different cases of BTI occurring during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Results. Two patients developed BTI during LC and one evidenced the complication during the LC itself and was treated during the same LC in real time. The other patient evidenced BTI only after the primary intervention and was successfully reoperated in laparotomy after 10 days from the LC. Conclusions. The factors that predispose to the occurrence of BTI during cholecystectomy and the cautions to be used to prevent BTI are discussed.

Biliary tract injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: three case reports and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Biliary tract injuries (BTI) represent the most serious and potentially life-threatening complication of cholecystectomy. During open cholecystectomies (OC), the prevalence of bile duct injuries has been estimated at only 0.1-0.2%. We report 3 cases of BTI during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). CASE 1: Ascalesi Hospital, Naples 2003-2007, 875 LC (BTI 0,11%). During the dissection of triangle of Calot a partial resection of biliary common duct was made. Immediately the lesion was evident and sheltered in laparoscopy, suturing with a spin reabsorbable, without biliar drainage. The post-operative outcome was good, without alteration of the some parameters, and the patient was discharged after three days. At the last follow-up (January 2006) the cholangiography didn't show stricture or leakage. CASE 2: General and Laparoscopic Surgical Unit San Giovanni di Dio Hospital Frattamaggiore 2004-2007, 720 LC (BTI 0,13%). Patient affected by cholecystitis with gallstones. The patient did not present jaundice, but abdominal pain, leucocitosis, fever and US evidence of parietal gallbladder inflammation. LC was performed after 36 h; during operation, common biliar duct was misidentified for subverted anatomy caused by inflammation. The common bile duct was clipped, and the patient presented jaundice after three days after operation. The colangiography was performed showing the stop. Therefore a reoperation was needed and laparotomic Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was performed. CASE 3: Dpt of Emergency Surgery, Second University of Naples 2000-2007, LC 520 (BTI 0,19%). Patient affected by more than 20 years symptomatic cholelithiasis, with only obesity risk factor; she underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and sudden bleeding of the cystic artery, poor vision and probably the long history of symptoms, producing a flogistic alteration of the anatomy, caused a misidentification of the cystic duct and the common bile duct with complete or lateral clipping of the common hepatic duct. The error was unrecognized intra-operatively but after progressive jaundice the postoperative colangiography showed a nearly complete stop by two clips. Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy with intraoperative cholangiographic control was performed. DISCUSSION: The most common cause of BTI is the failure to recognize the anatomy of the triangle of Calot. This is attributed to factors inherent to the laparoscopic approach, to inadequate training of the surgeon and to local anatomical risk factors. The laparoscopic "learning curve" of the surgeon is the most important factor of bile ducts injury. But also local anatomical risk factors are important such as acute cholecystitis, severe chronic scarring of the gallbladder and bleeding or excessive fat in the hepatic hilum. These local risk factors seem to be present in 15% to 35% of BTI. Abnormal biliary anatomy, such as a short cystic duct or a cystic duct entering into the right hepatic duct also may increase the incidence of BTI. Schematic representation of the common mechanisms of BTI during LC are: misidentification of the cystic duct and the common biliary duct, lateral clipping of the common biliary duct, traumatic avulsion the cystic duct junction, diatermic injury of common biliary duct during dissection of the Calot triangle or during the cholecystectomy, injury of anomalous right hepatic duct. CONCLUSION: Conversion to laparotomy, in difficult cases involving inflammatory changes, aberrant anatomy or excessive bleeding, is not to be considered as a failure but rather as good surgical decision in order to ensure the patient's safety.

Anastomotic leaks after anterior resection for mid and low rectal cancer: survey of the Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the survey was to assess the incidence of anastomotic leaks (AL) and to identify risk factors predicting incidence and gravity of AL after low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer performed by colorectal surgeons of the Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery (SICCR). METHODS: Information about patients with rectal cancers less than 12 cm from the anal verge who underwent LAR during 2005 was collected retrospectively. AL was classified as grade I to IV according to gravity. Fifteen clinical variables were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses. Further analysis was conducted on patients with AL to identify factors correlated with gravity. RESULTS: There were 520 patients representing 64% of LAR for rectal cancer performed by SICCR members. The overall rate of AL was 15.2%. Mortality was 2.7% including 0.6% from AL. The incidence of AL was correlated with higher age (p<0.05), lower (<20 per year) centre case volume (p<0.05), obesity (p<0.05), malnutrition (p<0.01) and intraoperative contamination (p<0.05), and was lower in patients with a colonic J-pouch reservoir (p<0.05). In the multivariate analysis age, malnutrition and intraoperative contamination were independent predictors. The only predictor of severe (grade III/IV) AL was alcohol/smoking habits (p<0.05) while the absence of a diverting stoma was borderline significant (p<0.07). CONCLUSION: Our retrospective survey identified several risk factors for AL. This survey was a necessary step to construct prospective interventional studies and to establish benchmark standards for outcome studies.

Atherothrombosis: role of tissue factor; link between diabetes, obesity and inflammation.

Atherothrombotic vascular disease is a complex disorder in which inflammation and coagulation play a pivotal role. Rupture of high-risk, vulnerable plaques with the subsequent tissue factor (TF) exposure is responsible for coronary thrombosis, the main cause of unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death. Tissue factor (TF), the key initiator of coagulation is an important modulator of inflammation. TF is widely expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and found in macrophages, smooth muscle cells, extracellular matrix and acellular lipid-rich core. TF expression can be induced by various stimulants such as C-reactive protein, oxLDL, hyperglycemia and adipocytokines. The blood-born TF encrypted on the circulating microparticles derived from vascular cells is a marker of vascular injury and a source of procoagulant activity. Another form of TF, called alternatively spliced has been recently identified in human and murine. It is soluble, circulates in plasma and initiates coagulation and thrombus propagation. Evidence indicates that elevated levels of blood-borne or circulating TF has been associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors and is a candidate biomarker for future cardiovascular events. Therapeutic strategies have been developed to specifically interfere with TF activity in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

[Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: case report]. / Colangiocarcinoma intraepatico: case report.

The primitive tumors of the liver are relatively rare in the Western countries (around the 0.7% of all the neoplasms) while they present more elevated incidence in Africa and in the South Asian East. While the hepatocellular carcinoma rises up in the 50-70% of the cases in livers cirrosis, this correlation is not valid for the form of carcinoma to departure from the learned intra and extra biliar. The etiology of the intrahepatic colangiocarcinoma (CC) stays unknown. They have stayed observe, on the other hand, of the conditions sometimes correlated to the development of the CC (Carolí morbs, ulcerative colitis, asbestosis). The CC usually rises up from the epithelial cells of surface that delimit the biliary ducts, although different studies suggest that these tumors can also originate from the learned smaller biliary ducts, from the hepatic cysts of the policistic illness and from the complexes of von Meyenburg. The low incidence of the CC, the clinical atypical debut, the not facility of a precise diagnosis have aroused our interest so that the present job wants to be a modest scientific contribution to this type of pathology.

[Intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma: case report]. / Cistoadenoma biliare intraepatico: case report.

According to the OMS classification of the epithelial benign neoplasm of the liver, the adenomas represent the most important group. In literature an increase of their incidence in the last years is reported especially in the female sex, in relationship to the diffusion of the use of hormonal contraceptives. The biliar cistoadenoma (BCA) represents a not frequent neoplasm of the liver that has origin on the inside of the liver, and less frequently from the extrahepatic biliar system. The surgical interest is underlined by the potentiality of the malignant evolution of the lesion and by its high tendency to the relapse. The real difficulty is represented by differential diagnosis from the other cystic lesions of the liver and by the need of its radical excision and therefore of real hepatectomy.

Conversion of Lap-Band to gastric bypass for dilated gastric pouch.

An 18-year-old female who had undergone a laparoscopic adjustable gastic banding developed several episodes of gastric pouch dilatation (GPD), treated conservatively. The last GPD (31 months after Lap-Band placement) involved the lesser curvature of the stomach and was refractory to medical treatment. Conversion to an open gastric bypass was performed. Gastric bypass is an option in the case of Lap-Band failure.

10-year experience of total thyroidectomy with special reference to 85 thyroid cancers in one Italian centre.

The ideal surgical approach for differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTC) is a matter for debate. Total (TT) or near total (NT) thyroidectomy on one side, and lobectomy (LL) or lobo-isthmusectomy (LI) on the other side are the options. Extended (TT, NT) resections are preferable for several reasons, and LL or LI are preferred by some groups. Our 10-year experience indicates that the post-operative complications percentage may be low enough to make TT the preferred surgical option.

[Clinical manifestations in benign breast diseases. The surgeon's role in the evaluation of signs and diagnostic work-up]. / Manifestazioni cliniche in corso di patologia mammaria benigna. Ruolo del chirurgo nella valutazione dei segni della malattia e nella programmazione diagnostica.

From January 1988 through December 1995, 1022 patients having a breast disease have been operated on in our center. Of them 342 had a breast malignancies whereas 680 beared a benign breast disease. Benign breast pathology presents to the physician two main problems, they are: i) the need to rule out a breast cancer, which often may be simulated by special clinical presentation ii) the need to determine if eventually such a benign lesion can degenerate into a malignancy. We conclude according to our experience and following several authors that although a very careful diagnostic evaluation must be performed for every breast lesion, only few benign lesions arising with particular patterns can change into a breast cancer.

[Differences in the symptomatology of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias in relation to the different sites of localization of the arrhythmic reentry circuit. Clinical picture, semiologic and genetic aspects]. / Diversità di sintomatologia nelle tachicardie parossistiche sopraventricolari (TPSR) correlata alla differente localizzazione del circuito aritmico di rientro. Analisi del quadro clinico e considerazioni semeiogenetiche.

Transesophageal, electrophysiologic studies were conducted in 47 patients, with clinical and ECGgraphic diagnosis of paroxysmal reciprocating supraventricular tachycardia. After admission to hospital, the patients were enrolled in the study in accordance with the criterion concerning the exclusion of patients with signs and symptoms of severe heart pump failure (ie, NYHA III and IV class were excluded). The transesophageal study was performed during paroxysmal tachycardia in each patient to measure the V-A interval and to localize the site of reentry. Thereby, the patients could be grouped into 2 subsets, ie those with A-V nodal reentrant tachycardia (no. 30 patients) and those with accessory pathway reentrant tachycardia (no. 17 patients). Moreover, the prevalence in both subsets was evaluated in the following signs and symptoms: palpitations, dyspnoea, chest pain, pulsations in the neck, significant increase in urinary output, hypotension, dizziness, near-syncope, syncope, shock, focal brain injury. From the data analysis, significantly greater prevalence of palpitations in the neck resulted in the subset of patients with reentry confined to the A-V node (no. 20 cases) compared with those suffering from reentry via accessory pathway (no. 4 cases). Moreover the arterial pressure, in A-V nodal reentrant tachycardia, showed the lowest values and the best decreases, together with the finding of a more rapid trend to decline in comparison with the accessory pathway subset. On the other hand, no significant differences could be seen about the remaining symptoms. In an attempt to provide the reliable explanation for the differences found between the 2 subsets of study, concerning both the unpleasant pulsations in the neck and the pressure decrease, we postulated a remarkable role for the length of arrhythmic circle movement. The smaller dimensions of circuit limbs, in A-V nodal reentrant tachycardia, are likely to be the principle cause of the different clinical features of 2 types of reentry. We speculate actually that in susceptible patients the critical event is most likely to be A-V functional dissociation due to early and unphysiologic activation of atria by stimulus rapidly reentrant from the bottom portion of the AV node: the simultaneous occurrence, frequent in A-V node reentry, of both, atrial and ventricular mechanical activation, would result, however, in impairment of atrial haemodynamics due to development of cannon A waves, able either to activate a vasodepressor reflex from the atria or to stimulate instantaneous release of atrial natriuretic factor in the circulation. Further studies, however, are necessary to be performed on large cases-records, to confirm our hypothesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Superoxide dismutase activity in the skin of rats irradiated by He-Ne laser.

The activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase has been measured in the skin of rats irradiated by a low-power He-Ne laser. The irradiation was performed at the doses of 4, 8 and 20 J/cm2 in a single or repeated treatment. The increase in activity of superoxide dismutase in the skin of irradiated animals was not statistically significant.