Genetic factors predisposing to a chronic course of virus hepatitis and liver fibrosis

The IL4 C(?590)T, IL4RA Ile50Val, and TNF G(?308)A polymorphisms were tested for association with the chronic development of virus hepatitis, the extent of which was inferred from the liver fibrosis stage. The frequency of allele A of the TNF G(?208)A polymorphism in patients with mild fibrosis was higher (24.5%) than in patients with moderate or severe fibrosis (13.4%) or cirrhosis (8.7%). The frequency of heterozygous genotype CT of the IL4 C(?590)T polymorphism significantly differed between cirrhosis (68.2%) and moderate or severe fibrosis (39.1%).     

Modulation of the Activity of Succinate Dehydrogenase by Acetylation with Chemicals,Drugs, and Microbial Metabolites

Biophysics - Abstract—The effects of acetylating and deacetylating compounds on the activity of succinate dehydrogenase, as well as on the membrane potential and calcium retention capacity of...     

Participation of phenolic acids of microbial origin in the dysfunction of mitochondria in sepsis

The role of low-molecular-weight phenolic acids of microbial origin in the mitochondrial dysfunction observed in sepsis has been studied. It was shown that microbial phenolic acids formed during fermentation of aromatic amino acids and polyphenols have an effect on mitochondrial functions, whose magnitude depends on the structure of a particular phenolic acid. The anaerobic metabolites cinnamic and benzoic acids and, to a lesser extent, phenylpropionic and phenylacetic acids at concentrations of 0.02–0.1 mM inhibited the NAD-dependent respiration, decreased the Ca²⁺-retention capacity of mitochondria, and oxidized the thiol groups. Their effects were partially abolished by menadione and dithiothreitol. Hydroxylated phenolic acids, 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic, 2,3-dihydroxyphenylpropionic, and other phenolic acids formed in aerobic metabolism of bacteria, when used at the same concentrations, did not affect these processes. During the catabolism of phenolic acids by clinically important bacteria, these compounds undergo anaerobic interconversions. The data obtained suggest that they contribute to the mitochondrial dysfunction in sepsis, and this contribution increases under hypoxic conditions.     

The comparative activity of cefepime and other current antibiotics against microorganisms isolated from patients in pediatric intensive therapy units]

Comparative activity of cefepime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, imipenem and piperacillin/tazobactam against isolates from patients of pediatric intensive care units within October-December 1998 was studied. The isolates were identified with the Walkaway-40 System. The antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated by the E-test on the Mueller-Hinton II agar. The data were interpreted in accordance with the NCCLS. The number of the isolates totaled 100. Among them not more than 10 to 12 strains belonged to the same species. 92 per cent of the isolates was susceptible to cefepime and 70 to 75 per cent of the isolates were susceptible to the third generation cephalosporins. Piperacillin/tazobactam proved to be highly susceptible, the number of the isolates resistant and moderately resistant to it being 6 and 1 per cent respectively. The results showed that cefepime was intermediate between the third generation cephalosporins and carbapenems.     

Association of the Ile50Val Polymorphism of the Interleukin-4 Receptor Gene IL4RA with Chronic Viral Hepatitis

The Ile50Val polymorphism of the IL4RA gene was tested for association with chronic viral hepatitis and the character of its progression (the stage of hepatic fibrosis). In total, 61 patients were examined. The control group was a random sample of Tomsk residents (N = 128). Genotyping was based on RFLP analysis. The allele and genotype frequencies of the Ile50Val polymorphism did not significantly differ between the patients and the controls. However, a significant difference in genotype frequency distribution was observed for the patients with different stages of hepatic fibrosis. The frequency of heterozygotes Ile/Val in patients without signs of fibrosis was lower than in the control group (7.1% vs. 51.6%, P = 0.002), while the frequency of the homozygous genotypes was higher. In addition, this subgroup significantly differed in genotype frequency distribution from subgroups of patients with early or severe fibrosis (P = 0.035 and P = 0.004, respectively).__________Translated from Molekulyarnaya Biologiya, Vol. 39, No. 3, 2005, pp. 379–384.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Goncharova, Friedin, Dunaeva, E.V. Beloborodova, E.I. Beloborodova, Puzyrev.