Lack of association of hepatic estrogen receptor-alpha expression with histopathological and biochemical findings in chronic hepatitis C

Estrogens exert a protective effect against hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. Loss of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) in the liver is associated with hepatic steatosis and inflammation in animal models. We conducted a study in order to investigate the presence and extent of ER-α expression in HCV infection, and its relationship with histological and biochemical findings. Ninety biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients were enrolled in the study. Liver biopsy specimens were immunohistochemically stained for ER-α expression. Nuclear ER-α expression percentage was calculated. ER-α was positive in 69 of the patients (76%). ER-α positive and negative groups were not significantly different in terms of age, gender, necroinflammatory activity, fibrosis, steatosis, serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, and bilirubin. ER-α expression percentage was not correlated with fibrosis, steatosis, necroinflammatory activity and biochemical findings. Although estrogens are known to be protective against fibrosis and steatosis in animal models, we did not find any significant correlation between ER-α expression and histopathological and biochemical findings in CHC patients. These findings should be verified in further large scale studies.     

硅烷偶联剂对纯钛表面改性及细胞相容性的影响

背景：目前国内将硅烷偶联用于金属表面预处理的报道较少。 目的：对NaOH碱处理的钛片行硅烷化改性,观察硅烷膜的表面形貌与结构特征及细胞相容性。 方法：对制得的纯钛试件行NaOH碱处理,然后分别以8%,15%,33%浓度的KH-550硅烷偶联剂进行改性处理,以纯钛片和碱处理的钛片为对照组,采用扫描电镜观察改性处理钛片表面微观形貌,采用能谱仪分析改性处理钛片表面的成分。将纯钛片、碱处理的钛片及不同浓度KH-550硅烷偶联剂改性处理的钛片分别与犬骨髓间充质干细胞共培养,观察材料表面细胞的形态及黏附。 结果与结论：硅烷膜由许多呈脑浆状的小片构成,排列紧密,主要由C、N、O、Si等元素组成。当硅烷溶液浓度为8%时,钛表面难以形成较完整的硅烷膜;当硅烷溶液浓度为15%时,钛表面形成的硅烷膜表面较8%浓度组钛表面相对较完整,但可仍见有较多裂纹,难以形成致密的硅烷膜;当硅烷溶液浓度为33%时,纯钛表面能形成致密的硅烷膜。犬骨髓间充质干细胞在33%浓度硅烷膜处理后钛基体上的黏附情况明显优于纯钛、碱处理钛片及8%,15%浓度硅烷膜处理后的钛片。说明33%硅烷化改性纯钛表面硅烷膜较完整,并且具有良好的生物相容性,可促进骨髓间质干细胞在活性层表面的黏附。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程全文链接：     

Safety and immunogenicity of the novel seasonal preservative‐ and adjuvant‐free influenza vaccine: Blind,randomized, and placebo‐controlled trial

The producers of influenza vaccines are not capable today to meet the global demand for an influenza vaccine in case of pandemic, so the World Health Organization recommends to develop the own influenza vaccine production in each country. A domestic preservative‐ and adjuvant‐free trivalent split vaccine against seasonal influenza was developed at the Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems. The paper presents the results of assessing safety and immunogenicity of the influenza split vaccine after single immunization of healthy volunteers aged 18‐50 years in the course of Phase I Clinical Trials. This study was randomized, blind, and placebo‐controlled. The volunteers were intramuscularly vaccinated with a dose of split vaccine or placebo. The study has shown that all local and systemic reactions had low degree of manifestation and short‐term character, so there was no need in medication. Serious side effects were not observed. On day 21 post vaccination the portion of vaccinated persons with fourfold seroconversions to influenza А/H1N1pdm09 virus was 100.0%, to influenza А/H3N2 virus—95.5%, to influenza B virus—81.8%, and in placebo group this index was 0%. Seroprotection rates against influenza А/H1N1pdm09, А/H3N2 and B viruses were 95.5, 86.3, and 72.7%, respectively. Geometric mean titers (GMT) of antibodies by day 21 post vaccination reached 175.7 for influenza А/H1N1pdm09 virus, 64.2 for influenza А/H3N2 virus, and 37.6 for influenza B virus; in placebo group GMT growth was not observed. So, the seasonal influenza split vaccine is well tolerated and fits all immunogenicity criteria for human influenza vaccines.     

Venous hemangioma of the anterior mediastinum

Mediastinal hemangiomas are rare tumors, with an incidence of 0.5% or less. We herein present a case of venous hemangioma in the anterior mediastinum. A 61‐year‐old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of dyspnea. Computed tomography scan of the thorax showed a 2.5 × 3.2 × 2 cm mass in the anterior mediastinum. Using a median sternotomy approach, the tumor was completely removed. Pathological examination confirmed a venous hemangioma.     

Evaluation of apoptosis along with BCL-2 and Ki-67 expression in patients with intestinal metaplasia

The primary aim is to compare individuals with intestinal metaplasia (IM), chronic active gastritis (CAG), and normal gastric mucosa (NGM) in terms of apoptosis, proliferation, and Bcl-2 expression. The secondary aim is to determine whether these parameters are different between patients with and without gastric cancer in first-degree relatives. We enrolled 106 patients whose histopathological results were consistent with IM (n: 42), CAG (n: 51), or NGM (n: 13). Antral biopsies were immunohistochemically stained for Bcl-2 and Ki-67 expression. Apoptosis was detected using TUNEL assay. While no significant difference was determined between three groups with regard to apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression (p>0.05), Ki-67 expression was significantly higher in the IM group when compared with the CAG and NGM groups (29.90±22.87 vs. 18.18±16.22 vs. 18.54±20, respectively; p=0.012). Helicobacter pylori was determined to increase apoptosis (49.3% vs. 25.7%, p<0.05), nevertheless, it had no significant effect on proliferation and Bcl-2 expression. Bcl-2 and Ki-67 expression and apoptosis were not different among patients with and without a history of gastric cancer in first degree relatives. Although intestinal metaplasia cases demonstrate an increase in proliferation, no elevation is observed in apoptosis. This can be an important factor in the progression to gastric cancer.     

Presence and extent of estrogen receptor-alpha expression in patients with simple steatosis and NASH

Loss of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) in the liver is associated with hepatic steatosis and inflammation. We conducted a study in order to investigate the presence and extent of ER-α expression in NASH, and its relationship with histological findings. Fifty-four patients with histologically confirmed NASH, 12 patients with simple steatosis (SS), and 6 patients with normal liver tissue (NLT) were included. NASH activity score and fibrosis score were calculated according to biopsy findings. Liver biopsy specimens were immunohistochemically stained for ER-α expression. Nuclear ER-α expression percentage (staining index) was calculated. Mean staining index was significantly different across the NASH, SS, and NLT groups (6.3 ± 9.9 vs. 22.1 ± 26.4 vs. 44.2 ± 24.8, respectively, p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Staining index was significantly higher in women than in men (19.4 ± 22.2 vs. 7.9 ± 15.3, respectively, p = 0.003). Staining index negatively correlated with serum ALT (r = −0.240; p = 0.04), fasting plasma glucose (r = −0.261; p = 0.027), and fibrosis score (r = −0.312; p = 0.011). As a conclusion, hepatic nuclear ER-α expression percentage (staining index) is lower in patients with NASH when compared to SS and NLT groups. Staining index is negatively correlated with serum ALT levels, plasma glucose, and fibrosis score. Further studies are required to clarify the significance of ER-α expression in NASH.     

Identification of Helicobacter species by 16S rDNA PCR and sequence analysis in human liver samples from patients with various etiologies of benign liver diseases

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several reports indicated an increased prevalence of the Helicobacter species in hepatocellular cancer tissue and in liver samples infected with hepatitis viruses. The frequency of Helicobacter spp. in benign liver diseases was, however, not thoroughly investigated. METHODS: Seventy-five consecutive patients with suspected liver disease were enrolled. The indications were hepatitis B virus (n=30), C virus (n=8), B and C dual infection (n=1), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (n=27), autoimmune hepatitis (n=3), primary biliary cirrhosis (n=1) and idiopathic elevation of liver enzymes (n=5). PCR detection of 16S recombinant RNA gene of Helicobacter spp. was performed on liver samples. PCR products of positive samples were further identified by DNA sequencing. The patients also had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and gastric biopsy for the detection of H. pylori using histopathology and PCR. RESULTS: Helicobacter spp. DNA was detected in two out of 75 liver biopsy samples (2.6%), which were typed as H. pylori by DNA sequencing. One of these patients had chronic hepatitis C infection (man, 51 years old) and the other had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (woman, 44 years old). Fifty-two out of 75 of the patients (69.3%) had H. pylori infection in their stomachs. CONCLUSION: We have found that H. pylori infection is much less prevalent in benign liver diseases. The presence of H. pylori in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients is a novel finding and this finding should be confirmed in a larger series.