Antonia Atanassova

Medical University of Varna · Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology

Background miR-16 is important for the inflammatory processes and the signal pathways that participate in the immune system regulation. As there is an immune mucosal inflammation in IBD, miR-16 could also serve as a potential biomarker to assess inflammation. Methods The study aims to assess the expression of serum miR-16 in IBD patients and to co...

Background Necroptosis is a novel form of regulated necrotic cell death that is dependent on Receptor interacting protein kinase-3 (RIPK3). It leads to cell lysis and directly triggers inflammation. Several clinical and preclinical studies have implicated necroptosis in the etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Methods The aim of the stu...

Objective: The pathogenesis of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes chronic inflammation and altered immune reactions. There are several publications, reporting that micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) may serve as a diagnostic biomarker with a potential to assess inflammation severity and treatment response1,2 in IBD patients. The objective...

Objective: Although the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-α) agents is highly effective in achieving and maintaining remission in patients with moderate-to-severe IBD, they place the patient at increased risk of developing opportunistic infections, including new cases of tuberculosis infection (TBI) and/or reactivation of latent tu...

Background Serum miRNAs are secreted during the inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and therefore could affect the regulatory functions of vitamin D and its signal pathways negative feedback 1,2,3. Additional tests are therefore needed to discover the correlation between the levels of vitamin D and the circulating miRNAs in patients with IBD...

Background In the last, 20 years, IBD treatment has made great progress with the implementation of biological drugs. Although the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-α) agents is highly effective in achieving and maintaining remission, 1, anti-TNF-α agents are associated with a, 5-fold increased risk of reactivation of various opportu...

The study aims to assess the expression of serum miRNA-142_3p and miRNA-142_5p in IBD patients and its correlation with disease extent, activity and severity. It was performed on 35 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 35 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and 30 healthy controls. Serum miRNA-142 expression was assessed using reverse transcriptas...

Background Despite the timely commencement of the biological treatment, only about 30% will respond to it, and about 1/3 will lose the initial anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) response. Methods We retrospectively studied the data of 69 Crohn’s disease (CD) patients who started biological treatment with anti-TNF-ADA/ IFX. We excluded patients who...

Background About 70% of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients undergo surgery due to disease complication. According to the ECCO consensus, in such cases, the tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) antagonists are a means of choice to prevent post-operative relapse. Methods The aim is to evaluate endoscopic, clinical and biochemical outcomes in CD patients, who...

Background Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are frequently associated with pathologic findings in the liver and biliary tract, ranging from minor alterations, such as liver fatty changes, to severe conditions, like primary sclerosing cholangitis.¹ Fatty liver disease (FLD) is the most common liver complication of IBD and is often reversible, affec...

Background Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and are at risk for a variety deficiencies because of decreased nutrient intake or absorption and/or increased losses. Iron and vitamin D deficiency are common in IBD patients, particularly during periods of prolonged disease activity. They are associated with adverse clinical outcomes an...

Background Vitamin D deficiency is more common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients than it is in the general population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vitamin D serum levels in IBD patients as a part of the extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) and to correlate the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D with existence of other EIMs....

Background Many studies have shown that the late diagnosis is related to the development of complications and poor prognosis for Crohn’s disease (CD). The aim of our study is to perform a retrospective analysis of the clinical course of CD in patients hospitalised in one reference clinical centre for a period of 6 years. Methods For a period of 6...

This review is encompassing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in children and adolescents - frequency, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs, accompanying conditions, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis.

PURPOSE: The stage of liver disease and genotype of hepatitis C virus (HCV) are well-defined predictors for therapeutic success in chronic hepatitis C. This study aimed at assessing the prognostic role of baseline viral load for response to antiviral therapy in genotype 1 infected patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study covered a total of 163 pat...

Wilson disease (WD) is an uncommon autosomal recessive condition of impared hepatic copper excretion, resulting in excessive amounts of body copper. Study's aim was to reveal the clinical findings, diagnosis and treatment of WD in children. In 1987-06 the diagnosis was proved in 21 pts. (3-17y.) (10 M. and 11 F.) by clinical, laboratory (+specific)...

Combination of interferon-alpha and ribavirin becomes the antiviral therapy of choice for chronic hepatitis C. The aim of this trial was to assess the efficacy of two combination treatment strategies: standard regimen Interferon-alpha 3 MU three times per week (group A) and initial high dose Interferon 6 MU daily for 2 weeks followed by intermitten...

Chronic hepatitis C viral infection is ascending health problem and leading cause for liver disease worldwide. To diagnose, follow-up and treat appropriately patients with chronic hepatitis C in the Clinic of hepatogastroenterology, Varna, 255 patients have been registered at mean age 42 years: 68 had blood products transfusion as possible route of...

An analysis of 81 patients with unspecific complaints of the colon (of them 68 with data about a chronic colitis and 18 ones with an irritable colon) was carried out. These patients were endoscopically examined and biopsy specimens of them were taken in Clinic of gastroenterology, Medical University of Varna, during the period from 1993 till 1995....