Elevated miRNA Inversely Correlates with Gene Expression in Tissue Biopsies from Crohn Disease Patients in contrast to Ulcerative Colitis Patients.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD). Similar symptoms, but different treatment procedures for both diseases require precise diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are major posttranscriptional players that regulate the expression of genes during the inflammation and thus could be appropriate biomarkers for differentiation between UC and CD.

Results of screening in Lublin Province, Poland, for colorectal cancer and neoplastic polyps - the role of environmental factors.

Introduction And Objective: Screening colonoscopy is a recommended tool, and the most sensitive and cost-effective method for reducing the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Objective: The purpose of the study was to present the results of a 5-year screening for early detection of CRC carried out among the population of the central-eastern regions of Poland, primarily in Lublin Province.

Materials And Method: Screening colonoscopy was conducted in a group of 1,009 patients - 636 women and 373 men, aged 40-65 years.

In Vitro Proinflammatory Polarization of Macrophages Isolated from Hepatocarcinogenic Stage in Humans and Rats.

Macrophages have multiple functions in both inhibiting and promoting hepatocarcinogenesis, which are dependent on their phenotypes. Thus, we were interested in clarifying the 'training' proinflammatory effects exerted by barley β-glucan (BBG) on monocyte-derived macrophages from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC-Mfs). After isolation and differentiation HCC-Mfs were treated with different concentrations of BBG and functional assays were then conducted after 24 h, and 3 and 5 days of incubation.

Expression of death receptor 3 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells differes in adult IBD patients and children with newly diagnosed IBD.

Background: Interaction between TL1A and death receptor 3 (DR3) is associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), although their role in the development of this disease remains not fully explained. Some studies showed elevated expression of TL1A and DR3 in inflamed intestinal tissue but currently there are no reports concerning expression of DR3 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of IBD patients which was the subject of our study.

Methods: We performed flow cytometry analysis of DR3 expression on CD4(+), CD8(+), CD11c(+), CD14(+) or CD20(+) PBMCs of adults and children with IBD and healthy volunteers with respect to C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in blood.

Quality of life of patients with irritable bowel syndrome before and after education.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to analyse the impact of education of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on their quality of life.

Methods: The study was carried out at the Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic of the Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 4 in Lublin and Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Regional Specialist Hospital in Lublin in the years 2010-2011.

QT Interval Prolongation and QRS Voltage Reduction in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is associated with functional abnormalities of the cardiovascular system with co-existing electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities.

Objectives: The aim was to analyze ECG changes in patients with cirrhosis, to evaluate whether alcoholic etiology of cirrhosis and ascites has an impact on ECG changes.

Material And Methods: The study involved 81 patients with previously untreated alcoholic cirrhosis (64 patients with ascites, classes B and C according to the Child-Pugh classification; and 17 without ascites, categorized as class A); 41 patients with previously untreated cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis C (HCV--30 patients with ascites, classes B and C; and 11 without ascites, class A); 42 with alcoholic steatohepatitis and 46 with alcoholic steatosis.

Prognostic Significance of the Systemic Inflammatory and Immune Balance in Alcoholic Liver Disease with a Focus on Gender-Related Differences.

Objectives: Mechanisms of immune regulation in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) are still unclear. The aim of our study was to determine an impact of Th17 / regulatory T (Treg) cells balance and its corresponding cytokine profile on the ALD outcome. Possible gender-related differences in the alcohol-induced inflammatory response were also assessed.

The genetic predisposition and its impact on the diabetes mellitus development in patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.

The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis (CP) is alcohol abuse. The aim of the present study was to identify patients with genetic predisposition to CP abusing alcohol. The question posed was whether CP manifests at a younger age and diabetes mellitus develops earlier in individuals with genetic predisposition.

Role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and their natural inhibitors in liver fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis and non-specific inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background: There is a growing evidence that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 (gelatinases) play an important role in the pathogenesis of numerous disorders, especially with inflammatory etiology and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Despite the fact that gelatinases involve in liver cirrhosis is provided in the literature, their role in the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis and non-specific inflammatory bowel diseases is still under investigation.

Data Sources: We carried out a PubMed search of English-language articles relevant to the involvement of gelatinases in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, pancreatitis, and non-specific inflammatory bowel diseases.

Pancreatic and gastric heterotopy in the gastrointestinal tract.

Heterotopic or ectopic tissue is a congenital anomaly defined as the presence of the tissue outside its normal location. This tissue is usually discovered incidentally and may be asymptomatic or may present with non-specific gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Two types of heterotopic tissues, pancreatic and gastric, predominantly occur in the GI tract.

Angiogenesis-related biomarkers in patients with alcoholic liver disease: their association with liver disease complications and outcome.

Angiogenesis is believed to be implicated in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). We aimed to explore the usefulness and accuracy of plasma angiogenic biomarkers for noninvasive evaluation of the severity of liver failure and ALD outcome. One hundred and forty-seven patients with ALD were prospectively enrolled and assessed based on their (1) gender, (2) age, (3) severity of liver dysfunction according to the Child-Turcotte-Pugh and MELD scores, and (4) the presence of ALD complications.

Association of serum adiponectin, leptin, and resistin concentrations with the severity of liver dysfunction and the disease complications in alcoholic liver disease.

Background And Aims: There is growing evidence that white adipose tissue is an important contributor in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). We investigated serum concentrations of total adiponectin (Acrp30), leptin, and resistin in patients with chronic alcohol abuse and different grades of liver dysfunction, as well as ALD complications.

Materials And Methods: One hundred forty-seven consecutive inpatients with ALD were prospectively recruited.

Alkaline phosphatase: the next independent predictor of the poor 90-day outcome in alcoholic hepatitis.

Aim: Determination of risk factors relevant to 90-day prognosis in AH. Comparison of the conventional prognostic models such as Maddrey's modified discriminant function (mDF) and Child-Pugh-Turcotte (CPT) score with newer ones: the Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score (GAHS); Age, Bilirubin, INR, Creatinine (ABIC) score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), and MELD-Na in the death prediction.

Patients And Methods: The clinical and laboratory variables obtained at admission were assessed.

[Serum iron parameters in chronic liver diseses].

Unlabelled: Iron is an essential micronutrient of almost all organisms, which is involved in many metabolic processes. Disorders of serum iron balance that relate mainly to its deficiency are frequently observed in patients with liver diseases. The aim of the study was the evaluation of serum iron parameters in patients with different chronic liver diseases and analysis of the relationships between serum level of iron, ferritin and transferrin in women and men in groups examined.

Underexpression of LATS1 TSG in colorectal cancer is associated with promoter hypermethylation.

Aim: To investigate large tumor suppressor 1 (LATS1) expression, promoter hypermethylation, and microsatellite instability in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: RNA was isolated from tumor tissue of 142 CRC patients and 40 colon mucosal biopsies of healthy controls. After reverse transcription, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed, and LATS1 expression was normalized to expression of the ACTB and RPL32 housekeeping genes.

The effects of the adenosine A3 receptor agonist IB-MECA on sodium taurocholate-induced experimental acute pancreatitis.

The role of adenosine A3 receptors and their distribution in the gastrointestinal tract have been widely investigated. Most of the reports discuss their role in intestinal inflammations. However, the role of adenosine A3 receptor agonist in pancreatitis has not been well established.

The BARD score and the NAFLD fibrosis score in the assessment of advanced liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a very wide clinical spectrum. Advanced fibrosis that accompanies disease leads to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, identification of patients with advanced fibrosis is essential.

Plasma insulin, leptin, adiponectin, resistin, ghrelin, and melatonin in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients treated with melatonin.

Insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and an abnormal production of adipokines and cytokines are implicated in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Recently, we reported a significant improvement in plasma liver enzymes among patients with NASH treated with melatonin. In this study, we investigated the effect of melatonin, administered at a dose of 10 mg/day for 28 days to 16 patients with histologically proven NASH on insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), on the plasma levels of adiponectin, leptin, ghrelin, and resistin.

The decrease of serum MMP-2 activity corresponds to alcoholic cirrhosis stage.

Because of numerous limitations for liver biopsy, a noninvasive marker of liver cirrhosis is sought. Promising indicators seem to be matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are responsible for degradation of extracellular matrix. The aim of the study was to evaluate the gelatinase activities (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in patients with different stages of alcoholic cirrhosis.

Activated and inactivated PPARs-γ modulate experimentally induced colitis in rats.

Background: This study sought to define the mechanism by which PPAR-γ ligands affect the course of experimentally induced colitis in rats.

Material/methods: Inflammation was induced in Wistar rats by a single rectal administration of 2,4,6,-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). The antagonist of PPARγ antagonist, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), was administrated intraperitoneally 120 mg/kg 4 times every other day.

Melatonin or L-tryptophan accelerates healing of gastroduodenal ulcers in patients treated with omeprazole.

Melatonin and L-tryptophan (Trp) are highly gastroprotective in humans, but no study has assessed their impact on healing of chronic gastroduodenal ulcers in humans. Three groups (A, B and C) of 14 idiopathic patients in each treatment group with gastroduodenal chronic ulcers were treated with omeprazole (20 mg twice daily) combined either with placebo (group A), melatonin (group B) or with Trp (group C). The rate of ulcer healing was determined by gastroduodenoscopy at day 0, 7, 14 and 21 after initiation of therapy.

Erythropoietin inhibits liver gelatinases during galactosamine-induced hepatic damage in rats.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 (gelatinases) participate in extracellular protein remodeling. Moreover, they are involved in the development of hepatic fibrosis. The goal of this study was to evaluate liver gelatinase activities after erythropoietin (Epo) treatment (1U/dose, sc) in experimentally damaged livers of rats treated with D-galactosamine (Gal, 800 mg/kg/dose, ip).

Rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma)-specific agonist, as a modulator in experimental acute pancreatitis.

Background: The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the role of PPAR ligands in the course of inflammation and of rosiglitazone, a PPAR-gamma-specific agonist, on the course of experimental acute pancreatitis (EAP).

Material/methods: EAP was induced by administration of 5% sodium taurocholate injected into the pancreatic duct. The inflammatory activity was evaluated by biochemical scores (alpha-amylase, lipase, aminotransferases, and bilirubin), morphological changes (determined by light microscopy, H+E stained), and immunohistochemical reactions (ICAM, nitrotyrosine).

Alcohol-metabolizing enzyme gene polymorphisms and alcohol chronic pancreatitis among Polish individuals.

Background And Aims: Chronic pancreatitis develops in 5-10% of alcohol addicts. In developed societies, alcohol is the cause of chronic pancreatitis in at least 70-80% of cases. The genetic polymorphism of enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism is relevant in the etiopathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis.

Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase gene polymorphism in alcohol liver cirrhosis and alcohol chronic pancreatitis among Polish individuals.

Objective: To investigate the effects of ADH and ALDH gene polymorphism on the development of alcoholism, alcohol liver cirrhosis and alcohol chronic pancreatitis among Polish individuals.

Material And Methods: We determined the allele and genotype of ADH2, ADH3 and ALDH2 in 198 subjects: 57 with alcohol cirrhosis, 44 with alcohol chronic pancreatitis and 43 "healthy alcoholics"; 54 healthy non-drinkers served as controls. Genotyping was performed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method on white cell DNA.