Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in ob/ob mice treated with yo jyo hen shi ko (YHK): effects on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP).

YHK has antioxidant properties, has a hypoglycemic effect, and may reduce plasma lipid levels. In this study, we examined the hepatic expression of PPAR-alpha and -gamma and MTP in ob/ob mice receiving or not receiving YHK. Ob/ob mice were assigned to receive oral YHK (20 mg/kg/day) fed solution (methionine/choline-deficient [MCD] diet+YHK group) or vehicle (MCD group) by gavage for 4 weeks.

Effects of bariatric surgery on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: preliminary findings after 2 years.

Background And Aim: Although nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is very common among morbidly obese patients, the effect of weight loss after bariatric surgery on inflammation and fibrosis related to NAFLD is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery on NAFLD with a follow up of 2 years.

Methods: Eighteen consecutive NAFLD patients with body mass index >40 kg/m(2) undergoing gastroplasty with RYGB were enrolled, and wedge liver biopsy was obtained at the operation.

Yo jyo hen shi ko, a novel Chinese herbal, prevents nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in ob/ob mice fed a high fat or methionine-choline-deficient diet.

Background: Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Yo jyo hen shi ko (YHK) is a complex compound purported to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by blocking the propagation of radical-induced reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the effect of YHK in experimental NASH.

Helicobacter pylori cag pathogenicity island genes: clinical relevance for peptic ulcer disease development in Brazil.

The purpose of this study was to verify whether the presence of any of the Helicobacter pylori cagPAI genes or segments--cagA, cagA promoter, cagE, cagM, tnpB, tnpA, cagT and the left end of the cag II (LEC) region--would be a useful marker for the risk of peptic ulcer disease development. H. pylori DNA extracted from positive urease tests of 150 peptic ulcer patients and 65 dyspeptic controls was analysed by PCR.

Hepatic gene expression profile associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis protection by S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine in ob/ob mice.

Background/aims: To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) prevention by S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNAC), an NO donor that inhibits lipid peroxidation, we examined hepatic differentially expressed genes between ob/ob mice receiving or not SNAC treatment concomitantly with a methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet.

Methods: Ob/ob mice were assigned to receive oral SNAC fed solution (MCD+SNAC group) or vehicle (MCD group) by gavage. After four weeks, histopathological analysis and microarray hybridizations were conducted in liver tissues from groups.

Branch retinal vein thrombosis and visual loss probably associated with pegylated interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C.

Ophthalmological complications with interferon therapy are usually mild and reversible, not requiring the withdrawal of the treatment. We report a case of a patient who had visual loss probably associated with interferon therapy. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection (genotype 1a) was diagnosed in a 33-year old asymptomatic man.

Assessment of portal hemodynamics by Doppler ultrasound and of liver morphology in the hepatosplenic and hepatointestinal forms of schistosomiasis mansoni.

The aim of this study was to compare portal and splenic blood flows and the liver morphology in hepatosplenic (HS) and hepatointestinal (HI) schistosomiasis. Doppler ultrasound measurements were performed in 48 adult patients with schistosomiasis, according to the criteria of the World Health Organization, and compared with those performed in 20 healthy controls. Portal flow was significantly higher (P < 0.

Applicability of the IAIHG scoring system to the diagnosis of antimitochondrial/anti-M2 seropositive variant form of autoimmune hepatitis.

Background And Aims: According to the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) criteria, circulating antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) do not support the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The aims of this study were to characterize a subset of patients with AIH who have AMA and antiM2 seropositivity, and to assess the applicability of the revised scoring system of the IAIHG in the diagnosis of this variant form of AIH.

Methods: Eighteen patients with AMA-AIH were enrolled and compared with 206 classical AIH and 85 primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) controls.

Oral administration of S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine prevents the onset of non alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats.

Aim: To evaluate the potential of S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNAC) in inhibition of lipid peroxidation and the effect of oral SNAC administration in the prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in an animal model.

Methods: NAFLD was induced in Wistar male rats by choline-deficient diet for 4 wk. SNAC-treated animals (n=6) (1.

Celiac disease associated with nodular regenerative hyperplasia, pulmonary abnormalities, and IgA anticardiolipin antibodies.

The association of nodular regenerative hyperplasia with celiac disease is not as well established as it is with hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension. IgA anticardiolipin antibodies were reported recently in celiac patients with nodular regenerative hyperplasia. The subject of this study was the description of pulmonary abnormalities and IgA anticardiolipin antibodies in celiac patients with noncirrhotic portal hypertension.

No correlation of babA2 with vacA and cagA genotypes of Helicobacter pylori and grading of gastritis from peptic ulcer disease patients in Brazil.

Background: The babA2 gene, which encodes a blood-group antigen-binding adhesin that mediates attachment of Helicobacter pylori to human Lewis(b) antigens on gastric epithelial cells, has been associated with a higher risk of peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the frequency of babA2 genotype in H. pylori strains of patients with peptic ulcer and to correlate with other virulence factors.

Lipid peroxidation in bariatric candidates with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) -- preliminary findings.

Background: Pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains incompletely known, and oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms incriminated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of liver oxidative stress in NAFLD affecting morbidly obese patients.

Methods: 39 consecutive patients with BMI >40 kg/m2 submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass were enrolled, and wedge liver biopsy was obtained during operation.

Bone disease in primary biliary cirrhosis: lack of association with distal renal tubular acidosis.

Background And Aims: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) might be complicated by osteoporosis, whose etiology remains unknown but seems to be multifactorial. Prevalence rates of 30% to 60% for distal renal tubular acidosis (DRTA) have been reported in PBC patients, generally as incomplete DRTA. Although it is undisputed that a reduced bone mineral density (BMD) is the expected outcome among patients who have been suffering from longstanding chronic metabolic acidosis, it is unclear if incomplete DRTA is also associated with metabolic bone disease in PBC patients.

Prevalence of immune disturbances and chronic liver disease in family members of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has been reported in up to 4-6% of first degree relatives of patients with the disease. In addition, immune abnormalities, including hypergammaglobulinemia, autoantibodies and increased frequency of autoimmune disorders, were reported in family members of PBC patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of PBC in relatives of patients with PBC, and to investigate the occurrence of chronic liver disease (CLD) and immune abnormalities in these subjects.

Hepatitis B virus genotypes and precore and core mutants in Brazilian patients.

A method for genotyping hepatitis B virus by partial HBsAg gene sequencing with primers common to all known genotypes was developed. Mutations related to anti-HBs resistance are also detected with this method. Samples from 103 Brazilian patients were analyzed.

Hepatitis B virus infection in Haemodialysis Centres from Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil. Predictive risk factors for infection and molecular epidemiology.

Background: Patients under haemodialysis are considered at high risk to acquire hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Since few data are reported from Brazil, our aim was to assess the frequency and risk factors for HBV infection in haemodialysis patients from 22 Dialysis Centres from Santa Catarina State, south of Brazil.

Methods: This study includes 813 patients, 149 haemodialysis workers and 772 healthy controls matched by sex and age.

Searching for chronic hepatitis B patients in a low prevalence area--role of racial origin.

Background: Clinical studies for testing new drugs against hepatitis B ought to be carried out in low prevalence areas despite difficulties on patient recruitment. In such areas, relatives of chronic hepatitis B patients are considered to be at risk of acquiring the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HBV markers (anti-HBc, HBsAg and anti-HBs) in familial members of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients according to their origin (Asian or Western) in a low prevalence area, the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

p53 immunostaining pattern in Brazilian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important type of cancer etiologically related to some viruses, chemical carcinogens and other host or environmental factors associated to chronic liver injury in humans. The tumor suppressor gene p53 is mutated in highly variable levels (0-52%) of HCC in different countries.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to compare the frequency of aberrant immunohistochemical expression of p53 in HCC occurring in cirrhotic or in non-cirrhotic patients as well as in liver cell dysplasia and in adenomatous hyperplasia.

Detection of micronuclei formation and nuclear anomalies in regenerative nodules of human cirrhotic livers and relationship to hepatocellular carcinoma.

Human cirrhosis is considered an important factor in hepatocarcinogenesis. The lack of substantial genetics and cytogenetics data in human cirrhosis led us to investigate spontaneous micronuclei formation, as an indicator of chromosomal damage. The analysis was performed in hepatocytes of regenerative, macroregenerative, and tumoral nodules from 30 cases of cirrhosis (paraffin-embedded archival material), retrospectively selected: cryptogenic, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis C virus associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Wilson disease: novel mutations in the ATP7B gene and clinical correlation in Brazilian patients.

Wilson disease (WD) is a rare inherited autosomal recessive disorder caused by a defect in a metal transporting P-type ATPase, resulting in copper overload in various tissues and cells. The aim was to assess both the phenotype in Brazilian WD patients and the corresponding ATP7B genotype. Sixty subjects belonging to 46 pedigrees diagnosed as WD were included in this study.

Different degrees of malnutrition and immunological alterations according to the aetiology of cirrhosis: a prospective and sequential study.

Objectives: In this work we investigated how immunological dysfunction and malnutrition interact in alcoholic and viral aetiologies of cirrhosis.

Methods: To investigate the matter, 77 cirrhotic patients divided in three aetiologies [Alcohol, HCV and Alcohol + HCV) and 32 controls were prospectivelly and sequentially studied. Parameters of humoral immunity (Components 3 and 4 of seric complement and immunoglobulins A M, G and E) and of cellular immunity (total leukocytes and lymphocytes in peripheral blood, T lymphocytes subpopulations, CD4+ and CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and intradermic tests of delayed hypersensitivity), as well as nutritional parameters: anthropometric measures, serum albumin and transferrin were evaluated.