The combination of ascorbic acid and PEG-based bowel preparation reduces the volume patients have to drink without compromising efficacy or safety. The low-volume PEG + Asc preparation was more acceptable to patients, and should, therefore, improve effectiveness in routine practice.

Ains-To assess the occurrence of lipid peroxidation in chronic hepatitis C and to evaluate its relation to pathological features and liver iron concentrations. Methods-Liver biopsy samples of 43 patients with untreated chronic hepatitis C were studied by immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies directed against two major aldehyde metabolites of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). Results-MDA and HNE adducts (aldehydes covalently linked to another molecule) were detected in the liver samples in 77% and 30% of cases, respectively. MDA adducts were detected both in the extracellular matrix and sinusoidal celis localised in areas ofperiportal and lobular necrosis. HNE adducts appeared in the cytoplasm of only a few hepatocytes. Comparison of the semiquantitative assessment of adducts (MDA and HNE indexes) with the grading and the staging of chronic hepatitis showed that the MDA index was correlated with fibrosis score (p < 0.001) and the grade of activity (p < 0.01). There was also a tendency to correlation with liver iron concentration (p = 0.09). No correlation was observed between the HNE index and pathological features or liver iron concentration.Conclusion-Lipid peroxidation products are detectable in the liver of chronic hepatitis C patients. The presence of MDA adducts in areas of active fibrogenesis and the correlation between the MDA index and fibrosis score suggest a role for lipid peroxidation in liver fibrosis.

Background/Aims-Intestinal fibrosis and stricture formation is an unresolved problem in Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether mast cells accumulate in these tissues and whether their localisation is associated with extracellular matrix components. (Gut 1999;45:210-217) Methods-Mast

from their site of origin to attack distant targets and form Lipid peroxidation is an autocatalytic mechanism leading to covalent links with various molecules (adducts). 2 Different oxidative destruction of cellular membranes. The deleterious cytotoxic effects of MDA and HNE adduct formation have consequences of this mechanism are related in part to the been reported in vitro, including enzyme inactivation and formation of reactive aldehydic products that bind to intrainhibition of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. 3 Therefore, or extracellular molecules to form adducts. Specific antibodies lipid peroxidation may cause severe damage, and it has been directed against malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynoassumed that this mechanism plays a key role in the pathonenal (HNE) adducts, major aldehydic metabolites of lipid genesis of several human diseases. Furthermore, recognition peroxidation, allowed us to investigate in situ, with an immuof lipid peroxidation involvement in the pathogenesis of a nohistochemical procedure, the occurrence of lipid peroxidadisease is of importance because the deleterious effects of this tion in a panel of different chronic liver diseases. Intracellular process might be prevented by administration of scavenging HNE and MDA adducts were detected respectively in 24 of systems or antioxidants. 4,5 39 cases (62%) and in 12 of 34 cases investigated (35%).There is strong evidence that in humans, lipid peroxidation They were localized mainly in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, is implicated in various diseases, including atherosclerosis, with the strongest staining observed in hemochromatosis, toxic injuries, and promotion of cancer. 6-8 Several studies Wilson's disease, and in areas of acute alcoholic hepatitis in also suggest that this mechanism is involved in some chronic cases of alcoholic liver diseases. A peculiar pattern of immuhuman liver diseases. 7,9-11 In this context, it has been pronostaining was observed in primary biliary cirrhosis where posed, based on experimental investigations, that lipid peroxbiliary cells of destroyed but also intact bile ducts strongly idation may be a link between tissue injury and liver fibrosis expressed HNE adducts. The liver extracellular matrix also by modulating collagen gene expression. 12-15 displayed MDA adducts (30 of 34 cases, 88%) and HNE adMost previous studies investigating lipid peroxidation dealt ducts (23 of 39 cases, 59%). While HNE adducts were specifiwith blood and tissue extracts and used indirect quantitative cally localized on large bundles of collagen fibers, MDA admethods. Among them, the thiobarbituric acid test has been ducts were detected in a thin reticular network and in the most commonly applied assay. 16 Raising specific antibodsinusoidal cells around portal tracts or fibrous septa. In conies against MDA or HNE adducts enables a more direct and clusion, lipid peroxidation by-products are detectable in specific approach to evaluate the presence of these lipid perchronic liver diseases. Immunohistochemical results suggest oxida...

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