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Biomedical subjects

M Christofidou

Publications and source records attributed to M Christofidou.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Serum lipid pattern in chronic hepatitis C: histological and virological correlations.

Lipoproteins are closely connected to the process of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipaemic profile in patients with chronic HCV infection, and to identify any association between serum lipid levels and viral load, HCV genotype or liver histology. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were measured in the sera of 155 patients with chronic HCV infection and 138 normal subjects, matched for age and sex. Viral parameters and liver histology were evaluated in HCV-infected patients. Serum TC (P < 0.0005), HDL-C (P < 0.0005) and LDL-C (P < 0.0005) were lower in chronic hepatitis C patients compared with controls. Grading score was positively correlated with TC and LDL-C. Patients with HCV genotype 3a had significantly lower levels of TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, higher viral load and higher frequency of hepatic steatosis than those with other genotypes. Logistic regression analysis identified genotype 3a (OR, 6.96; 95% CI, 2.17-22.32, P = 0.0011) as the only significant predictive variable associated with low serum cholesterol concentration. HCV infection is associated with clinically significant lower cholesterol levels (TC, LDL and HDL) when compared with those of normal subjects. This finding is more pronounced in patients infected with HCV genotype 3a. Further studies are necessary to define the pathophysiology of the relationship between lipid metabolism and HCV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Virological, immunological and histological aspects in adult beta-thalassemic patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

OBJECTIVES: Multitransfused adult beta-thalassemic patients constitute a population with high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, because of transmission of HCV from infected blood donors prior to the introduction of anti-HCV screening. The aim of this study was to compare them with otherwise normal patients with HCV infection. METHODS: Forty-two adult multitransfused beta-thalassemics and 49 otherwise normal patients of the same age, with chronic HCV infection were studied. Viral parameters, autoimmunity indices and liver histology were evaluated. RESULTS: Serum HCV RNA levels were found significantly lower in thalassemic (median: 65,150 international units per milliliter (IU/ml); range: 3 059 380 IU/ml) than in non-thalassemic (NT) patients (median: 580,000 IU/ml; range: 10,956,000 IU/ml; P=0.001). The most prevalent genotype in thalassemic group was genotype 4 (32.4%) while in NT group was genotype 3a (59.2%). Cryoglobulins were detected in 8/42 (19%) thalassemic patients and in 12/49 (24.5%) NTs. Thalassemic patients had significantly lower levels of C3 and C4 components of complement and higher incidence of anti-nuclear antibodies than those without thalassemia. In patients with thalassemia a lower grading score was noted in liver biopsy compared with those without thalassemia (4.41+/-1.98 vs 5.38 +/- 2.09, P=0.038). On the contrary, thalassemic patients were found to have a higher staging score (3.08 +/- 1.51 vs 2.33 +/- 1.34, P=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Adult beta-thalassemic patients, compared with other patients with HCV infection, present lower necroinflammatory activity and lower viral load but higher staging score. Autoimmune features are marginally different. Age of acquiring the infection, iron overload and modulation of immune system by transfusions are the proposed causes of these differences.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca and chronic HCV infection.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in Greek patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its association with HCV genotypes and liver histology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 93 HCVAb (+) patients underwent lacrimal function testing (Schirmer-1 test, break-up time test and Rose-Bengal staining test) and estimation of serum cryoglobulins and autoantibodies. 80 healthy volunteers were included in the study as controls. RESULTS: 34 out of 93 HCV patients (36.6%) and eight out of 80 healthy subjects (10%) had at least two abnormal lacrimal function tests suggestive of KCS (p < 0.001), cryoglobulinemia was evident in 20 patients (21.5%), rheumatoid factor (RF) in 43 (46.2%), antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in 19 (20.4%), antinuclear antigens (anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B) in one (1.1%) and two (2.2%) patients, respectively. Reduced prevalence of KCS was found in patients with genotype 3a compared to those with other genotypes (5/30, 16.7% vs 20/42, 47.6%, p = 0.007), probably because of their younger age. In patients with KCS a higher staging score was noted in liver biopsy compared to those without KCS (4.50 +/- 1.65 vs 3.06 +/- 1.88, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Greek patients with chronic HCV infection have a high prevalence of KCS (36.6%). The low frequency of anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B antibodies in these patients denotes different pathogenetic associations from primary Sjogren's syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in blood units with anti-HBc as the only positive serological marker.

Serum samples from 10,629 blood donors were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HBc IgM), anti-HCV, anti-HIV1/2 and ALT. Seventy five (0.7%) blood donors were found HBsAg-positive, 1,543 (14.5%) were carrying both anti-HBc and anti-HBs. whereas 507 (4.8%) samples were positive only for anti-HBc. Among the group of 507 anti-HBc positive samples, 303 were obtained from regular volunteer blood donors who were studied in two separate time intervals of at least 6 months' duration, and 204 were from first-time blood donors. The possibility of post-transfusion hepatitis B after donation of these 507 blood units was studied by determining the presence of HBV DNA as a marker of viral replication and infectivity. HBV DNA was detected by two methods (i) a chemiluminescent molecular hybridization assay, (ii) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by DNA enzyme immunoassay (DEIA). Six out of 507 samples exhibited HBV DNA results in the gray zone of the hybridization assay, but were confirmed as negative by PCR DEIA. The other 501 samples were HBV DNA-negative by both methods, although 36 of them had increased ALT levels. No cases of post-transfusion hepatitis B were reported during the year in which these 501 blood units were provided. These results show that blood units which were positive only for anti-HBc, with normal ALT and were HBV DNA-negative may be considered not infectious for hepatitis B. Gray zone results of HBV DNA using hybridization quantitative assay must be confirmed as positive or negative by a more sensitive method such as PCR. Blood units which are anti-HBc-positive, with increased ALT levels and are HBV DNA-negative, which appear to not be related to HBV replication and infectivity, may be not safe for donation because of the potential existence of other as yet unknown, hepatotropic viruses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Thyroid function and immune profile in rheumatoid arthritis. A controlled study.

The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and autoimmune abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to further investigate the possible association between D-penicillamine and autoimmune thyroiditis. For this purpose, one hundred and one unselected consecutive patients with RA and 70 age and sex matched controls were studied prospectively. Evaluation included a complete history and physical examination with special attention to symptoms suggestive of thyroid pathology, routine laboratory and serologic immune profile, plus determination of serum levels of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (AbTPO) and TSH receptor antibodies (TRAB). Serum thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) was measured in all subjects with high thyroid hormone levels, whereas free T3 and T4 concentrations were determined in all individuals with abnormal T3, T4, TSH or TBG. Six patients with hyperhyroidism, 3 with hypothyroidism and 1 with the euthyroid hyperthyroxinemia (EH) syndrome were found, whereas four of the controls had hyperthyroidism. Thirteen patients and 6 controls had high AbTPO levels whereas no one had high TRAB. No association was detected between thyroid abnormalities and any serologic RA finding. Furthermore, no correlation between thyroid dysfunction and elevated AbTPO's was found. A relatively high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction (9,9%) and subclinical autoimmune thyroiditis (12,9%), the latter indicated by elevated AbTPO's, was found in our RA patients. These figures were higher than those in the control group (5,7% and 8,6% respectively), but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Of further interest may be our finding that, despite anecdotal reports blaming D-penicillamine for cases of autoimmune thyroiditis, the incidence of the latter was similar among recipients and nonrecipients of the drug. Similarly, TRAB were not detected in any patient treated with D-penicillamine.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen in southwestern Greece.

The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in sera of 56 chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was determined by three methods: the Abbott hybridization assay, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by gel electrophoresis and UV visualization (PCR-GE), and PCR followed by DNA enzyme immunoassay (PCR-DEIA). HBV DNA was detected in four samples positive for hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) by all methods used. Both PCR-GE and PCR-DEIA detected viraemia in two anti-HBe, anti-HBc IgM positive samples. In the group of 50 anti-HBe positive samples the sensitivity of the three methods was 10%, 24% and 32%, respectively. PCR-GE and PCR-DEIA results correlated well with the patients' clinical status; of 20 patients with elevated ALT levels, 12 (60%) were found to be positive in the PCR-GE and another 2 were found to be positive in the PCR-DEIA (70%). These data indicate that PCR-DEIA is the most sensitive method for detection of HBV DNA. This method can be relatively easily applied in the clinical laboratory for monitoring the progression of disease and/or interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Occurrence of a 29 kDa polysaccharide in the slime layer of both smooth and rough strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

1. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the extracellular products (slime) of a smooth, nonmucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain (PAC IR) and its rough mutant (PAC 605) were subjected to a comparative biochemical analysis. 2. Chemical and electrophoretic analyses suggested that the slime preparation of both strains are composed mainly of similar carbohydrate components which are different from those of the respective lipopolysaccharides. 3. Chromatographic analysis of the two slime preparations on gel permeation HPLC columns revealed the presence of a major polysaccharide in both strains with an apparent molecular weight 29 kDa and a minor high molecular weight polysaccharide in the PAC IR strain.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased levels of albumin in bronchial washing fluid of patients with bronchial carcinoma. Could albumin be considered as a tumor marker?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of albumin in bronchial washing fluid (BWF) and its relationship to three tumor markers (CEA, CA 19-9 and NSE). METHODS: Serum and BWF samples were collected in a group of 60 patients. Albumin and tumor markers in the BWF and serum of three groups: a control group (CG), a chronic bronchitis group (CBG) and a lung cancer group (CaG), were analyzed in a prospective cross-sectional study. The diagnostic yields of the tests in each environment (serum and BWF) were evaluated by using as cutoff points the values of the corresponding 90th percentile of CG and CBG taken together. RESULTS: A significant difference in albumin level (p < 0.001) was noted in the BWF of patients with cancer compared with the other two groups. In addition, a significant difference in CEA level (p < 0.001) was observed in the serum of cancer patients compared with the other two groups. The cutoff values for CEA in serum and albumin in BWF were 2.20 ng/mL and 2.00 g/dL, respectively. The areas under the corresponding ROC curves were 93% and 97%. Combination of CEA-serum and albumin-BWF by logistic regression analysis increased their diagnostic value. CONCLUSION: Measurement of albumin levels in BWF could be a useful additional diagnostic tool to differentiate malignant from non-malignant lung diseases. Moreover, the combined measurement of CEA in serum and albumin in BWF could be of aid in the follow-up of lung cancer patients.

Aged↗