Helicobacter species are associated with possible increase in risk of biliary lithiasis and benign biliary diseases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepato-biliary tract lithiasis is common and present either as pain or as asymptomatic on abdominal ultrasonography for other causes. Although the DNA of <it>Helicobacter </it>species are identified in the gallbladder bile, tissue or stones analyzed from these cases, still a causal relationship could not be established due to different results from different geographical parts.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A detailed search of pubmed and pubmedcentral was carried out with key words <it>Helicobacter </it>and gallbladder, gallstones, hepaticolithiasis, cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis, benign biliary diseases, liver diseases. The data was entered in a data base and meta analysis was carried out. The analysis was carried out using odds ratio and a fixed effect model, 95% confidence intervals for odds ratio was calculated. Chi square test for heterogeneity was employed. The overall effect was calculated using Z test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 12 articles were identified. One study used IgG for diagnosis while others used the PCR for Ure A gene, 16 S RNA or Cag A genes. A couple of studies used culture or histopathology besides the PCR. The cumulative results show a higher association of <it>Helicobacter </it>with chronic liver diseases (30.48%), and stone diseases (42.96%)(OR 1.77 95% CI 1.2–2.58; Z = 2.94, p = 0.003), the effect of each could not be identified as it was difficult to isolate the effect of helicobacter due to mixing of cases in each study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of present meta analysis shows that there is a slight higher risk of cholelithiasis and benign liver disease (OR 1.77), however due to inherent inability to isolate the effect of stone disease from that of other benign lesions it is not possible to say for sure that <it>Helicobacter </it>has a casual relationship with benign biliary disease or stone disease or both.</p

Immune signatures in human PBMCs of idiotypic vaccine for HCV-related lymphoproliferative disorders

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major risk factors for chronic hepatitis, which may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as for type II mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), which may further evolve into an overt B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)

Helicobacter species in cancers of the gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract

Helicobacter species have been found in human bile and biliary tract (BT) tissue and are suspected to cause BT diseases, including gallbladder and extrahepatic cancers, collectively referred to in this work as BT cancers. We conducted a literature review of the epidemiological evidence linking the presence of Helicobacter species in bile or BT biopsies to BT cancers and benign diseases. Reports showed great variability with respect to study methods. Nine studies of BT cancers were identified, all with 30 or fewer BT cancers; eight included cancer-free control subjects and used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a means of Helicobacter species detection. In four of these studies, Helicobacter species were detected in patients with BT cancer significantly more frequently than in controls, at least when controls without BT diseases were used. In two studies, no Helicobacter species were detected in either cases or controls. Helicobacter species were also often detected in benign BT diseases such as gallstone disease or chronic cholecystitis. As our current knowledge relies on a few small studies that showed substantial differences, larger studies and more standardised protocols for detecting DNA and antibodies against Helicobacter species are needed to investigate a potential association with BT cancer

A comparison of culture and GLMM-PCR methods for detecting Helicobacter Pylori in antral and corpus biopsy specimensin patients with gastroduodenal disoders [Gastroduodenal patolojileri olan hastaların antrum ve korpus biyopsi örneklerinde Helicobacter pylori aranmasında kültür ve GLMM-PCR yöntemlerinin karşılaştırılması]

Objective: The difficulty of growing of Helicobacter Pylori (H.pylori) under in vitro conditions decreases sensitivity of diagnostic methods based on bacterial isolation. However, the PCR method targeting glmM (formerly ureC) gene of bacteria was shown as an alternative to culture in many studies. The aim of our study was to compare these two methods, as well as to determine the effect of gastric localization of H.pylori on sensitivity and applicability of these methods. Material and Methods: This study included two antral and two corpus biopsy samples obtained from 231 patients (158 with gastritis and/or gastric ulcer and 73 with duodenal ulcer) without prior treatment for H.pylori. One antral and one corpus sample were cultuvated in modified Columbia agar media containing horse blood (7%) and antibiotics for H.pylori isolation. The other samples were investigated by PCR assay using specific primers for H.pylori glmM gene sequences. Results: H.pylori was detected by culture method in 163 (70.6%) and by glmM-PCR method in 201 (87.0%) of 231 antral biopsy samples (p&lt; 0.001, ?2 test). The numbers of H.pylori-positive corpus samples were found as 97 (42.0%) and 154 (66.7%), respectively (p&lt; 0.001, ?2 test). Assuming glmM-PCR method which have higher positivity on the diagnosis of H.pylori as the gold standard, specificity of culture for both sample groups were 100%, however, its sensitivity was detected as 81.1% for antral samples and 63.0% for corpus samples. Conclusion: Our results indicate that culture method is less sensitive for diagnosis of H.pylori-related gastroduodenal diseases; its sensitivity decreases to 58.4% in corpus biopsy samples obtained from the patients with corpus predominant gastritis and/or gastric ulcer. © 2010 by Türkiye Klinikleri

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated pulmonary sarcoidosis

WOS: 000071659200054PubMed ID: 9481751

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated pulmonary sarcoidosis [3]

PubMedID: 9481751[No abstract available

Fibromyalgia syndrome in patients with hepatitis C infection

PubMedID: 14504918Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) is characterized by widespread pain and tenderness at specific anatomic sites. Different theories have been proposed in the etiopathogenesis of this syndrome, and besides genetic, neuroendocrine, psychologic, and traumatic causes, infections have also been reported. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of FS in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Ninety-five patients with chronic HCV infection and 95 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The 1990 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria were used for the diagnosis of FS. Tender point count, pain intensity, sleep disturbance, stiffness, headache, paresthesia, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and sicca- and Raynaud-like symptoms were assessed. Fibromyalgia was found in 18.9% of patients and 5.3% of healthy controls. Mean tender point count, pain intensity scored on a visual analog scale (VAS), sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesia, and fatigue were higher in the HCV group. No significant relationship was observed between the two groups regarding headache, IBS, and sicca- and Raynaud-like symptoms. In addition, mean tender point count and pain intensity scores were also significantly higher in HCV patients with FS than in control subjects with FS. All of the symptoms except stiffness were not statistically significant between the HCV and control groups with FS. Our results demonstrate a tendency toward higher prevalence of FS in patients with HCV infection. Besides various extrahepatic features, musculoskeletal disorders including fibromyalgia might be expected in the progression of HCV infection. Detailed examination of the patients helps to differentiate FS from other musculoskeletal complications of HCV infection. This will provide appropriate management approaches and better quality of life for them

Frequency of impaired glucose tolerance test and diabetes mellitus in patients with cirrhosis due to hepatitis B virus infection

Background: Clinical diabetes occurs in up to 30% of patients with cirrhosis. Diabetes is a negative risk factor for surveillance among cirrhotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of impaired glucose tolerance test (IGTT) and diabetes mellitus in patients with cirrhosis due to hepatitis B. Methods: 27 consecutive biopsy-positive cases of cirrhosis due to hepatitis B virus were evaluated to determine the prevalence and characteristic of glucose intolerance and diabetes in these conditions. All patients were evaluated for biochemical finding, Child-Pugh score, and insulin C-peptide levels. For the diagnosis of diabetes, fasting serum glucose levels were accepted at 126 mg/dl on two separate occasions. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed in patients with normal fasting glucose levels. Results: Diabetes was present in 40,7% of patients and impaired oral glucose test results were detected in 25,9% of patients with normal fasting glucose levels. Both diabetic and IGTT patients had higher basal insulin levels than the patients with glucose tolerance. Similarly, Child-Pugh score was higher in patients with diabetic patients than without glucose intolerant. Child-Pugh score was determined at 7.1 and 6.3 levels in diabetic patients and glucose tolerant patients respectively. Conclusions: The frequency of IGTT and diabetes mellitus are increased in patients with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis B virus as well as due to hepatitis C virus. This occurs due to cirrhosis by itself, irrespective of etiologic agents that causing cirrhosis. Insulin resistance gives rise to glucose intolerance and eventually fasting hyperglycemia