[Changes in the prostanoid content and the population of endocrine cells in jejunal biopsies from celiac children]

Prostanoid content prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and endocrine cells population were evaluated in jejunal biopsies from celiac children; findings were compared to active celiac patients on a challenge diet. Patients were divided as follows: Group A: 14 children with active untreated celiac disease; Group B: 7 celiac children on gluten challenge who had received diet therapy for the past 2 years; Group C: 8 normal control children. Jejunal biopsies were used for endocrine cell population measurement by immunocytochemistry, using a specific marker (chromogranin), and for prostanoid radioimmunological evaluation. The quantitative assessment of the endocrine cell population in Groups A and B revealed a significantly higher number of endocrine cells (20 +/- 11.5; 18.4 +/- 9.8 n. cell/visual field respectively) compared to Group C (8.44 +/- 2.3 n. cell/visual field) (p less than 0.05). In the jejunal extract the PGE2 content (341.8 +/- 82.3) ng/g) for Group A biopsies was significantly higher than that of Group C biopsies (93 +/- 23 ng/g) (p less than 0.05. The PGE2 content (69.4 +/- +13.2 ng/g) for Group B did not show any statistically significant change. In contrast, TxB2 content in jejunal biopsies from all three groups was not significantly different.

[An animal model for the study of liver regeneration by magnetic resonance imaging]

Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy was studied in rats by means of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and T1 relaxation time. Fourteen hepatectomized rats were compared to sham operated ones and to controls which had not undergone any surgical treatment. The animals were imaged at 0.5 T, and inversion recovery (IR) technique was employed at the T-null of liver before surgery. T1 was determined in vitro with spectroscopy. Regenerating rat liver exhibited a significantly high increase in MR signal intensity and T1 values (p less than 0.05) 24 hours after surgery, returning to baseline values at 2 weeks. Sham operated animals and controls did not exhibit significant changes in signal intensity from baseline values (p greater than 0.05). These findings suggest that MR imaging is able to detect the pathophysiological changes occurring in liver parenchyma during the regenerating process and to monitor different stages of the hyperplastic process.

A Gender Perspective on Coloproctological Diseases: A Narrative Review on Female Disorders

Coloproctological diseases, including both benign and malignant conditions, are among the most common diagnoses in clinical practice. Several disorders affect both men and women, while others are unique to women, or women are at a greater risk of developing them. This is due to anatomical, biological, and social conditions and also due to females' exclusive capabilities of reproduction and pregnancy. In this context, the same proctological disease could differ between men and women, who can experience different perceptions of health and sickness. There is a raised awareness about the impact of different diseases in women and a growing need for a personalized approach to women's health. In this review, we aim to summarize the specific features of the main coloproctological diseases, specifically in the female population. This includes common complaints during pregnancy, conditions linked to vaginal delivery, functional consequences after colorectal resections, and conditions presenting a gender disposition.

Sport practice and hemorrhoidal disease: results from a self-assessment questionnaire among athletes

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is a common proctologic disease. Dietary and lifestyle play a role in the genesis of the disease or in its progression to more severe forms, although the exact mechanism is still not fully understood. We performed a pilot observational cross-sectional analytical association study to evaluate the possible association between sport activities and HD.

METHODS

We included subjects aged 18 years old or more, competitive and non-competitive, practicing at least one sport activity, at least twice a week. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, developed on the Microsoft Teams communication platform.

RESULTS

Out of the 312 study participants, 34% reported HD. Among subjects who practiced cycling or horseback riding, 57% reported suffering from HD; among those practicing bodybuilding, 48% complained of HD. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, age and bodybuilding practice showed a statistically significant association with HD.

CONCLUSIONS

Some sport activities could play a role in the onset or worsening of HD. Our results showed a positive association between cycling, horseback riding, bodybuilding, and HD occurrence. Given the numerous health benefits of physical activity, patients should be provided with correct information regarding the practice of sports in relation to their pathology.

Quality of life after treatment of rectal intussusception or rectocele by means of STARR

AIM

Stapled Transanal Rectal Resection (STARR) has been proposed for surgical treatment of rectal intussusception and rectocele. This study aims at evaluating the effect of the STARR on symptoms of obstructed defecation and associated faecal incontinence regarding the impact on the quality of life of patients with rectal intussusception and rectocele.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-nine patients with rectal intussusception and 22 with rectocele, who underwent to STARR in the General Surgery of the University of L'Aquila-Italy, are the subjects of the study. Symptoms of obstructive defecation were reported in all cases; with associated faecal incontinence in 31%. Questionnaires as ODS-Score, PAC-QoL, FISI and FIQL were proposed to all 51 patients before surgical treatment and at 3 years from operation.

RESULTS

ODS-Score decreased from 28 ± 3.66 preoperatively to 6.7 ± 5.77 postoperatively ( p< 0.001), while PACQoL score was 14 ± 1.4 preoperatively vs 5.3 ± 1.7 postoperatively ( p<0.0020). The lower score indicates a lower severity index and an excellent quality of life. FISI score arose from 16.13 ± 5.39 before surgery to 19.33 ± 2.31 after surgery while, in the group of patients with preoperative symptoms of faecal incontinence, it arose from 7.86 ± 2.89 to 16.4 ± 4.5 after surgery (p< 0.0039). FIQL score sum was 105 ± 75 preoperatively vs 225 ± 90 postoperatively. The lower score indicates a higher severity index and a lower quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with rectal intussusception or rectocele may improve their symptoms and quality of life undergoing to the STARR.