G Bassotti

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..CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that patients with diverticular disease of the colon have abnormal motor and propulsive activities of the large bowel, which are confined to the affected segments...

..These data have helped in elucidating, although only in part, some pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic constipation, and especially of the STC subtype...

..In the present article we will discuss these evidences, and will try to put them in relation with the abnormal motor function of the large bowel documented in this pathological condition...

..Simple, physiologic testing is needed and useful for the diagnosis. This fact has therapeutic implications, especially because many such patients may benefit from biofeedback...

..Gut mast cells represent an important cell population involved in intestinal homeostasis and inflammatory processes. However, their possible role has not to date been investigated in colonic diverticular disease...

..The latter may have a role of paramount importance in the development of visceral hypersensitivity, responsible for abdominal pain in a subset of patients...

..Thus, the use of laxatives seems to influence the clinical aspects of patients with slow-transit constipation, and this should be considered when evaluating these participants...

..We investigated ENS abnormalities in patients with OD, undergoing surgery, together with the presence of estrogen (α and β) and progesterone receptors, and compare the results with those obtained in controls...

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..High-amplitude simultaneous contractions were also observed. We feel that the surgical resection of a potential physiological brake may be responsible for these observations...

..This article focuses on the current diagnostic approach to chronic constipation, with an emphasis on the possible role of colonic manometry to help better choose those patients that may benefit from surgery...

..We present here a case in which such a diagnosis was suspected, but a thorough in-depth evaluation revealed that the symptoms were due to a treatable cause--abdominopelvic adhesions...

..In this paper these concepts are reviewed and a more stringent definition of colonic inertia is proposed...

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..As motor abnormalities are thought to play an important pathogenetic role, studies have been performed on the colonic neuroenteric system, which rules the motor aspects of the viscus...

..However, little is known about the basic mechanism that may underlie abnormal colon motility in diverticulosis...

..Thus, as also shown by recent evidence in both experimental animal models, and in some human diseases, alterations of enteric glial cells might have some role in the development of intestinal motor abnormalities...

..These findings might explain some of the pathophysiological abnormalities, and help to better understand this condition...

..Recent evidence suggests that the propulsive activity is highly increased during the active phase of the disease, probably contributing to the diarrhoea. However, data are even scarcer in the quiescent phase of the disease...

..Some recent evidence suggests that increased apoptotic phenomena in the colonic enteric neurons may play a role. However, the best method to assess these phenomena has not been evaluated...

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..In this article we will discuss these evidences, and will try to consider constipation no more as a simple functional or idiopathic disorder but as a form of enteric neuro-gliopathy...

..Little is known concerning colonic motility and almost nothing is known concerning propulsive activity in pathological conditions characterized by diarrhea of both inflammatory and non-inflammatory origin...

..In conclusion, defecatory dysfunction is frequent in Parkinson's disease, it is not confined to late stage patients, and it is found early in the course of the disease. This has potential implications for a targeted therapeutic approach...

..Interest has, therefore, recently increased in "chemical sphincterotomy" by using topical glyceryl trinitrate ointment. Unfortunately, there is, to date, no specific pharmaceutical preparation of such compound...

..By contrast, information on less vigorous propulsive contractions is still lacking...

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..Mast cells are involved in visceral hypersensitivity and motor activity of the gastrointestinal tract. However, there is almost no information concerning mast cells in constipated patients...

..Treatment of oesophageal achalasia with intrasphincteric injections of botulinum toxin has proved to be a successful alternative treatment modality. However, little is known about its long-term effects in very old patients...

..The present review considers the pathophysiology of colonic diverticular disease, with a special emphasis on factors related to abnormal colonic motility...

..Pathogenesis of slow transit constipation still remains elusive. Some studies have shown several colonic motor abnormalities; however, it is not easy to understand the relative importance of the single ones...

..By employing some simple and widely available immunohistochemical methods, discussed in this review, it is possible to gather data that may help in explaining the pathophysiological basis of constipation in these patients...

..The aim of this prospective study was to objectively assess the bowel habits and related aspects in a large sample drawn from the general population...

..The present article reviews the current knowledge about painful constipation, trying to put together the scarce data available, and to frame it in the more general context of chronic constipation...

..We describe a case of reversible symptomatic duodenal compression caused by a retroperitoneal hematoma after ingestion of sertraline and nimesulide...

..However, most data are only available for clinical conditions characterised by diarrhoea, where MC have chiefly investigated in the mucosal layer of the colon and there is almost no information concerning constipation...

..The pathophysiological basis of constipation is still unclear, and the role of colonic dysfunction is debated, especially in irritable bowel syndrome. Objective data are quite scarce, especially concerning colonic propulsive activity...

..An overall impairment of colonic propulsive activity may represent a major disease mechanism...

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..No other abnormalities were found for the remaining probes, and no abnormalities were found in controls. We concluded that in a subgroup of patients with slow transit constipation a genetic basis may be present...

..The study confirms the presence of abnormalities of the different cells of the ENS in IBD. The presence of lesions in samples from uninvolved areas, such as a reduction of enteroglia, supports a pathogenetic role of the ENS...

..In conclusion, Rai is expressed in the human gut, especially in the enteric glial cells. We conclude that Rai may provide an additional marker for this cell type...

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..This study analysed variations of colonic lymphoid follicles (CLFs) according to the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) and caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 15 (CARD15) gene in patients with Crohn's disease...

..Our aim is to look for signs of ischaemia in a group of patients developing colitis after diversion colostomy for various causes...

..Intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin has been reported as a safe and effective alternative treatment in oesophageal achalasia, especially in high-risk and elderly patients...

..The standard therapeutic approach for pelvic floor dyssynergia is biofeedback training, but long-term studies show that a significant percentage of patients remain symptomatic. Alternative or adjunctive therapeutic options are needed...

..No differences were found concerning the other variables. The increase of colonic lymphoid aggregates found in severely constipated patients may represent a protective mucosal mechanism toward the chronic fecal stasis...

..However, these descriptions are often unable to identify latent CD. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the Marsh-Oberhuber classification and a recently proposed classification may help to identify patients with latent CD...

..CONCLUSION: Constipated children with megarectum have abnormal anorectal function and sensation. These findings may be helpful for a better understanding of the pathophysiological basis of this condition...

..The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic role of the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab, in the management of ADC originating from HER2-positive Barrett's esophagus (BE)...

..CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal colonic motility may play some role in the pathogenesis of symptoms related to irritable bowel syndrome, with an excess of regular contractile activity related to the so-called 'spastic colon'...

..Conclusions: Upper gut motor abnormalities are frequent in patients with celiac disease, even in those on a gluten-free diet. In the latter group, these abnormalities may suggest an incomplete adherence to the dietary regimen...

..The pathophysiologic abnormalities may be the final result of several intermeshing mechanisms, and more than one single factor may cause the motor abnormalities...

..T-helper type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and GM-CSF) had a dose-dependent and specific inhibitory effect on Fas mRNA, suggesting a new fundamental biological role in the survival of inflammatory cells during allergen exposure...

..This retrospective study evaluated a series of GIST by means of immunohistochemical techniques, flow cytometry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)...

..The patient had a prompt improvement (continuing up to more than 5 y of follow-up) of the clinical picture after ileostomy and fecal diversion...

..The aim was to investigate gene amplification and protein overexpression of TopoIIalpha and Her-2/neu in non-dysplastic BO, dysplastic BO, Barrett ADC, and chromosome 17 aneusomy...

..Malignancies arising from the biliopancreatic tree are often diagnostic challenges for the gastroenterologist and the pathologist, especially when strictures without masses are present...

..Anal endosonography (AES) is able to reliably visualize and identify anal sphincter abnormalities. However, dedicated probes are quite expensive...

..The immunosuppressive approach deserves further investigation in patients with severe gut motor abnormalities attributable to idiopathic myenteric ganglionitis...

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..This retrospective study evaluates the effect of abdominal hysterectomy on patients affected by descending perineum syndrome...

..Patients with chagasic megacolon display important abnormalities of several components of the enteric nervous system. Similar alterations, although of lesser severity, may be found in patients with idiopathic megacolon...

..Biofeedback should become the treatment of choice for this common and easily diagnosed type of constipation...

..The present article reviews the non-surgical therapeutic options for achalasia...

..No signs of cell death were observed in the pacemaker region. CONCLUSION: These results are consistent with the hypothesis that a lack of Kit expression may lead to impaired functioning of ICC. Total gastrectomy proves to be curative...

..In our experience, esophageal motor disorders, and not an increased acid reflux, are the abnormalities most commonly found in these patients...

..Histological disagreement is frequent in the diagnosis and grading of dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus (BE)...

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..BTX is a therapeutic option in patients unsuitable for surgery or pneumatic dilatation...