Colonic mucosal eosinophilia and immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 and NF-kB in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: There is growing evidence that eosinophilic infiltration can release mediators which are harmful to the intestinal epithelium in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Although cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-kB) expression had been previously reported to increase in many inflammatory conditions, there is a paucity in data investigating their expressions in IBS. Our aim was to evaluate colonic mucosal eosinophilia and immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 and NF-kB in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Acaricidal and pathogenic effects of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana on engorged females of the fowl tick, Argas persicus (Argasidae).

This study examined the acaricidal, histopathological and genotoxic effects of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana on engorged females of the fowl tick, Argas persicus. The acaricidal effect of B. bassiana (at 10-10 conidia/mL) was concentration- and time-dependent.

Effect of toll-like receptor 7 and 9 targeted therapy to prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Chronic liver disease is a predisposing factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Toll-like receptors play a crucial role in immunity against microbial pathogens and recent evidence suggests that they may also be important in pathogenesis of chronic liver disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether TLR7 and TLR9 are potential targets for prevention and progression of HCC.

Increased renal expression and urinary excretion of TLR4 in acute kidney injury associated with cirrhosis.

Background: Patients with cirrhosis frequently develop renal dysfunction, a proportion of who do not fulfill criteria for hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). We hypothesized that the kidneys in these patients would exhibit histological and biomarker evidence of kidney injury. We looked specifically for TLR expression as they may mediate kidney injury.