Specific polymorphisms in the vitamin D metabolism pathway are not associated with susceptibility to Chlamydia trachomatis infection in humans.

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted bacterium worldwide. Its often asymptomatic course of infection increases chances of transmission, and increases risk of late complications. Genetic variations in the host immune system are known to impact the course of infections. Recent studies have shown a positive impact of vitamin D on the regulation of the immune system. This study assesses the impact of eight polymorphisms in five genes [VDR (rs1544410 G > A, rs2228570 C > T), CYP27B1 (rs10877012 G > T), DHCR7 (rs7944926 G > A, rs3829251 G > A), GC (rs3755967) and CYP2R1 (rs10741657 G > A, rs2060793 G > A)] on susceptibility to Chlamydia infections in humans. These polymorphisms could influence protein expression or function, and thus influence the immune system. Samples of women visiting the STD outpatient clinic in South Limburg were genotyped using the Roche Lightcycler 480. In this study, we did not observe statistically significant differences between the genotype distributions of these polymorphisms in women with or without a Chlamydia infection. This suggests that VDR, CYP27B1, DHCR7, GC and CYP2R1 do not affect the susceptibility to Chlamydia infections. However, due to its pleiotropic nature in the immune system a role for the vitamin D pathway may not be excluded from the whole clinical course of Chlamydia infections (e.g. late complications), and further research is required.

Serovar D and E of serogroup B induce highest serological responses in urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infections.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. A strong link between C. trachomatis serogroup/serovar and serological response has been suggested in a previous preliminary study. The aim of the current study was to confirm and strengthen those findings about serological IgG responses in relation to C. trachomatis serogroups and serovars. METHODS: The study population (n = 718) consisted of two patient groups with similar characteristics of Dutch STI clinic visitors. We performed genotyping of serovars and used titre based and quantitative commercially available ELISA kits (medac Diagnostika) to determine specific serum IgG levels. Optical density (OD) values generated by both tests were used to calculate the IgG titres (cut-off 1:50). Analyses were conducted stratified by gender. RESULTS: We observed very significant differences when comparing the median IgG titres of three serogroups, B, C and I: in women for B vs. C: p < 0.0001 (median titres B 200 vs. C <50); B vs. I: p < 0.0001 (200 vs. 50), and in men for B vs. C: p = 0.0006 (150 vs. <50); B vs. I: p = 0.0001 (150 vs. <50); C vs. I was not significant for both sexes. Serovars D and E of serogroup B had the highest median IgG titres compared to the other serovars in both men and women: 200 and 200 vs. ≤ 100 for women and 100 and 200 vs. ≤ 75 for men, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that B group serovars induce higher serological responses compared to the C and I group serovars in vivo in both men and women.

Focal nodular hyperplasia: findings at state-of-the-art MR imaging, US, CT, and pathologic analysis.

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is the second most common benign liver tumor after hemangioma. FNH is classified into two types: classic (80% of cases) and nonclassic (20%). Distinction between FNH and other hypervascular liver lesions such as hepatocellular adenoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and hypervascular metastases is critical to ensure proper treatment. An asymptomatic patient with FNH does not require biopsy or surgery. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has higher sensitivity and specificity for FNH than does ultrasonography or computed tomography. Typically, FNH is iso- or hypointense on T1-weighted images, is slightly hyper- or isointense on T2-weighted images, and has a hyperintense central scar on T2-weighted images. FNH demonstrates intense homogeneous enhancement during the arterial phase of gadolinium-enhanced imaging and enhancement of the central scar during later phases. Familiarity with the proper MR imaging technique and the spectrum of MR imaging findings is essential for correct diagnosis of FNH.