ESPITE the strong association between gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） and asthma has been undisputedly established and widely recognized by experts in advanced countries. Yet few topics in medicine are as con...ESPITE the strong association between gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） and asthma has been undisputedly established and widely recognized by experts in advanced countries. Yet few topics in medicine are as controversial as the causal relationship between GERD and asthma： some argue that GERD causes asthma, while others think the other way around is true, still quite a few believe that bronchodilator medications are to blame. This controversy continues to be a conundrum or more piece of the puzzle.1 We would like to share two thoughts which might be a belated revelation with scholars and experts and invite them for further cooperative studies： the GERD-derived respiratory distress is not asthma, but GERD pure and simple; and the pathogenesis of respiratory distress is not asthma, but laryngotracheal irritation/spasm/suffocation.展开更多
AIM:To investigate cell cycle proteins in chronic hepatitis C virus infection in order to analyze their role in the process of hepatocyte transformation and to characterize their prognostic properties. METHODS:Subject...AIM:To investigate cell cycle proteins in chronic hepatitis C virus infection in order to analyze their role in the process of hepatocyte transformation and to characterize their prognostic properties. METHODS:Subjects of the current study included 50 cases of chronic hepatitis C(CHC) without cirrhosis,30 cases of CHC with liver cirrhosis(LC) ,and 30 cases of hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) admitted to the Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology,Theodor Bilharz Research Institute(TBRI) ,Giza,Egypt.Fifteen wedge liver biopsies,taken during laparoscopic cholecystectomy,were also included as normal controls.Laboratory investigations including urine and stool analysis,liver function tests and prothrombin concentration;serologic markers for viral hepatitis and ultrasonography were done for all cases of the study together with immunohistochemical analysis using primary antibodies against Cyclin D1,Cyclin E,p21,p27 and Rb/p105 proteins. RESULTS:Normal wedge liver biopsies didn't express Cyclin E or Rb/p105 immunostaining but show positive staining for Cyclin D1,p21 and p27.Cyclin D1 expressed nuclear staining that was sequentially increased from CHC to LC(P<0.01) to HCC(P<0.001) cases;meanwhile,Cyclin E revealed nuclear positivity only in the case of HCCs patients that was directly correlated to Rb/p105 immuno-reactivity.The expression of p21 and p27 was significantly increased in CHC and LC cases compared to normal controls and HCCs with no significant difference between well-and poorlydifferentiated tumors.p21 showed only a nuclear pattern of staining,while,p27 presented with either cytoplasmic and/or nuclear reactivity in all studied cases.Correlation analysis revealed a direct relation between Cyclin D1 and p21 in CHC cases(P<0.001) ,between Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E in HCCs(P<0.01);however,an inverserelationship was detected between Cyclin D1 and p21 or p27(P<0.001) and between p21 and Rb/p105(P<0.05) in HCCs. CONCLUSION:Upregulation of Cyclin D1 in CHC plays a vital role in the development and differentiation of HCC;while,Cyclin E may be a useful marker for monitoring tumor behavior.p21 and p27 can be used as predictive markers for HCC.Furthermore,higher expression of Rb/p105 as well as inverse relation with p21 and histologic grades suggests its important role in hepatic carcinogenesis.展开更多
文摘ESPITE the strong association between gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） and asthma has been undisputedly established and widely recognized by experts in advanced countries. Yet few topics in medicine are as controversial as the causal relationship between GERD and asthma： some argue that GERD causes asthma, while others think the other way around is true, still quite a few believe that bronchodilator medications are to blame. This controversy continues to be a conundrum or more piece of the puzzle.1 We would like to share two thoughts which might be a belated revelation with scholars and experts and invite them for further cooperative studies： the GERD-derived respiratory distress is not asthma, but GERD pure and simple; and the pathogenesis of respiratory distress is not asthma, but laryngotracheal irritation/spasm/suffocation.
基金Supported by Theodor Bilharz Research Institute(Grant# 74D) in collaboration with the American University of Cairo
文摘AIM:To investigate cell cycle proteins in chronic hepatitis C virus infection in order to analyze their role in the process of hepatocyte transformation and to characterize their prognostic properties. METHODS:Subjects of the current study included 50 cases of chronic hepatitis C(CHC) without cirrhosis,30 cases of CHC with liver cirrhosis(LC) ,and 30 cases of hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) admitted to the Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology,Theodor Bilharz Research Institute(TBRI) ,Giza,Egypt.Fifteen wedge liver biopsies,taken during laparoscopic cholecystectomy,were also included as normal controls.Laboratory investigations including urine and stool analysis,liver function tests and prothrombin concentration;serologic markers for viral hepatitis and ultrasonography were done for all cases of the study together with immunohistochemical analysis using primary antibodies against Cyclin D1,Cyclin E,p21,p27 and Rb/p105 proteins. RESULTS:Normal wedge liver biopsies didn't express Cyclin E or Rb/p105 immunostaining but show positive staining for Cyclin D1,p21 and p27.Cyclin D1 expressed nuclear staining that was sequentially increased from CHC to LC(P<0.01) to HCC(P<0.001) cases;meanwhile,Cyclin E revealed nuclear positivity only in the case of HCCs patients that was directly correlated to Rb/p105 immuno-reactivity.The expression of p21 and p27 was significantly increased in CHC and LC cases compared to normal controls and HCCs with no significant difference between well-and poorlydifferentiated tumors.p21 showed only a nuclear pattern of staining,while,p27 presented with either cytoplasmic and/or nuclear reactivity in all studied cases.Correlation analysis revealed a direct relation between Cyclin D1 and p21 in CHC cases(P<0.001) ,between Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E in HCCs(P<0.01);however,an inverserelationship was detected between Cyclin D1 and p21 or p27(P<0.001) and between p21 and Rb/p105(P<0.05) in HCCs. CONCLUSION:Upregulation of Cyclin D1 in CHC plays a vital role in the development and differentiation of HCC;while,Cyclin E may be a useful marker for monitoring tumor behavior.p21 and p27 can be used as predictive markers for HCC.Furthermore,higher expression of Rb/p105 as well as inverse relation with p21 and histologic grades suggests its important role in hepatic carcinogenesis.
