role of hepatocyte growth factor in the differentiation of dendritic cells from peripheral blood monocytes

To find out the effects of hepatocyte growth factor [HGF] in the development of dendritic cells [DC] from the peripheral monocytes. The study was carried out in Black Sea Technical University Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey between 2003-2004. Seven different cytokine combinations were employed to assess phenotypical and functional differences of DCs from the peripheral monocytes in serum free culture media. Peripheral monocytes were incubated in media with cytokines for 5 days. The tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] was added to the cell culture on day 5 and incubated for another 2 days. Surface and co-stimulating molecules on the cells were assessed by flowcytometry. The functional capacity of the DCs was evaluated on day 7 by purified protein derivative loading and subsequent lymphoproliferation test using methyl tetrazolium staining. On the 5th day of incubation DC development was observed in all cytokine groups, but cells were superior in cultures maintained in the presence of interleukin-4 combinations with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor [GM-CSF] or with GM-CSF+HGF. Moreover, the expression of surface and co-stimulating molecules increased significantly after incubation with TNF-alpha. The effect of PPD loaded-DCs on proliferation of lymphocytes was more striking in HGF containing groups. It was concluded that HGF supplemented cultures exert some additive effects in relation to function of monocyte-derived DCs. But HGF alone does not seem to augment monocyte-derived DC proliferation and maturation significantly

Evaluation of a new rapid lateral flow chromatography test for the diagnosis of helicobacter pylori

The rapid, simple and non-invasive diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] infection is important in implementing chemotherapy in appropriate manner, and in assessing persistent H. pylori infection after eradication therapy. The ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA kit [Meridian Bioscience, Europe] is a lateral flow chromatography test which utilizes a monoclonal anti-H. pylori antibody. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of the ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA test before and after eradication therapy on patients referred to undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Sixty-five consecutive patients who were referred to undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at the Department of Gastroenterology, Karadeniz Technical University Medical School, Turkey between February and August 2005 were included in this study. The ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA was compared with 4 invasive tests [histology, gram staining, rapid urease test, and culture]. The reference method was defined as positive when 2 of the 4 invasive tests were positive. A negative H. pylori status was considered when all 4 tests present concordant negative results. Overall, the ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA test had 77.8% sensitivity, 79.3% specificity, 82.4% positive predictive value [PPV] and 74.2% negative predictive value [NPV] in all patients. With regard to pre-treatment values, the sensitivity was 70.6%, specificity 70.6%, PPV 100% and NPV 100% while on post-treatment group the sensitivity was 84.2%, specificity 64.7%, PPV 72.7% and NPV 78.6%. Our results indicate that the ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA test is a rapid, simple, and helpful procedure not only to determine H. pylori infection but also to assess the success of eradication therapy