Demonstration of perycriptal fibroblasts in inflammatory-regenerative and dysplastic epithelial lesions of the flat colonic mucosa.

The aim of the paper is the definition of perycriptal fibroblasts (PCFs) distribution in inflammatory-regenerative and dysplastic epithelial lesions of flat bowel mucosa. The relationship between the presentation of PCFs and the grade of inflammatory-regenerative and dysplastic process in the flat colon mucosa is also examined. Biopsy specimens from 270 patients were examined: 74 were classified as inflammatory-regenerative and 196 as dysplastic lesions (108 mild, 58 moderate, and 30 severe dysplasia). The demonstration of PCFs in biopsy specimens was performed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody for alpha smooth muscle actin, muscle-specific actin (HHF-35), vimentin and desmin, in comparison with normal mucosa and adenocarcinoma. The PCFs were reduced in inflammatory-regenerative and dysplastic mucosa. The reduction was significantly related with the grade of epithelial dysplasia. The carcinomas tended to lack PCF network. During inflammatory-regenerative and dysplastic process in flat bowel mucosa, PCFs express alpha smooth muscle actin, muscle specific actin, vimentin and desmin, showing the phenotypical growing expression of potentially present smooth muscle differentation features of fibroblasts. These findings suggest that the reduction of PCFs in dysplastic epithelial lesions may relate to the development of dysplasia in flat bowel mucosa. Reduced number of PCFs in dysplastic mucosa may be a marker for the risk of preneoplastic and neoplastic progression in bowel mucosa.

[Reduced quality of life in liver cirrhosis]. / Redukcija stupnja kvaliteta zivota u cirozi jetre.

BACKGROUND: Greater interest for quality of life in chronic diseases has been given recently. Method for examination is application of SF-36 form. In this study we followed changes in quality of life for patients with liver cirrhosis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 45 patients suffered from liver cirrhosis, 15 in class A, 15 in class B and 15 in class C according to Child, completed answers in form SF-36. 45 healthy control volunteers completed the same form. Results of score were compared to control group and to each other. RESULTS: Significantly reduced quality of life in physical functioning and role physical were in class Child A compared to control group. In class Child B significant decrease in score for physical functioning, general health perception and energy and vitality compared to Child A. In Child C 6 of 8 scores were significantly decreased compared to class Child B. Ascites decreased significantly score for quality of life in Class Child B and in class Child C portal encephalopathy decreased quality of life too. CONCLUSION: Health related quality of life was reduced in liver cirrhosis. Quality of life was reduced more in disease with more complications.

[Effect of pantoprazole, amoxicillin and metronidazole treatment on the level of H. pylori eradication and the histological image of antral gastritis in patients with duodenal ulcer]. / Ucinak tretmana pantoprazolom, amoksicilinom i metronidazolom na stupanj eradikacije H. pylori i histolosku sliku antralnog gastritisa kod pacijenata sa duodenalnim ulkusom.

BACKGROUND: Relationships between Helicobacter pylori infection, inflammatory changes in antral region of gastric mucosa, and duodenal ulcer is well known and documented in a large number of studies. This trial is designed to examine effect of one week regimen of Pantoprazole, Amoxycillinum and Metronidazol to eradication of H. pylori, duodenal ulcer healing and histological changes on gastric mucosa. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 30 patients with active duodenal ulcer, H. pylori-positive, 16 male, with average age 47.12 +/- 13.13 yrs (AVG +/- STD) and 14 female patients with average age 44.47 +/- 12.29 yrs were included in trial. Biopsy of gastric antral region were performed in each patient. Patients were given Pantoprazole 40 mg bid, Amoxycillinum 1000 mg bid, Metronidazolum 500 mg bid for 7 days. After 7 days of treatment, control endoscopy was performed with repeated rapid ureasa test for H. pylori and antral biopsy and with verification of duodenal ulcer healing. Patients were followed up for 24.3 +/- 9.7 weeks for occasion of subjective symptoms. RESULTS: 96.67% patients were presented with eradicated H. pylori, complete ulcer healing was found in 83.34% patients after one week regimen (13.33% patients with ulcer reduced on one third of previous described), 73.33% of patients were presented with histologically feature of chronic gastritis turned from active to stationary phase. CONCLUSION: One week regiment with Pantoprazole, Amoxycilline and Metronidazole is effective, and beside a high rate ulcer healing and eradication of H. pylori it provides an improvement of histological feature of antral gastritis.

[Relation of laboratory parameters to complications of liver cirrhosis]. / Relacije laboratorijskih parametara u cirozi jetre sa komplikacijama.

Liver cirrhosis is characterized with alterations in hepatocytic perfusion, decreasing in number of hepatocytes and with seriously impared synthetic function of liver (hypoalbuminemy, inversion of albumino-globulinic ratio, hypoprothrombinemia). In a group of patients, suffered of liver cirrhosis with complication, we attempted to establish relationships between some of the typical clinical values: body weight in function of ascites evacuation, protein, albumin and value of prothrombin time in function of different groups of activity of aminotransferase in sera (AspAT, AlaAT) of improved and dead patients. We found a positive correlation for different groups of aminotransferase activities and laboratory values typical for liver cirrhosis with complications.