Genetic and Oral Tests for the Diagnosis of Lactose Intolerance in Mixed-Ancestry Brazilians with Metabolic Syndrome.

Background/aims: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises a cluster of physiological and anthropometric abnormalities. MetS has been linked to lactose intolerance (LI). The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity to detect LI using 2 different tests: (1) a genetic test and (2) an oral lactose tolerance test (OLTT).

Factors Associated with Insulin Resistance in Patients with Chronic HCV Genotype 1 Infection without Obesity or Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and its association with clinical parameters in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 without obesity or type 2 diabetes.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-seven HCV-infected patients admitted to the Nutrition and Hepatology Clinic were included. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test, Fisher's exact test, and Poisson regression analysis.

Myxovirus resistance, osteopontin and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 polymorphisms predict hepatitis C virus therapy response in an admixed patient population: comparison with IL28B.

Objectives: Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3, myxovirus resistance protein and osteopontin gene polymorphisms may influence the therapeutic response in patients with chronic hepatitis C, and an association with IL28 might increase the power to predict sustained virologic response. Our aims were to evaluate the association between myxovirus resistance protein, osteopontin and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 gene polymorphisms in combination with IL28B and to assess the therapy response in hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated-interferon plus ribavirin.

Method: Myxovirus resistance protein, osteopontin, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 and IL28B polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, direct sequencing and real-time PCR.

Polymorphisms of the cytokine genes TGFB1 and IL10 in a mixed-race population with Crohn's disease.

Background: Most Crohn's disease (CD) genes discovered in recent years are associated with biological systems critical to the development of this disease. TGFB1 and IL10 are cytokines with important roles in CD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between CD, its clinical features and TGFB1 and IL10 gene polymorphisms.

Coassociations between IL10 polymorphisms, IL-10 production, helminth infection, and asthma/wheeze in an urban tropical population in Brazil.

Background: Helminth infections are associated with protection against allergies. It is postulated that IL-10 production after helminth infection suppresses skin hypersensitivity and increases IgG₄ production, protecting against allergies.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether IL10 polymorphisms are associated with helminth infection and the risk of wheeze and allergy.

Effect of soy protein supplementation in patients with chronic hepatitis C: a randomized clinical trial.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of soy supplementation on insulin resistance, fatty liver and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in non-diabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Methods: In a prospective, randomized and single-blinded clinical trial, we compared patients with CHC who had casein as a supplement (n = 80) (control group), with patients who consumed a soy supplement diet (n = 80) [intervention group (IG)]. Both groups received 32 g/d of protein for 12 wk.

IL28B polymorphisms are markers of therapy response and are influenced by genetic ancestry in chronic hepatitis C patients from an admixed population.

Background: IL28B polymorphisms are predictors of therapy response in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. We do not know whether they are markers of treatment response in admixed populations or not.

Aims: To determine whether IL28B polymorphisms are predictors of therapy response in patients with HCV from an admixed population and are influenced by genetic ancestry.

The TNF-α -308 polymorphism may affect the severity of Crohn's disease.

Objective: The goal of this project was to analyze the association between Crohn's disease, its clinical features, and the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) -308 polymorphism.

Methods: This is a case-control and cross-sectional study that enrolled 91 patients with Crohn's disease and 91 controls. Patients with Crohn's disease were characterized according to the Montreal Classification, along with their clinical and surgical treatment history.

HLA-Bw4-B*57 and Cw*18 alleles are associated with plasma viral load modulation in HIV-1 infected individuals in Salvador, Brazil.

Unlabelled: Host genetic factors play an important role in mediating resistance to HIV-1 infection and may modify the course of infection. HLA-B alleles (Bw4 epitope; B*27 and B*57) as well as killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors have been associated with slow progression of HIV-1 infection.

Objective: To evaluate the association between serological epitopes HLA-Bw4 and HLA-Bw6 and prognostic markers in AIDS.

Natural killer cell receptor and HLA-C gene polymorphisms among patients with hepatitis C: a comparison between sustained virological responders and non-responders.

Background/aims: Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are involved in the activation/inhibition of NK cells through an interaction with HLA class I molecules on target cells. Our study aimed to evaluate the association between KIR gene polymorphisms and the response of patients with CHC to antiviral therapy.

Methods: We compared the frequency of KIR genes, as well as that of compound KIR/HLA-C genotypes, between groups of patients with CHC who presented a sustained virological response (n=66) and who were non-responders to a combination of pegylated or standard interferon and ribavirin (n=101).

Association of TGF-beta1 codon 25 (G915C) polymorphism with hepatitis C virus infection.

Cytokines play a key role in the regulation of immune responses. In hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), the production of abnormal cytokine levels appears to contribute to the progression of the disease, viral persistence, and affects response to therapy. Cytokine genes are polymorphic at specific sites, and certain polymorphisms located within coding/regulatory regions have been shown to affect the overall expression and secretion of cytokines.

[Distribution and frequency of HLA alleles and haplotypes in Brazilians with type 1 diabetes mellitus].

The genetic predisposition to type 1 diabetes (DM1) is associated with genes of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system, specially the HLA-DR and -DQ. In Caucasians, the HLA-DR3 and -DR4 antigens are associated with susceptibility and the -DR2, with protection. In Brazil, a country with a large miscegenation of European Caucasians, Native Amerindians and African Blacks, the genetic basis of DM1 has not been adequately studied.

The metabolic syndrome in Spanish migrants to Brazil: unexpected results.

A cross-sectional study was performed involving epidemiological and clinical features of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in Spanish migrants to Brazil and their descendants. This included 479 subjects: Group A (Spanish migrants): n=215; Group B (descendants born in Brazil of Spanish parents): n=126, Group C (mixed descendants born in Brazil with either father or mother born in Spain): n=138. MS was defined according to the original NCEP/ATP III criteria and by the revised NCEP/ATP definition (glucose>or=100mg/dl).

Polymorphism of cytokine genes (TGF-beta1, IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha) in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Objectives: The polymorphisms in cytokine genes have allowed for the understanding of the genetic determinants of diseases. The aims of this study were to describe and compare the frequencies of polymorphisms on the interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, and interferon (IFN)-gamma genes between patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and healthy individuals from Bahia, Brazil.

Methods: Twenty-eight individuals were evaluated at a university gastroenterology outpatient service (4 women and 24 men), all diagnosed with CP based on clinical and radiologic aspects.

Antibodies to Schistosoma mansoni in human cerebrospinal fluid.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from patients suspected of having neuroschistosomiasis (NS) were evaluated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Monoclonal antibodies of various immunoglobulin isotypes (IgM, IgA, IgE, total IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) were used to detect antibodies against Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen (SEA) and soluble worm adult preparation (SWAP). Of the 83 CSF samples tested, 55% were reactive to SEA (26% were reactive only to SEA and 29% to both SEA and SWAP), 34% were reactive to SWAP (5% only to SWAP and 29% to both SEA and SWAP), and 40% were not reactive with any antigen.