Association of HLA-DQ polymorphisms with Hepatitis B virus infection in Turkish population

Amaç Konak genetik faktörleri hepatit B virüs (HBV) enfeksiyonunun doğal seyri ve HBV ilişkili karaciğer hastalıklarının gelişme riski ile progresyonu üzerinde etkili olabilmektedir. Bu çalışmada HLA-DQ gen rs9272105, rs2856718 ve rs9275572 polimorfizmlerinin HBV doğal klirensi, viral yük ve HBV ile ilişkili karaciğer hasarı gelişimi ile ilişkisinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem Çalışmaya 150 kronik hepatit B (KHB) hastası ile kontrol grubu olarak 58’i kronik hepatit C (KHC) ve 82’si farklı klinik endikasyonlar nedeniyle karaciğer biyopsi işlemi gerçekleştirilen 140 hasta dâhil edildi. HLA-DQ rs9272105, rs2856718 ve rs9275572 genotip ve polimorfizmlerinin belirlenmesinde TaqMan SNP genotiplendirme yöntemi kullanıldı. Bulgular KHB’li ve kontrol grubundaki hastaların HLA-DQ gen rs9272105, rs2856718 ve rs9275572 genotip ve allel frekansları arasında farklılık tespit edildi (P<0,05). HLA-DQ rs9272105 AA genotip ve A allel varlığı, hepatit B yüzey antijen (Hepatitis B surface antigen; HBSAg) klirensi ve karaciğer hasarı ile ilişkiliydi (p<0,05). HLA-DQ gen rs2856718 ve rs9275572 ise HBV klirensi ve hastaların histolojik sonuçlarıyla ve ayrıca rs9272105 de dâhil hastaların viral yükleriyle ilişkili değildi. Sonuç HLA-DQ rs9272105 AA genotip ve A allel gerek HBV enfeksiyonunun kronikleşmesi gerekse HBV ilişkili karaciğer hasarının gelişmesi için risk faktördür.Objective Host genetic factors can affect the natural course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the risk of development and progression of HBV-related liver diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of the HLA-DQ gene polymorphisms rs9272105, rs2856718 and rs9275572 with HBV natural clearance, viral load and the development of HBV associated liver injury. Materials and Methods The study included 150 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 140 patients as the control group, 58 of whom had chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and 82 of whom had undergone a liver biopsy due to different clinical indications. The HLA-DQ gene rs9272105, rs2856718 and rs9275572 polymorphisms were genotypes in liver samples using the hybridization probe assay. Results A difference was found between the HLA-DQ gene rs9272105, rs2856718 and rs9275572 genotype and allele frequencies of the patients with CHB and the control group (P<0,05). The HLA-DQ rs9272105 AA genotype and presence of A allele were associated with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance and liver injury (p<0,05). In contrast, the HLA-DQ genes rs2856718 and rs9275572 were not associated with HBV clearance and patients’ histological outcomes, nor with patients’ viral load, including rs9272105. Conclusions It has been suggested that the HLA-DQ rs9272105 AA genotype and the A allele are risk factors for both the persistence of HBV infection and the development of HBV-related liver damage

Wealth Effects on Household Final Consumption: Stock and Housing Market Channels

The study primarily explores the linkage between wealth effects, arising from stock and housing market channels, and household final consumption for 11 advanced countries over the period from 1970 Q1 to 2015 Q4. As a modelling strategy, we employ regression analysis through the common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) estimator, as well as Durbin&ndash;Hausman cointegration and Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012) causality tests. The study provides various pieces of evidence through whole-panel and country-level analyses. In this respect, we find that consumption is mostly explained by income and housing wealth is positively and significantly correlated with consumption. As counter-intuitive evidence, we detect a negative linkage between consumption and stock wealth. The evidence also suggests a long-run cointegration relationship among consumption, income, interest rates, housing wealth, and stock wealth. Moreover, we find bidirectional causality between consumption and income, stock wealth, housing wealth, and interest rates. Overall, the evidence implies that housing wealth, rather than stock wealth, is the primary source of consumption growth in advanced countries

Melanin concentrating hormone neurons regulate reward seeking independent of post-ingestive actions

3rd International Congress of the Turkish-Neuroendocrinology-Society -- JUN 29-JUL 01, 2018 -- Malatya, TURKEYWOS: 000445952400021…Turkish Neuroendocrinol Societ

MCH neuron activity ıs sufficient for reward and reinforces feeding

Background: Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH)-expressing neurons have been implicated in regulation of energy homeostasis and reward, yet the role of their electrical activity in short-term appetite and reward modulation has not been fully understood. Objectives: We investigated short-term behavioral and physiological effects of MCH neuron activity manipulations. Methods: We used optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches in Pmch-cre transgenic mice to acutely stimulate/inhibit MCH neuronal activity while probing feeding, locomotor activity, anxiety-like behaviors, glucose homeostasis, and reward. Results: MCH neuron activity is neither required nor sufficient for short-term appetite unless stimulation is temporally paired with consumption. MCH neuronal activation does not affect short-term locomotor activity, but inhibition improves glucose tolerance and is mildly anxiolytic. Finally, using two different operant tasks, we showed that activation of MCH neurons alone is sufficient to induce reward. Conclusions: Our results confirm diverse behavioral/physiological functions of MCH neurons and suggest a direct role in reward function.EMBO IG grant [2539]Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [214S0859999

Adrenergic modulation of melanocortin pathway by hunger signals

Norepinephrine (NE) is a well-known appetite regulator, and the nor/adrenergic system is targeted by several anti-obesity drugs. To better understand the circuitry underlying adrenergic appetite control, here we investigated the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN), a key brain region that integrates energy signals and receives dense nor/adrenergic input, using a mouse model. We found that PVN NE level increases with signals of energy deficit and decreases with food access. This pattern is recapitulated by the innervating catecholaminergic axon terminals originating from NTSTH-neurons. Optogenetic activation of rostral-NTSTH → PVN projection elicited strong motivation to eat comparable to overnight fasting whereas its inhibition attenuated both fasting-induced & hypoglycemic feeding. We found that NTSTH-axons functionally targeted PVNMC4R-neurons by predominantly inhibiting them, in part, through α1-AR mediated potentiation of GABA release from ARCAgRP presynaptic terminals. Furthermore, glucoprivation suppressed PVNMC4R activity, which was required for hypoglycemic feeding response. These results define an ascending nor/adrenergic circuit, NTSTH → PVNMC4R, that conveys peripheral hunger signals to melanocortin pathway.National Institutes of Healt

Evaluation of drug resistance mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Mutations occurring in viral polymerase gene of hepatitis B virus (HBV) due to the use of nucleos(t)id analogs reduce the activity of the drugs by causing antiviral resistance. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate mutations responsible for drug resistance and drug resistance mutation rates in patients followed up by the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). A total of 318 CHB patients were included in the study. HBV mutations were detected using the INNO-LiPA commercial kit based on the reverse hybridization principle. Drug resistance mutation was detected in 46.86% (149/318) of the patients. The rates of drug resistance were found 36.79% (117/318) for lamivudine resistance, 12.58% (40/318) for entecavir (ETV), and 7.86% (25/318) for adefovir. In 10 patients, the possible tenofovir (TDF) resistance (3.14%) was found. Single-drug and double-drug resistances were detected in 34.59% and in 11.01% of the patients, respectively. Triple drug resistance was detected in only 1.26% of the patients. Unlike various studies in Turkey and in other countries, remarkable resistance to ETV and TDF were found in this study. The high rate of the probable TDF resistance was striking, with 3.14%