Transanal irrigation in functional bowel disorders and LARS: short-term results from an Italian national study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the potential benefits associated with the short-term (6 months) treatment with transanal irrigation (TAI) in patients suffering from functional constipation (FC), functional fecal incontinence (FI), and low anterior resection syndrome (LARS).

METHODS

A multicenter observational study (12 centers; 369 patients) was conducted to assess the following primary and secondary objectives: to evaluate the level of satisfaction regarding bowel control and quality of life (QoL); to evaluate bowel symptoms severity and dropout frequency and reason. To this aim, validated questionnaires were provided to the patients at baseline (T0) and after 6 months of TAI treatment (T6) performed with the medical device Peristeen® Plus (Coloplast A/S, Denmark). Statistical analyses were conducted to compare the outcomes obtained at T0 and T6.

RESULTS

A 6-month treatment with TAI enabled a statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvement of QoL scores, satisfaction scores regarding bowel control, and severity indexes of disorder-related symptoms in patients suffering from FC, FI, and LARS. Globally, 8.0% of patients discontinued the treatment after 6 months as a result of occurrence of symptoms (2.4%) or other justifications (3.8%) such as personal reasons. None of the dropouts were due to treatment inefficacy.

CONCLUSION

Results of the present study suggest that short-term TAI treatment is beneficial for patients suffering from functional bowel disorders and LARS. Future analysis of prospective data will focus on the clinical outcomes associated with the long-term use (up to 24 months) of TAI when dealing with these types of medical conditions.

Determination of the number of tuf genes in Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Restriction endonuclease fragments of DNA from Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis (mouse pneumonitis biovar) were hybridized to probes from the N-terminal and C-terminal portions of the Escherichia coli tufA gene. In common with other Gram-negative bacteria, the genome of N. gonorrhoeae was found to contain two homologous sequences (presumptive tuf genes). The C. trachomatis genome contained a single tuf sequence.

Ceftazidime in the treatment of pediatric patients with severe urinary tract infections due to Pseudomonas spp

Fifteen pediatric patients with complicated urinary tract infections due to Pseudomonas spp. were treated for 10 to 18.5 days with ceftazidime administered intramuscularly twice daily. Urine sterilization during therapy was obtained in all patients. Three patients had relapses which were cured with a second course of ceftazidime. Minor liver damage, eosinophilia, and Candida superinfection developed in one patient each.

[Infantile angiodysplasias: diagnosis and therapy]

Three cases of angiodysplasias are reported. There are some problems still open concerning diagnostic and therapeutic approach. In this paper we try to correlate localisation, time of onset, size, aspect, histological features, evolution, side effects and hemodynamic problems with diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of childhood angiodysplasias mainly concerning cavernous, intracranial, visceral and lymphatic angiomas.