10 research outputs found
Spontaneous regression of a true splenic cyst: a case report and review of the literature
Splenic cysts are rare clinical findings, detected due to derivative symptoms or as a random discovery in abdominal imaging. Although there still remains controversy as to their optimal treatment, bigger secondary cysts should be treated surgically. However, spontaneous regression may be observed in cysts with a diameter smaller than 4 cm. In these cases, expectant treatment is preferable. We report, herein, a single case of a splenic cyst in an adult woman, who reported minor symptoms despite the size of the lesion and who demonstrated a possible almost total regression of the cyst within a ten-year period, accompanying with review of the most recent literature
Diffuse anorectal melanoma; review of the current diagnostic and treatment aspects based on a case report
Primary anorectal melanoma is a rare and aggressive disease. Patients commonly complain for changes in bowel habits and rectal bleeding, and proctoscopically they mostly appear as non pigmented or lightly pigmented polypoid lesions. Such a lesion should always raise a high index of suspicion in any gastroenterologist or surgeon to prompt surgery, since early radical excision is the only treatment option
Surgical treatment of giant mesenteric fibromatosis presenting as a gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Intra-abdominal fibromatosis, usually located at the mesenteric level, is a locally invasive tumor of fibrous origin, with no ability to metastasize, but a tendency to recur. Certain non-typical cases of intra-abdominal fibromatosis with involvement of the bowel wall can be misdiagnosed because of their different biological behavior.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe the case of a 64-year-old Caucasian man presenting with mesenteric fibromatosis and involvement of the bowel wall, who was treated surgically. The macroscopic and microscopic appearance of the lesion mimicked a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, a tumor with potential malignant behavior.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is essential to make an early and correct diagnosis in such equivocal cases, so that the appropriate treatment can be chosen and suitable patients admitted to clinical trials if appropriate. New and reliable criteria for discriminating between intra-abdominal fibromatosis and gastrointestinal stromal tumor should be proposed and established because novel sophisticated therapeutic strategies have been introduced in the international literature.</p
Antioxidant Properties of Probiotics and Their Protective Effects in the Pathogenesis of Radiation-Induced Enteritis and Colitis
Radiation therapy has become one of the most important treatment
modalities for human malignancy, but certain immediate and delayed
side-effects on the normal surrounding tissues limit the amount of
effective radiation that can be administered. After exposure of the
abdominal region to ionizing radiation, nearly all patients experience
transient symptoms of irradiation of the bowel. Acute-phase symptoms may
persist for a short time, yet long-term complications can represent
significant clinical conditions with high morbidity. Data from both
experimental studies and clinical trials suggest the potential benefit
for probiotics in radiation-induced enteritis and colitis. On the other
hand, it is well evidenced that both useful and harmful effects of
therapeutic applications of ionizing radiation upon living systems are
ascribed to free-radical production. Therefore, the hypothesis that
probiotics reinforce antioxidant defense systems of normal mucosal cells
exposed to ionizing radiation may explain to an extent their beneficial
action. The aim of this review is threefold: First, to make a short
brief into the natural history of radiation injury to the intestinal
tract. Second, to describe the primary interaction of ionizing radiation
at the cellular level and demonstrate the participation of free radicals
in the mechanisms of injury and, third, to try a more profound
investigation into the antioxidant abilities of probiotics and
prebiotics based on the available experimental and clinical data
Unusual radiological finding of lethal pneumatosis intestinalis and portomesenteric vein gas
Pneumatosis intestinalis and portomesenteric vein gas are rare and potentially severe radiological findings that occur both in pediatric and adult populations. They actually are radiographic signs of underlying intra-abdominal pathology, abnormality or diagnostic medical interference. If combined with other radiological or clinical signs of intestinal ischemia or sepsis, the prognosis is dismal and urgent laparotomy is mandatory. We report two cases of surgical treatment with ominous outcome in an effort to characterize this finding correctly as an absolute surgical indication or as an additional diagnostic criterion that simply marks a further breakdown of the systems in patients with a long list of severe medical conditions
Diffuse anorectal melanoma; review of the current diagnostic and treatment aspects based on a case report
Primary anorectal melanoma is a rare and aggressive disease. Patients
commonly complain for changes in bowel habits and rectal bleeding, and
proctoscopically they mostly appear as non pigmented or lightly
pigmented polypoid lesions. Such a lesion should always raise a high
index of suspicion in any gastroenterologist or surgeon to prompt
surgery, since early radical excision is the only treatment option.
Herein, we report a case of a 57-year-old man with a diffuse anal canal
melanoma and give reference to the current diagnostic and treatment
options
Potential benefits of pro- and prebiotics on intestinal mucosal immunity and intestinal barrier in short bowel syndrome
The Effect of Synbiotics on Acute Radiation-Induced Diarrhea and Its Association with Mucosal Inflammatory and Adaptive Responses in Rats
Background Previous clinical studies advocated that probiotics
beneficially affect acute radiation-induced diarrhea. These encouraging
results were attributed to the restoration of the intestinal flora;
however, there is lack of evidence if and how probiotics influence the
underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
Aims The present study was conducted to investigate the potential
supporting role of a synbiotic preparation (combination of pro- and
pre-biotics) on experimentally-induced acute radiation diarrhea from the
perspective of mucosal inflammation and histological injury.
Methods Ninety adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups.
Group A (non-irradiated), group B (non-irradiated/synbiotic
supplemented), group C (irradiated), and group D (irradiated/synbiotic
supplemented) were followed up to a week after the beginning of the
experiment. Group E (irradiated) and group F (irradiated/synbiotic
supplemented) were followed up for four days. On the last day of the
experiments tissues were harvested for structural and molecular
assessments.
Results Synbiotic administration could not avert the occurrence of
diarrhea, but significantly attenuated its severity. This effect was
associated with the significant downregulation of neutrophil
accumulation and lipid peroxidation during the acute phase. During the
subacute phase, synbiotic treatment significantly improved both the
histological profile and radiation mucositis. These mechanisms
significantly contributed to the rehabilitation of the intestinal
absorptive function as further indicated from the significantly reduced
weight loss.
Conclusions Given the optimization of the intestinal flora exerted by
synbiotics, the resolution of diarrhea relies on the suppression of the
“reactive” and the augmentation of “regenerative” components of
acute radiation-induced intestinal response