Acute pancreatitis and parathyroid carcinoma: a case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare etiology of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and subsequent hypercalcemia. Among clinical manifestations of hypercalcemia, acute pancreatitis is very uncommon. Nevertheless, acute pancreatitis may be an initial clinical manifestation of parathyroid cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present a case report and literature review on hypercalcemia-induced acute pancreatitis secondary to parathyroid carcinoma. RESULTS: A 56 years-old man, who had previously received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer with peritoneal and bone metastasis, complained of persistent postprandial epigastric pain, weight loss (12 kg) and hypercalcemia. He underwent endoscopic ultrasound, which did not identify any solid masses, but a pseudocyst of the pancreas body consistent with a local complication of acute pancreatitis. Plasma levels of parathyroid hormone were markedly increased, and neck ultrasound and scintigraphy confirmed the diagnosis of PHPT. Parathyroidectomy was performed and histological examination revealed parathyroid carcinoma. Searching on PubMed for the keywords "parathyroid carcinoma" AND "acute pancreatitis", from 1969 to March 2021 we found only 12 case reports of acute pancreatitis due to parathyroid cancer. The causal relationship between PHPT and acute pancreatitis has been widely discussed in literature but is still a controversial issue. CONCLUSIONS: Acute pancreatitis induced by primary hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid carcinoma is an extremely rare condition. However, when hypercalcemia is found, serum PTH levels should always be determined in order to rule out PHPT and hypercalcemia-induced acute pancreatitis should be suspected in presence of hypercalcemia and abdominal symptoms.

A transition clinic model for inflammatory bowel disease between two tertiary care centers: outcomes and predictive factors.

OBJECTIVE: Few models of transition have been proposed for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the present study is to evaluate the feasibility of a transition model and the predictive factors for success/failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with low activity or remission IBD were enrolled. Proposed model: three meetings every four-six weeks: the first one in the pediatric center (Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital); the second one, in the adult center (Foundation Polyclinic University A. Gemelli), with pediatric gastroenterologists; the last one, in the adult center, with adult gastroenterologists only. Questionnaires included anxiety and depression clinical scale, self-efficacy, quality of life, visual-analogic scale (VAS). Transition was considered successful if the three steps were completed. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled (range 18-25 years; M/F: 12/8; Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease 10/10); eight accepted the transition program, four delayed the process and eight refused. Patients who completed transition generated higher scores on the resilience scale, better scores on well-being perception, and had lower anxiety scores. Patients who failed transition were mostly women. The perceived utility of the transition program was scored 7.3 on a VAS scale. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed transition program seems to be feasible. Psychological scores may help in selecting patients and predicting outcomes.

Nutritional support in mitochondrial diseases: the state of the art.

Mitochondrial diseases are a group of rare multisystem disorders characterized by genetic heterogeneity and pleomorphic clinical manifestations. The clinical burden may be heavy for patients and their caregivers. There are no therapies of proven efficacy until now and a multidisciplinary supportive care is therefore necessary. Since the common pathogenic mechanism is the insufficient energy production by defective mitochondria, nutrition may play a crucial role. However, no guidelines are still available. The article reports the current evidence, highlighting nutrition both as support and as therapy. The estimate of nutritional status, energy needs and nutritional behaviors are firstly discussed. Then, we go in-depth on the scientific rationale and the clinical evidence of the use of anti-oxidants and enzyme-cofactors in the clinical practice. In particular, we analyze the role of Coenzyme Q10, Creatine monohydrate, α-lipoic acid, riboflavin, arginine and citrulline, folinic acid, carnitine, vitamin C, K, and E. Every attempt at nutritional intervention should be made knowing patient's disease and focusing on his/her energy and nutrients' requirements. For this reason, clinicians expert in mitochondrial medicine and clinical nutritionists should work together to ameliorate care in these fragile patients.

Nutrition and IBD: Malnutrition and/or Sarcopenia? A Practical Guide.

Malnutrition is a major complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This mini review is focusing on main determinants of malnutrition in IBD, the most important components of malnutrition, including lean mass loss and sarcopenia, as an emerging problem. Each one of these components needs to be well considered in a correct nutritional evaluation of an IBD patient in order to build a correct multidisciplinary approach. The review is then focusing on possible instrumental and clinical armamentarium for the nutritional evaluation.

Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Ulcerative Colitis: Pitfalls and Promises From a First Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the results of a chronic inflammatory process deriving from disequilibrium between self-microbiota composition and immune response. METHODS: New evidence, coming from Clostridium difficile infection, clearly showed that active and powerful modulation of microbiota composition by fecal microbiota composition (FMT) is safe, easy to perform, and efficacious, opening new frontiers in gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal diseases. FMT has been proposed also for IBD as well as other non-gastrointestinal conditions related to intestinal microbiota dysfunctions, with good preliminary data. RESULTS: In this setting, ulcerative colitis (UC) represents one of the most robust potential indications for FMT after C difficile colitis. CONCLUSIONS: In the present review, we focus on FMT and its application on ulcerative colitis, clarifying mechanisms of actions and efficacy data, trough completion of a meta-analysis on available randomized, controlled trial data in UC. Because microbiota is so crucially involved in this topic, a short review of microbial alterations in UC will also be performed.

Effect of an extra-virgin olive oil enriched with probiotics or antioxidants on functional dyspepsia: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: While antioxidants and probiotics have been proposed for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, current data are still heterogeneous and studies are poorly designed. Extra-virgin olive oil, a common ingredient of Mediterranean diet, has shown antioxidant properties. AIMS: To evaluate the effect of extra-virgin olive oil enriched with antioxidants or probiotics on functional dyspepsia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study has been designed as a "proof of concept". Extra-virgin olive oil enriched with antioxidants or probiotics was blindly added to the common diet of 8 subjects with functional dyspepsia for 7 days. Dyspeptic symptoms were then evaluated in all patients. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A significant improvement of dyspeptic symptoms was observed in subjects receiving the antioxidant or probiotic enriched oil diet, with a greater effect observed for the latter. Larger studies are now needed to confirm these data.

Specific 13C functional pathways as diagnostic targets in gastroenterology breath-tests: tricks for a correct interpretation.

Breath tests are non-invasive, non-radioactive, safe, simple and effective tests able to determine significant metabolic alterations due to specific diseases or lack of specific enzymes. Carbon isotope (13)C, the stable-non radioactive isotope of carbon, is the most used substrate in breath testing, in which (13)C/(12)C ratio is measured and expressed as a delta value, a differences between readings and a fixed standard. (13)C/(12)C ratio is measured with isotope ratio mass spectrometry or non-dispersive isotope-selective infrared spectrometer and generally there is a good agreement between these techniques in the isotope ratio estimation. (13)C/(12)C ratio can be expressed as static measurement (like delta over baseline in urea breath test) or as dynamic measurement as percent dose recovery, but more dosages are necessary. (13)C Breath-tests are involved in many fields of interest within gastroenterology, such as detection of Helicobacter pylori infection, study of gastric emptying, assessment of liver and exocrine pancreatic functions, determination of oro-caecal transit time, evaluation of absorption and to a lesser extend detection of bacterial overgrowth. The use of every single test in a clinical setting is vary depending on accuracy and substrate costs. This review is meant to present (13)C the meaning of (13)C/(12)C ratio and static and dynamic measure and, finally, the instruments dedicated to its use in gastroenterology. A brief presentation of (13)C breath tests in gastroenterology is also provided.

Tricks for interpreting and making a good report on hydrogen and 13C breath tests.

Breath tests (BT) represent a valid and non-invasive diagnostic tool in many gastroenterological disorders. Their wide diffusion is due to the low cost, simplicity and reproducibility and their common indications include diagnosis of carbohydrate malabsorption, Helicobacter pylori infection, small bowel bacterial overgrowth, gastric emptying time and orocaecal transit time. The review deals with key points on methodology, which would influence the correct interpretation of the test and on a correct report. While a clear guideline is available for lactose and glucose breath tests, no gold standard is available for Sorbitol, Fructose or other H2 BTs. Orocaecal transit time (OCTT) defined as time between assumption of 10 g lactulose and a peak > 10 ppm over the baseline value, is a well-defined breath test. The possible value of lactulose as a diagnostic test for the diagnosis of small bowel bacterial overgrowth is still under debate. Among (13)C breath test, the best and well characterized is represented by the urea breath test. Well-defined protocols are available also for other (13)C tests, although a reimbursement for these tests is still not available. Critical points in breath testing include the patient preparation for test, type of substrate utilized, reading machines, time between when the test is performed and when the test is processed. Another crucial point involves clinical conclusions coming from each test. For example, even if lactulose could be utilized for diagnosing small bowel bacterial overgrowth, this indication should be only secondary to orocaecal transit time, and added into notes, as clinical guidelines are still uncertain.

The use of anti-spasmodics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: focus on otilonium bromide.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of this review is to summarize the studies carried out, with particular interest in those who dealt with otilonium bromide in treatment of IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). DISCUSSION: IBS is a frequent gastrointestinal disease, characterized by a combination of several symptoms including abdominal pain or discomfort, flatulence and problems related to bowel habits (constipation and/or diarrhea). It affects about 15% of the western population, with a negative impact on the quality of life and also on health care costs. Face to such important complexity and negative impact, therapeutic options are still very limited and most of the pharmacological compounds mostly validated for short term use, are only partially controlling symptoms. Among those, anti-spasmodics are commonly used in clinical settings. Despite a discrete literature in support of these drugs, systematic collections of clinical evidence to support the use of anti-spasmodics and in particular the use of otilonium bromide in course of IBS are scarce. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Otilonium bromide is a systemically poorly absorbed antispasmodic, which has shown clear efficacy compared to placebo, in controlling symptoms related to IBS. Otilonium bromide was effective also in comparison to other drugs, such as pinaverium bromide and mebeverine, with a favorable tolerability profile. Further studies are necessary to better define duration of treatment and maximum therapeutic dose.