Biomedical subjects

G Fedeli

Publications and source records attributed to G Fedeli.

93 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of alcohol on gastrointestinal motility: lactulose breath hydrogen testing in orocecal transit time in chronic alcoholics, social drinkers and teetotaler subjects.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The gastrointestinal tract is directly affected by the ingestion of alcohol. While the effect of acute ingestion of alcohol on the motility of the small intestine is well known, the influence of chronic intake of moderate amounts of alcohol and chronic alcoholism on gastrointestinal motility remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the orocecal transit (OCt) times in patients with chronic alcoholism and in "social drinkers" and compare them with a group of healthy teetotaler subjects, to assess the effects of chronic aleohol consumption on gastrointestinal transit through the application of a non-invasive technique: the hydrogen breath test. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-one alcoholics were enrolled in the study. The control groups consisted of 31 healthy social drinkers and 24 healthy teetotaler subjects. OCt time was assessed using the hydrogen breath test after the administration of 10 g of lactulose. RESULTS: The OCt time in patients with alcoholism was significantly delayed as compared with the social drinkers (p < 0.001) and healthy teetotaler subjects (p < 0.001); the OCt time in social drinkers was significantly longer than in healthy teetotaler subjects (p < 0.05). In the alcoholic group, there was no significant correlation between the OCt time and daily alcohol intake or years of alcohol addiction. CONCLUSION: Our results show a significant prolongation of the OCt time, both in patients with alcoholism and in social drinkers, as compared to teetotaler subjects. Our findings of an increased OCt time related to the consumption of alcohol could support the hypothesis of the toxic effect of ethanol on smooth muscle contractile proteins of the small intestine and on vagal function.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Histologic types and surveillance of gastric polyps: a seven year clinico-pathological study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This is a seven-year prospective study based on all gastroscopic examinations of our patient population in order to study gastric polyps. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and twenty-one polyps, removed from 96 patients were analysed. All polyps, after endoscopic polypectomy, were classified according to their histotype. The follow-up was carried out in 49 patients for a mean time of 40 months. RESULTS: Polypoid lesions were more frequent in females (57.3%) and they were preferentially located in antrum (60.3%). Hyperplastic and inflammatory polyps were 55.4% and 28.9%, respectively, while adenomatous lesions were 9.9%. Four fundic gland polyps, 1 carcinoid, 1 type I early gastric cancer and 1 pancreatic heterotopia were also found. During the follow-up no malignant lesion was encountered. On the other hand 25 benign polyps were found in 19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience confirms that there is a close relationship between the size of the polyps and the neoplastic change. In fact, in our series all polyps were smaller than 2 cm and only one malignancy was found (an early gastric cancer). None of adenomatous polyps was associated with gastric adenocarcinoma. Our data also indicates that when a polypectomy is carried out for small polyps (smaller than 2 cm.) a strict follow-up is necessary for the neoplastic polyps only.

Adenomatous Polyps↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of adequate alcohol intake, with or without cigarette smoking, on the risk of Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic adequate alcohol intake induces an "adaptive cytoprotection", mediated by endogenous release of prostaglandins and increased activity of gastric antioxidants, that reduces the mucosal damage caused by higher ethanol concentrations. The aim of our study was to verify the presence of a protection against Helicobacter pylori infection, induced by adequate alcohol consumption, with or without cigarette smoking. METHODOLOGY: We studied 303 consecutive dyspeptic patients, who underwent gastroscopy for the first time. The patients were allocated to four groups: A) 57 with adequate alcohol consumption; B) 88 smokers pts; C) 64 smokers pts with adequate alcohol consumption; D) 93 non-smokers and teetotalers. RESULTS: H. pylori infection was found in 32 pts of group A (56.14%), 67 of group B (77.13%), 46 of group C (71.87%) and 61 of group D (65.69%). There was a statistical significant difference in H. pylori-positivity only between group A and group B (p=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Even if we noted a statistical difference only between group A and B, however the lower prevalence of H. pylori infection in group A than in other groups suggests a protective mechanism of adequate alcohol consumption, mediated by "adaptive cytoprotection", which reduces the risk of H. pylori infection.

Adolescent↗