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Introduction and Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the neoplasms with the highest mortality worldwide. The causes of the development of HCC have been related to hepatitis B virus and exposure to aflatoxin B1; however, chronic alcohol use, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and hepatitis C virus infection are the most important risk factors for developing HCC. The establishment of animal models of HCC is crucial for both basic and translational studies of hepatocellular carcinoma and is a valuable tool to identify alterations during the progression of the disease. This study aimed to analyze the biochemical, histological, and gene expression alterations produced in a model of chemical hepatocarcinogenesis by the chronic administration of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Twelve Wistar rats weighing 180 to 200 g were divided into control and damage groups: rats were treated with DEN (50 mg/kg/wk) i.p and an intragastric dose of 2-AAF (25 mg/kg/wk) for 18 weeks. Serum clinical biochemistry was performed on VITROS Chemistry System 350® equipment. Masson's trichrome and Hematoxylin-Eosin stains were performed on the liver tissue. Relative gene expression was performed by RT-qPCR in LightCycler®96. Results: The damage group had significant increases in total cholesterol, HDL-C, AST, ALT, ALKP, and GGT. Furthermore, histological analysis showed the loss of normal liver architecture with nuclear pleomorphism in the hepatocytes, atypical mitosis, and fibrous septa distributed between portal triads and collagen fibers through the hepatic sinusoids. The expression of TGFb1 was significantly increased (p

The aim of the present work was to compare the impact on the gut microbiota composition and in the systemic inflammation of two types of breads denominated as industrial and celta with different composition (wheat flour vs. complex flour and seeds) and fermentation process (2 h vs. 24 h). Faecal and blood samples of 10 mice were collected at: (1) - basal, (2) - after 21 days of industrial bread intake and (3) - after another 21 days of celta bread exposure. Significant differences in the gut microbiota composition were detected after the consumption of both breads, whereas the celta bread increased the concentration of Akkermansia and Mucispirillum, the industrial bread favour the Bacteroidetes proliferation and additionally systemic inflammation. In conclusion, the more consumed industrial processed bread might provoke systemic inflammation, probably in relation with its composition and manufacture process.

Introduction. Combined liver-kidney transplantation (LKT) is the best therapeutic option for patients with end-stage liver and kidney disease. Objectives. To analyze baseline characteristics and clinical outcome of LKT compared to isolated liver transplantation (LT).Material and methods. The study included 16 LKT performed between 1998 and 2006 and 32 LT matched by age, sex, date and indication for transplantation. Demographic, pretransplant, post-transplant and survival variables were analyzed.Results. As planned by the study design, mean age, distribution by sex and indication for LT were similar between groups. The most common indication for LT was HCV- and/or alcohol-induced cirrhosis. The most common indication for KT was renal failure, in most cases secondary to glomerulonephritis. Twelve patients (69%) were on dialysis before LKT. Hepatocellular carcinoma and diabetes mellitus pre-transplantation were similar between groups. However pretransplant arterial hypertension (AHT) was higher in LKT than LT (50% vs. 19%; p = 0.02). In the post-transplant: reoperation due to bleeding, bacterial infections, liver rejection, AHT and median creatinine levels at 1st and 3rd years were similar in LKT and LT. In contrast, early post-transplant dialysis was higher in LKT than LT (31% vs. 3%; p = 0.01). Survival rates at 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th years were similar in both groups (87.5%, 74%, 74% and 66% vs. 81%, 75%, 75% and 75% in LT and LKT, respectively).Conclusions. LKT is an effective therapeutic option in patients with end-stage liver and kidney disease. Most early and late complications and long-term survival are similar to those observed with LT.