[ effect of pentoxifylline on liver function tests in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease non-diabetic patients]

Pentoxifylline might have a role in the suppression of inflammatory cytokines in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]. The aim of study was to evaluate the effect of Pentoxifylline on liver function tests in non-diabetic subjects with NAFLD.This clinical trial was performed in 120 NAFLD patients. They were divided to two groups by Balance Block Randomization method. A dietitian in both arms performed regulation of daily calorie intake. Pentoxifylline was prescribed to intervention arm at the dose of 1200 m/g per day. Liver function tests were checked at 2 months interval up to 6 months. Fifty-four patients in control group and fifty-six ones in Pentoxifylline group were evaluated. The participants mean of age was 36.65 +/- 8.82 years. The mean aminotransferase levels were not statistically different in two arms at the study period. However, the speed of aminotransferase reduction was faster in Pentoxifylline arm. The mean aminotransferase levels were decreased during the study period in each arm.Pentoxifylline was not effective in reducing aminotransferase in NAFLD patients

[Health-related quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome]

Due to the increasing outbreak of irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] and its relation to hospital costs and disruptions to quality of life, this study is an attempt to investigate patient quality of life and its relationship with IBS according to the results of the WHQOL-BREF Questionnaire. This descriptive-analytic, cross-sectional study enrolled 250 patients and 250 healthy participants who referred to the Gastroenterology Clinic of Sina Hospital, affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences during 2012. The diagnosis of IBS was determined by a gastrointestinal expert based on ROME-III Criteria. Then, the study was explained to participants prior to administration of this questionnaire. The level of life quality in patients with IBS was less than the control group. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of age, gender, education level, marital status, and place of residency. There was no significant difference in the above factors among patients in the subgroups of IBS. Regression analysis between quality of life and independent variables showed a correlation between quality of life to severity of IBS symptoms and disease duration. The results of the study indicated that quality of life correlated with severity of symptoms and disease duration. The quality of life in IBS patients can be enhanced by efficiently controlling symptoms.

Prevalence of helicobacter pylori vacA, cagA, cagE, iceA, babA2, and oipA genotypes in patients with upper gastrointestinal diseases

Helicobacter pylori has been strongly associated with peptic ulcer diseases, chronic gastritis, ulcers, and reported as a risk factor for gastric cancer, too. The vaculating cytotoxin [vacA], the cytotoxin associated genes [cagA], the induced by contact with epithelium factor antigen [iceA gene], blood adhesion binding antigen [babA2], and outer membrane protein oipA have been described as different virulence factors of H. pylori. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the vacA, cagA, cagE, iceA, babA2 and oipA genotypes of H. pylori isolates from patients with upper gasterointestinal problem or dyspepsia. H. pylori isolated from endoscopic biopsies obtained from 222 studied patients. PCR was done only on cultured positive samples. The vacA alleles, cagA, cagE, iceA, babA2 and oipA genotypes were determined by PCR. The isolation rate of H. pylori strains from culture of gastric biopsies was 16.7%. The vacA alleles s1, s2, m1 andm2 were detected in 20 [54.1%], 14 [37.8%], 9 [24.3%] and 23 [62.2%] isolates, respectively. VacA s1c genotype was detected in 70.3% of isolates. s1m2 was the most frequent vacA allelic combination in the examined H. pylori strains. ThecagA gene was detected in 62.2%, cagE in 40.5%, iceA1 in 48.6%, iceA2 in 16.2%, oipA in 81.1% [95% CI: 0.0902-0.1798] and babA2 in 94.6% [95% CI: 0.113- 0.207]. A significant correlation was observed between vacAs1 and cagA genotypes [P < 0.008], vacAs1/cagE [P = 0.001], vacAs2/cagA [P < 0.047], and vacAs2/cagE [P = 0.016] with Non-ulcer dyspepsia; but there were not observed any correlation between other virulence markers. No significant correlation was found between the existence of vacA, cagA, cagE, iceA, babA2, and oipA genes with peptic ulcer diseases and non-ulcer dyspepsia groups of studied patients

Seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis a virus infection in Iran: a population based study

In older studies, the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus infection has been reported to be over 95% in Iranians. Most of these studies were performed on volunteer blood donors. Studies on the general population are sparse. The purpose of this study was to determine the current seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus infection in the general population of Iran. During 2006, 1869 subjects between 18 and 65 years of age were randomly selected from the general population of three Iranian provinces [Tehran, Golestan, and Hormozgan]. Subjects were interviewed and a plasma sample was obtained for serologic testing for anti-hepatitis A virus. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors. The seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus in Tehran, Golestan and Hormozgan was 85%, 99%, and 96%, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus in the general population of the three provinces studied was 86% and did not differ between the two genders. The prevalence in younger subjects and in urban populations was under 70%. In multivariate analysis, older age, being married, and level of the father's education was associated with hepatitis A virus seropositivity. The seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus still appears to be too elevated for recommending routine vaccination in the general population. However, the trend towards a lower prevalence in younger age groups and people from urban areas points towards the possible benefit of vaccination in these subgroups