Apoptosis pathway of liver cells in chronic hepatitis.

Aim: To study the pathway of apoptosis in chronic liver disease and the role of mitochondria in programmed cell death.

Methods: Liver biopsy specimens from 72 cases of chronic hepatitis and 29 cases of post hepatitis cirrhosis were studied. The pro-apoptotic protein Fas, FasL, Bax and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), Bcl-2 alpha were studied immunohistochemically by SP method.

Expression of hepatitis B virus antigen and Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric mucosa of patients with chronic liver disease.

Background: It is common for the gastroendoscopist to find patients infected simultaneously with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Helicobacter pylori (H pylori). Considering that HBV infection is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma and H pylori to gastric cancer, we investigated the incidence in this kind of patients in the northern Jiangsu Province, China. Rational management of these patients was also discussed.