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The significance of hepatic stellate cell activation in small-for-sizefatty liver graft injury

Background and aims. Increasing the temperature of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) enhances its dissolution and antibacterial properties. However, the high resistance of multi-species biofilms could restrict the effect of the solution regardless of its temperature, enabling the long-term recovery of the surviving bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate if the increase of temperature of NaOCl improves its antibacterial and dissolution ability on oral biofilms and if the post-treatment remaining bacteria were capable of growing in a nutrient-rich medium. Materials and methods. Forty dentin blocks were infected intra-orally for 48 hours. Then, the specimens were treated with 1% and 2.5% NaOCl at room temperature (22oC) and body temperature (37oC) for 5 and 20 min. The percentage of live cells and the biovolume were measured pre(control) and post-treatment and after the biofilm revitalization. Four confocal ‘stacks’ were chosen from random areas of each sample. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests. Statistical significance was defined at P <0.05. Results. All the NaOCl groups were effective in dissolving the biofilm at any temperature, concentration and contact time without statistical differences among them (P >0.05). The 1%-NaOCl for 5min was not able to significantly kill the bacteria, regardless of its temperature and contact time (P >0.05). Conclusion. The temperature variation of the NaOCl was not relevant in killing or dissolving bacterial biofilms. Twentyfour hours of reactivation did not appear to be enough time to induce a significant bacterial growth.

The significance of acute phase graft injury on tumor recurrence/metastases in live donor liver transplantation (Abstract)

Several studies showed that patients with hepatitis C exhibit low quality-of-life scores that are independent of disease severity. Aim This study was conducted to investigate neuropsychological and quality of life status in patients with chronic hepatitis C and to examine their relationship to disease severity. Methods Sixty chronic hepatitis C patients and twenty age and sex matched healthy volunteers were included. Neuropsychological tests included number connection test a and b (NCTa and NCTb), SDMT and DST. HRQOL was assessed using Hepatitis Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results HCV infected patients performed worse on all 4 neuropsychological tests: (patients vs. control: NCTa, 94.4 vs. 41.2; NCTb, 161.6 vs. 73.6; SDMT 38 vs. 49.1; DST 9.5 vs. 12.2; p < 0.01 for all tests). Most of the domains of HQOL scores were impaired in patients: (patients vs. controls general health 50.5 vs. 72; physical functioning 75.1 vs. 92.8; role physical 59.3 vs. 92.4; role emotional 60.8 vs. 88.9; vitality 46.1 vs. 61.2; mental health 59.6 vs. 73.4; social functioning, 63.4 Vs 86.0; physical component summary, 48.2 vs. 52; mental component summary, 40.1 vs. 51.6; all p < 0.01). Reduced scoring in role physical, vitality, physical component summary, mental component summary, and hepatitis specific limitations domains was correlated significantly with impaired performance in all of the four psychometric tests (p < 0.05). No Correlation was found between parameters of biochemical or histological severity of liver disease or viral load with either cognitive dysfunction or reduced HRQOL scores. A202 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2006) 21 (Suppl. 2) Conclusion Patients with chronic hepatitis C have neurocognitive impairment and reduction in HRQOL scoring, both are correlated suggesting a causal relationship. Both neurocognitive impairment and reduced HRQOL scoring are unrelated to parameters of liver disease severity or viral load suggesting direct HCV effects.