[High levels of sterigmatocystin in patients with chronic liver diseases]. / Detectarea sterigmatocistinei la pacientii cu boala ii hepatica cronica.

UNLABELLED: Sterigmatocystin (STC) is a wide spread mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus fungi, with hepatotoxic and carcinogenetic proprieties. OBJECTIVES: To determine the STC concentration in blood and urine from patient with liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with correlation with liver function parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 166 patients divided in three groups: control--55 patients (27M, 28F); LC--58 patients (31M, 27F); HCC--53 patients (26M, 27F). 20 ml of blood and 50 ml of urine were collected from each patient and liver enzymes and alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) were measured. STC was determined by high performance liquid chromatography, with concomitant detection in ultraviolet and fluorescence. RESULTS: STC was detected in 26.2% of samples, more frequently in LC and HCC groups (p < 0.001). STC mean values were 0.014 ng/ml and 0.005 ng/ml in blood, respective urine of controls, rising to 0.626 ng/ml (p = 0.003) respective 1.053 ng/ml (p = 0.049) in LC and 2.02 ng/ml in blood (p < 0.0001) and 9.39 ng/ml in urine (p = 0.003) in patients with HCC. There is a perfect correlation between serum and urinary levels of STC in controls (r = 1), that become weak in patients with LC (r = 0.48) and insignificant in HCC (r = 0.15). AFP values were significantly correlated with STC concentration in patient with HCC, in both blood (r = 0.31) and urine (r = 0.84). CONCLUSIONS: STC values in patients with LC and HCC were significantly higher compared to controls. Strong positive correlation of STC with AFP in patients with liver cancer suggested a possible role of this mycotoxin in pathogenesis of the disease.

[Prevalence of delayed gastric emptying of solids in functional dyspepsia and its relationship to symptoms]. / Evaluarea prevalentei evacuarii gastrice intârziate a solidelor la pacientii cu dispepsie functionala si corelatia sa cu simptomatologia.

UNLABELLED: The relationship between functional dyspepsia and delayed gastric emptying of solids is still unclear. This study evaluated the prevalence of delayed gastric emptying of solids in functional dyspepsia patients and its relationship to dyspeptic symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 142 patients with functional dyspepsia were prospectively assessed, the solid gastric emptying was measured using 13C-acid octanoic breath test and the severity of six dyspeptic symptoms (postprandial fullness, early satiety, bloating, abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting) was scored. RESULTS: Gastric emptying of solids was delayed in 45 (31.7%) dyspeptic patients. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence and severity of nausea and vomiting were associated with delayed solid gastric emptying (p < 0.05). Female gender was also associated with the risk of delayed gastric emptying (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A subset of functional dyspepsia patients has delayed gastric emptying of solids. Female sex, the presence and severity of nausea and vomiting are independently associated with delayed gastric emptying of solids in these patients.

[Aflatoxin contamination of food: additional risk factor for chronic liver diseases]. / Contaminarea cu aflatoxine a alimentelor--factor suplimentar de risc pentru patologia hepatica cronica.

UNLABELLED: Aflatoxins are over all spread toxic metabolites of fungi, able to induce chronic liver damages. AIM: To establish the correlation between the degree of liver disease and risk of chronic intake of aflatoxin contaminated foods. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 123 patients divided in three groups (controls, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis) completed a food frequency questionaire (FFQ) estimating the intake risk of foods with a high potential of contamination with aflatoxins and alcohol consumption. RESULTS: Frequent intake of high risk foodstuff was declared by 37% of the participants, without any differences between the three groups. Foods with a very high risk of contamination were more frequently consumed in rural areas (predominant maize and oily seeds), while in the urban areas spices and coffee prevailed. In countryside, the feeding risk decreased with the gravity of liver disease, but alcohol consumption was significantly greater. CONCLUSION: FFQ revealed a high risk of ingestion of aflatoxin contaminated foodstuff in general population, greater in rural areas. The risk of aflatoxin intake seems unreleated with the gravity of chronic liver disease.

[High blood and urine concentration of hepatotoxic mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, sterigmatocystin) in patients with liver cirrhosis]. / Detectarea micotoxinelor hepatotoxice la pacienti cu ciroza Hepatica.

UNLABELLED: Aflatoxins and sterigmatocystin are potent carcinogens, certainly involved in pathogenesis of liver cancer. AIM: To evaluate the risk of mycotoxin intake and to determine the presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and sterigmatocystin (STC) in patients with liver cirrhosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study included 92 patients (33 controls, 59 liver cirrhosis) that completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Blood and urine samples were collected and mycotoxins determined by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: 18.18% samples in controls and 72.88% in cirrhosis group presented detectable levels of mycotoxins. The mean values of AFB1 in blood were 0.7 ng/mL in controls and 1.67 ng/mL in test group (p = 0.11); STC presented 60 times higher levels in second group (p < 0.01). AFB1 presented a mean level of 1.2 ng/mL in urine of test group (not detected in controls); STC presented 256 time higher concentration in urine of cirrhotic patients, with a perfect correlation between blood and urine levels in control (r=1) and no correlation in test group (r = 0.05). There were no correlations between mycotoxin, liver enzymes, alpha-fetoprotein and mycotoxin intake risk estimated by FFQ. CONCLUSION: Most of the patients presented detectable levels of mycotoxins, significantly increased in cases with liver cirrhosis, probable due to a specific metabolic pattern.