Lung ultrasonography may provide an indirect estimation of lung porosity and airspace geometry.

Background: Echographic vertical artifacts (B-lines) in chest ultrasonography have often been associated with pathological patterns. A scientifically sound explanation of these artifacts has not yet been proposed.

Objectives: The 'spongy' nature of the lung in its liquid and solid components and the changes that take place in peripheral airspace (PAS) geometry might be the key point to understanding these phenomena.

Mucosal expression of basic fibroblastic growth factor, syndecan 1 and tumour necrosis factor-α in Crohn's disease in deep remission under treatment with anti-TNFα antibodies.

Background And Aims: Both inflammation and fibrosis may be detected in Crohn's disease (CD). The molecular pattern of Basic Fibroblastic Growth Factor (bFGF) and Syndecan-1 (SD1) expression is altered in stenosing CD, but we do not know what the behaviour of this teamwork factor is in CD in deep remission under treatment with anti-TNFα antibodies. Our aim was to compare the expression of bFGF, SD1 and TNF-α in patients with CD in deep remission under treatment with Infliximab (IFX) or Adalimumab (ADA) and a control group of patients with active CD.

Histological inflammation in ulcerative colitis in deep remission under treatment with infliximab.

Background And Objective: There are few data on how histological signs of inflammation develop under treatment with infliximab (IFX). We investigated the patterns of histological features of inflammation in patients with UC in sustained clinical and endoscopic remission under IFX.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study on 47 patients with UC in clinical and endoscopic remission and undergoing surveillance colonoscopy with biopsies while receiving maintenance therapy with IFX.

Detection of endoscopic and histological inflammation after an attack of colonic diverticulitis is associated with higher diverticulitis recurrence.

Background & Aims: Colonic diverticulitis shows a high recurrence rate, but the factors associated with such recurrence are still unknown. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of endoscopic and histological inflammation as predictors for the recurrence of diverticulitis.

Methods: One hundred and thirty patients suffering from Acute Uncomplicated Diverticulitis (AUD) (81 males, 49 females, mean age 64.

Ex vivo lung sonography: morphologic-ultrasound relationship.

Ultrasound (US) interstitial syndrome is a sonographic lung pattern characterized by the presence of acoustic artifacts (B-lines and white lung). The purpose of this study was to demonstrate how interstitial syndrome is determined by acoustic interactions in lungs of variable density and in healthy organs deflated to a nonphysiologic level of density. Normal rabbit lungs were studied ex vivo by US at varying known degrees of inflation, and their histologic appearances were described.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha expression in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis down-regulates after treatment.

Background And Aims: Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression may be increased in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD). Our aim was to assess TNF-α expression in SCAD in relationship to the treatment.

Methods: 10 patients affected by severe (type B and D) SCAD were studied (6 males, 4 females, mean age 60.

Segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis: a 5-year follow-up.

Background And Aims: Literature data about the outcome of segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD) are scarce. Our aim was to assess the clinical outcome of SCAD according to the type of disease.

Patients/methods: Twenty-seven SCAD patients underwent a 5-year follow-up (13 males, 14 females; mean age, 63.

Hydrocele with surprise. Case report and review of literature.

Introduction: Hydrocele is a fluid collection between tunica vaginalis and testis. Approximately 10% of testicular cancers occurs with a reactive hydrocele.

Case Report: A 64 year old male presented with a 30 year history of left hydrocele, progressively increasing.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha expression in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis is related to the severity of the endoscopic damage.

Background: Tumour necrosis factor-α expression may be increased in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis.

Aims: To assess tumour necrosis factor-α expression in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis in relation with the severity of the endoscopic damage.

Methods: 21 patients affected by segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis were studied (15 M, 6 F, mean age 58.

Faecal calprotectin in colonic diverticular disease: a case-control study.

Background And Aims: Information about faecal calprotectin (FC) in colonic diverticular disease (DD) are lacking. We assessed FC in colonic DD, comparing it with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and healthy controls. Moreover, we compared FC levels in different degrees of DD and assessed FC in symptomatic DD before and after treatment.

Assessment and grading of mucosal inflammation in colonic diverticular disease.

Goal: The aim of this study was to assess and grade the mucosal inflammatory infiltrate in different degrees of diverticular disease (DD) and to compare them with healthy matched controls.

Background: Mucosal inflammation in colonic DD has never been investigated. In particular, it is unknown whether inflammation may be found in every degree of DD.

Epithelial cell proliferation of the colonic mucosa in different degrees of colonic diverticular disease.

Goal: This study assesses the epithelial cell proliferation in different degrees of diverticular disease and compares this with two different control groups.

Background: Hyperproliferation of the colonic mucosa has been recently described in diverticular disease (DD), but it is unknown whether this finding is present in every degree of DD.

Patients And Methods: Thirty consecutive patients with a new endoscopic diagnosis of DD (10 with asymptomatic diverticulosis, 10 with symptomatic uncomplicated DD, and 10 with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis) were enrolled.