Specific Immunoglobulin E and G to Common Food Antigens and Increased Serum Zonulin in IBS Patients: A Single-Center Bulgarian Study.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder whose pathogenesis is considered multifactorial, including abnormal gut motility, visceral hyperreactivity, psychological factors, disturbances in the brain-gut axis, leaky gut, oxidative stress, etc. We aimed to investigate serum levels of specific immunoglobulin E and G to common food antigens and zonulin and to assess their use in clinical practice for patients with IBS. Material and methods.

Gastrointestinal mucosal immunity and COVID-19.

As the gastrointestinal tract may also be a crucial entry or interaction site of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the role of the gut mucosal immune system as a first-line physical and immunological defense is critical. Furthermore, gastrointestinal involvement and symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have been linked to worse clinical outcomes. This review discusses recent data on the interactions between the virus and the immune cells and molecules in the mucosa during the infection.

ABO-nonidentical liver transplantation from a deceased donor and clinical outcomes following antibody rebound: A case report.

Background: Although ABO-nonidentical and ABO-incompatible liver transplantation (LT) are other options for end-stage liver disease treatment, the development of antibodies against blood group antigens (anti-A/B antibodies) is still a challenge in managing and follow-up of the recipients.

Case Summary: A 56-year-old male with end-stage liver disease with rapid deterioration and poor prognosis was considered to receive a deceased ABO-nonidentical liver graft. All required tests were performed according to our pre-LT diagnostic protocol.

The Dynamic Changes in Soluble CD30 and Regulatory T Cells Before and After Solid Organ Transplantations: A Pilot Study.

Among multiple parameters, applied in the immunologic monitoring of transplantation, the levels of serum soluble CD30 (sCD30) and peripheral regulatory T cells (Tregs) are very promising. These are relatively new biomarkers, considered to reflect immune activation and tolerance in solid organ transplantation. Results are shown here from a preliminary study on the relevance of sCD30 and Tregs in the monitoring of the early post-transplantation period.

Late Postpregnancy Modifications in the Subset of Peripheral Natural T Regulatory Cells in Healthy Women.

The establishment of a relevant regulatory T cell (Treg) pool in the periphery is of importance to ensure immune homoeostasis. Finely tuned signaling pathways in Tregs control the immune response during extreme endocrine changes in pregnancy and afterward. In this study, we investigate the population of Tregs and, in particular, the natural Tregs (nTregs) in healthy women divided into three groups according to the number of previous pregnancies, if any (Gr.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL REGISTRY OF NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS IN BULGARIA--A PILOT SURVEY.

The National registry of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NET) in Bulgaria was established in 2013 as a joint initiative of the Bulgarian Surgical Society and the Institute for Rare Diseases. The register aims to explore the epidemiology of NET in Bulgaria, as well as the different diagnostic and treatment approaches for the disease throughout the country. This the first of its kind retrospective study of NET in the country is covering the period January 2012 - January 2013.

Gastrointestinal metastases from breast cancer: report of two cases.

Metastatic involvement of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract secondary to breast cancer (BC) is rare and usually occurs in patients with lobular BC. We report 2 cases with GI presentations of metastatic BC. In the first case endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography because of abdominal discomfort, tenesmus and rectal bleeding demonstrated liver, gastric and rectal metastases with histological and immunohistological patterns of metastatic lobular BC.

Flexible hysteroscopy in irregular uterine bleeding.

Purpose: The objective of our study was to analyze the possibilities of diagnostic flexible hysteroscopy in women with irregular uterine bleeding.

Patients And Methods: The study involved 661 women aged 26-72 years (mean 46.23) with mild to moderate irregular uterine bleeding who agreed to have invasive investigations.

Diagnostic possibilities of the electroexcision and cold knife conization for precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the diagnostic possibilities of the loop electroexcision procedure (LEEP) and of conventional surgical conization of the uterine cervix in women with cervical precancerous lesions.

Patients And Methods: The study involved 80 women aged between 22 and 63 years (mean age 38.75 years), with cytological findings indicating various degrees of dyscaryosis.

The CD160+ CD8high cytotoxic T cell subset correlates with response to HAART in HIV-1+ patients.

We investigated the circulating cytotoxic CD160+ CD8(high) subset in correlation to antiviral immunity and response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV+ subjects. The study included 45 treatment-naive patients receiving HAART for 18 months, retrospectively defined as good (n=29) and transient (n=16) responders. HIV-specific CD8 T lymphocyte levels were measured by IFNgamma production in response to p17 Gag, in the presence of immobilized anti-CD160 mAb.

[Treatment of Ewing's sarcoma with 2 different protocols].

Since 1985, 54 with localized Ewing's sarcoma of bone were treated at the Onco-Orthopedics Clinic of the Sofia University Hospital (Sofia, Bulgaria). Thirty-two patients received the classical four-drug combination with doxorubicin, dactinomycin, vincristine, and cyclophosphamid. The last 22 patients were treated with six-drug protocols where cisplatinium and ifosfamid were added to the standard four-drug regimens.

Cisapride and cimetidine in the treatment of erosive esophagitis.

The efficacy of cisapride, as compared with cimetidine, in the treatment of erosive esophagitis was studied in a double-blind trial. One hundred and twenty-nine patients were assigned to one of four dosage schedules: cisapride 10 mg b.i.