AIM： To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections in human immunodeficiency virus （HIV） -positive patients at a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India. METHODS： Serum samples from 451 HIV ...AIM： To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections in human immunodeficiency virus （HIV） -positive patients at a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India. METHODS： Serum samples from 451 HIV positive patients were analyzed for HBsAg and HCV antibodies during three years （Jan 2003-Dec 2005）. The control group comprised of apparently healthy bone-marrow and renal donors. RESULTS： The study population comprised essentially of heterosexually transmitted HIV infection. The prevalence Fate of HBsAg in this population was 5.3% as compared to 1.4% in apparently healthy donors （P 〈 0.001）. Though prevalence of HCV co-infection （2.43%） was lower than HBV in this group of HIV positive patients, the prevalence was significantly higher （P 〈 0.05） than controls （0.7%）. Triple infection of HIV, HBV and HCV was not detected in any patient. CONCLUSION： Our study shows a significantly high prevalence of hepatitis virus infections in HIV infected patients. Hepatitis viruses in HIV may lead to faster progression to liver cirrhosis and a higher risk of antiretroviral therapy induced hepatotoxicity. Therefore, it would be advisable to detect hepatitis virus coinfections in these patients at the earliest.展开更多
The liver was one of the earliest recognized sites among autoimmune diseases yet autoimmune hepatitis,primary biliary cirrhosis,primary sclerosing cholangitis,and their overlap forms,are still problematic in diagnosis...The liver was one of the earliest recognized sites among autoimmune diseases yet autoimmune hepatitis,primary biliary cirrhosis,primary sclerosing cholangitis,and their overlap forms,are still problematic in diagnosis and causation.The contributions herein comprise 'pairs of articles' on clinical characteristics,and concepts of etiopathogenesis,for each of the above diseases,together with childhood autoimmune liver disease,overlaps,interpretations of diagnostic serology,and liver transplantation.This issue is timely,since we are witnessing an ever increasing applicability of immunology to a wide variety of chronic diseases,hepatic and non-hepatic,in both developed and developing countries.The 11 invited expert review articles capture the changing features over recent years of the autoimmune liver diseases,the underlying immunomolecular mechanisms of development,the potent albeit still unexplained genetic influences,the expanding repertoire of immunoserological diagnostic markers,and the increasingly effective therapeutic possibilities.展开更多
Echinococcosis or hydatid disease （HD） is a zoonosis caused by the larval stages of taeniid cestodes belong- ing to the genus Echinococcus. Hepatic echinococcosis is a life-threatening disease, mainly differentiated...Echinococcosis or hydatid disease （HD） is a zoonosis caused by the larval stages of taeniid cestodes belong- ing to the genus Echinococcus. Hepatic echinococcosis is a life-threatening disease, mainly differentiated into alveolar and cystic forms, associated with Echinoc- cus multilocularis （E. multi/ocular/s） and Echinococcus granulosus （E. granulosus） infection, respectively. Cys- tic echinococcosis （CE） has a worldwide distribution, while hepatic alveolar echinococcosis （AE） is endemic in the Northern hemisphere, including North America and several Asian and European countries, like France, Germany and Austria. E. granulosus young cysts are spherical, unilocular vesicles, consisting of an internal germinal layer and an outer acellular layer. Cyst expansion is associated with a host immune reaction and the subsequent development of a fibrous layer, called the per/cyst; old cysts typically present internal septa- tions and daughter cysts. E. multilocularis has a tumor-like, infiltrative behavior, which is responsible for tissue destruction and finally for liver failure. The liver is the main site of HD involvement, for both alveolar and cystic hydatidosis. HD is usually asymptomatic for a long period of time, because cyst growth is commonly slow; the most frequent symptoms are fatigue and abdominal pain. Patients may also present jaundice, hepatomegaly or anaphylaxis, due to cyst leakage or rupture. HD diagnosis is usually accomplished with the combined use of ultrasonography and immunodiagnosis; furthermore, the improvement of surgical techniques, the introduction of minimally invasive treatments [such as puncture, aspiration, injection, re-aspiration （PAIR）] and more effective drugs （such as benzoimidazoles） have deeply changed life expectancy and quality of life of patients with HD. The aim of this article is to provide an up-to-date review of biological, diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of hepatic echinococcosis.展开更多
Disturbance of the inflammatory response in the gut is important in several clinical diseases ranging from inflmmatory bowel disease to postoperative ileus. Several feedback mechanisms exist that control the inflammat...Disturbance of the inflammatory response in the gut is important in several clinical diseases ranging from inflmmatory bowel disease to postoperative ileus. Several feedback mechanisms exist that control the inflammatory cascade and avoid collateral damage. In the gast rointestinal tract, it is of particular importance tocontrol the immune response to maintain the balance that allows dietary up take and utilization of nutrientson one hand, while preventing invasion of bacteria and toxins on the other hand. The process of digestion and absorption of nutrients requires a relative hyporesponsiveness of the immune cells in the gut to luminacontents which is not yet fully understood. Recentlythe autonomic nervous system has been identifi ed asan important pathway to control local and systemic inflammation and gut barrier integrity. Activation of thepathway is possible via electrical or via pharm acological interventions, but is also achieved in a physiologicamanner by ingestion of dietary lipids. Administration of dietary lipids has been shown to be very effectivein reducing the inflammatory cascade and maintaining intestinal barrier integrity in several experimental studies. This beneficial effect of nutrition on the inflammatory response and intestinal barrier integrity opens new therapeutic opportunities for treatment of certain gastrointestinal disorders. Furthermore, this neural feedback mechanism provides more insight in the relative hyporesponsiveness of the immune cells in the gut. Here, we will discuss the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system on the inflammatory response and gut barrier function and the potential benefit in a clinical setting.展开更多
Neopterin is bioactive substance released by the activated monocyte/macrophage, and an early and sensitive marker used for reflection of cellular immune activation status induced by the lymphocyte macrophage system. O...Neopterin is bioactive substance released by the activated monocyte/macrophage, and an early and sensitive marker used for reflection of cellular immune activation status induced by the lymphocyte macrophage system. Observation of neopterin levels is conducive to the diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases. This article reviews the existing evidence that neopterin has an important role in cardiovascular risk, infectious diseases, malignancy, autoimmune diseases and transplantaiton.展开更多
文摘AIM： To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections in human immunodeficiency virus （HIV） -positive patients at a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India. METHODS： Serum samples from 451 HIV positive patients were analyzed for HBsAg and HCV antibodies during three years （Jan 2003-Dec 2005）. The control group comprised of apparently healthy bone-marrow and renal donors. RESULTS： The study population comprised essentially of heterosexually transmitted HIV infection. The prevalence Fate of HBsAg in this population was 5.3% as compared to 1.4% in apparently healthy donors （P 〈 0.001）. Though prevalence of HCV co-infection （2.43%） was lower than HBV in this group of HIV positive patients, the prevalence was significantly higher （P 〈 0.05） than controls （0.7%）. Triple infection of HIV, HBV and HCV was not detected in any patient. CONCLUSION： Our study shows a significantly high prevalence of hepatitis virus infections in HIV infected patients. Hepatitis viruses in HIV may lead to faster progression to liver cirrhosis and a higher risk of antiretroviral therapy induced hepatotoxicity. Therefore, it would be advisable to detect hepatitis virus coinfections in these patients at the earliest.
文摘The liver was one of the earliest recognized sites among autoimmune diseases yet autoimmune hepatitis,primary biliary cirrhosis,primary sclerosing cholangitis,and their overlap forms,are still problematic in diagnosis and causation.The contributions herein comprise 'pairs of articles' on clinical characteristics,and concepts of etiopathogenesis,for each of the above diseases,together with childhood autoimmune liver disease,overlaps,interpretations of diagnostic serology,and liver transplantation.This issue is timely,since we are witnessing an ever increasing applicability of immunology to a wide variety of chronic diseases,hepatic and non-hepatic,in both developed and developing countries.The 11 invited expert review articles capture the changing features over recent years of the autoimmune liver diseases,the underlying immunomolecular mechanisms of development,the potent albeit still unexplained genetic influences,the expanding repertoire of immunoserological diagnostic markers,and the increasingly effective therapeutic possibilities.
文摘Echinococcosis or hydatid disease （HD） is a zoonosis caused by the larval stages of taeniid cestodes belong- ing to the genus Echinococcus. Hepatic echinococcosis is a life-threatening disease, mainly differentiated into alveolar and cystic forms, associated with Echinoc- cus multilocularis （E. multi/ocular/s） and Echinococcus granulosus （E. granulosus） infection, respectively. Cys- tic echinococcosis （CE） has a worldwide distribution, while hepatic alveolar echinococcosis （AE） is endemic in the Northern hemisphere, including North America and several Asian and European countries, like France, Germany and Austria. E. granulosus young cysts are spherical, unilocular vesicles, consisting of an internal germinal layer and an outer acellular layer. Cyst expansion is associated with a host immune reaction and the subsequent development of a fibrous layer, called the per/cyst; old cysts typically present internal septa- tions and daughter cysts. E. multilocularis has a tumor-like, infiltrative behavior, which is responsible for tissue destruction and finally for liver failure. The liver is the main site of HD involvement, for both alveolar and cystic hydatidosis. HD is usually asymptomatic for a long period of time, because cyst growth is commonly slow; the most frequent symptoms are fatigue and abdominal pain. Patients may also present jaundice, hepatomegaly or anaphylaxis, due to cyst leakage or rupture. HD diagnosis is usually accomplished with the combined use of ultrasonography and immunodiagnosis; furthermore, the improvement of surgical techniques, the introduction of minimally invasive treatments [such as puncture, aspiration, injection, re-aspiration （PAIR）] and more effective drugs （such as benzoimidazoles） have deeply changed life expectancy and quality of life of patients with HD. The aim of this article is to provide an up-to-date review of biological, diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of hepatic echinococcosis.
文摘Disturbance of the inflammatory response in the gut is important in several clinical diseases ranging from inflmmatory bowel disease to postoperative ileus. Several feedback mechanisms exist that control the inflammatory cascade and avoid collateral damage. In the gast rointestinal tract, it is of particular importance tocontrol the immune response to maintain the balance that allows dietary up take and utilization of nutrientson one hand, while preventing invasion of bacteria and toxins on the other hand. The process of digestion and absorption of nutrients requires a relative hyporesponsiveness of the immune cells in the gut to luminacontents which is not yet fully understood. Recentlythe autonomic nervous system has been identifi ed asan important pathway to control local and systemic inflammation and gut barrier integrity. Activation of thepathway is possible via electrical or via pharm acological interventions, but is also achieved in a physiologicamanner by ingestion of dietary lipids. Administration of dietary lipids has been shown to be very effectivein reducing the inflammatory cascade and maintaining intestinal barrier integrity in several experimental studies. This beneficial effect of nutrition on the inflammatory response and intestinal barrier integrity opens new therapeutic opportunities for treatment of certain gastrointestinal disorders. Furthermore, this neural feedback mechanism provides more insight in the relative hyporesponsiveness of the immune cells in the gut. Here, we will discuss the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system on the inflammatory response and gut barrier function and the potential benefit in a clinical setting.
文摘Neopterin is bioactive substance released by the activated monocyte/macrophage, and an early and sensitive marker used for reflection of cellular immune activation status induced by the lymphocyte macrophage system. Observation of neopterin levels is conducive to the diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases. This article reviews the existing evidence that neopterin has an important role in cardiovascular risk, infectious diseases, malignancy, autoimmune diseases and transplantaiton.
