The Burden of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Medical and Nurse Italian University Student Population: The VANVITELLI-IBS Survey.

BACKGROUND: The increased prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among medical and nursing students is a global challenge. Unfortunately, data on the Italian medical and nurse student population are scarce. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the prevalence of IBS in this setting and to evaluate the demographic, university, Mediterranean diet adherence, and anxiety factors associated with its increased presence. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of IBS, anxiety levels, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in medical and nursing university students. METHODS: An anonymous online questionnaire was sent to participants. Several demographic and educational variables were assayed, and the presence of symptoms associated with the definition of IBS (according to Rome IV criteria). In addition, anxiety levels and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were also assessed. RESULTS: Of 161 students, 21.11% met the Rome IV criteria for IBS. Some subgroups, the out-ofcourse students or no scholarship recipients, were found to have a higher percentage of IBS (p < 0.05). Being out-of-course was shown to be associated with an increased and unreported risk of presenting IBS (OR: 8.403, p < 0.001). Levels of anxiety and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were significantly worse in the IBS group (p < 0.01). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of presenting IBS in our setting (OR 0.258, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Our sample of Italian medical and nursing students recorded a non-negligible percentage of IBS. Therefore, screening and awareness campaigns could be suggested.

Quality of bowel preparation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease undergoing colonoscopy: What factors to consider?

An adequate bowel preparation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a prerequisite for successful colonoscopy for screening, diagnosis, and surveillance. Several bowel preparation formulations are available, both high- and low-volume based on polyethylene glycol. Generally, low-volume formulations are also based on several compounds such as magnesium citrate preparations with sodium picosulphate, oral sulphate solution, and oral sodium phosphate-based solutions. Targeted studies on the quality of bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy in the IBD population are still required, with current evidence from existing studies being inconclusive. New frontiers are also moving towards the use of alternatives to anterograde ones, using preparations based on retrograde colonic lavage.

A 60-Year-Old Woman with Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Crohn's Ileitis Following the Suspension of Ursodeoxycholic Acid.

BACKGROUND There is a recognized association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and hepatobiliary autoimmune disease, particularly primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). There have been fewer reported cases of IBD and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), which is treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). This report presents the case of a 60-year-old woman with PBC who was diagnosed with Crohn's ileitis after suspension of UDCA treatment. CASE REPORT A 66-year-old female patient with PBC was admitted to our department for irrepressible chronic diarrhea and recurrent abdominal pain. PBC was diagnosed on the basis of serological data: chronic (>6 months) increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) associated with positivity for specific anti-nuclear antibodies (sp100 and gp210), without requiring a liver biopsy and a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to rule out PSC. Given the intolerance and non-responsiveness according to the Toronto criteria (ALP <1.67 times the normal limit after 2 years) to UDCA at 15 mg/kg/day, an oral monotherapy treatment using obeticholic acid at 5 mg/day was prescribed. The patient complained of abdominal pain and upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The endoscopic/histologic and radiologic examinations supported the diagnosis of Crohn's ileitis. Given the potential benefits to PBC patients of what is described as off-label therapy, budesonide at a dosage of 9 mg/day p.o. was also administered. One month after discharge, an improvement was observed both in the cholestasis indices and in gastrointestinal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This report presents a case of PBC in which the patient was diagnosed with Crohn's ileitis after cessation of treatment with UDCA, and highlights the importance of recognizing the association between autoimmune hepatobiliary disease and IBD.

MEK Inhibition in a Newborn with RAF1-Associated Noonan Syndrome Ameliorates Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy but Is Insufficient to Revert Pulmonary Vascular Disease.

The RAF1:p.Ser257Leu variant is associated with severe Noonan syndrome (NS), progressive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and pulmonary hypertension. Trametinib, a MEK-inhibitor approved for treatment of RAS/MAPK-mutated cancers, is an emerging treatment option for HCM in NS. We report a patient with NS and HCM, treated with Trametinib and documented by global RNA sequencing before and during treatment to define transcriptional effects of MEK-inhibition. A preterm infant with HCM carrying the RAF1:p.Ser257Leu variant, rapidly developed severe congestive heart failure (CHF) unresponsive to standard treatments. Trametinib was introduced (0.022 mg/kg/day) with prompt clinical improvement and subsequent amelioration of HCM at ultrasound. The appearance of pulmonary artery aneurysm and pulmonary hypertension contributed to a rapid worsening after ventriculoperitoneal shunt device placement for posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus: she deceased for untreatable CHF at 3 months of age. Autopsy showed severe obstructive HCM, pulmonary artery dilation, disarrayed pulmonary vascular anatomy consistent with pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis. Transcriptome across treatment, highlighted robust transcriptional changes induced by MEK-inhibition. Our findings highlight a previously unappreciated connection between pulmonary vascular disease and the severe outcome already reported in patients with RAF1-associated NS. While MEK-inhibition appears a promising therapeutic option for HCM in RASopathies, it appears insufficient to revert pulmonary hypertension.

Uptake of cervical cancer screening among the migrant population of Prato Province, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of participation in cervical cancer screening among the migrant population of Prato Province, Italy. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using data for women aged 25-64 years who were resident in one of the municipalities of Prato Province and had received at least one invitation to undergo a cervical cancer screening test. Data were extracted from both the Local Health Unit Serviceable Registry and cervical cancer screening archives for the period July 1, 2004, to June 30, 2007. RESULTS: Of the 69 459 residents eligible for cervical cancer screening, 7339 (10.6%) did not have Italian citizenship. Adherence with cervical cancer screening among the migrant population was lower than that of the Italian resident population: uptake increased from 52.4% in 2004 to 57.3% in 2007 among the Italian resident population, but decreased from 31.4% to 28.2% among migrants. CONCLUSION: The migrant population of Prato Province has decreased adherence with cervical cancer screening.

DNA ploidy is stronger than lymph node metastasis as prognostic factor in cervical carcinoma: 10-year results of a prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: To improve the outcome of patients with cervical cancer, a more accurate prognostic assessment is essential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of tumor DNA ploidy as an independent prognostic factor in cervical carcinoma. Furthermore, we investigated whether the presence of lymph node metastasis may have a different clinical impact according to ploidy status. METHODS: In a long-term prospective study, DNA ploidy was evaluated by flow cytometry from fresh tumor samples from 136 patients with cervical cancer who underwent surgery. Ploidy, lymph node metastasis, and other classical parameters were analyzed in relation to the length of disease-specific survival. Treatment modalities did not differ between patients with diploid tumors and patients with aneuploid tumors. RESULTS: DNA aneuploidy was found in 52 patients (38.2%). Patients with DNA-aneuploid tumors had a significantly reduced disease-specific survival (P = 0.003). Overall, the 10-year survival probability was 54% for patients with DNA-aneuploid tumors and 80% for patients with DNA-diploid tumors. Among 64 patients with International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians stage I disease, the 10-year survival rates were 38.7% for the patients with DNA-aneuploid tumors and 86.3% for those with DNA-diploid tumors (P = 0.003). Overall, diploid tumors with lymph node metastasis did significantly better than aneuploid tumors with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.05). Among the patients with International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians stage I disease, there was a highly significant difference between patients with diploid node-positive tumors and patients with aneuploid node-positive tumors, with no deaths from the disease in the former group in contrast with the worst outcome in the latter group (P = 0.005). By multivariate analysis, pathologic tumor stage, lymph vascular invasion, and tumor ploidy were significant and independent parameters, whereas lymph node metastasis yielded no independent information. CONCLUSIONS: DNA ploidy was an independent prognostic factor in cervical carcinoma. Presence of lymph node metastasis may not always have the same impact on survival but may vary according to DNA ploidy of the primary tumor.

Masson's vegetant hemangioendothelioma arising in the uterine cervix during pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hemangioendothelioma is a rare benign intravascular tumor that can be confused with other vascular neoplasms. We report the first case of cervical vegetant intravascular hemangioendothelioma (Masson's tumor) arising in a pregnant woman. CASE REPORT: A 40-year-old woman at 15 weeks' gestation developed a voluminous cervical mass and vaginal bleeding. We excised the lesion during pregnancy because of its rapid growth, bleeding, and severe pain. The pathological diagnosis was Masson's tumor or intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia. The tumor showed strong estrogen and progesterone receptor expression.The patient underwent an elective cesarean section at term, giving birth to a healthy baby. Clinical follow-up at 3 years showed no complications or recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetricians should be aware that Masson's tumor may occasionally arise in the uterine cervix during pregnancy. This benign vascular tumor may display a rapid growth because of the presence of sex steroid receptors. Differential diagnosis should consider a malignant vascular tumor, including Kaposi's sarcoma and angiosarcoma. Surgical removal should not be postponed because of pain and bleeding. Fetal and maternal outcomes were favorable.

Ovarian cancer initially presenting as intramammary metastases and mimicking a primary breast carcinoma: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer usually spreads intra-abdominally. Supradiaphragmatic metastases are rare, and axillary lymph node metastases are exceptional. Here, we present the first case of ovarian carcinoma detected at screening mammogram as intramammary lymph node metastases. CASE REPORT: A 44-year-old obese woman underwent core biopsy of a suspicious mammographic finding histologically consistent with lymph node metastases from breast cancer. Serum tumor markers, including CA 125, were normal, and clinical staging was negative. The patient underwent quadrantectomy and axillary dissection that revealed four involved lymph nodes but no primary breast carcinoma. Accurate re-evaluation of the histological specimens suggested the possible ovarian origin of the tumor. An [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealed a 33-mm solid mass with intense metabolic FDG uptake in the right groin and a small simple ovarian cyst with normal FDG uptake. The ovarian cyst was removed laparotomically and was malignant on frozen section. Surgical staging revealed a well-differentiated serous ovarian carcinoma microscopically involving the omentum and massively infiltrating the groin node. After chemotherapy, the patient developed metastases in the contralateral axilla that was removed surgically. The patient is alive with no evidence of disease 20 months after surgical removal of the primary tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons should be aware that ovarian cancer may rarely metastasize to intramammary and axillary nodes, mimicking a primary breast carcinoma.

Preoperative assessment of HER-2/neu status in breast carcinoma: the role of quantitative real-time PCR on core-biopsy specimens.

OBJECTIVES: Knowledge of HER-2/neu status is mandatory to identify breast cancer patients amenable to trastuzumab treatment. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in the preoperative determination of HER-2/neu status in breast cancer, using core biopsy material. METHODS: In a prospective series, qRT-PCR was performed on fresh core biopsy specimens taken preoperatively in 87 patients with breast carcinoma. Cases with qRT-PCR ratio > or = 2.0 were considered to have HER-2/neu amplification. The results of RT-PCR analysis were compared with those of the standard immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) methods. Cases with IHC 3+ or with IHC 2+ and FISH showing amplification were considered HER-2/neu positive. All other cases were considered HER-2/neu negative. RESULTS: qRT-PCR showed HER-2/neu amplification in 13 cases (14.9%), while the standard IHC-FISH combined approach identified 17 HER-2/neu-positive cases (19.5%). Overall, there was concordance between methods in 83 of 87 patients (95.4%). The Spearman's rho correlation coefficient was 0.851; p<0.001. The diagnostic performance for preoperative diagnosis of HER-2/neu status using RT-PCR on core biopsy specimens as compared to standard approach was as follows: sensitivity 76.5%; specificity 100%; positive predictive value 100%; negative predictive value 94.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative RT-PCR determination of HER-2/neu status from core biopsy specimens provided results comparable to those given by the standard IHC and FISH methods. The use of qRT-PCR on core biopsy material may represent a very useful and easy tool to enhance early identification of HER-2/neu-positive breast cancer patients who, possibly can benefit from trastuzumab treatment.

Predicting the status of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer: a multiparameter approach including axillary ultrasound scanning.

In a prospective study, we attempted to predict axillary metastases in 135 breast cancer patients by a preoperative multiparameter evaluation including axillary ultrasound scanning (US). After surgery, factors associated with lymph node metastases by univariate analysis were included in a multivariate model. By multivariate analysis, the stronger independent predictors of lymph node metastases were suspicious axillary US (p<0.001), tumor location in the outer quadrants (p=0.001) and high Ki-67 index (>10%) (p=0.002). A predictive model based on these variables, identified a high-risk group (20.0%) represented by women with suspicious axillary US, tumor in the outer quadrants and high Ki-67 index, with axillary metastases in 100%, whereas all patients with opposite features (8.1%) had uninvolved axillary lymph nodes. This multiparameter evaluation including axillary US may be used to optimize the selection of breast cancer patients candidate to sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection. The accuracy of this predictive model still requires prospective validation in a larger sample of women.

Radiofrequency ablation for minimally invasive treatment of breast carcinoma. A pilot study in elderly inoperable patients.

OBJECTIVES: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been used to treat hepatic, renal and prostate tumors. Preliminary experiences in breast cancer, followed by surgical excision, were encouraging. We performed a pilot trial of ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA, not followed by surgery, in three elderly inoperable patients with breast carcinoma. The study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of treating small breast malignancies with RFA only and to evaluate the safety and complications related to this treatment. METHODS: Three patients with core-needle biopsy-proven invasive carcinoma (<2 cm in greatest dimension) underwent ultrasound-guided RFA under local anesthesia, as outpatient procedure. Treatment was planned to ablate the tumor and a margin of surrounding breast tissue. All the patients were evaluated after a 1, 6, 12 and 18 months of follow-up. RESULTS: All the patients completed the treatment with minimal or no discomfort and returned home after 1 h. The mean age was 81.3 years (range, 76-86 years) and the mean tumor size was 11.6 mm (range, 10-13 mm). The tumors laid more than 10 mm from chest wall and from the skin. The mean time required for ablation was 10.3 min (range, 8-12 min). There were no treatment-related complications. Post-ablation ultrasound scan, mammography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan and core biopsy, confirmed the tumor necrosis. After 18 months of follow-up no recurrence occurred. CONCLUSIONS: RFA was feasible and safe for minimally invasive treatment of elderly inoperable patients with early-stage, primary breast carcinoma.