Thoracic endometriosis-related non-catamenial pneumothorax with peculiar histological findings.

Thoracic endometriosis-related non-catamenial pneumothorax is a rare entity whose pathogenesis is still less unclear than catamenial pneumothorax one. Hormonal therapy and/or talc pleurodesis are not sufficient for successful management. Surgical videothoracoscopic resection has a central role in the treatment.

Anti-tumour necrosis factor-α antibodies and B cell homeostasis in human inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background: The expression of CD70 on T cells is greatly enhanced by antigen-presenting cell (APC)-associated signals, such as tumour necrosis factor(TNF)-α, which is constitutionally high in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Experimentally, the chronic activation of CD27 as a result of the constitutive expression of CD70 leads to the demise of B cells in bone marrow (BM) and the secondary lymphoid organs. The aim of this study was to assess the number and phenotype of circulating B cell in untreated IBD patients and their counterparts treated with biological anti-TNF drugs.

Significance of serum Il-9 levels in inflammatory bowel disease.

IL-9, which may be an inflammatory or regulatory cytokine, can be experimentally produced in a Th17 or modified Th2 context in the presence of T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. The primary aim of this study was to measure serum IL-9 levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and evaluate their relationships with the patients' clinical characteristics. The secondary aim was to determine the levels of interferon-γ (IFN (interferon)-γ), Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13), and IL-6 in order to clarify the context of detectable peripheral cytokines in which IL-9 is produced.