Peripheral blood dendritic cells in alcoholic and autoimmune liver disorders.

Little is known about effects of alcohol consumption on dendritic cell (DC) function and resultant immune response. However, quantitative and qualitative disturbances of DCs are speculated to be involved in alcohol-related as well as in other liver pathology. The present study aimed to evaluate changes in circulating DC subsets in alcoholic liver disease (N = 43), autoimmune hepatitis (N = 26) and primary biliary cirrhosis (N = 20).

Interferon-alfa treatment may reduce the occurrence of liver carcinogenesis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

The aim of our study was assessment of the long-term influence of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment on the serum marker of the hepatocarcinogenesis level-alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-in patients (pts) with chronic viral hepatitis (cvh) B and C. Thirty seven pts (21 with HCV and 16 with HBV infection (20 women, 17 men, aged 24-62) were included in the study. Pts were administered IFN-alpha in the dose of 9-15 MU per week, thrice a week, for 16 weeks (HBV group) or 24-52 weeks (HCV group).

Studies on goiter occurrence and iodine deficiency in Lublin Upland (Lublin coordinating center).

Questionnaire, clinical, ultrasonographic and biochemical studies (determination of urinary iodine concentration) have been carried out in 1686 children of age between 7 and 13 years living in the Lublin Upland region. The presence of goiter was found in 368 children (21.8%).