Does Intestine Morphology Still Have Secrets to Reveal? A Proposal about the “Ghost” Layer of the Bowel

In this brief Opinion paper, the term “muco-microbiotic layer” is introduced to describe the innermost layer of the intestinal wall. This layer may contribute not only to the overall health of the bowel, but also to that of extraintestinal organs. Its constituents, in terms of soluble molecules and nanovesicles, need to be studied further. Moreover, one can hypothesize the existence of an analogous layer in other organs, such as the airways or some parts of the genital tracts. Further studies on it are neede

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE AND EXTRAINTESTINAL MANIFESTATIONS

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic and recurrent inflammatory diseases. Although the typical symptoms are localized in the gastrointestinal tract, there are also extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) associated with IBD, probably caused by immune reactions secondary to the pathology of origin. Anybody can be affected by EIMs, which can be dermatological, pulmonary, ocular, musculoskeletal, hepatobiliary and neurological, et al. This represents a therapeutic challenge for clinicians, who must first establish a diagnostic and then a multidisciplinary therapeutic path, in order to guarantee an optimal quality of life for the patient

SURVEY ON THE DEMAND OF SICILIAN PHYSICIANS FOR A SPECIFIC TRAINING ON HUMAN CADAVERS AND ANIMALS

Currently, surgical training of physicians in Italy has limited possibilities.Surgical training can be performed on dissection of human bodies as well as in animal laboratories, but experience is very poor. We conducted a survey through an anonymous questionnaire in order to evaluate the opinions of post-graduate physicians on their need for experience training on both human and animal bodies during their medical studies. A total of 165 young Sicilian physicians responded to the survey. Only 14 of them (8.5%) declared they had specific training on a live animal, while 46 (27.9%) reported they already attended cadaver labs. Over 70% assigned the maximum score to the utility of such courses as integration of medical academic offer. Our results showed that the majority of the subjects interviewed expressed a need for training using these practices and that it might be necessary to investigate patterns to promote the opportunity for direct practice on human and animal bodies

A BRIEF ANATOMO-SURGICAL DISSECTION GUIDE TO HUMAN LOWER LIMB: RESULTS OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF PALERMO AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MALTA

The aim of this Article is to show methods for dissection of the lower limb. In the summer 2017 a group of students at the University of Palermo that have already passed the exam of Human Anatomy took a 4 weeks dissection course at the University of Malta - School of Medicine. The students were provided with a dissection kit, video recording equipment and cameras for taking pictures. This paper presents the results of the dissection course and a small and simple guide to young students and medical doctors who want to learn the bases of lower limb dissection

HEART MOBILE LEARNING

The widespread diffusion of mobile technologies in today’s society and the technological developments of recent years offers new opportunities for learning providing innovative techniques and tools in education. In this paper, we will introduce HeARt, an augmented reality mobile Learning system to support university medical students in their learning activities during an anatomy laboratory. Students usually use, in their daily anatomy laboratory, a physical human heart model to investigate and learn about heart anatomy. Even though these models are perfect education tools to observe details and touch "with hands" all the heart sections, they need a supplementary encyclopaedia to learn all heart details. In literature there are several examples of Virtual Reality models and systems developed to learn about human heart anatomy in all its details and sections, moreover, some of them are an excellent reproduction. However, such of these educational support does not address one of a very important aspect of learning anatomy: the manipulation of reality. Our system, using the Augmented Reality technology, will provide in the same time some educational contents visually connected to the physical organ, giving the opportunity to manipulate the physical human heart model or, with some adaptation, to a real organ

Augmented Reality Gamification for Human Anatomy

This paper focuses on the use of Augmented Reality technologies in relation to the introduction of game design elements to support university medical students in their learning activities during a human anatomy laboratory. In particular, the solution we propose will provide educational contents visually connected to the physical organ, giving also the opportunity to handle a 3D physical model that is a perfect reproduction of a real human organ

OBSTRUCTED DEFECATION SYNDROME AND CHRONIC CONSTIPATION: CLINICAL AND SURGICAL ANALYSIS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Chronic constipation and Obstructed defecation Syndrome (ODS) represent a high-incidence pathological status that severely compromise of Quality of Life (QoL). Our multidisciplinary study is aimed to investigate how the resolution of ODS by surgical technique can improve long-term clinical symptoms and the state of physical and mental health and QoL, focusing on the dual interaction between psyche and intestine Chronic constipation and Obstructed Defectaion Syndrome represent a high-incidence pathological status that severely compromise of Quality of Life. Our multidisciplinary study is aimed to investigate how the resolution of ODS by surgical technique can improve long-term clinical symptoms and the state of physical and emntal health and QoL, focusing on the dual interaction between psyche and intestine. Study conducted on 50 patients of average 56 years (range 22-72), diagnosed with ODS and operated with STARR (Stapled Trans Anal Rectal Resection) technique for rectal and hemorrhoidal prolapse at the nursing home "Torina" of Palermo from 2018 sine 2019. Before and after surgfery, patients underwent psychological counseling, during which a questionnaire (Short form health survey SF-12) on their physical and mental health sttus and one for the Score of ODS symptomatology evaluation were administered. In ODS STARR surgical technique allows to improve clinical symptoms of patients, their physicial and mental health and QoL. In these patients is essential a multidisciplinary study that investigates the dual interaction between psyche and intestine and how this effects patients'lives