and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection in Gastric Diseases: Correlation with IL-10 and IL1RN Polymorphism.

Introduction: and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection have recently been shown to be associated with gastric diseases. Polymorphisms in genes encoding cytokines such as interleukin 10 (IL-10) and interleukin 1 Receptor (IL-1RN) influence cytokine secretion levels and appear to contribute to the risk of developing gastroduodenal diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first preliminary study to address the association of coinfection with and EBV and their correlation with genetic predisposition in the development of gastric diseases.

Comparison of Left Ventricular Myocardial Structure and Function in Patients with Aortic Stenosis and Those with Pure Aortic Regurgitation.

Objective: We aimed to support the structural and functional distinction between aortic stenosis (AS) and aortic regurgitation (AR).

Methods: Biopsy specimens taken from 70 selected patients (35 with AS and 35 with AR) undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) were analyzed for their cardiomyocyte dimensions and structure, interstitial fibrosis and contractile function. To determine normal values of contractile function, 10 donor hearts were analyzed.

Mitral valve replacement and limited myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: a 25-year follow-up.

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is a dynamic obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract caused by septal hypertrophy and systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve. When the condition cannot be controlled by medical therapy the most frequently used surgical approach is left ventricular myotomy-myectomy. Mitral valve replacement (to correct another mechanism of obstruction) is another surgical option; however, its use for this condition is controversial.