Is diffusion weighted imaging adding value in diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions? Experience in 50 patients

Diffusion weighted imaging [DWI] offers molecular information that complements the morphologic information obtained with conventional magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and can reflect the functions and structures of the body without trauma. To assess the role of DWI as a routine sequence in a MRI study to help in differentiating liver lesions. The study included 50 patients referred to do a MRI study to diagnose and/or to confirm the ultrasonographic or CT findings of focal hepatic lesions. The examination was done on 1.5T superconducting magnet MRI machines; Philips Gyroscan Intera version 12.1.1.2 [Best, The Netherlands] and Siemens Magnetom Avanto [Erlangen, Germany] machine. All studied patients had a focal hepatic lesion either on top of cirrhotic liver or non cirrhotic liver. DWI was found to be helpful with the routine MRI sequences to reach the diagnosis. The final diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination or follow up. A cutoff value of ADC for benign lesions was found to be 1.25 x 10[-3] mm[2]/s. DWI should be included as a basic sequence in the routine MRI study of the liver as it helps in diagnosis and so reaching a final diagnosis or at least trying to narrow the list of differential diagnosis

Potential preventive and therapeutic effects of glutathione supplementation in experimental colitis

The aim of this study was to assess the potential preventive and therapeutic effects of glurathione [GSH] on inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] and to evaluate the use of fecal calprotectin [FC] and fecal lactoferrjn [Lf] as a non-invasive diagnostic marker of IBD. Forty albino rats were divided into four groups; group I: control group; group II: acetic acid induced colitis group, group III: after colitis induction, rats were treated with glutathione for one week [50 mg/kg, i.p.] and group IV: before the induction of colitis, rats were given a preventive dose of glutathione [200 mg/kg, i.p]. At the end of experimental period, rats were sacrificed, fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin were assessed in the different groups, the level of antioxidants in the intestine was evaluated and the severity of inflammation was histopathologically scored. Intestinal glutathione level was decreased significantly after colitis induction, however, it was significantly high in the prevention group. There was significant reduction in the antioxidant enzymes after colitis induction. However, glutathione prevention was associated with higher antioxidant enzymes compared to treatment. Various histopathological changes as inflammation, ulceration and dysplasia were detected after colitis induction and in rats treated with glutathione, however, rats supplemented with glutathione as prevention showed no ulceration and mild inflammation. In addition, colitis induction was associated with significant increase in the colonic level of FC and Lf which was significantly reduced with glutathione prevention. Glutathione prevention appeared to be beneficial for the acute stage of IBD than glurathione treatment. Moreover, intestinal antioxidant enzymes were correlated negatively with FC level. FC and Lf can be used as non-invasive and simple marker for diagnosis of IBD

Fecal calprotectin, novel index for assessing the pathophysiological mechanisms of inflammatory bowel disease in rats treated by glutathione

In this study, the role of fecal calprotectin [FC] as a recent non-invasive diagnostic aid of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] was evaluated and the effect of glutathione as a preventive and therapeutic factor in acetic acid induced colitis has been studied. Forty albino rats were divided into four groups; group I: acetic acid induced colitis group. Group II: before the induction of colitis, rats were given a preventive dose of glutathione [200 mg/kg, i.p]. Group III: after colitis induction rats were treated with glutathione for one week [50 mg/kg,i.p.]. Group IV: control group. At the end of experimental period, rats were sacrificed and fecal caiprotectin was assessed in the different groups, the level of antioxidant system in the intestine was evaluated and the severity of inflammation was histopathologically scored. Colitis induction was associated with significant increase in the colonic level of FC, which was significantly reduced with glutathione prevention. Glutathione level was decreased significantly in the intestine after colitis induction, however, it was significantly high in the prevention 'group. There was significant reduction in the antioxidant enzyme system after colitis induction. However, glutathione prevention was associated with higher antioxidant enzymes compared to treatment. Various histopathological changes as inflammation, ulceration and dysplasia were detected after colitis induction, group III, however, showed no ulceration and mild inflammation. Fecal caiprotectin can be used as a non-invasive and early marker for IBD. Glutathione prevention appeared to be beneficial for the acute stage of IBD than glutathione treatment. Moreover, intestinal antioxidant enzymes were correlated negatively with FC level