Hematological malignancies in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases: report of five cases and review of the literature

Several forms of primary and secondary hematological malignancies were rarely observed during the clinical course of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Patients needing a prolonged treatment with immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine or methotrexate, with familiarity and genetic predisposition seem to be at a higher risk of leukemia. On the other hand, asthenia, thickness, and fever may be the symptoms of the onset of each kind of hematological malignancy. The finding of anemia, alteration of leukocyte count and large undetermined cells may suggest increased probability of abnormal proliferation of a single white blood cell line. In this report, the occurrence of hematological malignancies is described in five patients affected by IBD (three with ulcerative colitis and two with Crohn’s disease) attending our Gastroenterology Unit.     

Ozonized autohemotransfusion does not affect arterial vasodilation in patients with peripheral arterial disease

Ozonized autohemotransfusion has been used as a complementary therapy in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). To determine whether ozone therapy could acutely modify artery vasodilatory capacity, a flow-mediated dilation test was performed at the brachial artery level before and after an ozonized autohemotransfusion in 16 patients with PAD, mean (± SD) age 55±1.8 years, and 14 healthy volunteers matched for age, sex and body mass index. Before ozonized autohemotransfusion, the mean baseline diameter of the brachial artery was higher in PAD patients than in healthy subjects (4.6±0.54 mm versus 3.6±0.54 mm, P<0.001) while mean flow-mediated brachial artery dilation and percentage of increase in flow were significantly lower in PAD patients than in controls (6.3±6.1% versus 11.8±2.4%, P<0.02; 433±61% versus 580±46%, P<0.02, respectively). No significant changes were observed after ozonized autohemotransfusion, indicating that ozonized autohemotransfusion does not modify endothelium-dependent ischemia-induced vascular reactivity.     

Comparison between orlistat plus l-carnitine and orlistat alone on inflammation parameters in obese diabetic patients

To evaluate the effects of 1-year treatment with orlistat plus L-carnitine compared to orlistat alone on body weight, glycemic and lipid control, and inflammatory parameters in obese type 2 diabetic patients. Two hundred and fifty-eight patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) [glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) > 8.0%] in therapy with different oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin were enrolled in this study and randomized to take orlistat 120 mg three times a day plus L-carnitine 2 g one time a day or orlistat 120 mg three times a day. We evaluated the following parameters at baseline and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months: body weight, body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c) ), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (Tg), adiponectin (ADN), leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), vaspin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP). We observed a better decrease in body weight, glycemic profile, HOMA-IR, LDL-C, and ADN and a faster improvement in FPI, TC, Tg, leptin, TNF-α, Hs-CRP with orlistat plus L-carnitine compared to orlistat alone. We also recorded an improvement in vaspin with orlistat plus l-carnitine not reached with orlistat alone. Orlistat plus L-carnitine gave a better improvement in body weight, glycemic and lipid profile compared to orlistat alone; furthermore, a faster and better improvement in inflammatory parameters was observed with orlistat plus L-carnitine compared to orlistat alone.     

Cystic echinococcosis in sheep in Sardinia. Changing pattern and present status

The epidemiological status of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in sheep in Sardinia over the 20 years since the last control attempt at the end of the 1980s has been assessed, comparing the results of two surveys carried out in abattoirs in southern Sardinia. In the first, conducted in 1995-1997 (5-7 years after the last control effort), CE prevalence of about 75% was observed in the 1375 sheep sampled, with intensity of 10.0 and mean abundance of 7.5. The most affected organ was the liver, whereas a large percentage of infected animals presented cysts in both the liver and lung. Overall, about 26% of parasitized sheep were found to be heavily infected and 12.15% of infected animals harboured fertile cysts. In the second survey, carried out ten years after the first, during the period 2005-2010 in absence of specific control measures, a total of 1414 sheep were examined. CE prevalence was 65%, 78% in the most rural Oristano province and 58% in the most "urbanised" province of Cagliari. Frequency of sheep infected in both the liver and lung had decreased slightly compared to the first survey, particularly in the Cagliari province, as had intensity and mean abundance, though to a lesser extent in the Oristano province. 14.6% of parasitized sheep were heavily infected, showing a general decline over the 10 years between the two surveys, particularly in the Cagliari area where the figure had more than halved. Conversely, about 14% of infected sheep hosted at least 1 fertile cyst, a slight increase compared to the 1st survey. Finally, the trend of CE transmission in Sardinian sheep according to surveys carried out from 1952 to 2010 has been analysed and the results are discussed in the light of the significant socio-economic and structural transformations that have actually modified the zoonosis scenario on the island.     

Resistance of Congenitally Immunodeficient Gnotobiotic Mice to Vaginal Candidiasis

Congenitally immunodeficient beige, athymic, and beige athymic mice whose orogastric mucosal tissues were chronically colonized and infected with a pure culture of Candida albicans were found to be resistant to naturally occurring vulvovaginal candidiasis.