Association between Baltic sea diet and healthy Nordic diet index with risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a case-control study

Recent evidence shows the beneficial effects of Baltic Sea diet score (BSDS) and healthy Nordic diet index (HNDI) on chronic diseases, however, there is no evidence to investigate them on the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between BSDS and HNDI with the risk of NAFLD. In this case-control study, 552 people in good health and 340 people with NAFLD over the age of 18 took part. The evaluation of BSDS and HNDI employed a validated 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Binary logistic regression was used to determine how OBS and NAFLD are related. The mean BSDS and HNDI were 16.00 ± 2.49 and 11.99 ± 2.61, respectively. The final model's confounder adjustment revealed that greater HNDI adherence scores gave protection against the occurrence of NAFLD (odds ratio [OR]: 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18-0.98; P for trend = 0.043). In addition, those with the highest BSDS scores had significantly lower risks of developing NAFLD compared to subjects with the lowest scores (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.32-0.89; p for trend = 0.003). Our findings showed that following a healthy Nordic diet can significantly prevent the risk of developing NAFLD, and suggest that the highly nutritious components of the Nordic diet are beneficial for the prevention of NAFLD.

Relationship between long non-coding RNAs and Hippo signaling pathway in gastrointestinal cancers; molecular mechanisms and clinical significance

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a significant biological role in the regulation of various cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and migration. In various malignancies, lncRNAs interplay with some main cancer-associated signaling pathways, including the Hippo signaling pathway to regulate the various cellular processes. It has been revealed that the cross-talking between lncRNAs and Hippo signaling pathway involves in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers development and progression. Considering the clinical significance of these lncRNAs, they have also been introduced as potential biomarkers in diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic strategies in GI cancers. Herein, we review the mechanisms of lncRNA-mediated regulation of Hippo signaling pathway and focus on the corresponding molecular mechanisms and clinical significance of these non-coding RNAs in GI cancers.

Role of the VEGF in virus-associated cancers

The role of numerous risk factors, including consumption of alcohol, smoking, having diet high in fat and sugar and many other items, on caner progression cannot be denied. Viral diseases are one these factors, and they can initiate some signalling pathways causing cancer. For example, they can be effective on providing oxygen and nutrients by inducing VEGF expression. In this review article, we summarised the mechanisms of angiogenesis and VEGF expression in cancerous tissues which are infected with oncoviruses (Epstein-Barr virus, Human papillomavirus infection, Human T-lymphotropic virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, Hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus).

Investigation about the correlation between the severity of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and adherence to the Mediterranean diet

BACKGROUND

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is defined by fatty liver combined with a disturbed metabolic state. Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) contains anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-fibrotic components and is seemingly beneficial in the management of MAFLD. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between adherence to MedDiet and the severity of MAFLD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Totally 101 adult patients diagnosed with MAFLD were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Persian version of Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), demographics, clinical, laboratory, and FibroScan findings were collected. Correlation and regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The mean of participants' age was 49.37 ± 12.14 (51.48 % male subjects). Six patients (5 diabetic and 1 pre-diabetic) had advanced fibrosis. Overall, 48.5 % had good adherence to MedDiet [the least MEDAS-1 (15.8 %) and the highest MEDAS-13 (99 %)]. The adherence score was significantly higher in married, female, non-smoker, and diabetic subjects, and patients with hypertension. Adherence to MedDiet had insignificant correlations with hepatic fibrosis (P = 0.888), steatosis (P = 0.208), waist-to-height ratio (P = 0.853), and FIB-4 score (P = 0.919). Vitamin D level had just significant inverse associations with steatosis score (r = -0.21, P = 0.037) and no significant association was found with fibrosis score (r = -0.036, P = 0.717) and MedDiet adherence (r = 0.055, P = 0.581). According to the multiple regression analyses, less fruit intake, lower platelet count and DM had significant positive correlations with MAFLD severity (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Adherence to Mediterranean diet, particularly a higher fruit intake, is associated with a lower severity of MAFLD. Dietary modification based on taste, economic state, and culture should be deliberated in different geographic areas along with nutritional education.

Cystic duct entering to right hepatic duct; a case report with literature review

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Surgeons may mistakenly consider the right hepatic duct as cystic duct, ligate, and divide it.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 58-year-old woman presented with right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain, nausea, and RUQ tenderness, but negative Murphy's sign. Common bile duct was 10 mm based on abdominal ultrasound. Common hepatic duct and intrahepatic ducts consist of multiple common bile duct (CBD) stones with sludge and multiple small gallstones. Different diagnostic procedures (Computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)) showed the connection of the cystic duct to the right hepatic duct. Balloon sweeping for stones extraction and then laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successfully done.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Radiologic evaluations like MRCP, CT scan, ERCP or sonography before or during the surgery/endoscopic interventions seem logical at least for selected patients.

CONCLUSION

Before endoscopic/surgical interventions we need to be sure about the anatomy of biliary tree by a suitable para-clinic evaluation.

ASSOCIATION OF INTERLEUKIN-10 -1082 A/G (RS1800896) POLYMORPHISM WITH SUSCEPTIBILITY TO GASTRIC CANCER: META-ANALYSIS OF 6,101 CASES AND 8,557 CONTROLS

BACKGROUND

The promoter -1082 A/G (rs1800896) polymorphism of Interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene have been widely reported and considered to have a significant role on gastric cancer risk, but the results are inconsistent.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the association, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the associations IL-10 -1082 A/G polymorphism with gastric cancer.

METHODS

Eligible articles were identified by searching databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to August 03, 2017. Odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the association.

RESULTS

A total of 30 case-control studies with 6,101 cases and 8,557 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, a significant association between IL-10 -1082 A/G polymorphism and gastric cancer risk was observed under the allele model (G vs A: OR=1.305, 95% CI=1.076-1.584; P=0.007), heterozygote model and (GA vs AA: OR=1.252, 95% CI=1.252-1.054; P=0.011) and dominant model (GG+GA vs AA: OR=1.264, 95% CI=1.053-1.516; P=0.012). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, increased gastric cancer risk were found in Asians under the allele model (G vs A: OR=1.520, 95% CI=1.172-1.973; P=0.002), homozygote model (GG+GA vs AA: OR=1.571, 95% CI=1.023-2.414; P= 0.039), heterozygote model (GA vs AA: OR=1.465, 95% CI=1.192-1.801; P≤0.001) and dominant model (GG+GA vs AA: OR=1.448, 95% CI=1.152-1.821; P=0.002), but not among Caucasian and Latinos populations.

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that the IL-10 -1082 A/G (rs1800896) polymorphism might contribute to the gastric cancer susceptibility, especially among Asians.

Association between Polymorphisms of ERCC5 Gene and Susceptibility to Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background:

several epidemiological studies have suggested that polymorphisms of the Excision Repair Cross Complementing Group-5 (ERCC5) gene might be related to gastric cancer risk; however, the results have been inconsistent or controversial. Therefore, we have performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the association between the ERCC5 gene polymorphisms and gastric cancer risk.

Materials and Methods:

An electronic search was conducted of several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for articles that describe the association between polymorphisms of the ERCC5 gene and susceptibility of gastric cancer.

Results:

A total of 33 case control studies in 15 publications were included in the present meta-analysis. There were significant associations between gastric cancer susceptibility and ERCC5 gene rs751402 C>T (T vs. C: OR = 1.166, 95% C = 1.066-1.274, p= 0.001; TT vs. CC: OR = 0.723, 95% CI = 0.587-0.890, p = 0.002; TT+TC vs. CC: OR = 0.853, 95% CI = 0.757-0.961, p = 0.009; TT vs. TC+CC: OR = 0.793, 95% CI = 0.659-0.955, p = 0.015), rs2296147 T>C (C vs. T: OR = 1.268, 95% C = 1.049-1.532, p= 0.014), rs873601 G>A polymorphisms (A vs. G, OR = 1.087, 95% C = 1.021-1.159, p= 0.010; AA vs. GG, OR = 1.184, 95% CI = 1.043-1.343, p = 0.009, AA vs. AG+GG, OR = 1.156, 95% CI = 1.040-1.284, p = 0.007), but not rs2094258 C>T and rs1047768 T>C.

Conclusion:

the current meta-analysis demonstrates that rs751402 C>T, rs2296147 T>C, and rs873601 G>A polymorphisms of ERCC5 gene are associated with the susceptibility of gastric cancer.

Association between the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and risk of colorectal cancer: a meta analysis of 5,193 cases and 6,645 controls

BACKGROUND

Many studies have reported associations of the X-ray repair cross-complementing group 3 (XRCC3) Thr241Met polymorphism with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, but the results remained controversial. Hence, we performed the present meta-analysis with different inheritance models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched the PubMed and Google scholar databases for studies relating to associations between XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and risk of CRC. 16 studies with 5,193 cases and 6,645 controls were finally included into the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

We found that the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism was associated with increased CRC risk only under a dominant genetic model (CC+CT vs. TT: OR 0.575, 95%CI 0.498-1.665, p<0.001, Pheterogeneity=0.00, I2=83%). There was a significant association between XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and CRC risk in Caucasian in the overall 8 studies under only in the heterozygote genetic model (CT vs. TT: OR=0.929, 95%CI=0.806-1.070, P=0.308, Pheterogeneity=0.002, I2=57%). Four studies evaluated the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and CRC risk in Asians. Two genetic models of the XRCC3 polymorphism were significantly correlated with increasing risk in Asians (dominant model: CC+CT vs. TT: OR= 0.609, 95%CI=411-0.902, P=0.013, Pheterogeneity=0.54, I2=0.00%; Allele model: C vs. T: OR=0.708, 95 %=CI 0.605-0.829, p=0.000, Pheterogeneity=0.000, I2=92%). The sensitivity analysis suggested stability of this meta-analysis and no publication bias was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, this meta-analysis indicates that XRCC3 Thr241Met shows an increased CRC risk, particularly in Asians rather than Caucasians.

Identification of Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Genotypes and Variations in Chronic Carriers from Isfahan Province, Iran

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene and protein variations are frequently been seen in chronic patients. The aims of study were to determine the genotypes as well as the patterns of variations distribution in chronically-infected patients from the central part of Iran.

METHODS

The surface gene was amplified, sequenced and subsequently aligned using international and national Iranian database.

RESULTS

All strains belonged to genotype D, subgenotype D1 and subtype ayw2. Of all 62 mutations occurred at 39 nucleotide positions, 31 (50%) were missense (amino acid altering) and 31 (50%) were silent (no amino acid changing). At the amino acid level, 30 substitutions occurred, however, 3 were in positions 122 and 127, corresponded to subtypic determination. 22 (73%) out of 30 amino acid mutations occurred in different immune epitopes within surface protein, of which 12 (54.54%) in B cell epitopes in 10 residues; 5 (45.45%) in T helper epitopes in positions; 5 (22.73%) in inside CTL epitopes in 4 residues.

CONCLUSION

The distribution of amino acid mutations as well as the ratio between silent and missense nucleotide mutations showed a narrowly focused immune pressure had already been on the surface protein in these patients, led to the emergence of escape mutants in these patients.

Molecular analysis of MEN1 expression in MCF7, T47D and MDA-MB 468 breast cancer cell lines treated with adriamycin using RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry

BACKGROUND AND THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

MEN1 is an important tumor suppressor gene that encodes a nuclear protein called menin. Recent data suggest that interactions between menin and other proteins have important roles in control of the cell cycle and apoptosis. In addition, estrogen receptor (ER), an important prognostic factor is differentially expressed in breast cancer cells. In this study the MEN1 gene and protein expression in MCF7, T47D and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell lines with different ER status following exposure to adriamycin (ADR) was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cytotoxicity of ADR on these cell lines was determined using MTT assay. The mRNA and protein levels were analyzed in tested cell lines using RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry (ICC) assays, respectively.

RESULTS

ADR cytotoxicity was highest on MDA-MB-468 and lowest on MCF7 cells. MEN1 mRNA showed significant decrease after ADR exposure only in the MDA-MB-468 cell line. Menin protein expression was higher in MDA-MB-468 and lower in MCF7 cells.

CONCLUSION

Differential molecular responses to adriamycin were observed in cancer cell lines. Molecular data also suggest that MEN1 as a new biomarker can be used in combination with current biomarkers for prediction of response to chemotherapy.

Human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 replication can be increased in peripheral blood of seropositive patients after influenza vaccination

Despite considerable evidence that cell activation enhances human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) replication in vitro, there is very little data on the role of immune activation on in vivo HIV-1 replication. In this study, we examined the effect of influenza vaccination on HIV-1 replication in the peripheral blood of 20 study subjects, and in 14 control subjects who did not receive influenza vaccination. Blood was obtained from each subject on three occasions during the month before vaccination and again on three occasions during the following month. Over the study period, there was little change in levels of proviral DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). However, peak PBMC viral RNA levels after influenza vaccination were significantly increased over the mean of prevaccination values. This change was not observed to the same extent in unvaccinated controls. Therefore, this is the first report showing that HIV-1 replication can increase in temporal association with influenza vaccination. Our results suggest that continued immunologic (antigenic) stimulation may result in increased virus load in vivo. To address the appropriateness of influenza vaccination in HIV-infected patients, expanded studies will be required to examine specific and generalized immune responses to vaccination, and differences in patient response based on disease stage.

Kinetics of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcription in blood mononuclear phagocytes are slowed by limitations of nucleotide precursors

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of mononuclear phagocytes has been implicated in disease manifestations, but postentry viral replication events in these cells have not been well characterized. Productive infection of activated T cells is associated with cell proliferation and accumulation of full-length viral DNA within 6 h. In infected, nondividing quiescent peripheral blood lymphocytes, reverse transcription is aborted prior to full-length viral DNA formation. For nondividing, cultured mononuclear phagocytes, we now report a third pattern of reverse transcription with relatively slow kinetics, in which full-length viral DNA did not accumulate until 36 to 48 h. The reverse transcription rate in mononuclear phagocytes could be accelerated by addition of exogenous nucleotide precursors, but still not to the rate seen in activated T cells. These results indicate that substrate limitations in mononuclear phagocytes slow but do not arrest human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcription.