Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy-current achievements and unsolved problems

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy （ICP） is the most common pregnancy-related liver disorder. Maternal effects of ICP are mild; however, there is a clear association between ICP and higher frequency of fetal distress, preterm delivery, and sudden intrauterine fetal death. The cause of ICP remains elusive, but there is evidence that mutations in genes encoding hepatobiliary transport proteins can predispose for the development of ICP. Recent data suggest that ursodeoxycholic acid is currently the most effective pharmacologic treatment, whereas obstetric management is still debated. Clinical trials are required to identify the most suitable monitoring modalities that can specifically predict poor perinatal outcome. This article aims to review current achievements and unsolved problems of ICR

Predictors of premature delivery in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

AIM： To evaluate the predictive value of clinical symptoms and biochemical parameters for prematurity in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy （ICP）. METHODS： Sixty symptomatic patients with ICP were included in this retrospective analysis. Preterm delivery was defined as delivery before 37 wk gestation. Predictors of preterm delivery were disclosed by binary multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS： Mean time of delivery was 38.1 ± 1.7 wk. No stillbirths occurred. Premature delivery was observed in eight （13.3%） patients. Total fasting serum bile acids were higher （47.8 ±15.2 vs 41.0 ± 10.0 μmol/L, P 〈 0.05）, and pruritus tended to start earlier （29.0 ± 3.9 vs 31.6 ± 3.3 wk, P = 0.057） in patients with premature delivery when compared to those with term delivery. Binary multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that early onset of pruritus （OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.23-2.95, P = 0.038） and serum bile acid （OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.13-3.25, P = 0.013） were independent predictors of preterm delivery. CONCLUSION： Early onset of pruritus and high levels of serum bile acids predict preterm delivery in ICP, and define a subgroup of patients at risk for poor neonatal outcome.

High frequency of the c.3207C>A (p.H1069Q) mutation in ATP7B gene of Lithuanian patients with hepatic presentation of Wilson's disease

AIM： To investigate the prevalence of the ATP7B gene mutation in patients with hepatic presentation of Wilson＇s disease （WD） in Lithuania. METHODS： Eleven unrelated Lithuanian families, including 13 WD patients were tested. Clinically WD diagnosis was established in accordance to the Leipzig scoring system. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole venous blood using a salt precipitation method. Firstly, the semi-nested polymerase chain reaction （PCR） technique was used to detect the c.3207C〉A （p.H1069Q） mutation. Patients not homozygous for the c.3207C〉A （p.H1069Q） mutation were further analyzed. The 21 exons of the WD gene were amplified in a thermal cycler （Biometra T3 Thermocycler, G0ttingen, Germany）. Direct sequencing of the amplified PCR products was performed by cycle sequencing using fluorescent dye terminators in an automatic sequencer （Applied Biosystems, Darmstadt, Germany）. RESULTS： Total of 13 WD patients （mean age 26.4 years; range 17-40; male/female 3/10） presented with hepatic disorders and 16 their first degree relatives （including 12 siblings） were studied. Some of WD patients, in addition to hepatic symptoms, have had extrahepatic disorders （hemolytic anemia 3; Fanconi syndrome 1; neurophsychiatric and behavioural disorder 2）. Liver biopsy specimens were available in all of 13 WD patients （8 had cirrhosis; 1-chronic hepatitis; 3-acute liver failure, 1-1iver steatosis）. Twelve of 13 （92.3%） WD patients had the c.3207C〉A （p.HI069Q） mutation, 6 of them in both chromosomes, 6 were presented as compound heterozygotes with additional c.3472-82delGGTTTAACCAT, c.3402delC, c.3121C〉T （p.RI041W） or unknown mutations. For one patient with liver cirrhosis and psychiatric disorder （Leipzig score 6）, no mutations were found. Out of 16 first degree WD relatives, 11 （68.7%） were heterozygous for the c.3207C〉A （p.H1069Q） mutation. Two patients with fulminant WD died from acute liver failure and ii are in full remission under peniciilamine or zinc acetate treatment. Three women with WD successfully delivered healthy babies. CONCLUSION： The c.3207C〉A （p.HI069Q） missense mutation is the most characteristic mutation for Lithuanian patients with WD. Even 92.3% of WD patients with hepatic presentation of the disease are homozygous or compound heterozygotes for the p.H1069Q mutation.

Disease-specific health-related quality of life and its determinants in liver cirrhosis patients in Lithuania

AIM: To evaluate disease-specific quality of life (QOL) in liver cirrhosis patients and to compare it with those of a healthy population. Also an important objective was to assess whether QOL in liver cirrhosis patients differs by age and gender, by type and severity of disease. METHODS: The case group of 131 liver cirrhosis patients was selected. The control group of 262 was enrolled from a healthy population according to the scheme of case-control study. Clinical, demographic, laboratory data were collected. QOL was measured with a specific chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ), which was translated and validated in Lithuanian. QOL scores were compared between groups by age, gender, type and severity of disease. Cronbach’s alpha statistics calculation was used for evaluation of internal consistency reliability. Student’s t test or ANOVA were used for evaluation hypothesis about probability equation. RESULTS: QOL was significantly lower in liver cirrhosis patients than in healthy population (59.5 ± 18.3 vs 85.3 ± 12.3, P < 0.001). The significant QOL differences between case and control groups were observed in domains of worry and abdominal symptoms, the smaller differences-in emotional functions and systematic symptom domains. Significantly worse QOL was in observed patients with increased clinical severity of the disease measured by Child-Pugh class. Age, gender and etiology of disease had an insignificant effect on QOL in cirrhotic patients. CONCLUSION: QOL was significantly impaired in all CLDQ domains in liver cirrhosis patients. Increase in severity of disease was the major factor associated with poorer QOL.

Protective action of NADPH oxidase inhibitors and role of NADPH oxidase in pathogenesis of colon inflammation in mice

AIM: To investigate the role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase in colon epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic colon inflammation in a mouse model of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.

Biological therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases:Access in Central and Eastern Europe

Biological drugs opened up new horizons in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD).This study focuses on access to biological therapy in IBD patients across 9 selected Central and Eastern European(CEE)countries,namely Bulgaria,the Czech Republic,Estonia,Hungary,Latvia,Lithuania,Poland,Romania and Slovakia.Literature data on the epidemiology and disease burden of IBD in CEE countries was systematically reviewed.Moreover,we provide an estimation on prevalence of IBD as well as biological treatment rates.In all countries with the exception of Romania,lower biological treatment rates were observed in ulcerative colitis(UC)compared to Crohn’s disease despite the higher prevalence of UC.Great heterogeneity(up to 96-fold)was found in access to biologicals across the CEE countries.Poland,Bulgaria,Romania and the Baltic States are lagging behind Hungary,Slovakia and the Czech Republic in their access to biologicals.Variations of reimbursement policy may be one of the factors explaining the differences to a certain extent in Bulgaria,Latvia,Lithuania,and Poland,but association with other possible determinants(differences in prevalence and incidence,price of biologicals,total expenditure on health,geographical access,and cost-effectiveness results)was not proven.We assume,nevertheless,that healthdeterioration linked to IBD might be valued differently against other systemic inflammatory conditions in distinct countries and which may contribute to the immense diversity in the utilization of biological drugs for IBD.In conclusion,access to biologicals varies widely among CEE countries and this difference cannot be explained by epidemiological factors,drug prices or total health expenditure.Changes in reimbursement policy could contribute to better access to biologicals in some countries.

High rate of Helicobacter pylori reinfection in Lithuanianpeptic ulcer patients

AIM: To evaluate the frequency of Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) reinfection in peptic ulcer patients during 9 years after H. pylori eradication.METHODS: We invited 117 peptic ulcer patients in whom eradication of H. pylori was confirmed 1 year after eradication treatment both by histology and by rapid urease test. In total, 57 patients were available for the study procedures: 34(59.6%) male, 23(40.4%) female; mean age 52.3 ± 13.0 years. There were 45(78.9%) patients with duodenal ulcer and 12(21.1%) with gastric ulcer. H. pylori was diagnosed by a rapid urease test and histology if endoscopy was performed. If endoscopy was refused, H. pylori was diagnosed by the C14-urea breath test and serology. H. pylori was established if at least one of the tests was positive.RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 8.9 ± 1.0 years(range, 6-12). H. pylori was established in 15 patients. In 2 H. pylori-negative patients, H. pylori was established during the follow-up period and eradicated. Therefore, we consider that reinfection occurred in 17 patients. In the per protocol analysis, reinfection was established in 17 of 57(29.8%; 95%CI: 19.2-42.2) patients during the follow-up period. The annual rate of infection was 3.36%. If all non-responders were considered H. pylori-negative, reinfection would be 14.5%(17/117), the annual ratebeing 1.63%. The mean age of patients with reinfection was 51.8 ± 14.0 years, and without reinfection was 52.5 ± 13.0 years, P > 0.05; the mean body mass index of patients with reinfection was 27.2 ± 4.1 kg/m2, and without reinfection was 25.7 ± 4.2 kg/m2, P > 0.05. There were no differences in the reinfection rates according the location of the peptic ulcer, the eradication regimen used, and smoking status.CONCLUSION: The reinfection rate of H. pylori is relatively high in Lithuania and probably related to the high prevalence of H. pylori, what may reflect differences in the socioeconomic status between Western and Eastern European countries.

Fatty acids of erythrocyte membrane in acute pancreatitis patients

AIM:To evaluate changes in the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids during severe and mild acute pancreatitis(AP)of alcoholic and nonalcoholic etiology.METHODS:All consecutive patients with a diagnosis of AP and onset of the disease within the last 72 h admitted to the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences between June and December 2007 were included.According to the Acute Physiology and ChronicHealth Evaluation(APACHEⅡ)scale,the patients were subdivided into the mild(APACHEⅡscore<7,n=22)and severe(APACHEⅡscore≥7,n=17)AP groups.Healthy individuals(n=26)were enrolled as controls.Blood samples were collected from patients on admission to the hospital.Fatty acids(FAs)were extracted from erythrocyte phospholipids and expressed as percentages of the total FAs present in the chromatogram.The concentrations of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were measured in erythrocytes.RESULTS:We found an increase in the percentages of saturated and monounsaturated FAs,a decrease in the percentages of total polyunsaturated FAs(PUFAs)and n-3 PUFAs in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids of AP patients compared with healthy controls.Palmitic(C16:0),palmitoleic(C16:1n7cis),arachidonic(C20:4n6),docosahexaenoic(DHA,C22:6n3),and docosapentaenoic(DPA,C22:5n3)acids were the major contributing factors.A decrease in the peroxidation and unsaturation indexes in AP patients as well as the severe and mild AP groups as compared with controls was observed.The concentrations of antioxidant enzymes in the mild AP group were lower than in the control group.In severe AP of nonalcoholic etiology,the percentages of arachidic(C20:0)and arachidonic(C20:4n6)acids were decreased as compared with the control group.The patients with mild AP of nonalcoholic etiology had the increased percentages of total saturated FAs and gama linoleic acid(C18:3n6)and the decreased percentages of elaidic(C18:1n9t),eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA,C20:5n3),DPA(C22:5n3),DHA(C22:6n3)as well as total and n-3 PUFAs in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids.CONCLUSION:The composition of FAs in erythrocyte membranes is altered during AP.These changes are likely to be associated with alcohol consumption,inflammatory processes,and oxidative stress.

Atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer tissue miRNome analysis reveals hsa-miR-129-1 and hsa-miR-196a as potential early diagnostic biomarkers

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is one of the most frequently diagnosed tumor globally.In most cases,GC develops in a stepwise manner from chronic gastritis or atrophic gastritis(AG)to cancer.One of the major issues in clinical settings of GC is diagnosis at advanced disease stages resulting in poor prognosis.Micro RNAs(mi RNAs)are small noncoding molecules that play an essential role in a variety of fundamental biological processes.However,clinical potential of mi RNA profiling in the gastric cancerogenesis,especially in premalignant GC cases,remains unclear.AIM To evaluate the AG and GC tissue mi RNomes and identify specific mi RNAs’potential for clinical applications(e.g.,non-invasive diagnostics).METHODS Study included a total of 125 subjects:Controls(CON),AG,and GC patients.All study subjects were recruited at the Departments of Surgery or Gastroenterology,Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and divided into the profiling(n=60)and validation(n=65)cohorts.Total RNA isolated from tissue samples was used for preparation of small RNA sequencing libraries and profiled using next-generation sequencing(NGS).Based on NGS data,deregulated mi RNAs hsa-mi R-129-1-3 p and hsa-mi R-196 a-5 p were analyzed in plasma samples of independent cohort consisting of CON,AG,and GC patients.Expression level of hsa-mi R-129-1-3 p and hsa-mi R-196 a-5 p was determined using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and 2-ΔΔCt method.RESULTS Results of tissue analysis revealed 20 differentially expressed mi RNAs in AG group compared to CON group,129 deregulated mi RNAs in GC compared to CON,and 99 altered mi RNAs comparing GC and AG groups.Only 2 mi RNAs(hsa-mi R-129-1-3 p and hsa-mi R-196 a-5 p)were identified to be step-wise deregulated in healthy-premalignant-malignant sequence.Area under the curve(AUC)-receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that expression level of hsa-mi R-196 a-5 p is significant for discrimination of CON vs AG,CON vs GC and AG vs GC and resulted in AUCs:88.0%,93.1%and 66.3%,respectively.Comparing results in tissue and plasma samples,hsa-mi R-129-1-3 p was significantly down-regulated in GC compared to AG(P=0.0021 and P=0.024,tissue and plasma,respectively).Moreover,analysis revealed that hsa-mi R-215-3 p/5 p and hsa-mi R-934 were significantly deregulated in GC based on Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection status[log2 fold change(FC)=-4.52,P-adjusted=0.02;log2 FC=-4.00,P-adjusted=0.02;log2 FC=6.09,P-adjusted=0.02,respectively].CONCLUSION Comprehensive mi RNome study provides evidence for gradual deregulation of hsa-mi R-196 a-5 p and hsa-mi R-129-1-3 p in gastric carcinogenesis and found hsami R-215-3 p/5 p and hsa-mi R-934 to be significantly deregulated in H.pylori carrying GC patients.

NOD2,IL23R and ATG16L1 polymorphisms in Lithuanian patients with inflammatory bowel disease

AIM:To investigate the frequency of NOD2, IL23R and ATG16L1 genetic variants in a case-control panel for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from Lithuania.METHODS: One hundred and eighty unrelated IBD pa- tients [57 Crohn's disease (CD) and 123 ulcerative colitis (UC)] and 186 healthy controls were genotyped for the following known genetic susceptibility variants:NOD2-Arg702Trp (rs2066844), Gly908Arg (rs2066845) and Leu1007insC (rs2066847), as well as IL23R-Arg381Gln (rs11209026) and ATG16L1-Thr300Ala (rs2241880).RESULTS:The effect that carriership of at least one NOD2 risk allele predisposes to CD was replicated in the Lithuanian population (41.1% CD vs 16.9% controls, P=2×10-4, OR=3.48,95% CI:1.81-6.72). In the allelic single marker analysis, Leu1007insC was strongly associated with CD (21.4% CD vs 4.7% controls, P=3.687×10-8, OR=5.54, 95% CI:2.85-10.75). Neither the other two NOD2 variants, nor the known variants in IL23R and ATG16L1 were found to be risk factors for CD, UC or IBD. However, our relatively small study population was underpowered to demonstrate such weak to moderate disease associations.CONCLUSION: The results support a strong association between CD susceptibility and the Leu1007insC variant in NOD2 in the Lithuanian study population.

Plexiform angiomyxoid myofibroblastic tumor of stomach:A rare case

Plexiform angiomyxoid myofibroblastic tumor(PAMT) is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor of stomach. Rarity of this kind of tumors and scarce review articles may cause underrecognition of this entity and pose a real diagnostic challenge to gastroenterologists, pathologists and surgeons when encountering such patients and differentiating PAMT from other gastric intramural tumors. We report a case of 28-year-old woman, who presented with epigastric pain after meals, iron-deficiency anaemia and weight loss. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed submucosal tumorlike elevated lesion in the anterior wall of the antrum with intact overlying mucosa. Endoscopic ultrasound showed a 3-cm hypoechoic homogenous mass, originating from the third layer of the gastric wall. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was not informative. Endoscopic buttonhole biopsy was performed to obtain specimens. Following this, the unexpected prolapse of the tumor occurred into the lumen of the stomach, causing gastric outlet obstruction- the biopsy was obtained. Pathomorphological features suggested the diagnosis of PAMT. Gastric resection of the Billroth I type was performed. Diagnosis was confirmed by histological analysis of the surgical specimen.

Polymorphisms of micro RNA target genes IL12B, INSR, CCND1 and IL10 in gastric cancer

AIM To evaluate associations between mi RNA target genes IL12B,INSR,CCND1 and IL10 polymorphisms and gastric cancer(GC)in European population.METHODS Gene polymorphisms were analyzed in 508 controls and474 GC patients from 3 tertiary centers in Germany,Lithuania and Latvia.Controls were patients from the out-patient departments,who were referred for upper endoscopy because of dyspeptic symptoms and had no history of previous malignancy.Gastric cancer(GC)patients had histopathological verification of gastric adenocarcinoma.Genomic DNA was extracted using salting out method from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.IL12B T>G(rs1368439),INSR T>C(rs1051690),CCND1 A>C(rs7177)and IL10 T>C(rs3024498)SNPs were genotyped by the real-time polymerase chain reaction.Associations between gene polymorphism and GC were evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis with adjustment for sex,age and country of birth.RESULTS We observed similar distribution of genotypes and allelic frequencies of all polymorphisms between GC patients and controls except of INSR rs1051690.The frequency of the T allele of INSR gene was significantly higher in GC patients than in controls(23.26%and 19.19%respectively,P=0.028).CT genotype was also more prevalent in patients compared to control group(38.48%and 30.12%respectively,P<0.021).Logistic regression analysis revealed that only one polymorphism(rs1051690 in INSR gene)was associated with increased risk of GC.Carriers of CT genotype had higher odds of GC when compared to CC genotype(OR=1.45,95%PI:1.08-1.95,P=0.01).Similar association was observed in a dominant model for INSR gene,where comparison of TT+CT vs CC genotypes showed an increased risk of GC(OR=1.44,95%PI:1.08-1.90,P=0.01).Other analyzed SNPs were not associated with the presence of GC.CONCLUSION INSR rs1051690 SNP is associated with increased risk of GC,while polymorphisms in IL12B,CCND1 and IL10genes are not linked with the presence of GC.

Plasma Nogo-A and placental growth factor levels are associated with portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND Clinically significant portal hypertension(CSPH) and severe portal hypertension(SPH) increase the risk for decompensation and life-threatening complications in liver cirrhosis. Pathologic angiogenesis might contribute to the formation of these conditions. Placental growth factor(PlGF) and Nogo-A protein are biomarkers of pathological angiogenesis, but data on their role in liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension is scarce.AIM To determine plasma levels of PlGF and Nogo-A in patients with liver cirrhosis,CSPH, SPH and potential to predict portal hypertension.METHODS A cohort of 122 patients with hepatitis C virus and/or alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis with characterized hepatic venous pressure gradient(HVPG) were included in the study. Demographic data, medical history, Child-Turcotte-Pugh and Model of End Stage liver disease score, clinical chemistry, liver stiffnessvalues were recorded on the day of the procedure prior HVPG measurement. The degree of portal hypertension was determined by the invasive HVPG measurement. Nogo-A and PlGF plasma levels were evaluated using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The control group consisted of 30 healthy age-and sex-matched individuals.RESULTS Peripheral PlGF levels were higher and Nogo-A levels were lower in patients with liver cirrhosis(23.20 vs 9.85;P < 0.0001 and 2.19 vs 3.12;P = 0.004 respectively). There was a positive linear correlation between peripheral levels of PlGF and HVPG(r = 0.338, P = 0.001) and negative linear correlation between the peripheral Nogo-A levels and HVPG(r =-0.267, P = 0.007). PlGF levels were higher in CSPH and SPH(P = 0.006;P < 0.0001) whereas Nogo-A levels were lower(P = 0.01;P < 0.033). Area under the curve for the diagnosis of CSPH for PlGF was 0.68(P = 0.003) and for Nogo-A-0.67(P = 0.01);for SPH 0.714(P <0.0001) and 0.65(P = 0.014) respectively. PlGF levels were higher and Nogo-A levels were lower in patients with esophageal varices(P < 0.05). PlGF cut-off value of 25 pg/mL distinguished patients with CSPH at 55.7% sensitivity and76.7% specificity;whereas Nogo-A cut-off value of 1.12 ng/mL was highly specific(93.1%) for the diagnosis of CSPH.CONCLUSION Plasma PlGF levels were higher while Nogo-A levels were lower in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Biomarkers showed moderate predictive value in determining CSPH and SPH.