Several observational studies have found that exposure to sunlight reduces the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, sun exposure remains ambiguous in its relationship to CRC. We carried out a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to explore the potential associations between them.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Whether metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) is associated with longitudinal changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) remains unclear.
Methods: MHO was defined as participants with overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m, n = 2921), free of history of metabolic diseases, and without abnormalities of blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, lipid profile, carotid artery and liver ultrasonographic findings at baseline.
Background/aim: Several clinical conditions seriously hamper the diagnostic accuracy of the commonly used tests for Helicobacter pylori (Hp), C-urea breath test (UBT) and stool antigen test (SAT). The present communication is a critical review of the potential limitations of UBT and SAT, and describes the approach on how these can be avoided. Drawbacks of the Hp tests: False-negative results are most often due to low bacterial load in the stomach due to: i) use of proton pump inhibitor medication; ii) use of antibiotics; iii) presence of atrophic gastritis and hypoacid stomach; iv); bleeding peptic ulcer; v) gastric cancer (GC) and vi) mucosal-associated lymphatic tissue lymphoma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Body mass index [BMI] is widely used to measure nutritional status in Crohn's disease [CD] patients, but limitations remain. Measuring handgrip strength index, in addition to BMI, may aid in overcoming limitations.
Methods: A total of 150 patients with CD and 254 controls were included in this study.
Objective: To investigate the cholesterol metabolism and mRNA expression of the relevant genes in cholesterol synthesis of the cultured steatotic hepatocytes model.
Methods: A steatotic model of hepatocytes was constructed by adding palmitic acid to the growing L-02 cells. These cells were collected at day 3 and 6, respectively.
Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi
June 2007
Objective: The Medical Outcome Study of 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) is a well-validated generic questionnaire widely used to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) is a specific HRQOL assessment designed for patients with liver diseases. The aim of our study is to evaluate the HRQOL based on SF-36 and CLDQ (Chinese version) in patients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis, especially in the status of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE).
Methods: The SF-36 and CLDQ were answered by 160 healthy volunteers, 20 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 106 patients with cirrhosis.
Aim: To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) based on the Chinese version of SF-36 and Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) in subjects with chronic hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis, including patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE).
Methods: The SF-36 and CLDQ were administered to 160 healthy volunteers, 20 subjects with chronic hepatitis B and 106 patients with cirrhosis (33 cases exhibited MHE). HRQOL scores were compared among the different study groups.
Objective: To observe the effect of ligand of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) 15d-PGJ2 on the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and to study the role played by PPAR gamma during the process of HSC activation.
Methods: By using RT-PCR and cell culture, we investigated the effects of 5 micro mol/L and 10 micro mol/L 15d-PGJ2 on culture-activated HSC and on PDGF-induced HSC proliferation, production of extracellular matrix and expression of chemokines.
Results: The expression of alpha-SMA was significantly suppressed by 5mumol/L 15d-PGJ2, and the expression of PPAR gamma was significantly higher in the 15d-PGJ2 treated group than in the untreated group (0.
World J Gastroenterol
December 1998
AIM:To study the effect of lipid (triglyceride and very low-density lipopro tein, VLDL) on proliferation and activation of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC).METHODS:HSC were isolated and cultured from liver of Wistar rats by in situ perfusion with pronase and collagenase and density gradient centrifugation with Nycodenz.HSC proliferation was examined with MTT colorimetric assay.
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