Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a common non-communicable chronic liver disease characterized by a spectrum of conditions ranging from steatosis and alcohol-associated steatohepatitis (AH) to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathogenesis of ALD involves a complex interplay of various molecular, biochemical, genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. While the mechanisms are well studied, therapeutic options remain limited. Alpinetin, a natural flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has shown potential hepatoprotective effects, though its efficacy in ALD remains unexplored. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of alpinetin using a Lieber–DeCarli ethanol liquid diet model of ALD in C57BL/6 mice. Mice were divided into three groups: the control group, the ethanol group, and the ethanol group treated with alpinetin. Serum activity of ALT, AST, γ-GT, and ALP was measured to assess liver function, along with antioxidative and oxidative/nitrosative stress markers in liver tissue. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress parameters in liver tissue were also evaluated. Histological assessment of disease activity was performed using the SALVE grading and staging system. Treatment with alpinetin significantly reduced serum levels of ALT, AST, γ-GT, and oxidative/nitrosative stress markers while increasing antioxidative markers. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and ER stress parameters were significantly decreased. Histological analysis demonstrated reduced steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, and inflammation. These findings suggest that alpinetin holds promise as a potential therapeutic agent for managing ALD.

Isolated deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) of sacral nerve roots or major pelvic nerves, including the sciatic nerve, is considered to be extremely rare. Due to the overlap with sciatica symptoms, the diagnosis of sciatica DIE is difficult yet crucial, as it results in permanent neural damage if left untreated. We report a case of a 45-year-old woman who experienced a three-year-long and recently exacerbating pain in her right leg, accompanied by a tingling sensation and weakness in her right leg and foot, with difficulty walking. In between regular menstrual bleedings, when her aforementioned symptoms worsened, she had been experiencing mild 10-day extra-cyclical bleeding. Her neurologist’s, orthopedist’s, and gynecological examinations were unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an infiltrative lesion on the right sciatic nerve that was immunohistochemically confirmed to be endometriosis. The patient was treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa), which led to a significantly diminished size of the lesion on the control MRI, and endometriosis remission was obtained. For persistent mild, but cyclical, pain and muscle weakness, continuous progestagnes were administered, with advice for physical therapy provided for her neuro-muscle rehabilitation and a scheduled check-up in 6 months.

The extent of heavy-metal-induced cardiotoxicity is proportional to the levels of metal bioaccumulation, and it was previously assumed that heavy metals accumulate uniformly in the myocardium. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate concentrations of metals and metalloids in two distant regions of the left ventricle (LV), the base of the LV, and apex of the LV using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We also examined the potential correlation between metal levels and the thickness of the interventricular septum in twenty LV specimens (ten from the base of LV and ten from the apex of LV) from 10 individuals (mean age 75 ± 6 years). We found significantly higher concentrations of arsenic and lead in the LV apex compared to the base of the LV. We also found a positive correlation between the concentrations of arsenic in the myocardium of LV and the thickness of the interventricular septum. Our results indicate that arsenic and lead accumulate to a higher extent in the apex of the LV compared to the base of the LV. Therefore, future studies designed to measure levels of metals in heart muscle should consider non-uniform accumulation of metals in the myocardium.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which encompasses two different phenotypes—Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)—consists of chronic, relapsing disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. In 20–30% of cases, the disease begins in the pediatric age. There have been just a few studies that used fractals for IBD investigation, but none of them analyzed intestinal cell chromatin. The main aim of this study was to assess whether it is possible to differentiate between the two phenotypes in pediatric patients, or either of the phenotypes versus control, using the fractal dimension and lacunarity of intestinal cell chromatin. We analyzed nuclei from at least seven different intestinal segments from each group. In the majority of colon segments, both the fractal dimension (FD) and the lacunarity significantly differed between the UC group and CD group, and the UC group and control group. In addition, the ileocecal valve and rectum were the only segments in which CD could be differentiated from the controls based on the FD. The potential of the fractal analysis of intestinal cell nuclei to serve as an observer-independent histological tool for ulcerative colitis diagnosis was identified for the first time in this study. Our results pave the way for the development of computer-aided diagnosis systems that will assist the physicians in their clinical practice.

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an immune-mediated esophageal disease with rising incidence. While proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the first-line treatment, a significant proportion of patients do not respond. This study aimed to determine if the EoE Histology Scoring System (EoEHSS) can predict PPI responsiveness. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 89 pediatric patients diagnosed with EoE between 2016 and 2022. Patients were categorized into PPI responders (PPIREoE) and non-responders (PPINREoE) based on post-treatment biopsies. EoEHSS values from biopsies of the esophagus (distal, middle, and proximal segments) were compared between the two groups. Results: No significant differences in EoEHSS scores were observed for the distal and proximal esophagus between the groups. However, the middle esophagus showed a significantly higher EoEHSS grade score in the PPINREoE group, indicating a more pronounced disease severity. Specific histological features, particularly eosinophilic abscesses and surface layering of the middle segment of the esophagus, were significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: Performing a biopsy of each esophageal segment, particularly the middle, is crucial for diagnostic precision and predicting PPI responsiveness. The EoEHSS can serve as a valuable tool in predicting therapy response, emphasizing the need for personalized therapeutic approaches in EoE management.

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a progressive, multifactorial, immune-mediated disease characterized by chronic inflammation of any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Pediatric patients present with a more extensive form of the disease, especially in the upper GI tract with various histopathological inflammatory patterns. Our study aims to analyze the clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and histopathological findings in children with diagnosed CD and compare results on the initial and follow-up tests. We have included 100 children and adolescents with CD, with performed endoscopic and histopathological (HP) procedures. The results of multiple biopsies executed in these 8 years were matched and compared. We found a statistically significant frequency reduction in stool changes (65.52% to 18.18%), weight loss (35.24% to 4%), and abdominal pain (41.86% to 6.67%) as presenting symptoms. There was an improvement in all laboratory values: fecal calprotectin (1000 to 60,8 μg/g), C-reactive protein (12.2 to 1.9 mg/L), and albumin (36 to 41 g/L). On esophagogastroduodenoscopy and ileo-colonoscopy 36.59% and 64.86% patients had specific findings, respectively. A total of 32 patients had evidence of Crohn’s disease in the upper GI tract. Non-caseating granulomas were found on 9% of oesophageal, 18% of gastric, and 12% of duodenal biopsies. In the lower GI tract, we have observed a disease progression in the rectum (72.29 to 82.22%) and descending colon (73.49 to 80%). There was no registered disease progression in the upper GI tract. Our study demonstrated a significant decline in the frequency of symptoms and an improvement in laboratory values on the follow-up examinations. More than a third of our patients had specific endoscopic and HP findings in the upper GI tract, and an additional 23% had HP findings highly suggestive of CD. We demonstrated the importance of regular clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and histopathological assessments of pediatric CD patients.