Lymphatic endothelial progenitor cells and vascular endothelial growth factor-C in spondyloarthritis and Crohn's disease: two overlapping diseases?

Objectives: The role of the lymphatic system in the connection between spondyloarthritis (SpA) and Crohn's disease (CD) remains yet to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the circulating levels of lymphatic endothelial progenitor cells (LEPCs) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and their possible correlation with clinical parameters in SpA, SpA associated with CD (SC), and CD.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples from SpA (n=36), SC (n=20) and CD (n=28) patients and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were collected and used for quantification of circulating LEPCs and VEGF-C.

Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for extraperitoneal rectal cancer: long-term results.

Unlabelled: The long-term role of laparoscopy in the treatment of rectal cancer is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety, the feasibility, the perioperative outcome, and the long-term results of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) for extraperitoneal rectal cancer considering a single center series.

Methods: Data about 186 unselected consecutive patients that underwent laparoscopic TME for middle and low rectal cancer between January 2001 and December 2011 were prospectively recorded and were included in the present study.

Preliminary results of the influence of the in vivo use of a lymphatic dye (patent blue v) in the surgical treatment of Crohn's disease.

Introduction: Recently, the lymphatic vessels has been considered to play a key role in the pathophysiology and, consequently, in the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study is to show that the evaluation of lymphatic anomaly might be a useful tool in the recognition of the pathological involvement of the intestinal wall in CD.

Material And Methods: Fourteen patients with CD who underwent surgical treatment for distal ileum critical stenosis were prospectively evaluated.

Long-term results of treatment of acute diverticulitis: still lessons to be learned?

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term results in patients treated for diverticular disease (DD), mainly considering indication for surgery, outcome of the treatment modalities and quality of life. All consecutive patients who underwent treatment for diverticular disease since January 2003 to June 2007 were analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups: medical treatment, elective surgery and emergency surgery.

Adrenal incidentaloma: the influence of a decision-making algorithm on the short-term outcome of laparoscopy.

Background: At the present time, the precise indications for laparoscopic surgery of adrenal incidentaloma (AI) have yet to be completely clarified. The most controversial issue is the role of laparoscopy in the treatment of potentially malignant and large adrenal masses. Trying to address these questions, we retrospectively examined a group of patients with AIs.

Laparoscopic appendectomy in Italy: an appraisal of 26,863 cases.

Objective: To evaluate the practice of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) in Italy.

Methods: On behalf of the Italian Society of Young Surgeons (SPIGC), an audit of LA was carried out through a written questionnaire sent to 800 institutions in Italy. The questions concerned the diffusion of laparoscopic surgery and LA over the period 1990 through 2001, surgery-related morbidity and mortality rates, indications for LA, the diagnostic algorithm adopted prior to surgery, and use of LA among young surgeons (<40 years).