Cutaneous manifestations and gastrointestinal disorders: Report of two emblematic cases.

Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), can manifest themselves with intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms. Among the latter, cutaneous manifestations, such as pyoderma gangraenosum (PG) and metastatic Crohn's disease (MCD), represent a possible onset of IBD, with or without simultaneous bowel alterations. In such cases, intestinal and skin lesions are supported by the same immune-mediated mechanism. We hereby report two cases of patients with skin manifestations together with signs and symptoms suggestive of IBD. IBD and some skin lesions arise from the same immune-mediated mechanism. A multidisciplinary approach to these immune-mediated diseases is needed for an early and correct diagnosis, which in turn may lead to the use of the right drug avoiding useless treatment.

Metformin plus proton pump inhibitors therapy: the cobalamin deficiency challenge.

OBJECTIVE: It is known in literature that metformin and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are associated to cobalamin levels reduction independently but still very little is known about the combination of the two drugs in cobalamin levels decrease. Currently there are no published data concerning the management of patients with cobalamin deficiency related to the concomitant use of the aforementioned drugs. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 65 year-old white man with an history of renal cell carcinoma, melanoma and hepatic nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's lymphoma, who was under treatment with metformin because of diabetes and with pantoprazole because of Barrett's esophagus. He came to our attention because of a progressive reduction of cobalamin levels without related anemia. We decided to continue metformin and pantoprazole therapy and we treated the patient with intramuscular injection of cobalamin to avoid the vitamin deficiency consequences. DISCUSSION: Up to now no published data are available concerning the management of patients with cobalamin deficiency related to the concomitant use of metformin and PPIs. Our case report faces this clinical problem in terms of therapeutic management.

Glioblastoma multiforme and hepatitis B: do the right thing(s).

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is a well-known complication related to immunosuppression. Clinical manifestations of HBV relapse range from self-limiting anicteric hepatitis to acute hepatic failure. Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating agent used for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and deadliest of malignant primary brain tumors. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 52-year old man with a history of serological positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) who was diagnosed with GBM. Since the tumor was multifocal and thus inoperable, the patient received radiotherapy with concomitant TMZ and corticosteroids, without a prophylactic therapy for HBV infection. Acute hepatitis developed five months later the beginning of anticancer therapy. We started antiviral entecavir, which led to a decrease of HBV-DNA titer to 20 IU/ml, allowing the prosecution of the TMZ therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Up to now only four other cases of HBV relapse during TMZ therapy have been reported in literature. These cases underline the need of HBV screening and antiviral prophylaxis before starting TMZ administration.

The role of intestinal microbiota and the immune system.

BACKGROUND: The human gut is an ecosystem consisting of a great number of commensal bacteria living in symbiosis with the host. Several data confirm that gut microbiota is engaged in a dynamic interaction with the intestinal innate and adaptive immune system, affecting different aspects of its development and function. AIM: To review the immunological functions of gut microbiota and improve knowledge of its therapeutic implications for several intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases associated to dysregulation of the immune system. METHODS: Significant articles were identified by literature search and selected based on content, including atopic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases and treatment of these conditions with probiotics. RESULTS: Accumulating evidence indicates that intestinal microflora has protective, metabolic, trophic and immunological functions and is able to establish a "cross-talk" with the immune component of mucosal immunity, comprising cellular and soluble elements. When one or more steps in this fine interaction fail, autoimmune or auto-inflammatory diseases may occur. Furthermore, it results from the data that probiotics, used for the treatment of the diseases caused by the dysregulation of the immune system, can have a beneficial effect by different mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: Gut microbiota interacts with both innate and adaptive immune system, playing a pivotal role in maintenance and disruption of gut immune quiescence. A cross talk between the mucosal immune system and endogenous microflora favours a mutual growth, survival and inflammatory control of the intestinal ecosystem. Based on these evidences, probiotics can be used as an ecological therapy in the treatment of immune diseases.  

Colitides.

OBJECTIVE: This Review provides an overview of the pathophysiology, epidemiology, histopathology, clinical characteristics of non-IBD forms of colitis over than some preliminary therapeutic evidences. STATE OF THE ART: The term "Colitides" includes a variety of inflammatory diseases of the colon. These forms of colitis occur as either primary conditions or complications of other diseases. The etiopathogenesis of most of them remains obscure and the epidemiological data are rather limited. Clinical presentations include chronic, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain and intermittent rectal bleeding. Endoscopic evaluation and mucosal biopsy are essential to confirm the diagnosis and to exclude IBD-associated colitis. These diseases include microscopic colitis, ischemic colitis, segmental colitis associated with diverticula, radiation colitis, diversion colitis, eosinophilic colitis and Behcet's colitis. TREATMENT: In many cases the treatment is empirical and often the therapy and outcome depend on the severity of the disease.

Effect of beta-glucan, inositol and digestive enzymes in GI symptoms of patients with IBS.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common functional gastrointestinal (GI). Diagnosis of IBS is based on the fulfilment of the Rome III criteria. Common GI symptoms are lower abdominal pain, bloating and disturbed defecation, such as urgent diarrhoea and/or episodes of chronic constipation. Many agents have been employed in the management of IBS, although only few have been demonstrated to show a relevant efficacy. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of the administration of a mixture of beta-glucan, inositol and digestive enzymes (Biointo) in improving GI symptoms in patients affected by IBS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 50 IBS patients (20 males, 30 females; mean age 51 +/- 19) were treated with Biointo (group A) while another group consisting of 40 IBS patients (15 males, 25 females; mean age 50 +/- 18) did not receive any therapy (group B). RESULTS: Biointol administration improved significantly bloating, flatulence and abdominal pain, with a slight increasing of urgency for bowel movements. On the contrary, Biointol did not show any significant effect on the other IBS symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, only few agents used in the management of IBS have been proven to be effective. Biointol administration has shown to improve some IBS symptoms, such as bloating, flatulence and abdominal pain, all connected to the presence of gas inside the intestinal lumen.