PTR-TOF-MS and HPLC analysis in the characterization of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) from Italy and Iran.

Saffron samples from Italy and Iran were analyzed for their content in aroma and bioactive compounds with different analytical techniques. HPLC was used for the identification and quantification of crocins, picrocrocin, safranal and flavonoids content, while the novel proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer was employed for the aroma compounds analysis. Italian saffron turned out to be richer in total crocins and safranal contents. Sample characterization was performed with an unsupervised statistical approach; tests involving different numbers of parameters deriving from the two analytical techniques were performed. The results achieved showed that the best samples classification was obtained by joining the information acquired from both techniques; following such an approach, a sharper separation between Iranian and Italian samples was achieved. Finally, among the variables that most contribute to the description of variability, isophorone, safranal and picrocrocin were identified to be the most significant.

Self-expanding metal stents for treatment of anastomotic complications after colorectal resection.

Self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) can be used to treat patients with symptomatic anastomotic complications after colorectal resection. In the present case series, 16 patients with symptomatic anastomotic stricture after colorectal resection were treated with endoscopic placement of SEMS. Seven patients had a "simple" anastomotic stricture and nine patients had a fistula associated with the stricture. The anastomotic fistula healed without evidence of residual stricture or major fecal incontinence in seven of the nine patients. Overall the anastomotic stricture was resolved in 10 of the 16 patients. SEMS placement represents a valid adjunctive to treatment in patients with symptomatic anastomotic complications after colorectal resection for cancer.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of the electrical network activity in the root apex.

The study of electrical network systems, integrated with chemical signaling networks, is becoming a common trend in contemporary biology. Classical techniques are limited to the assessment of signals from doublets or triplets of cells at a fixed temporal bin width. At present, full characteristics of the electrical network distribution and dynamics in plant cells and tissues has not been established. Here, a 60-channels multielectrode array (MEA) is applied to study spatiotemporal characteristics of the electrical network activity of the root apex. Both intense spontaneous electrical activities and stimulation-elicited bursts of locally propagating electrical signals have been observed. Propagation of the spikes indicates the existence of excitable traveling waves in plants, similar to those observed in non-nerve electrogenic tissues of animals. Obtained data reveal synchronous electric activities of root cells emerging in a specific root apex region. The dynamic electrochemical activity of root apex cells is proposed to continuously integrate internal and external signaling for developmental adaptations in a changing environment.

Screening and treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in HIV-infected women.

BACKGROUND: To determine: 1) whether the pathology correlates with the degree of immunosuppression, 2) whether there is a relation between pathology and antiretroviral therapies, 3) whether Papanicolau (Pap) smears correlate with colposcopic and histologic findings, 4) whether there is rapid genital disease progression after standard gynaecologic care. METHODS: Retrospective study. Immunologic, gynaecologic and virologic data were extracted either from patients charts or from laboratory testing. RESULTS: At first visit Pap smears resulted normal in 43.7% of the women, 8.4% of the patients had reactive and reparative changes, 2.8% atypical cells of undetermined significance, 33.8% low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and 11.3% high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Patients with a normal PAP smear had higher CD4 cell count (318+/-191 cells/mL) compared to patients with squamous intraepithelial lesions (297+/-116 cells/mL) but the difference was not statistically significant (Mann-Whitney test). The distribution of cervical dysplasia was found to be similar regardless of antiretroviral therapy (chi(2) test). The sensitivity and specificity of Pap tests for detecting CIN were 94 and 80%. Twenty-two per cent of surgically treated women had persistent or recurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS: Lower CD4+ cell counts are not predictive of the presence of cervical dysplasia. All HIV-infected women, independently from their immunological and clinical conditions, need regular Pap smears with appropriate follow-up for abnormal cervicovaginal cytology, this could prevent nearly all deaths from cervical cancer.

Management of benign biliary strictures: biliary enteric anastomosis vs endoscopic stenting.

HYPOTHESIS: Although advances in endoscopic procedures have provided alternative options for relieving biliary obstructions, the overall chance of cure for patients with benign biliary stricture is the same using surgical or endoscopic treatment. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS: Of 163 patients referred for treatment with diagnoses of benign strictures of the common bile duct between January 1, 1975, and July 1, 1998, we studied 42 patients with postcholecystectomy stricture and a follow-up longer than 60 months. Twenty of these patients were treated with endoscopic stenting and 22 with surgery (hepaticojejunostomy, choledochojejunostomy, or intrahepatic cholangiojejunostomy). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative mortality and morbidity and long-term outcome. The rate of restenosis was also determined. RESULTS: Morbidity occurred more frequently in patients treated with endoscopic procedures than with surgical ones (9 vs 2; P = .34). Hospital mortality was 0%. Surgery achieved excellent or good long-term outcome in 17 of 22 patients. Endoscopic biliary stenting was successful in 16 of 20 patients. Overall, excellent or good outcomes were achieved in 34 patients (81%). CONCLUSION: The ability to achieve steady, long-term results confirms hepaticojejunostomy as the best procedure in the treatment of benign biliary strictures, even if endoscopic procedures are gaining a new role in the treatment of a greater number of patients.

Endoscopy in the treatment of benign biliary strictures.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Operative endoscopy is now the method of choice for treating numerous biliary tree diseases. In the treatment of benign strictures of the biliary tree, endoscopy serves as an alternative to surgical interventions. We evaluated the efficacy of endoscopic biliary stents in the treatment of benign biliary strictures. PATIENTS: Fifty-three consecutive patients with benign strictures of the biliary tree underwent endoscopic placement of one or more 10-12 Fr endoprostheses. Thirty-nine patients (73.6%) had iatrogenic strictures and 14 had inflammatory strictures (in 8 patients due to gallstones and in 6, chronic pancreatitis). Of the 53 patients, 20 (37.7%) had strictures classified as Bismuth type I, 23 (43.3%) Bismuth type II, 7 (13.2%) Bismuth type III and 3 (5.7%) Bismuth type IV. RESULTS: None of the patients died during the study period; three patients (5.6%) had immediate endoscopy-related complications treated conservatively. Late complications developed in 47.1% of the patients: 11.3% had cholangitis amenable to medical therapy, 5.6% had dislodged endoprostheses and 30.2% had obstructed endoprostheses. The reason why blocked stents accounted for most of the long-term complications in this series was that endoprostheses were not changed electively: they were changed only when clinical and laboratory signs indicated obstruction. Follow-up (6-84 months) in 42 of the 56 patients. 20 after stent removal, showed that 71.4% had an excellent outcome, 14.3% good results and 14.3% needed surgery. CONCLUSION: In benign biliary stricture endoscopic stenting is the first approach, providing definitive treatment or preparing patients for surgery.

A finite-element model study of occlusal schemes in full-arch implant restoration.

A three-dimensional finite-element model of a human mandible is presented, and the stresses and deformations computed for loading states induced by two different gnathologic reconstructions using six and four implants are discussed. Occlusal canine guidance and posterior and anterior group functions on cantilevered and distally supported prostheses have been simulated. The stress distributions generated by the different loading conditions on either the osseointegrated prosthesis or the bone tissue surrounding the implants are described. The analysis of the stress distribution on the working side reveals that the posterior group function undergoes a reduction in stress intensity on the cortical bone surrounding the implants (especially for the distal implant) compared with the anterior group function and canine guidance in both gnathologic reconstructions.

[Electrohydraulic intracorporeal lithotripsy in the treatment of "difficult" calculi of the common bile duct. Report of a caseload]. / La litotrissia intracorporea elettroidraulica nel trattamento della calcolosi "difficile" della via biliare principale. Presentazione della casistica.

The Authors report their experience in 38 cases (January 1990-Septembre 1994) of "difficult" gallstone disease of the main bile duct treated with electrohydraulic intracorporeal lithotripsy. Nineteen patients were affected with giant stones of the biliary tree, 6 with multiple stones of the main bile duct, 13 with stones of one or both hepatic ducts. The approach to the biliary tree was peroral transpapillary in 16 patients and transhepatic in the remaining 22. Twenty-five patients were previously submitted to surgery of the biliary tree (13 hepaticojejunostomy, 8 choledochoduodenostony, 4 papillostomy), while 5 had required a cholecystectomy, and 6 a gastroresection according to Billroth II. In 80% of the cases two lithotripsy sessions were enough to achieve the complete clearing of the bile duct. There was no mortality and morbidity was 5.3%. Total clearing was obtained in 97.4% of the cases. 6-48 months after treatment 37 patients still do not show clinical, laboratory or echographic signs of gallstone stasis or disease relapse.

The usefulness of biliary drainage for restoring liver function in obstructive jaundice.

In eighty patients with obstructive jaundice treated with percutaneous or endoscopic drainage, the results of biochemical liver-function tests (serum bilirubin, transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin) were analyzed to evaluate the return of liver function after biliary decompression. Before decompression all the patients had increased serum concentrations of all the liver-function indicators measured. Conjugated bilirubin normalized within 7 days in 67.5% of the patients and within 14 days in 94.5%. The other serum responses normalized as follows: glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (7 days in 45%, 14 days in 100%); glutamic pyruvic transaminase (7 days in 46.2%, 14 days in 100%); gamma-glutamyl transferase (7 days in 56.2%, 14 days in 89.1%); alkaline phosphatase (7 days in 52.5%, 14 days in 90.4%); and albumin (7 days in 100%, 14 days in 90.4%). The low mortality and morbidity rates in this series of patients with obstructive jaundice: 0% and 7% after endoscopic and 2.1% and 10.4% after percutaneous drainage suggest that biliary drainage has a valuable place in the preparation of jaundiced patients for surgery and in some cases provides a definitive intervention.

[Tiropramide hydrochloride in the premedication of diagnostic and therapeutic proctosigmoidocolonoscopy (endoscopic polypectomy) and the treatment of colonic diverticulosis]. / La tiropramide cloridrato nella premedicazione della rettosigmoidocolonscopia diagnostica e terapeutica (polipectomia endoscopica) e nel trattamento della malattia diverticolare del colon.

This study was undertaken with a view to assessing the effectiveness and tolerance of tiropramide hydrochloride in the premedication of endoscopic rectosigmoidoscopy. The following were considered for this purpose: 1) speed of execution of the procedure; 2) its tolerance; 3) possible complications. The effectiveness of tiropramide was also examined in uncomplicated diverticular disease: 1) comparison of execution times for rectosigmoidoscopy before and after therapy; 2) the evaluation of the reduction in symptomatology. The patients were subdivided into three groups: 1st group submitted to diagnostic rectosigmoidoscopy; 2nd group submitted to therapeutic rectosigmoidoscopy; 3rd group with diverticular disease. In the first group, execution times were less than 20 minutes in all cases bar 1 and tolerance was good in 27 cases, average in 3. In the second group, times were less than 15 minutes in 6 cases and higher in 4, and tolerance was good in 7 cases and average in 3. In the third group (10 patients), examination execution time was reduced after therapy in 9 cases and in the same number pain symptomatology regressed. Tiropramide proved to be the antispastic of choice in premedication for rectosigmoidoscopy and an effective drug in the treatment of uncomplicated diverticular disease.

Effect of glucagon on sphincter of Oddi motor activity.

In this study the effects of glucagon 1-29 peptide and the metabolically inactive portion glucagon 1-21 have been evaluated on sphincter of Oddi (SO) motor activity. A triple lumen catheter perfused by a minimally compliant infusion system was used to record intraoddian pressures at endoscopy. A strictly blind evaluation of tracings was performed. Neither peptide administration appeared to induce any relevant variation of SO resting pressure nor frequency, amplitude and duration of phasic contractions. Data of the present study would not support the use of glucagon whenever a spasmolytic effect on the SO is looked for.

Manometric measurement of human sphincter of Oddi length.

Length of biliary (CBD) and/or pancreatic (PD) sphincter of Oddi (SO) was measured during perendoscopic or intraoperative manometry in 21 control subjects and in 46 patients with biliary disease. When the high resting pressure (HPZ) and the phasic wave zone (PAZ) were considered, SO length was, in the control group, 9.5 +/- 0.5 mm (M +/- SE) and 9.4 +/- 0.6 mm at the level of the CBD-SO, and 7.7 +/- 0.6 mm and 6.9 +/- 0.5 mm at the level of the PD-SO. The physiological sphincter length appeared substantially shorter than the anatomical one, as reported in the literature. No significant differences were found between controls and patients with CBD stones. Endoscopic sphincterotomy without manometry reduced mean sphincter length length of the sphincterotomy was tailored to the manometric findings. Surgical partial sphincterotomy reduced sphincter length by only 46.7 +/- 10.3%.

Dysplasia-carcinoma sequence in diminutive polyps of the large bowel.

The personal endoscopic experience regarding diminutive polyps (5 mm or less in diameter) of the colon and rectum is reported in order to evaluate the increased cancer risk related to these lesions. A total of 462 colo-rectal diminutive polyps, endoscopically removed by diathermy, have been considered in this study. The histopathologic examination of these lesions evidenced a high incidence of adenomatous polyps (69.9%), with dominance of the tubular histologic type. While mild dysplastic alterations were prevalent, moderate and severe dysplasia were observed to a lesser extent (18.9 and 1.9%) and only one case with focal carcinomatous area (1/323 = 0.3%) was recognized. In conclusion, for these lesions, even if minute in size, a dysplasia-carcinoma sequence should be considered whenever the adenomatous histologic type is evidenced and their increased risk of developing into cancer should be carefully evaluated for a correct diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

[Tiropramide chlorhydrate in premedication for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and its effects on the motor activity of Oddi's sphincter]. / La tiropramide cloridrato nella premedicazione della colangiopancreatografia retrograda endoscopica e suoi effetti sulla attività motoria dello sfintere di Oddi.

The activity of tiropramide chlorhydrate in the pre-medication for the endoscopical examinations has been evaluated. In particular ERCP has been studied considering as parameters the timing of the different stages of the examination and the activity of Oddi's sphincter. At the end of endoscopy the pressure of the sphincterial region was measured a 3-way miniature catheter. Patients included in the study were divided into two different groups: group A treated with tiropramide chlorhydrate and diazepam vs group B treated only with diazepam. The group with patients pre-medicated with tiropramide chlorhydrate presented a significant reduction in the timing of the different stages of endoscopy. Endoscopy was better tolerated. Manometry showed an antispastic action of the drug without side effects. An important reduction of the degree and duration of the sphincterial phase activity, with a possible improvement of biliary defluxion into the duodenum, was observed.

Frequencies and cyclical pattern of the human sphincter of Oddi phasic activity.

Basal frequency of sphincter of Oddi phasic contractility has been repeatedly measured during endoscopic manometry and reported to range, in control subjects, from (M +/- SE) 3.0 +/- 0.6 to 7.5 +/- 0.7 c/min. Recently, high frequency (greater than 8 c/min) phasic contractions or absence of phasic activity were recorded in patients with postcholecystectomy or pancreatic complaints, possibly suggesting a sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. In the present study, sphincter of Oddi (biliary tract) phasic contractility was measured by perendoscopic manometry in 13 subjects without specific clinical symptoms of biliopancreatic disease and with a normal common bile and pancreatic duct at ERCP. Four T-tube patients with no evidence of common bile duct stones or papillary stenosis were studied for comparison (transductal sphincter of Oddi manometry). Basal frequency was found to range from 0 to 7 c/min (M +/- SE: 2.99 +/- 0.46) in perendoscopic manometry (85 min of recording time) and from 0 to 12 c/min (2.0 +/- 0.3) in transductal manometry (2546 min of recording time). Long lasting transductal recordings also showed that frequency of activity derived from the sphincter area varied cyclically in close relation with the duodenal migrating motor complex. It is concluded that the sphincter of Oddi in man is likely to participate in the interdigestive gastrointestinal motor activity and that short perendoscopic recordings may not be representative of the overall sphincter of Oddi activity.