Gastric cancer surveillance in a high-risk population in tuscany (Central Italy): preliminary results

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The surveillance of subjects at high risk for developing gastric cancer (GC) may represent an effective strategy for reducing specific morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to identify GC at its initial phase and to identify precancerous lesions in a group of GC high-risk subjects.

METHODS

We enrolled first-degree relatives of patients affected by GC who resided in a GC high-risk area (Tuscany, Central Italy). The study's protocol included the collection of several individual measurements, including a blood sample for the determination of specific biomarkers, an upper digestive tract endoscopy with detailed gastric biopsies and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) treatment followed by a specific check.

RESULTS

We enrolled 167 subjects who were members of 128 different familial groups with GC history. We identified 1 case of initial-phase GC, 1 gastric dysplasia type II, 32 intestinal metaplasia, 10 gastric atrophy, and 21 atrophic chronic gastritis. 81 subjects were Hp-positive and underwent eradication therapy.

CONCLUSION

This study of a GC high-risk Italian population reveals positive results in terms of population compliance, the identification of specific gastric lesions requiring close follow-up and successful therapy for Hp infection. To define future surveillance strategies, a longer follow-up of these patients is necessary.

[Multiparameter evaluation of tricuspid insufficiency using two-dimensional echocardiography, Doppler and contrast echocardiography]

The evaluation of the presence and severity of tricuspid insufficiency is still difficult even if many criteria of grading are available for different techniques. In this study the data obtained from Doppler mapping of the right atrium, from the analysis of the hepatic vein flow and from the contrast echocardiography of the inferior vena cava in 56 patients with mitral or mitral-aortic valvulopathy and with clinically suspected tricuspid insufficiency were submitted to the cluster analysis. This analysis was used to redistribute the study population according to the following parameters: diameter of the inferior vena cava, maximal systolic and diastolic flow of the hepatic veins, the length of regurgitant jet in right atrium and the duration of contrast in vena cava. The aim was to identify the variability range of each degree of severity. None of the analyzed parameters "per se" identifies the regurgitation severity because there is a large variability in the intermediate degrees. The cluster analysis shows a definite pattern of parameters for each cluster (1 = no significant regurgitation, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 = severe insufficiency).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)