Conclusions from the histological diagnosis of low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in Barrett's oesophagus.
It is well known that low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) in Barrett's oesophagus (BE) might progress to high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) or carcinoma. Since accurate diagnosis of LGIN is difficult, general pathologists are frequently uncertain about the diagnosis of LGIN and its follow-up risks. The purpose of this study was to analyse the divergence between the diagnoses of general and specialized gastrointestinal pathologists.Fifty consecutive patients with a previous diagnosis of LGIN in BE, made by a general pathologist, were included in our study. The histopathological slides of every patient were reassessed in a blinded fashion by two specialized gastrointestinal (G…
The viral clearance in interferon-treated chronic hepatitis C is associated with increased cytotoxic T cell frequencies
Abstract Background/Aims: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes have been demonstrated in peripheral blood and liver tissue of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, but their significance for viral clearance is unknown. Therefore, we analyzed hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor frequencies in chronic hepatitis C virus carriers during interferon-α treatment. Methods: Blood mononuclear cells or CD8+ T cells from HLA-A2 positive and negative patients and controls were analyzed in chromium-release assays using a panel of 18 synthetic peptides from the HCV core, E1 and NS4 antigens bearing HLA-A2 binding motifs. Specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor frequencies were st…