Serum laminin in hepatosplenic human schistosomiasis

Serum laminin level was measured in chronic hepatic schistosomiasis. A significant increase in the mean serum laminin levels was observed in patients with hepatosplenic (HS) schistosomiasis (2,57 +/- 0,83 U/ml), as compared to those in patients with the hepatointestinal (HI) form of the disease (1,38 +/- 0,45-U/ml) and in the control group (1,15 +/- 0,31 U/ml). In the HS patients there was a significant direct relation between serum laminin and percutaneous splenic pulp pressure (r = 0,68). These findings are compatible with an increased production of laminin in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with may be related to the observed enlarged liver and spleen basement membranes in such disease.ESCOLA PAULISTA MED SCH,DISCIPLINA GASTROENTEROL CLIN,RUA BOTUCATU 740,BR-04023 SAO PAULO,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED SCH,DISCIPLINA GASTROENTEROL CLIN,RUA BOTUCATU 740,BR-04023 SAO PAULO,BRAZILWeb of Scienc

Insulin resistance and not steatosis is associated with modifications in oxidative stress markers in chronic hepatitis C, non-3 genotype

Background: Modifications of oxidative stress are reported in hepatitis C. the relationship between insulin resistance (IR), steatosis and oxidative stress is not established. Materials and methods: One hundred and eighty-seven HCV-RNA patients were assessed by determination of biochemical, metabolic and viral features, HOMA-IR and morphological alterations. in the 52-non-3 genotypes sub-group and 35 healthy individuals, thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), total glutathione (total-GSH), vitamins C and E, lycopene, beta-carotene, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and superoxide dismutase were determined. Results: in non-3 genotype patients, steatosis was associated with higher values of BMI, HOMA-IR and triglycerides. in the 52-HCV sub-group, values of TBARS, GPx and total-GSH differ from the control group. Despite these, differences could not be observed according to the presence of steatosis, patients with IR presented significant differences regarding total-GSH (p = 0.019), beta-carotene (p = 0.006), lycopene (p = 0.005) and GPx (p = 0.009). Conclusion: in non-3 genotype HCV carries, IR, and not steatosis, is associated with modifications in serum levels of oxidative stress.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Gastroenterol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biol Sci, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Gastroenterol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biol Sci, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 02/05260-6Web of Scienc