ABSTRACT
Background: Studies suggest that nuclear factor kappa-B (NFκB) activation may be a critical event in the production of proinflammatory molecules in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis. Materials and Methods: This study examines the expression and activity of NFκB in situ in antral biopsies of 42 consecutive patients with immunohistochemical techniques. Results: NFκB was highly expressed in the gastric epithelial cells. The number of cells showing activated NFκB correlated with the activity of gastritis (P < 0.05), a measure of neutrophil influx, whereas no correlation was found with the chronicity of inflammation, a measure of the presence of mononuclear inflammatory cells. There was also a strong inverse association with the presence and grade of atrophy. Conclusion: This correlation is direct evidence of the importance of NFκB dependent signal transduction for neutrophil influx in gastritis. The role of NFκB appears to be only in the initial stages of gastritis, there is no role for the molecule in the development of chronic inflammation or atrophy.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Imbalance in hormonal levels, regulated by host genetic factors, are known to be a major cause of obesity. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate association of genetic polymorphisms of β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) with hormonal levels in northern Indian obese. METHODS: A total of 111 obese and 89 age matched non-obese subjects were studied after taking detailed clinical profile. Hormonal assays in serum/plasma for different hormones were done using IRMA and RIA kits. Genetic analysis of β2-AR (-47 and -20, T to C) and IRS-1 (Arg972Gly) was done using PCR-RFLP. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS (version 11.5) software. All continuous variables were expressed as mean ± SD and tested by ANOVA test. Comparisons of categorical variables were assessed using X2 tests or Fisher's exact test. P-value <0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Analysis showed that obese subjects had significantly higher value of blood pressure (systolic), WHR, leptin insulin and glucagon and lower value of GH. In β2-AR (-47) T/C and IRS-1 Gly972Arg gene polymorphisms we did not found significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies. Moreover, none of the studied hormonal or metabolic parameters showed any association with the gene polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Study reveals no significant association of β2-AR (-47 and -20, T to C) and IRS-1 Gly 972 Arg polymorphisms with obesity in northern Indians.
ABSTRACT
Chronic gastritis is a multifactorial disorder thought to be influenced by bacterial and host genetic factors. Histopathological examination is the mainstay of diagnosis, however features like the presence of Helicobacter pylori are difficult to evaluate on biopsy. We evaluated 120 gastric antral biopsies using the revised Sydney system. The density of the inflammatory infiltrate, H pylori and mast cells were evaluated. It was seen that the presence of H pylori is strongly associated with an acute and a chronic inflammatory infiltrate. The presence of neutrophils on biopsy is strongly associated with the presence of H pylori and with the density and the grade of the chronic inflammatory infiltrate. The chronic inflammatory response is an intermediary between the acute inflammatory process and glandular atrophy. The lymphocytic infiltrate is also a precursor lesion of the lymphoid follicles. The presence of mast cells does not appear to be related to any of the other inflammatory parameters. The presence of one feature is a strong indicator for the presence of other inflammatory features.