RESUMO
Background Iron is essential for oxygen transport and energy production, but it is potentially toxic through generation of oxidative stress. Patients with chronic hepatitis C [CHC] infection frequently have serum and hepatic iron overload, which is a cofactor for disease progression. Human hepcidin, a 25-amino acid peptide produced by hepatocytes, is considered a new mediator of innate immunity and master iron-regulatory hormone.Aim To determine clinical relevance of hepcidin in patients with CHC infection and whether it correlates with markers of hepatic inflammation and iron status in those patients
Patients and methods This study included 80 [54 patients and 26 controls] individual who were matched in age and sex. Serum hepcidin levels and serum iron status were determined. Their levels were correlated with each other and with other laboratory parameters
Results Mean serum hepcidin levels were significantly lower in patients with CHC than in controls [P=0.001]. Patients with CHC had significantly higher mean values of serum iron and ferritin than controls [P=0.001 and 0.017, respectively]. There was a significant negative correlation between hepcidin levels and alanine aminotransferase, [r=-0.454, P<0.001], aspartate aminotransferase [r=-0.440; P=0.001], and serum iron [r=-0.453, P=0.001], whereas hepcidin levels correlated positively with ferritin [r=0.105, P=0.017], platelets count [r=0.245, P=0.028], and hepatitis C virus RNA level [r=0.308, P=0.023]
Conclusion Adequate levels of hepcidin may improve severity of liver disease and may contribute to management of patients with CHC
RESUMO
Abstract Introduction Mechanical trauma to the nasal mucosa increases the risk of synechia formation, especially after chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal surgeries. Objective This study was carried to assess the effect of propolis administration in healing injured nasal mucosa in rats. Methods We randomly divided eighteen rats into three equal experimental groups: (1) non-treated group; (2) gum tragacanth (suspending agent for propolis) treated group; and (3) propolis treated group. The non-treated group received no treatment for 15 days. The second group received gum tragacanth administration (5 ml/kg, orally) once daily for 15 days. The third group received propolis suspension orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg once daily for 15 days. At the beginning of this study, we induced unilateral mechanical nasal trauma on the right nasal mucosa of all rats in the three groups using a brushing technique. A pathologist stained tissue samples using hematoxylin and examined eosin by using a light microscope. Results The severity of inflammation wasmilder with the absence of ulcerations in the propolis treated group compared with the non-treated and gum tragacanth groups. Goblet cell and ciliated cell loss was substantially lower in patients treated with propolis compared with groups without treatment and those treated with gum tragacanth. Conclusion Propolis decreased inflammation and enhanced healing of wounds of the nasal mucosa in rats.