RESUMO
BACKGROUND Cholecystitis is a common surgical condition. Recently, several authors have reported that DNA of bile tolerant Helicobacter spp. has been found in the human bile colonizing the biliary tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the presence of Helicobacter spp. and gallstone cholecystitis. METHODS In this case-control study, gallstones, bile, and gallbladder mucosa were collected from 25 patients without gallstone disease, 24 with acute cholecystitis, and 28 with chronic cholecystitis. The presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), Helicobacter bilis (H. bilis), Helicobacter hepaticus (H. hepaticus) , and Helicobacter pullorum (H. pullorum) were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using species-specific primers. RESULTS In this study, 77 subjects with acute and chronic cholecystitis and control groups with a mean age of 46.85 ± 14.53 years, including 58 (67.25%) women and 19 (32.75%) men were included. DNA of 10 Helicobacter spp. was detected in the bile of the patients with cholecystitis including eight H. pylori and two H. bilis. However, we could not detect H. hepaticus and H. pullorum DNA in the samples. Moreover, there was an association between H. pylori and acute cholecystitis (p = 0.048), which was found to be stronger in 31-40-year-olds group (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION We found an association between the presence of H. pylori DNA and acute gallstone cholecystitis. There is not statistically significant correlation between three enterohepatic Helicobacter spp. ( H. bilis, H. hepaticus , and H. pullorum) and cholelithiasis. Given the low sample size of the patients, more studies are required to clear the clinical role of Helicobacter spp. in the gallstone disease and cholecystitis.
RESUMO
Cysticercus tenuicollis, the metacestode stage of Taenia hydatigena are responsible for a high degree of morbidity and mortality in livestocks. This study was performed in order to investigate the variations of blood parameters (hematological and biochemical) and pathological changes in 50 sheep infected with C. tenuicollis in comparison with 50 non-infected control group. The blood samples were taken from the sheep that were slaughtered in the Kerman slaughterhouse. Blood and sera samples were analyzed for hematology and biochemical parameters and infected livers, were transported to the pathology laboratory for further examinations. According to the analyses performed on the animals blood, a significant increase was detected in number of white blood cells, activities of AST, ALT and levels of total bilirubin in animals with cysticercosis (p < 0.05). Also in infected animals, a significant reduction was observed in number of red blood cells, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit values (p < 0.05). In histopathological examination, hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis, fibrosis, mucus gland and biliary hyperplasia, mild lymphocytic hepatitis, granuloma and telangiectasis were observed. It seems that the increased and reduction of significant blood parameters, may be due to liver failure and pathological changes following larval migration and stimulating of immune responses.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in women with recurrent miscarriage have been reported. The presence of moderate to high titers of these antibodies represents an autoimmune condition that can endanger the health of the fetus in pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of ANAs in Iranian women with a history of two or more unexplained abortion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 560 women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage and 560 healthy controls accounted for this study over a period of 13 months. ANAs were detected by indirect immunofluorescence technique. RESULTS: ANAs were detected in 74 of 560 (13.21%) patient with recurrent miscarriage, and in only 5 of 560 (0.9%) controls (p<0.001). ANA positivity was generally found with low-positive results (1.40-1.80) in about 38% of positive cases, whereas moderate titres (1.160-1.320) and high titres (>1.640) were seen in about 46% and 16% of cases respectively. Finally evaluating of microscopic ANA patterns revealed that about half of positive cases had antibodies against DNA- histone complex, associated with systemic lupus erythematosus disease. CONCLUSION: Antinuclear antibodies are not uncommon in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage, suggesting the possible role of an autoimmune disorder on abortion, at least in a subgroup of patients.
