Exploiting within-breed variability in the autochthonous Reggiana breed identified several candidate genes affecting pigmentation-related traits, stature and udder defects in cattle.

Autochthonous cattle breeds constitute important reservoirs of genetic diversity. Reggiana is an Italian local cattle breed reared in the north of Italy for the production of a mono-breed Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Reggiana cattle usually have a classical solid red coat colour and pale muzzle. As part of the strategies designed for the sustainable conservation of this genetic resource, we investigated at the genome-wise level the within-breed detected variability of three pigmentation-related traits (intensity of red coat colour, based on three classes - light/diluted, normal and dark; spotted patterns/piebaldism that sometime emerge in the breed; muzzle colour - pink/pale, grey and black), stature, presence/absence and number of supernumerary teats and teat length. A total of 1776 Reggiana cattle (about two-thirds of the extant breed population) were genotyped with the GeneSeek GGP Bovine 150k SNP array and single-marker and haplotype-based GWASs were carried out. The results indicated that two main groups of genetic factors affect the intensity of red coat colour: darkening genes (including EDN3 and a few other genes) and diluting genes (including PMEL and a few other genes). Muzzle colour was mainly determined by MC1R gene markers. Piebaldism was mainly associated with KIT gene markers. Stature was associated with BTA6 markers upstream of the NCAPG-LCORL genes. Teat defects were associated with TBX3/TBX5, MCC and LGR5 genes. Overall, the identified genomic regions not only can be directly used in selection plans in the Reggiana breed, but also contribute to clarifying the genetic mechanisms involved in determining exterior traits in cattle.

Multicentre observational study of the natural history of left-sided acute diverticulitis.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of acute diverticulitis (AD) is still unclear. This study investigated the recurrence rate, and the risks of emergency surgery, associated stoma and death following initial medical or surgical treatment of AD. METHODS: The Italian Study Group on Complicated Diverticulosis conducted a 4-year multicentre retrospective and prospective database analysis of patients admitted to hospital for medical or surgical treatment of AD and then followed for a minimum of 9 years. The persistence of symptoms, recurrent episodes of AD, new hospital admissions, medical or surgical treatment, and their outcome were recorded during follow-up. RESULTS: Of 1046 patients enrolled at 17 centres, 743 were eligible for the study (407 recruited retrospectively and 336 prospectively); 242 patients (32·6 per cent) underwent emergency surgery at accrual. After a mean follow-up of 10·7 years, rates of recurrence (17·2 versus 5·8 per cent; P < 0·001) and emergency surgery (6·9 versus 1·3 per cent; P = 0·021) were higher for medically treated patients than for those treated surgically. Among patients who had initial medical treatment, age less than 40 years and a history of at least three episodes of AD were associated with an increased risk of AD recurrence. There was no association between any of the investigated parameters and subsequent emergency surgery. The risk of stoma formation was below 1 per cent and disease-related mortality was zero in this group. The disease-related mortality rate was 0·6 per cent among patients who had surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Long-term risks of recurrent AD or emergency surgery were limited and colectomy did not fully protect against recurrence.

Combined laparoendoscopic approach for biliary lithiasis treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The treatment of common bile duct stones diagnosed during videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy is still under debate. In cases of suspected common bile duct stones, a double approach with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography either prior to, or following videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy is the current routine in many centers. An intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic papillosphincterotomy and stone extraction has recently been proposed. METHODOLOGY: We compared the approaches for suspected common bile duct stones in 21 cases of combined intervention endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography during videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy to 17 cases of sequential intervention (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography prior to videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy). Complications and postoperative monitoring are discussed and reported on the basis of hospital stay. RESULTS: Although the efficacy and the complications are similar, patients treated with the sequential approach stayed in the hospital longer because of the double monitoring period during both after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and after videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: A combined approach to suspected common bile duct stones during videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy could be an effective and a financially worthwhile treatment.

Molecular epidemiology of a nosocomial outbreak due to Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter agglomerans in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

A total of 73 isolates (57 Enterobacter cloacae and 16 Enterobacter agglomerans), recovered during an outbreak of bacteremia in the Campinas area, São Paulo, Brazil, were studied. Of these isolates, 61 were from parenteral nutrition solutions, 9 from blood cultures, 2 from a sealed bottle of parenteral nutrition solution, and one was of unknown origin. Of the 57 E. cloacae isolates, 54 were biotype 26, two were biotype 66 and one was non-typable. Of 39 E. cloacae isolates submitted to ribotyping, 87.2% showed the same banding pattern after cleavage with EcoRI and BamHI. No important differences were observed in the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among E. cloacae isolates exhibiting the same biotype, serotype and ribotype. All E. agglomerans isolates, irrespective of their origin, showed same patterns when cleaved with EcoRI and BamHI. The results of this investigation suggest an intrinsic contamination of parenteral nutrition solutions and incriminate these products as a vehicle of infection in this outbreak.

[Femoro-femoral crossover bypass in monolateral obstructions of the iliac artery]. / Il bypass femoro-femorale cross over nelle ostruzioni monolaterali dell'arteria iliaca.

The Authors report the result of their ten-years experience with femoro-femoral crossover bypass in 26 patients affected with unilateral occlusion of the iliac artery. This bypass is an easy and quick procedure, useful in both short and long term. The patency rate after 58 months is 84.6%. Thus, its use indicated in a high number of patients, not only for a limb salvage treatment of a disabling claudication. The indications for this bypass can be extended to low surgical risk subjects, and it does not have to be considered only for the high-risk patients, instead of major surgery procedure on the aorto-iliac axis. The minimal necessary conditions of the limbs for performing the femoro-femoral crossover bypass are a pressure gradient of 35 mmHg and the angiographical demonstration of the unilateral occlusion. If the contralateral axis appears patent, but there are also multiple atherosclerotic sites, we consider other bypasses as therapeutical choices: aorto-bifemoral, ilio-femoral and the femoro-femoral cross-over itself; in the latter case we previously perform a transluminal angioplasty or an endarterectomy of the donor iliac artery. In these situations is essential to evaluate of the benefit/risk rate for every single patient.

[Massive hemorrhage from duodenal adenocarcinoma. A case report]. / Enterorragia massiva da adenocarcinoma duodenale. Caso clinico.

The Authors report a case of acute onset anaemia due to a bleeding duodenal adenocarcinoma, stressing the rarity of this clinical situation. Only in few cases such an important bleeding has been pointed out to require an emergency surgical treatment. The diagnostic and therapeutical criteria are exposed and compared with the literature ones. The Authors indicate duodenopancreatectomy as the only resective surgical procedure that can offer recovery or a chance of a long disease-free survival.

[Carotid surgery and its monitoring in our experience]. / La chirurgia carotidea e il suo monitoraggio nella nostra esperienza.

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the elective surgical procedure to prevent stroke due to stenosis of the carotid bifurcation. During a period of 17 years the Authors performed 215 operations on the carotid arteries of 168 patients. The average age was 64.6 and the male/female ratio was 3/1. Patients were symptomatic in 75.8% of cases and asymptomatic in the remaining 24.2%. Preoperative investigations consisted of echo-Duplex scanning, arteriography, cerebral CT or MRI. Indications for surgery were: stenosis wider than 70% in 173 cases, ulcerated or "high-risk" stenosis in symptomatic patients in 37 cases, and carotid malformation in 5 cases. The intraoperative use of shunt (12% of the operations) was selective, depending from the results of our monitoring system: stump pressure and transcranial Doppler (TCD) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) ipsilateral to the procedure. The global major stroke/mortality rate was 3.3% (7/215), the minor morbidity was 8.8% (19/215). Mortality rate was 0.5% (1/215). The major stroke/mortality rate for symptomatic patients was 4.2% and for asymptomatic patients was 0%. The average follow up was 58 months (range 1-192) for 200/215 patients, with 15/215 patients (7%) lost. The postoperative incidence of stroke after 4 years was 8.5% (17/200), with an annual mortality rate of 1.6% (min. after 2 months, max. 118, average 55 months). CEA is a safe procedure to prevent cerebral infarctions, but it still carries an operative risk. A better monitoring would allow to understand the mechanisms of clamp-induced ischaemia and prevent it, therefore decreasing the operative risks and extending the surgical indications to a higher ratio of asymptomatic subjects. TCD is becoming essential for our goal: it is useful in deciding to insert an intraoperative shunt, check the carotid flow, recognize embolic events, and also during the initial phase of carotid preparation.

[Our experience with toracic outlet syndrome]. / La nostra esperienza nelle sindromi dello stretto toracico superiore.

The Authors report their experience in 290 cases of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and 71 cases of Paget-Schroetter syndrome, that is a condition due to thrombosis of the subclavian and/or axillary vein. They point out that diagnosis is mainly clinical-instrumental and the ulnar nerve conduction velocity (UNCV) test is of fundamental importance. The Authors emphasize how the good results obtained could be related to the complete removal of the first rib and to the axillary approach that they strongly support.

[Clinico-diagnostic aspects and therapeutic considerations of the combined surgical and radiotherapeutic approach in 2 cases of sacrococcygeal chordoma: our experience]. / Aspetti clinico-diagnostici e considerazioni terapeutiche dell'approccio combinato chirurgico e radioterapico in due casi di cordoma sacro-coccigeo: nostra esperienza.

Chordomas are rare tumours arising from embryonic notochord tissue remnants. The commonest affected segment is the sacrum. This localization may present diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Two cases of chordoma treated by surgery and radiation are reported.

An extraluminal leiomyosarcoma of the iliac vein without thrombosis--a case report.

Vascular leiomyosarcoma (LMS)is a rare malignant tumor arising from the muscle cells of the media of the vessels. Vascular LMS is often diagnosed as a result of the clinical manifestations of impaired venous flow such as edema and phlebothrombosis. The authors present a case of an LMS in a 72-year-old woman. Physical examination revealed a round mass deep in the left inguinal region close to the inguinal vessels, fixed and not pulsating. There was no sign of left lower-limb edema nor of articular impairment of the hip. Inguinal and distal pulses were normal. Results of laboratory analysis, including values for the oncologic markers, were normal. An ultrasound scan of the left inguinal fossa showed a 50-by-30 mm mass of mixed aspect that adhered to the left common iliac artery. An echo color Doppler showed conservative arterial flow. Thus, a thrombotic aneurysm of the left iliac artery was diagnosed. Chest x-ray showed no pathological findings. An abdominal computerized tomograph (CT) scan confirmed the location of the neoplasm and revealed a narrowing of the left iliac vein compressed behind the mass. The finding was interpreted as a colliquative lymph node. The patient underwent explorative laparotomy with midline incision. The finding was a neoplastic bilobed mass compressing and infiltrating the left iliac vein with no cleavage surface between the mass itself and the venous wall. An intraoperative frozen section revealed a necrotic mass with a cortex of ambiguous interpretation. Surgical procedure was then finished with no further venous resection. Histologic examination revealed the presence of leiomyosarcomatous tissue with nuclear pleomorphisms inside necrotic material limited by a thin fibrotic capsule. According to Coindre's classification the tumor was a G3. After six months the patient is fit and a CT scan showed no evidence of recurring disease.

Diagnostic and surgical management of patients with aneurysms of the thoracic aorta with various causes. Echocardiography and contrast enhanced computed tomography in prophylactic replacement of the ascending aorta.

Sixty eight patients with aneurysms of the thoracic aorta were studied. Forty one had aortic dissection, 24 had dilatation only, and three had transverse aortic rupture. Sixteen had Marfan's syndrome; 17 had hypertension; and in eight there were other causal factors. In 17 the cause of the aneurysm was unknown. Histological examination did not help to establish the cause of aneurysm. Echocardiography failed to detect dissection of the ascending aorta in four (21%) out of 19 cases studied. The mortality rate in the whole series was 26%. Early (operative and hospital) and late deaths occurred in 20% and 6% of patients respectively. The early mortality rate was 40% in the 24 emergency cases of dissection of the ascending aorta, 9% in patients operated on for dilatation of the ascending and transverse aorta without dissection, and 8% in patients with chronic dissection of the ascending aorta who had elective operation. Early and late mortality rates were no higher in patients with Marfan's disease than in any of the other groups. It is suggested that contrast enhanced computer tomography should be performed in all patients with pronounced aortic root dilatation and in patients with Marfan's disease with symptoms which suggest dissection, even if they have only slight aortic root dilatation. Preventive replacement of the ascending aorta should be considered in more patients to reduce the number of emergency operations, in which the mortality rate is high. There is no definite limit of aortic root dilatation above which preventive replacement of the ascending aorta should be routinely considered.