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To measure the villous height, the crypt depth, and the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes/100 enterocytes of the small intestinal mucosa of children and adolescents with celiac disease; and to classify these findings according to Q- Marsh and Q-histology scales.Retrospective study of a database from the Department of Pathology of biopsies from the second portion of the duodenum of pediatric patients. According to the histological report, three groups were established: celiac disease at diagnosis (n = 50), controls (n = 26), giardiasis (n = 10). In each biopsy, software (cellSens and Image J) evaluated 5 villous heights, 5 crypt depth and the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes/100 enterocytes.The celiac group had the lowest mean villous height (197.83 μm) of all three groups (control = 477.70 μm; giardiasis = 397.04 μm. The celiac group's villous:crypt ratio (0.78) was significantly lower than the control group (1.89). The number of intraepithelial lymphocytes ≥25 was exclusive to the celiac group, with a sensitivity and specificity of 100 %. Only celiac patients were included in types 2 and 3 of the Q-histology classification.Celiac disease patients showed shorter villous height than other groups, and the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes ≥25 was the best parameter to differentiate celiac from controls and giardiasis groups. Intraepithelial lymphocytes ≥25/100 enterocytes associated with any degree of villous atrophy, the classic Marsh 3 type, set the histological parameters of celiac disease. Quantitative histology is a valuable tool for diagnosing celiac disease, enabling histological changes in a short time, and the Q-histology scale appears to be more suitable than the Q-Marsh scale.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide in both sexes, with similar geographic patterns between genders. This neoplasm has good prognosis if the disease is diagnosed at early stages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of red grape juice on the expression of COX-2 and Ki-67 expression following colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM). Thirty-five rats were randomly distributed into seven groups (n=5 per group): G1: SHAM or negative control received only saline; G2 (positive control): animals received 15 mg/kg AOM; G3: animals received 1% red grape juice 2 weeks before the administration of AOM; G4: animals received 2% red grape juice 2 weeks before the administration of AOM; G5: animals received 1% red grape juice 4 weeks after the last administration of AOM; G6: animals received 2% red grape juice 4 weeks after the last administration of AOM; G7: animals received only 2% red grape juice. COX-2 mRNA expression was reduced in animals treated with 1% red grape juice before AOM induction or 2% red grape juice after AOM induction. COX-2 immunoexpression was also reduced to groups treated with red grape juice at 1% before and after AOM induction or 2% red grape juice after AOM induction. Decreased immunoexpression of Ki-67 positive cells was observed in animals treated with 1% grape juice before AOM-treated animals. Taken together, grape juice concentrate is able to exert some chemopreventive activity on rat colon carcinogenesis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by alternating periods of remission and active intestinal inflammation. Flavonoids exert several biological activities, which are mainly related to their ability to inhibit inflammatory process and/or to their antioxidant properties, and are able to regulate the immune response. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether phenolic compounds present in grape juice could reduce the inflammatory effects induced by experimental colitis. A total of 41 male Wistar rats were randomized into seven groups, as follows: G1--Sham group: sham induced-colitis rats; G2--(2,4,6-rinitrobenzenesulfonic acid) TNBS group: nontreated induced-colitis; G3--2% grape juice control group; G4--1% grape juice 24h after TNBS colitis induction; G5--1% grape juice on day 7 after colitis induction; G6--2% grape juice 24h after colitis induction; G7--2% grape juice on day 7 after colitis induction. Genotoxicity was evaluated by comet assay. Immunohistochemistry was determined using the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method being analyzed in control (normal tissue) and "hot spot" areas i.e., presenting inflammatory process being graded as 1 (weak), 2 (moderate), or 3 (strong). Both parameters were evaluated in the cytoplasm of epithelial or inflammatory cells. TNF-immunoexpression and iNOS were reduced after drinking grape juice 24 h or after 7 days for all doses tested. COX-2 was reduced in the groups exposed to 1% grape juice 24 h or 7 days of exposure. The grape juice at 1% dose in the last 7 days of treatment as well as grape juice at 2% dose decreased the peripheral blood genotoxicity. Taken together, the grape juice mainly at 1% dose exerts anti-inflammatory effects in chronic colitis caused by TNBS as a result of down regulation in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduction of genotoxicity in peripheral blood cells.

Introduction Chronic periodontitis (CP) is an inflammatory disease caused by the interaction among dental plaque and host immune responses. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) play an important role in the periodontium destruction. Some authors have studied polymorphisms in these genes but the results were controversial. Objective To evaluate the association of polymorphisms in the promoter region of genes IL-6 (-174) and MMP-1 (-1607) with CP in a Brazilian population. Material and methods A case-control study of 64 cases of CP patients and 25 healthy subjects was performed. Genomic DNA was isolated from buccal mucosa and two single nucleotide polymorphism in IL-6 (-174 G/C) and MMP-1 (-1607 1G/2G) genes were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results There were no statistically significant differences between patients with CP and control group, nor to genotypes (p = 0.734) or to alleles (p = 0.763), with respect to IL-6 polymorphism. For MMP-1 polymorphism, also we found no statistically significant difference in genotype (p = 0.607) and allele (p = 0.237) distribution between the different groups. Conclusion The polymorphisms of the studied genes were not associated with susceptibility to CP in this Brazilian population.