Lack of Association between Rs2067474 Polymorphism in the Histamine Receptor H2 Gene and Gastric Cancer in Latvian Population

Funding Information: The study was partly supported by the Latvian Government Research Programme BIOMEDICINE 2014–2017 Project Nr. 4 “Study of gastric cancer mortality reduction capability in Latvia”. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 Georgijs Moisejevs et al.Histamine has an important role in the process of the gastric mucosa inflammation acting via histamine receptor H2 (encoded by the gene HRH2). Single nucleotide polymorphism of the enhancer element of HRH2 gene promoter rs2067474 (1018G>A)may be associated with changes of expression of the receptor. We attempted to clarify the association of this polymorphism with gastric cancer and/or atrophic gastritis in the Latvian (Caucasian) population. The study group consisted of 121 gastric cancer patients and 650 patients with no evidence of gastric neoplasia on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Genotyping for rs2067474 was performed with the TaqMan probe-based system using a commercially available probe for RT-PCR. The frequency of the A allele in the gastric cancer group was 0.41% and in the control group - 1.54% (p = 0.231). No significant differences were found comparing genotypes between gastric cancer versus control patients (OR = 0.236, CI95% = 0.030-1.896), patients with (n = 165) versus without (n = 485) gastric metaplastic lesions (OR = 0.854, CI95% = 0.288-2.540) and patients with (n = 297) and without (n = 353) gastric atrophic lesions (OR = 1.145, CI95% = 0.451-2.906). Our findings suggest that the HRH2 -1018G>A polymorphism (rs2067474) is neither associated with gastric cancer nor the grade of atrophic gastritis in the Latvian (Caucasian) population.Peer reviewe

Histomorphological Changes of Gastric Mucosa in Functional Dyspepsia Patients and Their Dynamics After Treatment With The Natural Antioxidant Astaxanthin

The aim of the study was to evaluate histomorphological changes of the gastric mucosa in functional dyspepsia patients and their dynamics after treatment with the natural antioxidant astaxanthin. The following objectives were established and reached: to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection and evaluate the histomorphological changes of gastric mucosa in functional dyspepsia patients; to evaluate interleukins IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and interferon-γ as well as the cell markers CD4, CD8, CD14, CD19, CD25 and CD30 in functional dyspepsia patients; to evaluate histomorphological changes of the gastric mucosa in functional dyspepsia patients after treatment with the natural antioxidant astaxanthin; to evaluate interleukins IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and interferon-γ as well as the cell markers CD4, CD8, CD14, CD19, CD25 and CD30 in functional dyspepsia patients and their dynamics after treatment with the natural antioxidant astaxanthin

An unusual case of bleeding from stomach due to a giant diospyrobezoar

Gastric bezoars may be formed in the stomach as a result of foreign body accumulation with inability to pass through the pylorus. Usually bezoars are found in patients with a history of previous gastric surgery. Phytobezoars are the most common type of bezoars. Major complications of bezoars include intestinal obstruction, gastric ulcer, gastric perforation, and bleeding. We present the case of a 51-year-old woman with the features of gastrointestinal bleeding due to a giant diospyrobezoar in the stomach. During endoscopy besides the bezoar, a giant acute ulcer was found. Histological examination of biopsy specimens from ulcer area revealed changes typical of superficial ischemic damage due to prolonged bezoar compression. The patient had undergone a vagotomy and pyloroplasty 13 years ago, and she used to eat two or three persimmons per week during the last six months. The bezoar was fragmented during two endoscopies, and the fragments drifted away through the intestine. We conclude that delayed gastric emptying due to previous gastric surgery and regular eating of persimmons caused the formation of a giant bezoar with ischemic ulcer of gastric mucosa and bleeding. Such pathology potentially could be prevented by dietary advice

Lemann index for assessment of Crohn’s disease: correlation with the quality of life, endoscopic disease activity, magnetic resonance index of activity and C- reactive protein

Aim. Crohn’s disease (CD) is characterized by continuing infl ammation and progressive gut damage. Despite many scoring indices of CD, there is a lack of more global assessment tools for the evaluation of the total disease impact on the gut. Methods. Fift y-three adult patients with proven CD underwent magnetic resonance enterocolonography (MR-EC), colonoscopy, and clinical activity assessment, including CRP. Quality of life was assessed using IBDQ. MR-EC was used to evaluate the Magnetic Resonance Index of Activity (MaRIA- global (G)) and the Lemann Index (LI). The CD Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS) was used to score the endoscopic activity of the disease. Results. A signifi cant correlation between the LI and IBDQ was found (r=-0.812, P<0.01). LI and MaRIA-G correlated moderately, while the LI did not correlate signifi cantly with CRP and CDEIS. For the detection of endoscopically active CD, MaRIA-G was more sensitive and specifi c (83.3%; 73.3%) compared to the LI (66.7%; 60.0%). There was a moderate correlation between CRP and MaRIA-G, as well as CRP and CDEIS (r=0.496; r=0.527,<0.01).Conclusion. A signifi cant negative correlation between the LI and quality of life, measured by IBDQ, was found in our study, suggesting that the LI could resemble more global features of the disease, besides infl ammatory activity of the gut

Gastritis Stages in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Dyspeptic Twins

Background. The progression of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis towards atrophic gastritis is modulated by host-related and environmental factors. Studies that explore the possible involvement of host-related versus environmental factors in the development of gastritis phenotype induced by H. pylori are highly needed. Aims. Our study was aimed at investigating the phenotype of H. pylori-associated gastritis in two cohorts of monozygotic and dizygotic twins, using the OLGA/OLGIM gastritis staging system. Methods. Two cohorts of monozygotic (14 pairs) and dizygotic (15 pairs) dyspeptic twins prospectively underwent endoscopy with biopsy sampling based on Sydney protocol. H. pylori status and OLGA/OLGIM stages were assessed and compared. Results. The mean age of monozygotic and dizygotic twins was 40.4 and 38.6 years, respectively (p = 0:623). The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 51.7%. Among the 14 monozygotic twin pairs, five pairs were H. pylori-positive, four were H. pylori-negative, and five were H. pylori-discordant. Among the 15 dizygotic twin pairs, five pairs were H. pyloripositive, five were H. pylori-negative, and five were H. pylori-discordant. Concordance for antrum atrophy in monozygotic twins was 78.6% (11/14 pairs) and in dizygotic twins 73.3% (11/15 pairs) (p = 0:742). Concordance for corpus atrophy in monozygotic versus dizygotic twins was 92.9% (13/14 pairs) and 86.7% (13/15 pairs), respectively (p = 0:584). Concordance for antrum intestinal metaplasia (IM) in monozygotic twins was 85.7% (12/14 pairs) and in dizygotic 73.3% (11/15 pairs) (p = 0:411). Concordance for corpus IM in monozygotic twins was 85.7% (12/14 pairs) and in dizygotic 86.7% (13/15 pairs) (p = 0:941). Among monozygotic and dizygotic subjects, the stage of gastritis was concordant in both H. pylori-positive and H. pylorinegative subjects. Conclusions. In conclusion, histological gastric mucosa alterations in monozygotic and dizygotic twins showed [...]

Lack of Association Between Rs2067474 Polymorphism in the Histamine Receptor H2 Gene and Gastric Cancer In Latvian Population

Funding Information: The study was partly supported by the Latvian Government Research Programme BIOMEDICINE 2014–2017 Project Nr. 4 “Study of gastric cancer mortality reduction capability in Latvia”. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 Georgijs Moisejevs et al.Histamine has an important role in the process of the gastric mucosa inflammation acting via histamine receptor H2 (encoded by the gene HRH2). Single nucleotide polymorphism of the enhancer element of HRH2 gene promoter rs2067474 (1018G>A)may be associated with changes of expression of the receptor. We attempted to clarify the association of this polymorphism with gastric cancer and/or atrophic gastritis in the Latvian (Caucasian) population. The study group consisted of 121 gastric cancer patients and 650 patients with no evidence of gastric neoplasia on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Genotyping for rs2067474 was performed with the TaqMan probe-based system using a commercially available probe for RT-PCR. The frequency of the A allele in the gastric cancer group was 0.41% and in the control group - 1.54% (p = 0.231). No significant differences were found comparing genotypes between gastric cancer versus control patients (OR = 0.236, CI95% = 0.030-1.896), patients with (n = 165) versus without (n = 485) gastric metaplastic lesions (OR = 0.854, CI95% = 0.288-2.540) and patients with (n = 297) and without (n = 353) gastric atrophic lesions (OR = 1.145, CI95% = 0.451-2.906). Our findings suggest that the HRH2 -1018G>A polymorphism (rs2067474) is neither associated with gastric cancer nor the grade of atrophic gastritis in the Latvian (Caucasian) population.Peer reviewe

5′-isoforms of miR-1246 have distinct targets and stronger functional impact compared with canonical miR-1246 in colorectal cancer cells in vitro /

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial disease involving genetic and epigenetic factors, such as miRNAs. Sequencing-based studies have revealed that miRNAs have many isoforms (isomiRs) with modifications at the 3′- and 5′-ends or in the middle, resulting in distinct targetomes and, consequently, functions. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the putative targets and functional role of miR-1246 and its two 5′-isoforms (ISO-miR-1246_a and ISO-miR-1246_G) in vitro. Commercial Caco-2 cells of CRC origin were analyzed for the expression of WT-miR-1246 and its 5′-isoforms using small RNA sequencing data, and the overabundance of the two miR-1246 isoforms was determined in cells. The transcriptome analysis of Caco-2 cells transfected with WT-miR-1246, ISO-miR-1246_G, and ISO-miR-1246_a indicated the minor overlap of the targetomes between the studied miRNA isoforms. Consequently, an enrichment analysis showed the involvement of the potential targets of the miR-1246 isoforms in distinct signaling pathways. Cancer-related pathways were predominantly more enriched in dysregulated genes in ISO-miR-1246_G and ISO-miR-1246_a, whereas cell cycle pathways were more enriched in WT-miR-1246. The functional analysis of WT-miR-1246 and its two 5′-isoforms revealed that the inhibition of any of these molecules had a tumor-suppressive role (reduced cell viability and migration and promotion of early cell apoptosis) in CRC cells. However, the 5′-isoforms had a stronger effect on viability compared with WT-miR-1246. To conclude, this research shows that WT-miR-1246 and its two 5′-isoforms have different targetomes and are involved in distinct signaling pathways but collectively play an important role in CRC pathogenesis