[The role of interleukin-6 and nitric oxide in pathogenesis of portal hypertension and decompensation of liver cirrhosis].

The study included 49 patients (29 men and 20 women) aged 23-65 years with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 12 (7 men and 5 women) with chronic hepatitis (CH). Etiological factors of LC were hepatitis B and C viruses (in 22 and 16 patients respectively) and alcohol (n=11). Patients with LC showed high levels of blood nitrates and their impaired urinary excretion.

[Cytokines in chronic hepatitis C].

The role of C virus structural and non-structural proteins and cytokines in pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis is considered. The levels of antibodies to cor-protein and non-structural NS5 protein are found to correlate with viral load. An elevated level of NS5 of tumour necrosis factor, interleukin-8 , and IL-10 is a predictor of unfavourable prognosis of interferon therapy whereas enhanced synthesis of IL-2 and IL-4 suggests good outcome of such treatment.

[Clinical significance of H. pylori genotyping].

Clinical implications of H. pylori genotyping are analysed. H.

[The frequency and resistance of cytotoxin-associated (CAG-A) Helicobacter pylori strains to antibacterial agents in chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcer].

The authors of the study demonstrate that Helicobacter pylori (HP) strains with the cytoxin-associated protein Cag A are more frequent in patients suffering from duodenal ulcer (DU) or lymphocyte gastritis. DU is more severe and often displays a recurrent character in cases with persistent Cag A-positive HP strains. The authors studied the sensitivity of HP strains with the cytoxin-associated protein Cag A to various antibacterial preparations.

[Cell immunity and hepatocyte apoptosis in chronic cholestatic hepatitis].

The aim of the study was to evaluate activity and accumulation of natural T-killers (NK-cells, CD16+) and lymphocytes with apoptosis marker (CD95+) in peripheral blood and hepatic tissue of patients with chronic viral hepatitis, in connection with presence or absence of cholestasis. The subjects were 14 patients suffering from chronic hepatitis (CH) without cholestasis, and 16--with CH and cholestasis, aged 18 to 56 years. The study revealed significant elevation of the number of NK-cells in hepatic tissue of CH patients with cholestasis, not only vs.