Arabinoxylan-starch-protein interactions in specially modified rye dough during a simulated fermentation process.

The purpose of the work was to determine which processes occur during fermentation of rye dough beside progressive hydrolysis of biopolymers and production of gases, and also to determine which compounds are most responsible for them. The study was conducted with a specially modified dough containing starch, arabinoxylan preparations (non-modified, hydrolysed and cross-linked) and protein obtained from rye wholemeal. Despite the same consistency of the dough samples, their viscosity and values of rheological parameters depended on the amount of arabinoxylan preparations and their molecular weight. Already at the stage of mixing the dough, high molecular complexes of arabinoxylan-protein and arabinoxylan-arabinoxylan were formed. Complex formation was confirmed in the modified dough preparation with rye starch including only arabinoxylan or rye protein as well as a combination of arabinoxylan and rye protein. The highest amount and molecular dimension of complexes were found in the sample composed of starch, cross-linked arabinoxylan and rye protein.

Epidemiology, risk factors and prognosis of Interferon alpha induced thyroid disorders. A Prospective Clinical Study.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide problem and hepatitis, which is its natural unfavourable course, is still a challenge for hepatologist. At present, standards of treatment are changing from combined therapy with interferon alpha (IFN-α) and ribavirin to new antiviral drugs. The current classification divides interferon induced thyroid diseases (IITD) into two groups: autoimmune (Hashimoto disease, Graves disease, positive antithyroid autoantibodies in euthyroid patients) and non-autoimmune (destructive thyroiditis, non-autoimmune hypothyroidism). A common complication of cytokine therapy is the induction of antithyroid autoantibodies de novo without thyroid dysfunction. During therapeutic regimens combined with ribavirin, destructive thyroiditis with typical biphasic course is more common than in IFN-α monotherapy. Clinically, overt pathologies often have discrete symptoms, which cause diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. AIMS: The aim of this study was to estimate IITD occurrence, to find risk factors for IITD development. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 66 patients treated for HCV infection. Before and during antiviral therapy, hormonal (TSH, fT4, fT3), immunological (thyroid autoantibodies), ultrasonographic and genetic (HLA-A2) parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: Hormonal disturbances were detected in 24.2% of patients; however, 43.9% of patients had positive thyroid autoantibodies (de novo) without hormonal imbalance. Multivariate analysis revealed the following: female sex, elevated TSH level, occurrence of anti-TPO autoantibodies (TPO-Ab), and increased blood velocity in thyroid arteries are risk factors for IITD development. IN CONCLUSION: Thyroid disorders are common during IFN-α therapy. Previous epidemiological data seem to be underestimated. Important risk factors for IITD development are: female sex, elevated serum TSH concentration (≥2.5 µU/mL), positive TPO-Ab and increased blood velocity in thyroid arteries.

Distribution of HCV genotypes in Poland.

UNLABELLED: Available data on prevalence of HCV genotypes in Poland are insufficient. The aim of the study was the analysis of distribution of HCV genotypes in Poland over the period of recent 10 years regarding the age of patients and the regions of the country. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analysis of HCV genotypes in Poland was carried out between 2003 and 2012, and included 14 651 patients from 22 centers where patients with chronic viral hepatitis C are diagnosed and treated. Genotypes were analyzed in age groups (< 20 years of age, 20-40 years of age, > 40 years of age) as well as in populations of HBV and HIV co-infections. RESULTS: Genotype (G) 1 infection was demonstrated in 79.4%, G2 -0.1%, G3- 13.8%, G4- 4.9%, G6-0.09% and mixed infections in 1.6%. There was no infection with genotype 5. The highest prevalence of G1 was observed in the Lódzkie voivodship (89.2%) and the Slaskie voivodship (86.7%) while the lowest one in the Warminsko-mazurskie (62.0%) and the Podlaskie voivodships (68.2%). Genotype 3 most commonly occurs in the Warminsko-mazurskie (28.1%), and the Podlaskie voivodships (23.0%) and is least common in the Malopolskie (7.9%) and the Lódzkie voivodships (9.0%). Genotype 4 is more common in the Kujawsko-pomorskie (11.7%) and the Podlaskie voivodships (8.6%) and relatively less common in the Lubelskie (1.1%) and the Lódzkie voivodships (1.8%). Prevalence of G1 infection in 2003-2004 was 72% and increased up to 85.6% in 2011-2012, that was accompanied by decrease of G3 prevalence from 17% to 8% in this period. In HBV co-infected (n = 83), G1 infection was demonstrated in 85.5%, G3 - in 7.2%, G4 -4.8%, and mixed genotypes in 6%. Among HIV co-infected (n = 391), a much lower prevalence of G1 (33.0%) and a high of G3 (40.4%) as well as G4 (24.0%) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: There is a geographic variability of HCV genotypes prevalence in Poland. Increase of HCV G1 infections and decrease of G3 and G4 were observed in the last 10 years. Genotypes G3 and G4 occur more often in HCV/HIV co-infected than in HCV mono-infected patients.

Autoimmune hepatitis in the material of Department and Regional Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Gdansk.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was the analysis of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), with respect to diagnostics, clinical course and treatment, based on the material from the wards of infectious diseases. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study was carried out in the group of 106 AIH patients--95 females aged 11-81 (mean age 46 years) and 11 males aged 8-73 (mean age 35 years). The diagnosis of AIH was based on international criteria, including biochemical test results, autoantibodies, and liver tissue morphology. Serological test excluded hepatitis of viral etiology. Diagnostic procedures included also blood cell count, biochemical parameters of liver function with protein fractions, immunoassays (immunoglobulins, autoantibodies), according to commonly used methods. Liver biopsies were performed in 93 patients. RESULTS: The clinical presentation mimicked acute viral hepatitis in 75% of cases, in the remaining 25% corresponded to chronic viral hepatitis. 26% had other coincident disorders of autoimmune etiology. In 84% the initial stage of the disease was characterized with moderately severe course, in 11%--severe, 7% of the patients died--half of them at the initial stage of the disease. The following morphological patterns of hepatic abnormalities were observed: hepatitis chronica agresiva, fibrosis periportalis, hepatitis chronica agresiva in cirrhosim vertens, cirrhosis hepatis activa, hepatitis chronica persistence, hepatitis granulomatosa. Over 40% of patients demonstrated relapses of the disease due to discontinuation of treatment after obtaining clinical and biochemical remission. 51 patients were treated with glucocorticosteroid monotherapy, the same number with glucocorticosteroids combined with azathioprine, 1 female patient underwent liver transplantation. In nearly 30% of patients, the diagnosis of AIH was established after a period of persistence of pathologic symptoms of over a year. CONCLUSIONS: Late diagnoses of AIH indicate insufficient knowledge of the disease among physicians. The methods of treatment used in AIH are not sufficiently effective. Discontinuation of treatment should be preceded in each case by overall assessment of the pathologic process, including biochemical parameters, autoantibody level and liver histopathology.