RESUMO
BACKGROUND: It is not yet known which types of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are most effective in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) recognition. It is also not known which gastric zones have the most prominent roles in TLR-mediated bacterial recognition. The aim of this work was to analyze the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in biopsy specimens from H. pylori-infected patients. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with gastrointestinal disorders were divided into four groups in this study. The groups were: (A) H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer (n=15), (B) peptic ulcer only (n=5), (C) H. pylori infection only (n=10) and (D) control, with neither H. pylori infection nor peptic ulcer (n=8). Biopsy specimens from sites of redness or atrophic mucosa from gastric antrum and body in patients with gastritis were collected. RNAs from the antrum and body specimens were isolated. TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression was assessed by RT-PCR and quantified as densitometric ratios of TLR2 and TLR4/ß-actin mRNA. RESULTS: In the antral zones of H. pylori-infected patients (Groups A and C) TLR2 and TLR4 expression was significantly greater than in uninfected patients (Groups B and D) regardless of peptic ulcers (p < 0.05). In the gastric body samples TLR2 expression was significantly greater in Group C (H. pylori infection only) than in Group B (peptic ulcer only) and TLR4 expression was significantly greater in group A (H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer) than in Group B (peptic ulcer only) (p < 0.05). No significant differences in expression of TLR4 and TLR2 were observed between samples from the antrum and body in same groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that H. pylori infection leads to significant increase in TLR2 and TLR4 molecules expression in antral region related to the control group. Considering the stimulatory effect of H. pylori on TLRs expression in the gastric tissue, we assume that colonization of H. pylori infection might occurs more in the gastric antral region than in the gastric body.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Anthracosis of the lung is the blackening of bronchial tissues which can lead to chronic bronchial obstruction. Many studies have shown association of bronchial anthracosis and tuberculosis. The aim of this study was accumulation of scattered studies and getting the definite conclusion about the association between anthracosis and tuberculosis. MATHERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic search that included studies with sufficient information about the frequency of tuberculosis in anthracosis (anthracofibrosis) patients and non-anthracotic control group. Moreover, tuberculosis should be confirmed by microbiologic (smear or culture) or histopathological methods. RESULTS: Twelve studies (eight studies on anthracofibrosis and four studies on anthracosis as a general term) comprising of 6280 patients was entered into our meta-analysis. The frequency of tuberculosis in all anthracosis patients was 22.5 % (32.3 % for anthracofibrosis and 16.6 % for anthracosis), which was significantly higher than the control group. Determination of risk showed that the cumulated odds ratio of tuberculosis in all studies of anthracosis was 3.16 (95 % CI = 2.49 - 6.85), which revealed significantly higher risk than the control group. The analysis of the subgroups showed that the cumulated odds ratio of tuberculosis in subgroups of anthracofibrosis (3.28; 95 % CI = 2.16 - 9.12) was significantly higher than anthracosis as a general term (2.85; 95 % CI = 1.73 - 6.61). DISCUSSION: The association of tuberculosis with all types of anthracosis of the lung was confirmed and a proper mechanism should be defined.
