TGF-B1 IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HBV INFECTION

The transforming growth factor-beta[1] is an important cytokine with anti-inflammatory properties may have a role in pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. The main purpose of this study was to compare the serum levels of TGF- beta[1] in a group of chronic HBV infected [CHB] patients as well as healthy individuals and to determine the correlation between the TOF- beta[1] and stages of fibrosis in CHB patients. A case control study using forty patients with CHB as well as forty healthy individuals. ELISA technique was applied to measure the serum level of TGF- beta[1] in both patient and control groups. We used the data of the liver biopsy of CHB patients to make a correlation between TGF- beta[1] and stages of fibrosis. Our results revealed that the serum levels of TGF- beta[1] -were significantly increased in CHB patients [1958.0 +/- 730.26pg/ml] in comparison to healthy controls [944.4 +/- 5 73.24 pg/ml] [P<0.0001]. Serum levels of TGF- beta[1] -was significantly increased in F2-F3 [2600.0 +/- 472.69pg/ml] in comparison to FO-F1[1483.5 +/- 478.54 pg/ml] [P < 0.0001]. The sludy concluded that high serum levels of TGF-fl may be a mechanism by which immune response against IIBV is suppressed. The serum level of TGF- beta[1] is a potential noninvasive marker for diagnosis of liver fibrosis in CHB patients

Quantitative comparison of infected schistotomiasis mansoni and haematobium: animal model analysis of the granuloma cell population

To evaluate the hypothesis that the granuloma cell population in S. haematobium is different from that of S. mansoni infections, a hamster animal model was established. Infection of hamesters was induced by abdominal skin exposure of male golden hamsters with 300 cercariae. S. haematobium granuloma cell population in the small intestine, urinary bladder, liver and spleen and those of S. mansoni granuloma in the small intestine and liver of infected hamsters were histologically examined between 6 and 12 weeks post-exposure. In both species, the granuloma cell population was fomed of lymphocytes [47%], histiocytes [28%], eosinophils [16%] and polymorphs [8%]. As compared to granuloma cell population in S. haematobium; S. mansoni granulomas had: [a] higher population of eosinophils [28% vs. 11%], [b] lower population of polymorphs [4% vs. 10%] and histiocytes [22% vs. 31%] and [c] similar population of lymphocytes [46% vs. 47%].The mean diameter of liver granuloma was higher in S. mansoni [175.8 +/- 12.34] than for S. haematobium [125.4 +/- 16.12]. As compared to S. haematobium, the numbers of isolated male, female and total worms were significantly higher in S. mansoni [24.5 +/- 2.7 vs. 7.3 +/- 2.3; 6.3 +/- 0.8 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.5; 80 +/- 2.2 vs. 56.3 +/- 3.8, p < 0.05]. The heterogeneity of cell population in granuloma suggests the involvement of different immune mechanisms in their development. The cells achieving numerical dominance in the granulomas were in the following order: lymphoyctes > monocytes > eosinophils > polymorphs. The difference in the granuloma cell population between S. haematobium and S. mansoni may reflect different tissue reactions to the deposited ova

Immunohistochemical study, in situ hybridization and computerized image analysis of colorectal epithelial progression from adenoma to carcinoma

This work aimed to study formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues from 60 cases of adenomas and 100 cases of carcinomas from patients who underwent surgery for the removal of colorectal adenoma and/or carcinoma in the VAPHS [Veterans Administration of Pittsburgh Healthcare System] and UPMC [University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre]. These cases included 28 adenomas with a definite evidence of progression to carcinoma. Proliferation and apoptosis in normal colonic mucosa, adenomas and carcinomas were determined and related to the expression of cell cycle and apoptosis associated proteins [Ki-67, bcl-2, bax and p53] using streptavidin biotin, in situ hybridization and computerized image analysis techniques. Bcl-2 expression reached its highest level in adenomas, followed by carcinomas, which displayed a higher level than adjacent normal mucosa in the same specimen. There was a progressive increase in bax, p53, Ki-67 and ApopTag labeling indices along normal-adenoma-carcinoma sequence. It was found that bax LI was significantly higher in large adenomas and p53 LI and Ki67 LI were significantly lower in tubular adenomas