Diagnosis and Comparison of Three Invasive Detection Methods for Helicobacter pylori Infection.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare different invasive methods for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) detection, namely PCR for H. pylori specific ureC gene, Rapid urease test (RUT), and histopathological examination by modified Giemsa staining. Methodology: Endoscopic gastroduodenal biopsy materials were collected from dyspeptic patients who underwent endoscopic examination upon fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Three to four samples were collected from each patient after taking informed consent and proper clinical history. A rapid urease test (RUT) was done on spot with in-house RUT media from 1 specimen. One to two specimens were preserved in 10% formaldehyde for histopathology and PCR for ureC gene was done from 1 specimen. Collected biopsy specimens from gastric and duodenal mucosa of 142 patients were categorized as H. pylori-positive cases and H. pylori-negative cases based on the case definition used in the study upon positivity of 3 diagnostic tests. Results: Among 142 biopsy specimens, 34.5% were categorized as H. pylori-positive cases, 35.2% as H. pylori-negative cases, and finally 30.2% as doubtful or indeterminate cases. Rapid urease test was the most sensitive method, closely followed by ureC gene PCR and histopathology, with a sensitivity of 94.2%, 83.0%, and 76.5%, respectively. Whereas histology was the most specific, having 98.0% specificity followed by 83.0% in PCR. RUT was the least specific, with 55.5% specificity. Conclusion: While histopathology could detect H. pylori infection with the highest specificity, for definitive diagnosis combination of any 2 methods should be used, if available.

Endoscopic and histopathological findings in adult dyspeptic patients, and their association with Helicobacter pylori infection in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Objectives: Conventional upper-intestinal endoscopy is usually performed to diagnose Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) associated diseases, using gastric mucosa from the biopsy. The objective of our study was to identify the prevalence of H. pylori and its relation with endoscopic findings and histopathological features in dyspeptic adult patients. Methods: Gastroduodenal biopsy specimens were collected from 143 adult dyspeptic outpatients who attended the Department of Gastroenterology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), for endoscopy. H. pylori was identified by rapid urease test (RUT), ureC gene PCR, and histological staining (Giemsa). Results: The study population was divided into H. pylori-positive cases (47; 32.9%) and H. pylori-negative cases (96; 67.1%), based on the case definitions used in the study. The highest rate of H. pylori infection was found in the 41-50 years age group (25.5%). Endoscopically, 101 (97.1%) dyspeptic patients had gastritis, with the majority of H. pylori infections found among histopathologically diagnosed duodenal ulcer patients. Endoscopic findings were significantly correlated with histological findings (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Significant correlations between endoscopic and histopathological findings were observed. Early detection and prompt treatment of H. pylori infection are essential for the prevention of serious complications.

Endometrial cytokine expression from clinically suspected genital tuberculosis patients at tertiary care hospitals in Dhaka.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression in endometrial tissue and/or aspirate from suspected genital tuberculosis patients with ectopic pregnancy and infertility in Bangladesh. METHODOLOGY: A total 78 women of clinically suspected genital tuberculosis patients were enrolled as study population. These patients underwent manual vaccum aspiration (MVA) procedure, and endometrial tissues and/or aspirates were collected. Ziehl -Neelsen staining (Z-N staining) and Lowen-Stein Jensen (L-J) culture were done to detect Mycobacterium. The study participants were categorized as genital tuberculosis positive cases, genital tuberculosis negative cases and presumptive for tuberculosis cases based on the case definition used in this study. TNF-α and IFN-γ were measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS (version-22). RESULTS: Out of 78 participants, pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α were significantly increased in TB positive patients than TB negative patients (p < 0.05). IFN-γ value of TB positive patients (41.26 ± 41.05) was higher than TB negative (22.94 ± 44.51) patients. TNF-α value (44.31 ± 64.22) of TB positive patients was higher than TB negative (15.86 ± 41.45) patients. IFN-γ and TNF-α value of presumptive for tuberculosis cases were not statistically significant. According to ROC analysis, cut off value for IFN-γ was 23.5 and for TNF-α was 10 with highest sensitivity and specificity of 66.7%, 89.3%, and 66.7% and 73.1% respectively. CONCLUSION: IFN-γ and TNF-α were significantly higher in TB positive patients and it may act as a potential biomarker for diagnosis of genital tuberculosis.

Kinases as targets in the treatment of solid tumors.

The protein kinase family, one of the largest gene families in eukaryotes, plays an important role in regulating various cellular processes such as cell proliferation, cell death, cell cycle progression, differentiation and cell survival. Therefore, it is not surprising that the deregulation of many kinases is usually directly linked to cancer development. In all solid tumors, changes in protein kinase expression levels and activities, as well as alterations in the degree of posttranslational modifications can contribute to cancer development. Consequently, the identification of molecular targets and signaling pathways specific to cancer cells is becoming more and more important for cancer drug development and cancer therapies. Inhibition of various protein kinases has already been investigated in many pre-clinical and clinical trials targeting all stages of signal transduction, demonstrating promising results in cancer therapy. Conventional chemotherapeutics are often ineffective as well as harmful; hence a combination of both chemotherapeutics and protein kinase inhibitors may result in new and more successful therapeutic approaches. In this review we focus on protein kinases involved in different signaling pathways and their alterations in solid tumors.

Study on ascitic fluid complement 3 level in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ascitic fluid Complement 3 (C3) concentration is the most important factor to offer local defense against infection of ascitic fluid. Hepatic synthesis of Complement 3 and its concentration in ascitic fluid is significantly reduced in patients with advanced cirrhosis. The aim of the study was to assess the level of Complement 3 in ascitic fluid in cirrhotic patients with and without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and to identify the group of cirrhotic ascites at risk of developing METHODOLOGY: A prospective case control study was carried out to compare the level of ascitic fluid Complement 3 concentration in patients with SBP (case-group) and without SBP (control-group). Ascitic fluid Complement 3 level was estimated in 15 patients with SBP (case) and another 15 patients without SBP (control). RESULTS: In the study, ascitic fluid Complement 3 concentration was 7.3+/-4.3 mg/dL in patients with SBP and 16.4+/-11.3 mg/dL in patients who did not develop SBP. CONCLUSIONS: Ascitic fluid Complement 3 level is significantly (P=0.009) reduced in cirrhotic patients who develop SBP.