5'-Isoforms of miR-1246 Have Distinct Targets and Stronger Functional Impact Compared with Canonical miR-1246 in Colorectal Cancer Cells In Vitro.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial disease involving genetic and epigenetic factors, such as miRNAs. Sequencing-based studies have revealed that miRNAs have many isoforms (isomiRs) with modifications at the 3'- and 5'-ends or in the middle, resulting in distinct targetomes and, consequently, functions. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the putative targets and functional role of miR-1246 and its two 5'-isoforms (ISO-miR-1246_a and ISO-miR-1246_G) in vitro.

Exploring the Neandertal legacy of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma risk in Eurasians.

Background: The genomes of present-day non-Africans are composed of 1-3% of Neandertal-derived DNA as a consequence of admixture events between Neandertals and anatomically modern humans about 50-60 thousand years ago. Neandertal-introgressed single nucleotide polymorphisms (aSNPs) have been associated with modern human disease-related traits, which are risk factors for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and inflammation. In this study, we aimed at investigating the role of aSNPs in PDAC in three Eurasian populations.

Impact of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery on Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

: Cardiac amyloidosis is an infiltrative, progressive, and restrictive cardiomyopathy that leads to heart failure, reduces life quality, and causes death. This is a multisystem disorder caused by mutations of the transthyretin protein and is associated not only with cardiac diseases or carpal tunnel syndrome but also with nerve, liver, lung, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, or eye pathologies. Carpal tunnel syndrome is an early red-flag symptom of transthyretin (TTR) cardiac amyloidosis; therefore, screening for unsuspected cardiac amyloidosis can be performed through histological testing of flexor retinaculum specimens gathered during carpal tunnel release surgery.

Differential Expression of Long Noncoding RNA HOTAIR in Intestinal Metaplasia and Gastric Cancer.

Introduction: High expression of HOTAIR promotes tumor growth and carries a dismal prognosis for the patient. We investigated the prognostic value of HOTAIR expression in gastric cancer (GC) and systematically delineate the expression in relation to Helicobacter pylori infection and preneoplastic changes.

Methods: HOTAIR expression was analyzed in surgical paired tissue samples of patients with GC and biopsy samples from patients with atrophic gastritis and/or intestinal metaplasia (AG ± -IM), chronic nonatrophic gastritis, and controls.

Rare case of visceral myopathy.

Visceral myopathy is a rare bowel disease affecting peristalsis and causing pseudo-obstruction. There is no specific treatment for chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction caused by visceral myopathy. We report a case of a 30-year-old woman with visceral myopathy who, due to unsuccessful conservative treatment, underwent surgery.

Gastritis Stages in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Dyspeptic Twins.

Background: The progression of -associated gastritis towards atrophic gastritis is modulated by host-related and environmental factors. Studies that explore the possible involvement of host-related versus environmental factors in the development of gastritis phenotype induced by are highly needed.

Aims: Our study was aimed at investigating the phenotype of -associated gastritis in two cohorts of monozygotic and dizygotic twins, using the OLGA/OLGIM gastritis staging system.

Lemann Index for Assessment of Crohn's Disease: Correlation with the Quality of Life, Endoscopic Disease Activity, Magnetic Resonance Index of Activity and C- Reactive Protein.

Aim: Crohn's disease (CD) is characterized by continuing inflammation and progressive gut damage. Despite many scoring indices of CD, there is a lack of more global assessment tools for the evaluation of the total disease impact on the gut.

Methods: Fift y-three adult patients with proven CD underwent magnetic resonance enterocolonography (MR-EC), colonoscopy, and clinical activity assessment, including CRP.

Detection of gastric atrophy by circulating pepsinogens: A comparison of three assays.

Background: Circulating levels of pepsinogens have been used in high gastric cancer-risk Asian and European populations to triage endoscopic evaluation for more severe pathology. There are different analytic methods with uncertain correlations. We therefore compared diagnostic performance of three commonly used pepsinogen assays to detect histologically confirmed gastric atrophy.

Digital imaging of colon tissue: method for evaluation of inflammation severity by spatial frequency features of the histological images.

Background: The efficacy of histological analysis of colon sections used for evaluation of inflammation severity can be improved by means of digital imaging giving quantitative estimates of main diagnostic features. The aim of this study was to reveal most valuable diagnostic features reflecting inflammation severity in colon and elaborate the evaluation method for computer-aided diagnostics.

Methods: Tissue specimens from 24 BALB/c mice and 15 patients were included in the study.

Long-term dynamics of gastric biomarkers after eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Secretion of pepsinogen I (PgI), pepsinogen II (PgII), fasting gastrin-17 (fG-17) and stimulated gastrin-17 (sG-17) changes after Helicobacter pylori eradication. Few data are available on the long-term dynamics of gastric biomarkers after H. pylori eradication.

Gastritis staging: interobserver agreement by applying OLGA and OLGIM systems.

Atrophic gastritis remains a difficult histopathological diagnosis with low interobserver agreement. The aim of our study was to compare gastritis staging and interobserver agreement between general and expert gastrointestinal (GI) pathologists using Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) and Operative Link on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia (OLGIM). We enrolled 835 patients undergoing upper endoscopy in the study.

Helicobacter pylori infection in laryngeal diseases.

Clinical studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori can be found not only in the mucosa of the stomach, but in the pharyngeal and laryngeal regions as well. The aim of this prospective case-control study was to identify H. pylori infection in the biopsy material from the larynx of the patients suffering from benign laryngeal diseases (vocal fold polyps, laryngitis) and laryngeal cancer and to investigate the possible relationships between the laryngeal H.

Interobserver variation in assessment of gastric premalignant lesions: higher agreement for intestinal metaplasia than for atrophy.

Background: Either atrophy or intestinal metaplasia of the gastric mucosa are considered premalignant lesions. The new operative link for gastritis assessment staging system is based on the detection of atrophy, and the operative link for assessment of intestinal metaplasia staging system is based on the detection of intestinal metaplasia. Good interobserver agreement is necessary for identification of any premalignant condition.

Performance of routine Helicobacter pylori tests in patients with atrophic gastritis.

Background: Decreased density of H. pylori in atrophic gastritis may lead to low sensitivity of the routine tests.

Aims: To evaluate the accuracy of routinely used H.

Gastric plasma biomarkers and Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment gastritis stage.

Introduction: The Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) staging system has been proposed as a histopathological reporting system of gastric atrophy. Noninvasive methods for indirect evaluation of gastric mucosal atrophy by biomarkers are also being introduced.

Objectives: To analyze gastric mucosal atrophy by biomarkers, pepsinogen I (PgI), pepsinogen II (PgII), PgI/PgII ratio, fasting gastrin-17 (G-17), stimulated gastrin-17 (sG-17), in relation to OLGA gastritis stage.

Interleukin-1B and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphisms are not associated with premalignant gastric conditions: a combined haplotype analysis.

Objective: Contradictory results have been reported about the role of interleukin-1B (IL1B) and IL1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) alleles in gastric carcinogenesis. Here, IL1B and IL1RN polymorphisms were analyzed as genotypes and haplotypes in relation to the presence of atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia in the stomach.

Methods: Two hundred and seventy-eight patients (212 Caucasians and 66 Asians) aged 50 years and above, referred for upper endoscopy because of dyspeptic symptoms, were included in the study.

The validity of a biomarker method for indirect detection of gastric mucosal atrophy versus standard histopathology.

Background: Atrophy of the stomach mucosa is considered to be premalignant lesion for gastric cancer development; easy identification of this condition from a blood-sample would allow identifying the group of individuals at increased risk for cancer development.

Aims: The objective of the current study was to validate a biomarker method (pepsinogen I/II ratio and gastrin-17) for indirect detection of atrophy of the stomach mucosa versus standard histopathology in Caucasian and Asian populations.

Methods: Altogether, 241 patients aged 55 and above referred for upper endoscopy due to dyspeptic symptoms (125 from Latvia, 76 from Lithuania, and 40 from Taiwan) were enrolled.

An unusual case of bleeding from stomach due to a giant diospyrobezoar.

Gastric bezoars may be formed in the stomach as a result of foreign body accumulation with inability to pass through the pylorus. Usually bezoars are found in patients with a history of previous gastric surgery. Phytobezoars are the most common type of bezoars.

[Diagnosis and management of 46,XY mixed gonadal dysgenesis and disorder of sexual differentiation].

Objective: We present our experience in diagnosing, gender assignment, and surgical management of sexual ambiguity in 46,XY mixed gonadal dysgenesis.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study of five cases treated from 2003 to 2006 was performed. Clinical picture, operative findings, testosterone levels, and immunohistochemistry of gonads for the expression of FOXL2, SOX9, AMH, AMHr, C-kit, and PLAP were analyzed.

Precancerous gastric conditions in high Helicobacter pylori prevalence areas: comparison between Eastern European (Lithuanian, Latvian) and Asian (Taiwanese) patients.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence and severity of precancerous condition--gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia (IM) between Eastern European (Lithuania and Latvia) and Asian (Taiwan) countries in population older than 55 years.

Methods: Patients aged 55 years and older, referred for upper endoscopy due to dyspeptic symptoms, were included in the study. Gastric biopsies were histological investigated according modified Sydney classification.

Gastric inflammatory markers and interleukins in patients with functional dyspepsia treated with astaxanthin.

The chronic active inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori is dominated by neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Several interleukins are involved in the inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of astaxanthin on gastric inflammation in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Gastric inflammatory markers and interleukins in patients with functional dyspepsia, with and without Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori is the most important cause of gastritis, peptic ulcers and the development of gastric cancer. The chronic active inflammation is dominated by neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Several interleukins (IL-8, IL-10 and IFN-gamma) are involved in the inflammatory process in the gastric mucosa.

Microvillous inclusion disease.

Congenital defects in the intestinal mucosa can provoke diarrhea in the neonatal period. This kind of diarrhea is difficult to treat and the outcome is bad if intestinal transplantation is not done. We describe the case of newborn female with severe protracted secretory diarrhea, which started after first oral intake of breast milk.