Association of rs5742612 Polymorphism in the Promoter Region of IGF1 Gene with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging global chronic liver disease encompassing a wide spectrum of disorders ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Considering the strong association between NAFLD and insulin resistance, and the vital role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in IR, we hypothesized that IGF1 gene polymorphism might be associated with NAFLD. METHODS: A total of 302 subjects, including 149 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 153 controls, were enrolled in this case-control study. All the subjects were genotyped for the rs5742612 polymorphism of the IGF1 gene using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: The distribution of IGF1 rs5742612 genotypes and alleles differed significantly between the cases with NAFLD and controls. The IGF1 rs5742612 CC genotype compared with the TT genotype or the TT+TC genotype occurred more frequently in the cases than the controls and the differences remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors such as age and body mass index (P = .011, OR = 2.71, 95%CI = 1.16-5.85; and P = .032, OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.10-5.24, respectively). CONCLUSION: For the first time, this study uncovered that the IGF1 rs5742612 CC genotype compared with the TT genotype or the TT+TC genotype had a 2.71-fold or 2.29-fold increased risk for NAFLD, respectively.

Evaluation of salivary beta-2 microglobulin as HBV proliferation marker in HBS Ag(+), HBV DNA PCR(+) and HBV DNA PCR(-) subjects.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of salivary B2M as a marker of viral proliferation in HBS Ag(+), HBV DNA PCR(+) and Hbs Ag(+) and HBV DNA PCR(-) subjects. BACKGROUND: Beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) is responsible for transmission of viral antigens such as Hepatitis B (HBV) on the surface of liver cells as part of an HLA complex. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this case control study, 25 PCR(+) and 2 PCR(-) patients were included. 5 mL of the saliva sample was obtained from all patients and salivary B2M level was measured using nephelometer. The data was evaluated by the descriptive, chi square and t tests. RESULTS: 72% of the PCR(+) patients received medications and in contrast, 85.7% of the patients with PCR(-) did not take any medication (P < 0.001). The average salivary concentration ofBeta-2 microglobulin in the PCR(+) group (5.28 ± 5.45 mg/deciliter) was more than PCR(-) group (1.51±0.77) and this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The salivary B2Mlevel can be used as a marker of viral proliferation in patients with hepatitis B.

Effect of addition of vitamin C to clarithromycin-amoxicillin-omeprazol triple regimen on Helicobacter pylori eradication.

BACKGROUND: The use of vitamin C as a supplement with the common regimen for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection is the subject of ongoing controversy. We conducted a prospective controlled study with the aim of testing whether the vitamin C supplement to the therapy includes lower dosage of clarithromycin could have an acceptable influence on Helicobacter pylori eradication in comparison with routine anti-Helicobacter pylori regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and fourteen consecutive patients with the verification of Helicobacter pylori infection via positive Rapid Urease Test (RUT) and histology results were included and divided into two therapy groups: 1) a group without vitamin C (n = 100) that were administered 20 mg omeprazol, 1 g amoxicillin, and 500 mg clarithromycin twice daily for 2 weeks and 2) a triple-plus-vitamin C group (n = 114) that was administered 20 mg omeprazol, 1 g amoxicillin, 250 mg clarithromycin plus 250 mg vitamin C twice daily for 2 weeks. Four weeks after the completion of therapy, each patient was scheduled for urea breath test to assess the success of Helicobacter pylori eradication. RESULTS: Similar eradication of Helicobacter pylori was found between the triple-only group with 500 mg of clarithromycin and the triple with 250 mg of clarithromycin-plus vitamin C group (89% versus 86.8%, P = 0.623). CONCLUSIONS: Adding vitamin C might reduce the needed dosage of clarithromycin for eradication of Helicobacter pylori.