Association of genetic polymorphisms with histological grading of necroinflammation, staging of fibrosis, and liver function in Mexicans with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background/aim: The aim of this work was to establish an association between the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TGFB1 (rs1800471), AT (rs3789679), MMP-1 (rs17886084), MMP-3 (rs35068180), and PAI-1 (rs1799889) and the histological grading of necroinflammation, staging of hepatic fibrosis, and liver function in Mexican patients with advanced liver fibrosis due to chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Methods: AT, MMP-1, MMP-3, and PAI-1 gene polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction in real time, whereas TGFB1 polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism in 38 patients with established advanced liver fibrosis and 50 subjects from the general population. Grading of necroinflammation and staging of liver fibrosis were assessed by liver biopsy and graded according to modified histological activity index Ishak score.

A controlled clinical trial with pirfenidone in the treatment of pathological skin scarring caused by burns in pediatric patients.

Background: Pathologic skin scarring reversion remains a big challenge for surgeons, as disfiguring scars have a dramatic influence on patient's quality of life.

Methods: A controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate 8% pirfenidone (PFD) gel administered topically 3 times a day during 6 months to 33 pediatric patients with hypertrophic scars caused by burns. A total of 30 patients with hypertrophic scars with identical Vancouver Scar Scale values were treated with pressure therapy and included as controls.