Increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with coeliac disease on a gluten-free diet: beyond traditional metabolic factors.

BACKGROUND: A gluten-free diet (GFD) is known to be associated with altered macronutrient intake and metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic hallmark of metabolic syndrome. The risk of NAFLD in patients with coeliac disease (CD) adhering to a GFD remains to be fully investigated; in particular, data from real-life clinical settings are lacking. AIM: To assess the prevalence and relative risk of NAFLD in CD patients treated with a GFD. METHODS: Case-control study, with prospective enrolment of CD outpatients following a GFD and controls. Patients were matched for demographic characteristics (age and gender) and metabolic risk factors (overweight, diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, and triglycerides) using a 1:1 ratio. NAFLD was diagnosed according to the European Association for the Study of the Liver criteria. RESULTS: 202 CD patients and 202 controls were compared. The raw prevalence of NAFLD was 34.7% and 21.8% in the CD and control group, respectively (P = 0.006). Binary logistic regression confirmed an increased risk of NAFLD in the CD group (adjusted odds ratio = 2.90, 95% confidence interval: 1.64-5.15, P < 0.001). Additionally, the relative risk for NAFLD was notably higher in non-overweight CD patients (adjusted odds ratio = 5.71, 95% confidence interval: 2.30-14.19, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: More than one-third of CD patients adhering to a GFD had concurrent NAFLD, accounting for a three-fold increased risk compared to the general population. Dietary advice provided using a patient-tailored approach should assist CD patients with NAFLD in achieving an appropriate nutritional intake whilst reducing the risk of long-term liver-related events.

[Pediatric digestive endoscopy: personal experience]. / Endoscopia digestiva pediatrica: esperienza personale.

Fiberendoscopy has become a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure of the outmost importance also in pediatric gastroenterology. 100 gastrointestinal fiberoscopies have been carried out on 81 patients ranging in age from 1 month to 14 years during a three-year period (November 79 - October 82), using general anesthesia for 9 patients. The 70 upper GI endoscopies, almost always performed with the Olympus GIF P2 instrument, showed acute or chronic, limited or diffuse inflammatory changes in most cases; post-bulbar areas were successfully visualized in 46 patients. The 30 colonoscopies were carried out with the standard adult equipment in most part of cases; in 50% of cases the inspection was extended to the caecum. Inflammatory diseases have been frequently revealed, but more frequently no remarkable changes were found. Indications for "operative" endoscopy were dilatation of an esophageal achalasia and removal of four gastrointestinal bleeding polyps. All procedures gave satisfactory results, and no morbidity occurred to patients.

[The use of disinfectants in Northern Italy with special attention to the Emilia-Romagna region]. / Indagine sull'uso dei disinfettanti nell'Italia Settentrionale con particolare riguardo alla Regione Emilia-Romagna.

As part of an extensive investigation into the use of disinfectants in hospitals, data from 189 hospitals in the north of Italy, including 38 in the Emilia-Romagna region, were examined. Eleven fields of employment were assessed. It was found that benzalkonium chloride was primarily used for disinfection of the operative field, wounds, excoriations, sores, the skin prior to injection, surgical instruments, catheters, thermometers, and utensils. Chlorhexidine was preferred to disinfection of the hands and medical equipment. Formaldehyde was preferred for ambient surfaces, the air of confined spaces, and (in association with chlorine and its derivatives) for sanitary services and vessels. Glutaric aldehyde was preferred for apparatus fitted with lenses or optical fibres. By comparison with other parts of N. Italy. Emilia-Romagna made greater use of hydrogen peroxide for skin lesions, and alcohol for disinfection prior to transcutaneous injections.

[Analysis of the use of disinfectants in Italy particularly in Southern Italy]. / Analisi dell'impiego dei disinfettanti in Italia con particolare riguardo all'area geografica Italia Meridionale.

In an investigation of the use of disinfectants in hospitals, the replies received from 338 institutions were analysed and subsequently compared with those obtained from southern Italy. It was found that benzalkonium chloride was the substance most widely used in Italy for disinfection of the surgical field, wounds, excoriations, sores, the skin prior to injections, surgical instruments, medical apparatus, catheters, thermometers and sanitary appliances, whereas chlorhexidine was preferred for disinfection of the hands, and for ambient surfaces in combination with cetrimide. Formic aldehyde was preferred for ambient surfaces, the air of confined spaces, and, in conjunction with chlorine and its derivatives, for sanitary services and their vessels. Glutaraldehyde was the substance most commonly employed for the disinfection of medical apparatus fitted with optic fibre lenses. In southern Italy, by contrast with the position in Italy as a whole, there was a greater use of chlorine and its derivatives for the disinfection of ambient surfaces, benzalkonium chloride for the disinfection and cleaning of sanitary services, vessels, and equipment with optic fibres, and alcohols for the disinfection of surgical instruments and sanitary appliances.