Leaving behind a diseased small bowel during surgery for Crohn's disease: Long-term outcomes.

PURPOSES: Stricture is a common complication of Crohn's disease (CD) and may be treated with bowel-sparing procedures. Our study analyzed what happens in terms of intestinal and systemic inflammation when the diseased bowel is left behind following surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we enrolled 42 consecutive patients who underwent strictureplasty (alone or with resection) for stricturing CD. Control patients who underwent complete diseased bowel resection were identified and propensity score-matched for the sex, age, and history of abdominal surgery. Biohumoral values were collected at follow-up examinations at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before and after strictureplasty in 19 patients. RESULTS: In the strictureplasty group, fecal calprotectin levels were decreased at 12 months (p = 0.03), whereas in the resectiongroup, they were decreased at 6 months (p = 0.02). On MRI, the ADC [apparent diffusion coefficient] (p < 0.001), wall thickness (p = 0.046) and Magnetic Resonance Index of Activity (MaRIA) (p < 0.001) and Clermont (p < 0.001) scores were improved after strictureplasty. Surgical recurrence was more frequent in the strictureplasty group than in the resection group (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective study showed that even if the diseased bowel was left behind after surgery, the intestinal inflammatory activity still decreased. However, the permanence of the diseased bowel still increased the risk of reoperation, probably because of the fibrotic nature of the stenosis and the multifocality of CD.

Fistula-Related Cancer in Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is a very disabling condition with poor quality of life. Patients with perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease are also at risk of perianal fistula-related squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Cancer arising at the site of a chronic perianal fistula is rare in patients with Crohn's disease and there is a paucity of data regarding its incidence, diagnosis and management. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken using Medline, Embase, Pubmed, Cochrane and Web of Science. Several small series have described sporadic cases with perianal cancer in Crohn's disease. The incidence rate of SCC related to perianal fistula was very low (<1%). Prognosis was poor. Colorectal disease, chronic perianal disease and HPV infection were possible risk factors. Fistula-related carcinoma in CD (Chron's disease) can be very difficult to diagnose. Examination may be limited by pain, strictures and induration of the perianal tissues. HPV is an important risk factor with a particular carcinogenesis mechanism. MRI can help clinicians in diagnosis. Examination under anesthesia is highly recommended when findings, a change in symptoms, or simply long-standing disease in the perineum are present. Future studies are needed to understand the role of HPV vaccination in preventing fistula-related cancer.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance for assessing fibrosis in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal fibrosis is a key feature of Crohn's Disease lesions, and mucosal biopsies do not exactly represent transmural damage. Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) allows for a panoramic study of the bowel loops. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) through the restriction of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) allows for an accurate evaluation of disease activity in Crohn's Disease patients avoiding contrast agents. The aim of this study was to investigate whether DWI sequences were able to identify intestinal fibrosis in candidates for surgery, using histopathology as the gold standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Crohn's Disease patients undergoing surgery for stricturing ileo-colonic disease were consecutively enrolled from October 2010 to November 2015. All patients underwent MRE with DWI before surgery. Radiological parameters were calculated in the stenotic segment and in the ileum proximal to the stenosis. The histopathological examination was performed using a histological score for fibrosis and inflammation. RESULTS: ADC value correlated with the fibrosis score (r = -0.648; p < 0.0001), inflammation score (r = -0.763; p < 0.0001) and percentage of gain (r = -0.687; p < 0.0001). A correlation emerged between wall thickness and fibrosis score (r = 0.671; p < 0.0001). The threshold of wall thickness for fibrosis was > 6.3 mm (AUC 0.89, specificity 100% and sensitivity 69.23%). The cut-off of ADC value for fibrosis was < 1.1 × 10-3 mm2 s-1 with a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 94% (AUC = 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: The DWI sequence with ADC value could be useful to identify fibrosis in the intestinal wall of Crohn's Disease patients.

Lymphomagenic properties of a HIV p17 variant derived from a splenic marginal zone lymphoma occurred in a HIV-infected patient.

Despite antiretroviral therapy, HIV+ individuals still have increased risk to develop lymphomas, including marginal zone lymphomas, suggesting that factors other than HIV-related immunosuppression are probably acting as lymphomagenic factors in the HIV setting. The possible pathogenic involvement of HIV p17 protein variants was investigated in a particularly informative case of HIV-related splenic marginal zone lymphoma, which was negative for oncogenic virus infections, thus allowing us to assess the possible direct contribution of these HIV-encoded proteins to lymphomagenesis. The presence of p17 protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in lymphoma tissue. Recombinant p17 protein derived from the dominant sequence detected in plasma and lymphoma biopsy was characterized for B-cell proliferation, clonogenicity in soft agar, in vitro tube formation and wound healing. Intracellular signaling was investigated by immunoblotting. HIV p17 protein was detected in reactive lymphoid follicles but not within lymphoma cells. An identical dominant variant p17 sequence, p17-Lyrm, carrying a 117 to 118 Ala-Ala insertion was detected in both plasma and lymphoma tissue. Recombinant p17-Lyrm enhanced B-cell proliferation and clonogenicity promoted the formation of capillary-like structures and enhanced endothelial cell migration. Unlike reference p17, the p17-Lyrm variant enhanced the activation of Akt and ERK, critical kinases in lymphomagenesis. p17-Lyrm clonogenic activity was dependent on the activation of Akt but not of ERK1/2. These results indicated that HIV p17 variants with distinct molecular signatures and functional properties may accumulate in lymphoid tissues of HIV-infected individuals where they may act as a local stimulus promoting the development of lymphomas.

Angiogenesis inhibitors and symptomatic anal ulcers in metastatic colorectal cancer patients *.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis inhibitors are a standard first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. Anal canal pain is a common adverse event, but its cause has never been described. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between the use of angiogenesis inhibitors and symptomatic anal ulcer development. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all 601 consecutive metastatic colorectal cancer patients undergoing first line treatment from January 2010 to June 2016 at the Veneto Institute of Oncology. Details about patient characteristics, treatment and proctology reports were retrieved and compared. Vascularization of the anal canal was evaluated with contrast MRI. RESULTS: Fifty out of 601 patients reported perianal complaints during treatment and underwent proctologic evaluation. Among those, 16 were found to have an anal ulcer. Symptomatic anal ulcers occurred only in patients receiving bevacizumab (4.2% vs. 0% with other regimens, p = .009). The peak incidence was 4-8 weeks after treatment start. Vascularization of anal canal was significantly lower in patients treated with bevacizumab (p = .03). Hypertension and hemorrhoids were associated with a lower risk of anal ulcer occurrence (p = .009 and p = .036). Pain intensity was severe. All attempts at symptomatic treatment only led to transient benefit. The absence of symptomatic ulcers was protective against earlier permanent discontinuation of treatment (HR = .22, 95%CI: 0.04-0.62). CONCLUSIONS: The development of symptomatic anal ulcers in patients receiving angiogenesis inhibitor is a common adverse event which can compromise the continuation of cancer therapy. We recommend an early proctologic evaluation in case of anal symptoms with the aim to prevent and timely manage such complication.

A nurse-led accelerated procedure for infliximab infusion is well tolerated and effective in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Shorter infusions of infliximab for inflammatory bowel disease seem to be as tolerated as standard procedures and nurses may be able to manage them safely. AIMS: To test tolerability and effectiveness of a fast nurse-led infusion procedure and the related patients' satisfaction. METHODS: We retrospectively compared three different regimens adopted in our outpatient infusion unit from 2010 to 2013: Group 1, a standard procedure with two-hour infusions, preceded by hydrocortisone medication (87 patients, 311 infusions); Group 2, a similar regimen without physician supervision (130 patients, 464 infusions); Group 3, a one-hour nurse-led procedure without routine premedication (176 patients, 1356 infusions). Disease characteristics, infusion reactions, infusions per month and patients' satisfaction were recorded. RESULTS: There were significantly fewer infusion reactions in Group 3 than Group 1 (2.2% versus 5.8% respectively; p=0.001). The only significant risk factor for side effects was premedication (odds ratio 4.71, 95% confidence interval 2.21-10.02, p<0.001) which was related to the presence of previous side effects. Number of infusions per month increased by 27% (83 versus 61, p<0.001) without increasing nurses' workload and patients were satisfied. CONCLUSIONS: Our fast nurse-led procedure was well tolerated, effective and satisfactory for patients.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance for assessing ileal Crohn's disease activity.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopy and imaging objectively assess Crohn's disease (CD) activity. Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) uses no ionizing radiation, carries no significant morbidity, and is highly sensitive in revealing soft tissues inflammation. Diffusion-weighted imaging can distinguish intestinal inflammation from a lower diffusion of water molecules giving rise to a reduced apparent diffusion coefficient. The magnetic resonance index of activity score and, more recently, the Clermont score were recently developed for staging CD activity. The aim of this study was to compare the MRE scores and the Simple Endoscopic Score for CD in identifying ileal CD activity. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with ileal and ileocolonic CD were consecutively enrolled between June 2012 and June 2013. All patients underwent clinical examination, biochemical tests, MRE, and colonoscopy to assess disease activity. RESULTS: MRE assessed active ileal disease in 31 patients (56.3%). The Clermont score significantly correlated with the magnetic resonance index of activity score (r = 0.91; P < 0.0001) and the Simple Endoscopic Score for CD (r = 0.76; P < 0.0001). The apparent diffusion coefficient correlated with the Simple Endoscopic Score for CD (r = -0.63; P < 0.0001) especially in unoperated patients. CONCLUSIONS: The Clermont score and the apparent diffusion coefficient value can stage ileal CD, avoiding the need to use contrast agents.

Non-invasive investigation in patients with inflammatory joint disease.

Gut inflammation can occur in 30%-60% of patients with spondyloarthropathies. However, the presence of such gut inflammation is underestimated, only 27% of patients with histological evidence of gut inflammation have intestinal symptoms, but subclinical gut inflammation is documented in two-thirds of patients with inflammatory joint disease. There are common genetic and immunological mechanisms behind concomitant inflammation in the joints and intestinal tract. A number of blood tests, e.g. erythrocyte sedimentation rate, orosomucoid, C-reactive protein, and white cell and platelet counts, are probably the most commonly used laboratory markers of inflammatory disease, however, these tests are difficult to interpret in arthropathies associated with gut inflammation, since any increases in their blood levels might be attributable to either the joint disease or to gut inflammation. Consequently, it would be useful to have a marker capable of separately identifying gut inflammation. Fecal proteins, which are indirect markers of neutrophil migration in the gut wall, and intestinal permeability, seem to be ideal for monitoring intestinal inflammation: they are easy to measure non-invasively and are specific for intestinal disease in the absence of gastrointestinal infections. Alongside the traditional markers for characterizing intestinal inflammation, there are also antibodies, in all probability generated by the immune response to microbial antigens and auto-antigens, which have proved useful in establishing the diagnosis and assessing the severity of the condition, as well as the prognosis and the risk of complications. In short, non-invasive investigations on the gut in patients with rheumatic disease may be useful in clinical practice for a preliminary assessment of patients with suspected intestinal disease.

[Management of maxillofacial injuries in an emergency unit: our experience]. / I traumi maxillo-facciali in Pronto Soccorso: casistica di un dipartimento d'emergenza e d'accettazione del Sud Italia.

Maxillofacial injuries are relatively frequent. These may be complicated by cranioencephalic injuries or large facial wounds. We report our experience with the initial management of these lesions in an emergency unit setting. In 2007, we observed 105 patients with maxillofacial injuries. Maxillofacial injuries were associated with cranio-encephalic injuries in 69 patients (65.7%) and with polytrauma in 31(29.5%), while in 5 cases (4.8%) they were isolated. The main causes of trauma were motorcycle accidents (60%). All patients were treated in accordance with the Advanced Trauma Life Support guidelines and assessed by computed tomography. No mortality was observed after diagnosis in the emergency unit or in the month following the trauma. Seventy-seven patients (73.3%) were admitted and 28 (26.7%) were treated and discharged. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate initial management yield good clinical outcomes with functional restoration and fewer aesthetic complications.

[Management of polytrauma: our experience]. / La gestione del politrauma: nostra esperienza.

In the advanced nations trauma represents the third cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and tumours. Recently, great importance has been given to the need to treat traumas as quickly as possible in order to reduce mortality and morbidity. Prompt management of is the gold standard in the emergency setting and the phrase "golden hour" is now commonly used. The authors report on their experience with the management of multiple trauma, through the study of 617 clinical cases. Patients were evaluated with the Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Injury Severity Score (ISS) and Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). Of 420 (68%) cases of major trauma only one patient had ISS > 60. Patients were admitted on average after 47 +/- 18 min. Only two deaths occurred in the emergency unit. The task of the emergency unit is to stabilise the patients, anticipate the complications, including mainly shock and multiple organ failure, optimizing time, interventions and resources to reduce morbidity and mortality.