Background/Aims: The pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may include increased insulin resistance, upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, lipopolysaccharide, and BMI. Rifaximin is a minimally absorbable antibiotic that might act against a broad spectrum of gut bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the effects of rifaximin on NAFLD. Patients and methods: Fifty participants with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were registered in this multicentric, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. BMI, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, lipid profile, serum endotoxin, homeostatic model assessment, toll-like receptor-4, interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) levels were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months of rifaximin therapy (1100 mg/day). Results: Patients were randomized into two groups (rifaximin group; n=25 and placebo group; n=25). After 6 months of rifaximin therapy, patients with NASH showed a significant reduction in homeostatic model assessment, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, endotoxin, toll-like receptor-4, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, CK-18, and NAFLD-liver fat score (all P<0.05), but no changes in the lipid profile; moreover, there was a mild nonstatistically significant reduction of BMI. However, in the placebo group, there was no significant difference in these variables at baseline and after therapy. Conclusion: Rifaximin therapy appears to be effective and safe in modifying NASH through reduction of serum endotoxin and improvement of insulin resistance, proinflammatory cytokines, CK-18, and NAFLD-liver fat score.

Background and Aim: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a matter of debate. We achieved this prospective work to study whether H. pylori infection is a risk factor for NAFLD.Methods: A cohort multicenter pilot study of 369 adults without NAFLD at baseline was followed up for 2 years. Serum leptin, insulin, tumor necrosis factor‐α, adiponectin, and interleukin‐6 were measured using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) and leptin/adiponectin ratio (LAR) were calculated. Fecal H. pylori antigen was measured by ELISA. A total of 127 participants with H. pylori positive were treated and then followed up for 3 months.Results: Helicobacter pylori‐positive patients (46.3%) were associated with an increase in IR, proinflammatory cytokines, C‐reactive protein (CRP), LAR, NAFLD‐liver fat score (NAFLD‐LFS), and hepatic steatosis index (HSI) (all P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis of NAFLD according to HSI and NAFLD‐LFS reported that presence of H. pylori, LAR, CRP, IL‐6, smoking, and age (all P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for the presence of NAFLD. Multiple models adjusted for potential mediators or confounders such as metabolic, inflammatory, and biochemical factors were constructed. After therapy of H. pylori infection, there was a significant reduction in lipogenic profile, IR, leptin, LAR, CRP, proinflammatory cytokines, HSI, and NAFLD‐LFS, as well as, increasing HDL.Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori infection was related to an increased risk of NAFLD development, through increased markers of IR, inflammatory mediators, and lipid metabolism. Moreover, its eradication can recover these NAFLD risk factors.

Ahmed Abdel-Razik, Nasser Mousa, Dina Elhammady, Rania Elhelaly, Rasha Elzehery, Sherif Elbaz, Mohamed Eissa, Niveen El-Wakeel, and Waleed Eldars. Gut and Liver 2016;10:624-31. https://doi.org/10.5009/gnl15120

Background: The purpose of this in vitro study is to compare the antimicrobial effect and pH of two calcium silicate cements Mineral trioxide aggregate high plasticity (Angelus PR, Brazil) and iRoot BP Plus (BioCeramix Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada) and new bioactive restorative resin composite restorative material (ACTIVA, MA, Pulpdent, USA) against aerobic bacteria, strictly anaerobic bacteria and a yeast by using an agar diffusion test. Methods: The materials were tested immediately after manipulation and were applied to the agar plates. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) 5.25% was used as a positive control group. The dry filter paper acted as a negative control group for this study. The size of the inhibition zone for each material was measured after 12, 24 and 48 h. At the time of pH measurement; materials were prepared, crushed then dispersed in distilled water. Results: The one-way Anova test revealed that iRoot BP Plus significantly showed superior antimicrobial efficacy compared to MTA-HP against the following species; Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius and Candida albicans (P < 0.05). All of the tested materials did not show any antimicrobial effect against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Actinomyces israelii. The new bioactive resin composite material (ACTIVA) showed the least antimicrobial activity against the previously mentioned microorganisms except E. faecalis. NaOCl significantly showed the highest antimicrobial activity among the test group (P < 0.05). iRoot BP Plus was more alkaline (pH 12.1 ± 0.14/ 11.9 ± 0.25) in comparison to MTA-HP (pH 11.6 ± 0.16/ 11.2 ± 0.10) while ACTIVA was slightly acidic (pH 5.4 ± 0.09/ 6.5 ± 0.08). Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, it was concluded that calcium silicate- based cements showed a potential antimicrobial activity mainly due to its high alkalinity. The new bioactive resin composite restorative material exhibits less antimicrobial activity due to its resinous ingredients and slightly acidic nature. Antimicrobial effect of calcium silicate cements against strictly anaerobic bacterial species is still questionable.

Ascitic fluid infection (AFI) is a common complication in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) may be considered as simple and inexpensive indicators of inflammation in some diseases. We aimed to investigate whether platelet size alterations and platelet indices would be useful in predicting AFI in cirrhotic patients. Of 210 patients, only 150 patients with ascites because of cirrhosis and 70 control participants were enrolled in this study. After ascitic fluid analysis, patients were divided into two groups: 84 patients had AFI and 66 patients did not have AFI. MPV, PDW, and inflammatory marker values were determined for all patients. The ability of platelet indices values to predict AFI in cirrhotic patients was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. A significant increase in MPV levels was observed in cirrhotic patients with AFI compared with cirrhotic patients without AFI and healthy controls (P<0.001). A significant increase in MPV, PDW, C-reactive protein, and white blood cell levels was observed in the AFI group compared with the other group (P<0.001, P=0.002, P<0.001, and P=0.001, respectively). The receiver operating characteristic curve for sensitivity and specificity of MPV was assessed. At a cutoff value of 8.77, MPV had 95.9% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity for detecting AFI (area under the curve: 0.964). Platelet indices and C-reactive protein are increased in cirrhotic patients with AFI. MPV measurement can be considered an accurate diagnostic test in predicting AFI, possibly because of a continuous systemic inflammatory response.

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) has a far-reaching impact on quality and function ability in daily life and may progress to overt hepatic encephalopathy. There is a synergistic effect between systemic oxidative stress and ammonia that is implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of oral supplementation of antioxidants and zinc gluconate on MHE versus lactulose. Our study included 58 patients with cirrhosis diagnosed as having MHE by neuropsychometric tests, including number connection test part A (NCT-A), digit symbol test (DST) and block design tests (BDTs). Patients were randomized to receive 175 mg zinc gluconate, 50,000 IU vitamin A, 500 mg vitamin C and 100 mg vitamin E once daily plus lactulose, dose 30–60 ml/day for 3 months [group A (n = 31)] or initiated and maintained on lactulose dose 30–60 ml/day for 3 months [group B (n = 27)]. Neuropsychometric tests and laboratory investigations were repeated after 3 months of therapy. Compared with the baseline neuropsychometric tests, a significant improvement was reported in patients with MHE after 3 months of antioxidant and zinc therapy (group A) versus patients with lactulose therapy (group B) (NCT-A, p <0.001; DST, p = 0.006; BDT, p < 0.001). Antioxidant and zinc supplementation significantly decreased arterial ammonia level, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p < 0.001) and improved Child–Pugh score in MHE after 3 months of therapy (p= 0.024). Antioxidant and zinc supplementation can improve MHE in patients with liver cirrhosis.