Association of Low Serum Bilirubin Concentrations and Promoter Variations in the and Genes with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the Czech Population.

Bilirubin has potent biological beneficial effects, protecting against atherosclerosis, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to assess serum bilirubin concentrations and (TA) and (GT) microsatellite variations in the promoter regions of the and genes, respectively, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study was carried out in 220 patients with T2DM and 231 healthy control subjects, in whom standard biochemical tests were performed.

Serum Bilirubin and Markers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in a Healthy Population and in Patients with Various Forms of Atherosclerosis.

Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute significantly to atherogenesis. We and others have demonstrated that mildly elevated serum bilirubin levels protect against coronary and peripheral atherosclerosis, most likely due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of bilirubin. The aim of the present study was to assess serum bilirubin and the markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in both healthy subjects and patients with various forms of atherosclerosis.

Association of Serum Bilirubin and Functional Variants of Heme Oxygenase 1 and Bilirubin UDP-Glucuronosyl Transferase Genes in Czech Adult Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disorder worldwide. The aim of our study was to assess the role of bilirubin, and the heme oxygenase 1 () and bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyl transferase () promoter gene variants, which are involved in bilirubin homeostasis, in the NAFLD development in adult patients. The study was performed on 84 patients with NAFLD and 103 age/sex-matched controls.

Serum Bilirubin Levels and Promoter Variations in and Genes in Patients with Fabry Disease.

The aim of our study was to assess the possible relationships among heme oxygenase (HMOX), bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UGT1A1) promoter gene variations, serum bilirubin levels, and Fabry disease (FD). The study included 56 patients with FD (M : F ratio = 0.65) and 185 healthy individuals.

International Clostridium difficile animal strain collection and large diversity of animal associated strains.

Background: Clostridium difficile is an important cause of intestinal infections in some animal species and animals might be a reservoir for community associated human infections. Here we describe a collection of animal associated C. difficile strains from 12 countries based on inclusion criteria of one strain (PCR ribotype) per animal species per laboratory.

The relationship between serum bilirubin and Crohn's disease.

Background: The oxidative stress is thought to play an important role in Crohn's disease (CD). As serum bilirubin represents the major endogenous antioxidant, this article aimed to evaluate in a clinical study, whether serum bilirubin levels and genes affecting its systemic concentrations are associated with CD.

Methods: This exploratory case-control study was based on pediatric (n = 119) and adult (n = 504) patients with CD and 370 appropriate healthy control subjects.

Reduction of bilirubin ditaurate by the intestinal bacterium Clostridium perfringens.

Bilirubin is degraded in the human gut by microflora into urobilinoids. In our study we investigated whether the bilirubin-reducing strain of Clostridium perfringens can reduce bilirubin ditaurate (BDT), a bile pigment of some lower vertebrates, without hydrolysis of the taurine moiety. C.

Decreased serum antioxidant capacity in patients with Wilson disease is associated with neurological symptoms.

Background & Aims: Wilson disease (WD) is an inherited disorder of copper disposition caused by an ATP7B transporter gene mutation, leading to copper accumulation in predisposed tissues. In addition to a genetic predisposition, other factors are likely to contribute to its clinical manifestation. The aim of the study was to assess whether oxidative stress affects the phenotypic manifestation of WD.

Long-term follow-up of Wilson disease: natural history, treatment, mutations analysis and phenotypic correlation.

Background And Aims: Wilson disease (WD) is an inherited disorder of copper metabolism. When treated, the outcome can be excellent, although the long-term survival has yet to be well documented. The aim of this study was to describe the long-term outcome of a cohort of patients with WD and to assess those factors affecting the phenotypic manifestation of WD.

Simultaneous genotyping of microsatellite variations in HMOX1 and UGT1A1 genes using multicolored capillary electrophoresis.

Objectives: Our aim was to establish a reliable, rapid, and inexpensive method for the simultaneous genotyping of the HMOX-1 (heme oxygenase-1) and UGT1A1 (bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase) gene promoter variations.

Results: The HMOX1 (GT)(n) and UGT1A1 (TA)(n) gene promoter variations were determined by fragment analysis using a single duplex PCR, with different fluorescent dye-labeled primers; followed by multicolored capillary electrophoresis.

Conclusion: This novel method provides simultaneous genotyping of key tandem repeat variations in the HMOX1 and UGT1A1 promoters.

Identification of bilirubin reduction products formed by Clostridium perfringens isolated from human neonatal fecal flora.

Urobilinoids belong to the heterogenous group of degradation products of bilirubin formed in the gastrointestinal tract by intestinal microflora. Among them urobilinogen and stercobilinogen with their respective oxidation products, urobilin and stercobilin, are the most important compounds. The aim of present study was to analyze the products of bacterial reduction of bilirubin in more detail.

Rapid protocol for electroporation of Clostridium perfringens.

A rapid and simple method has been developed for the electroporation of Clostridium perfringens with plasmid DNA. The new improvements, harvesting cells early in the logarithmic stage of growth, keeping the cells at room temperature and the absence of post-shock incubation on ice increased transformation efficiency by one order of magnitude.