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Background: Morphometric evaluation of Gerdy’s tubercle located on upper end of tibia has very significant role in orthopedics for the treatment and surgeries of total knee replacement. A triangular facet known as Gerdy’s tubercle is located on the lateral tibial condyle. Aim: To analyze and evaluate the variations in size, shape, prominence and localization of Gerdy’s tubercle in dry human tibial bones. Study Design: Cross sectional morphological study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, Akhtar Saeed Medical & Dental College Lahore from 1st July 2022 to 31st December 2022. Methodology: To record the variations of Gerdy’s tubercle in this research work, 50 dry human tibial bones were obtained. Morphologically shape and bony prominence of this tubercle was noted. Vernier caliper and ruler were used to measure the diameter and localization of the tubercle. Results: The calculated mean diameter of Gerdy’s tubercle irrespective of the side of tibia was 12.5±2.85mm. This tubercle on tibia was noted as triangular in shape in 60% bones and oval in 30% and irregular in 10%. The surface prominence of Gerdy’s tubercle was observed to be rough in 20%, smooth in 80% of the total bones. For localization of the tubercle, the distance measured between the tibial tuberosity to the Gerdy’s tubercle. It was 54.5±6 mm on all total bones. Conclusion: The present study provides the morphological and morphometrical evaluation of the variations in Gerdy’s tubercle on upper end of tibial bones, furnishing an anatomical correlation of these anatomical information of the tubercle with the orthopedic and radiological manifestations. Keywords: Tibial anterolateral facet, Gerdy’s tubercle, Localization of Gerdy’s tubercle, Anatomical variations

Background: Piperine is an alkaloid present in black pepper. It causes increase in diameter of Graafian follicles when given to adult female albino rats thus leading to decreased fertility. Aim: To assess the harmful effects of piperine on ovaries of adult female albino rats on diameter of Graafian follicles. Study design: Experimental Study. Place and duration of study: Anatomy Department, Shaikh Zayed PGMI, Lahore from 1st August 2013 to 31st January 2014. Methodology: Thirty female rats were randomly separated into three equal groups A, B and C, each having 10 animals. Group A was control and did not receive any medication except for normal saline at a dose of 10ml/kg body weight/day by orogastric tube for 30 days. Group B and C received piperine suspended in saline by orogastric tube, at a dose of5mg/kg/day and 10 mg/kg/day respectively for 30 days. After 30 days of experiment, the rats of all three groups were euthanized and ovaries were removed by dissection and then fixed in 10% formalin. With rotary microtome, 4-5μm sections were prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin solutions. Results: The Graafian follicle in ovaries of rats in group B showed increased diameter as compared to control group A. The diameter of Graafian follicles of group C was greater than of group B. In both groups comparison was made, the p-value was less than 0.001. Conclusion: Piperine administration in female adult albino rats showed significant increase in size of Graafian follicle which is likely to produce polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and in this way hamper fertility in females during child bearing age. Keywords: Piperine, Albino rat, Ovaries, Fertility, Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

Objective: To compare the platelet count, platelet concentration/yield, residual Red blood cells (RBCs) and White blood cells (WBCs) counts in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) samples prepared from the single- and the double-centrifugation protocols. Methods: It was a Cross-Sectional study, conducted at the Department of Hematology & Transfusion Medicine, The Children’s Hospital and UCHS, Lahore from October 2021 to January 2022 including 50 voluntary, healthy individuals of age 20-45 years of both genders, after taking informed consent. Complete blood count analysis of all participants was done initially by drawing 3ml blood in EDTA vial. From all the participants, 20 ml venous blood sample was taken in syringes containing tri-sodium citrate and then shifted to harvest tubes. Group-I comprised of PRP samples prepared by single- centrifugation method. While Group-II samples were prepared by Double-centrifugation method consisting of soft and hard spin. The platelet, RBC and WBC counts in prepared PRP samples were determined by using automated SYSMEX XP-100 hematology analyzer. Platelet yield or Platelet concentration (%) was calculated for samples using formula. The data analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Results: The mean PRP platelet count in Group-I was 594.6±157.4×103/µl whereas in Group-II was 923.06 ± 127.58×103/µl. In Group-I, the mean platelet concentration/yield in PRP was 175.75 ± 55.08% while in Group-II, it was 276.78 ± 112.7%. Significant difference was observed between the platelet counts and platelet concentration/yields from the PRP samples of two Group-s (p < 0.01). Significant difference between the WBCs count was also observed (p < 0.01) with higher WBCs in Group-I PRP. Residual RBCs were almost same among two Group-s. Conclusions: The double centrifugation protocol resulted in higher platelet quantity and yield with less contamination by red and white blood cells than did the single centrifugation protocol for PRP preparation. So, double centrifugation method is beneficial in preparation of autologous as well as allogenic PRP. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.3.7264 How to cite this: Saqlain N, Mazher N, Fateen T, Siddique A. Comparison of single and double centrifugation methods for preparation of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP). Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(3):634-637. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.3.7264 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of spearmint leaves extract on body weight, liver weight and RTWI of pups in Swiss albino mice. Study Design: Experimental study Place and Duration of Study: Anatomy Department, Shaikh Zayed PGMI, Lahore from 1st March 2014 to 30th June 2014. Methodology: Seven male and 21 female mice were used. After conception female mice were divided into control (A), low dose (B) and high dose (C) experimental groups. There were7 mice in each group. Group A was given distilled water where as group B was given 3g/kg/day and group C were given 6g/kg/day spearmint leaves extract. After 21 days (duration of pregnancy in mice) hysterotomy was done after euthanasia. Three groups of pups were made. These pups were selected randomly and marked as control, low dose and high dose experimental groups (A1, B1 & C1 respectively). Their body weights and liver weights were taken and recorded. Results: Body weight, weight of liver and RTWI of pups in both the experimental groups were decreased significantly with p

Background: Garlic (allium sativum) is given as herbal medicine due to its antimalignanat effect. It has been reported that allium vegetables have marked anticancer effect against stomach and colorectal carcinomas. Organosulfur compounds in garlic activate the metabolizing enzymes and cytochrome P450s to detoxify carcinogens and other foreign compounds like lead. These components act as anticarcinogenic for gastrointestinal tract, lungs and mammary gland in experimental animals. Aim: To evaluate the dose range of garlic (allium sativum) to induce the antitumor effect. Study design: Experimental study Place and duration of study: Department of Anatomy, Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore from 1st October 2013 to 31st March 2014. Methodology: Forty five Wistar albino rats of both sexes weighing between 250-350 grams were selected randomly. Two different doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg of fresh garlic extract were given to the animals by orogastric tube for thirty days. After this period the analysis of quantitative parameters including the diameter of the hepatocytes and hapatic nucleus were recorded and nucleus to cell ratios (N/C Ratios) were calculated. Results: The atrophic changes on the size of hepatocytes and their nucleus is noted in both experimental group B and C as compared to control group A (P

The 3-DAA regimen consisting of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus dasabuvir (OBV/PTV/r + DSV) ± ribavirin (RBV) has shown high sustained virologic response rates (~95%) in phase 3 clinical trials including >2300 HCV genotype 1-infected patients. Real-world evidence studies have confirmed the effectiveness of OBV/PTV/r ± DSV ± RBV in patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection and are consistent with clinical trial results. TOPAZ-I and TOPAZ-II are ongoing phase 3b trials, assessing safety, efficacy and long-term progression of liver disease and clinical outcomes for up to 5 years post-treatment in patients treated with OBV/PTV/r + DSV ± RBV. High rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) were achieved regardless of presence or absence of cirrhosis.In this report, we assessed the long-term progression of liver disease and incidence of clinical outcomes up to 3 years of post-treatment follow-up in patients with chronic HCV GT1 infection who were treated with (OBV/PTV/r + DSV) ± RBV in the TOPAZ-I and TOPAZ-II studies. Improvements were observed in liver disease markers including FIB-4, METAVIR and Child-Pugh scores as well as platelet counts. Clinical outcomes related to long-term progression of liver disease such as liver decompensation were infrequent (

Background: Garlic (allium sativum) is proved as herbal medicine and is used as self-medication for the control of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and heart diseases. Prolonged usage and high dosage have harmful effects on liver. Aim: To evaluate the injurious effects of garlic (allium sativum) on the liver of adult albino rats. Study design: Experimental study Place and duration of study: Department of Anatomy, Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore from 1st October 2013 to 31st March 2014. Methodology: Forty five wistar albino rats of both sexes weighing between 250-350 grams were selected randomly. Two different doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg of fresh garlic extract were given to the animals by orogastric tube for thirty days. After this period the analysis of quantitative parameters including diameter of hepatic lobule, diameter of the hepatic lobules, diameters of the hepatocytes and their nucleus was then performed on the livers of the sacrificed rats. Results: In the present study, atrophic changes on the size of hepatic lobule, hepatocytes and their nucleus is noted in both experimental group B and C as compared to control group A (P

The release of inflammatory chemokines leads to the formation of chemokine gradients that result in the directed migration of immune cells to the site of injury. In this process, cells respond to soluble gradients (chemotaxis) as well as to immobilised gradients (haptotaxis). Surface-bound chemokine gradients are mostly presented by endothelial cells and supported by glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), such as heparan sulfate, involving the GAG binding site of chemokines. Microfluidic devices have been used to analyse cell migration along soluble chemokine gradients, as these devices allow the generation of stable gradients with resolutions in the range of microns. To immobilise well-controlled soluble gradients of interleukin-8 (CXCL8), an inflammatory chemokine, we developed a simple procedure using a heparin-coated PDMS-microfluidic device. We used these immobilised gradients for migration experiments with CXCL8-responsive THP-1 cells and confirmed directed cell migration. This setup might be useful for the examination of factors that may alter chemotaxis and haptotaxis as well as synergistic and antagonistic effects of other soluble and immobilised chemokines.

Amyloidosis can affect multiple organs, and involvement of the heart is the most common cause of death. Signs and symptoms vary depending upon the organ system affected by amyloid. Liver involvement is often seen, but symptoms are usually mild and nonspecific in isolated hepatic amyloidosis. None of the laboratory markers and imaging is characteristic of this condition; therefore, diagnosis is often delayed. Tissue biopsy is required for definitive diagnosis. Herein, we report a case where the patient’s symptoms had been attributed to alcohol-related cirrhosis; however, further workup ultimately led to a diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis with multi-organ involvement.

Background/aims Treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is essential. The availability of sofosbuvir (SOF) has dramatically improved overall HCV cure rates, however there is insufficient data regarding its use in patients with CKD. We evaluated SOF in patients with hepatitis C genotype 1 (G1) and moderately impaired renal function. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients treated with a SOF-based regimen from December 2013 through September 2015 at Virginia Mason Medical Center. Data was then collected for HCV G1 patients with stage 3 CKD. Results A total of 28 patients with HCV G1 and stage 3 CKD were treated with a SOF-based regimen. Twenty-one patients had stage 3A CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] 45-60 mL/min/1.73m2) and 7 patients had stage 3B CKD (eGFR 30-45 mL/min/1.73m2). The overall rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) 12 weeks after completion of therapy (SVR12) was 85.7% (24/28). SVR12 in stage 3A CKD patients was 81.0% (17/21) and in stage 3B CKD patients, SVR12 was 100% (7/7). Based on the treatment regimen used, the SVR12 was 81.8% (9/11), 92.3% (12/13), and 75.0% (3/4) for SOF/ledipasvir (LDV), SOF/simeprevir (SIM), and SOF/pegylated interferon (PEG)/ribavirin (RBV), respectively. Greater than 30% reduction eGFR was observed in 4 out of 28 patients. Conclusions SOF-based regimens resulted in high SVR12 rates in patients with moderately impaired renal function. During therapy, HCV patients with CKD should be carefully monitored for worsening renal function.

Microfluidic systems made out of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) offer a platform to mimic vascular flow conditions in model systems at well-defined shear stresses. However, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that are physisorbed on the PDMS are not reliably attached under high shear stress conditions, which makes long-term experiments difficult. To overcome this limitation, we functionalized PDMS surfaces with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) by using different surface activation methods to develop a stable linkage between the PDMS surface and collagen, which served as a model ECM protein. The stability of the protein coating inside the microfluidic devices was evaluated in perfusion experiments with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 10−40 dynes/cm2 wall shear stress. To assess the stability of cell adhesion, endothelial cells were grown in a multi-shear device over a shear stress range of 20−150 dynes/cm2. Cells on the APTES-mediated collagen coating were stable over the entire shear stress range in PBS (pH 9) for 48 h. The results suggest that at high pH values, the electrostatic interaction between APTES-coated surfaces and collagen molecules offer a very promising tool to modify PDMS-based microfluidic devices for long-term endothelialization under high shear stress conditions.

Microfluidic systems based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) provide a versatile platform to study the mechanoresponse of cells in vitro. Under a shear flow, however, the stability of cells that were grown on physically adsorbed proteins is short lived, which limits long-term cell studies. To address this issue, we used (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) as a linker between PDMS and collagen. In micro-channels that were modified with APTES-anchored collagen, fibroblast cells demonstrated higher stability and better proliferation as compared to collagen that was physically adsorbed onto PDMS after oxygen plasma treatment. To assess the stability of the cellular adhesion, cells were forced in a shear flow until detachment. In devices with APTES-anchored collagen, cells showed better adhesion and proliferation at shear stresses between 11.6 and 93dyn/cm2 as compared to devices with the adsorbed collagen coating where the first cellular detachment occurred already at a shear stress of 23dyn/cm2. The APTES-attached collagen coating also contributed to an improved long-term cellular growth (observed for 48h) at different shear stress levels (10-300dyn/cm2). Attachment of collagen with the help of APTES thus is a very promising technique not only to modify the glass but also to modify the PDMS surfaces of microfluidic devices for mechanotransduction experiments.

Biofuel production is popular with biotechnologists due to the continuously increasing need for energy. One major issue is to get maximum fuel production for minimum cost. In our studies we focused on both factors and developed a method for bioethanol production by investing in low cost chemicals. We compared three chemical pretreatments (NaOH, Na2SO3 and H2O2) at 121°C temperature and 15 psi pressure for delignification to evaluate the efficacy of chemicals in pretreatment. NaOH and Na2SO3 showed comparable percentage delignification (81.3 and 80.17% respectively) while H2O2 showed 67.4% delignification. Endogenously produced cellulolytic enzyme with 30 IU/mL CMCase and 22 IU/mL FPase units was used for saccharification of exposed cellulose. An indigenously developed strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae SC36 (developed in a peptone free high gravity media) was used to ferment saccharified sugars into ethanol at 37°C fermentation temperature. We were able to convert 27% of the total bagasse (as per ...

Background and aims Many currently available direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens are less effective against HCV genotype 3 than against other HCV genotypes. The all-oral, pangenotypic DAA combination of daclatasvir (NS5A inhibitor) + sofosbuvir (nucleotide NS5B inhibitor) was studied in genotype 3-infected treatment-naive and -experienced patients (ALLY-3) who achieved rates of sustained virological response at post-treatment Week 12 (SVR12) of 90 and 86% respectively. In this analysis, we assessed whether on-treatment responses to daclatasvir + sofosbuvir in genotype 3-infected patients could predict treatment outcome. Methods In ALLY-3, treatment-naive and -experienced patients, with or without cirrhosis, were treated with daclatasvir + sofosbuvir for 12 weeks. HCV RNA kinetics and categorical virological responses on treatment were assessed. The proportions of responders and nonresponders by study week, and time to first undetectable HCV RNA, were analysed for utility in predicting treatment outcome. Results Overall, HCV RNA levels declined rapidly during Week 1 of treatment in both treatment-naive and -experienced cohorts. Although patients with cirrhosis had a slower initial virological response as measured by the proportion of patients with HCV RNA below the lower limit of quantification at Week 1, responses converged thereafter. Positive and negative predictive values calculated for on-treatment responses were generally comparable with the overall SVR12 rate and were therefore limited indicators of outcome. SVR12 rates were not impacted by time to first undetectable HCV RNA. Conclusions On-treatment responses are not useful predictors of ultimate virological response to the daclatasvir + sofosbuvir regimen.

Industrial applications need enzymes that are economically viable and highly stable in terms of reusability, thus increasing practicability. The immobilization of cellulases is reported here using different chemical methods and polymeric supports. High costs of cellulases are one of the many obstacles for commercialization of biomass biorefineries. Cellulase immobilization allows the conditions of use of enzyme again and again retaining its activity and reducing production costs to use it for industrial application. Enzyme immobilization is accomplished by adsorption, entrapment, covalent binding, cross-linking, and encapsulation. Support material acts as a carrier for immobilized enzyme, having mechanical strength, large surface area, resistance to microbial attack, and many surface groups promoting interaction with enzyme. One procedure where no support is used is the formation of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEA) in which enzyme cross-links with other enzyme-forming insoluble aggregate.

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved., Background: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common type of chronic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis. Obeticholic acid, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, has been shown to improve the histological features of NASH. Here we report results from a planned interim analysis of an ongoing, phase 3 study of obeticholic acid for NASH. Methods: In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, adult patients with definite NASH, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score of at least 4, and fibrosis stages F2-F3, or F1 with at least one accompanying comorbidity, were randomly assigned using an interactive web response system in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive oral placebo, obeticholic acid 10 mg, or obeticholic acid 25 mg daily. Patients were excluded if cirrhosis, other chronic liver disease, elevated alcohol consumption, or confounding conditions were present. The primary endpoints for the month-18 interim analysis were fibrosis improvement (≥1 stage) with no worsening of NASH, or NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis, with the study considered successful if either primary endpoint was met. Primary analyses were done by intention to treat, in patients with fibrosis stage F2-F3 who received at least one dose of treatment and reached, or would have reached, the month 18 visit by the prespecified interim analysis cutoff date. The study also evaluated other histological and biochemical markers of NASH and fibrosis, and safety. This study is ongoing, and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02548351, and EudraCT, 20150-025601-6. Findings: Between Dec 9, 2015, and Oct 26, 2018, 1968 patients with stage F1-F3 fibrosis were enrolled and received at least one dose of study treatment; 931 patients with stage F2-F3 fibrosis were included in the primary analysis (311 in the placebo group, 312 in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 308 in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). The fibrosis improvement endpoint was achieved by 37 (12%) patients in the placebo group, 55 (18%) in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group (p=0·045), and 71 (23%) in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group (p=0·0002). The NASH resolution endpoint was not met (25 [8%] patients in the placebo group, 35 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group [p=0·18], and 36 [12%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group [p=0·13]). In the safety population (1968 patients with fibrosis stages F1-F3), the most common adverse event was pruritus (123 [19%] in the placebo group, 183 [28%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 336 [51%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group); incidence was generally mild to moderate in severity. The overall safety profile was similar to that in previous studies, and incidence of serious adverse events was similar across treatment groups (75 [11%] patients in the placebo group, 72 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 93 [14%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). Interpretation: Obeticholic acid 25 mg significantly improved fibrosis and key components of NASH disease activity among patients with NASH. The results from this planned interim analysis show clinically significant histological improvement that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. This study is ongoing to assess clinical outcomes.

Erythrasma is not a life threatening disease and has got the treatment. Two to four weeks are required for the patient to respond. Antibiotics, lotions, foams, solutions, ointments and creams are used for its treatment depending upon the severity of the infection and patient profile. In some cases, disease can reoccur. Recurrence can be controlled by patient management and diagnosing any associated disease. Furthermore, it happens in patients with a medical condition that affects your immune system. In general, Erythrasma does not restrict the ability to do routine tasks.

Iron deficiency is often observed in obese individuals. The iron regulatory hormone hepcidin is regulated by iron and cytokines interleukin (IL) 6 and IL1β. We examine the relationship between obesity, circulating levels of hepcidin, and IL6 and IL1β, and other risk factors in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with iron deficiency.We collected data on 675 adult subjects (18 years old) enrolled in the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network. Subjects with transferrin saturation20% were categorized as iron deficient, whereas those with transferrin saturation ≥20% were classified as iron normal. We assessed clinical, demographic, anthropometric, laboratory, dietary, and histologic data from patients, and serum levels of hepcidin and cytokines IL6 and IL1β. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify risk factors for iron deficiency.One-third of patients (231 of 675; 34%) were iron deficient. Obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome were more common in subjects with iron deficiency (P.01), compared with those that were iron normal. Serum levels of hepcidin were significantly lower in subjects with iron deficiency (61 ± 45 vs 81 ± 51 ng/mL; P.0001). Iron deficiency was significantly associated with female gender, obesity, increased body mass index and waist circumference, presence of diabetes, lower alcohol consumption, black or American Indian/Alaska Native race (P ≤ .018), and increased levels of IL6 and IL1β (6.6 vs 4.8 for iron normal, P ≤ .0001; and 0.45 vs 0.32 for iron normal, P ≤ .005).Iron deficiency is prevalent in patients with NAFLD and associated with female gender, increased body mass index, and nonwhite race. Serum levels of hepcidin were lower in iron-deficient subjects, reflecting an appropriate physiologic response to decreased circulating levels of iron, rather than a primary cause of iron deficiency in the setting of obesity and NAFLD.

Cholestasis develops either from a defect in bile synthesis, impairment in bile secretion, or obstruction to bile flow, and is characterized by an elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase disproportionate to elevation of aminotransferase enzymes. Key elements to the diagnostic workup include visualization of the biliary tree by cholangiography and evaluation of liver histology. The hope is that recent advances in understanding the genetic factors and immune mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of cholestasis will lead to newer therapeutic interventions in the treatment of these diseases.

Hepatic encephalopathy is a chronically debilitating complication of hepatic cirrhosis. The efficacy of rifaximin, a minimally absorbed antibiotic, is well documented in the treatment of acute hepatic encephalopathy, but its efficacy for prevention of the disease has not been established. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned 299 patients who were in remission from recurrent hepatic encephalopathy resulting from chronic liver disease to receive either rifaximin, at a dose of 550 mg twice daily (140 patients), or placebo (159 patients) for 6 months. The primary efficacy end point was the time to the first breakthrough episode of hepatic encephalopathy. The key secondary end point was the time to the first hospitalization involving hepatic encephalopathy. RESULTS: Rifaximin significantly reduced the risk of an episode of hepatic encephalopathy as compared with placebo, over a 6-month period (hazard ratio with rifaximin, 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28 to 0.64; P

Sex and sex hormones can affect responses of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to metabolic stress and development of hepatocyte injury and inflammation. We collected data from 3 large US studies of patients with NAFLD (between October 2004 and June 2013) to assess the association between histologic severity and sex, menopause status, synthetic hormone use, and menstrual abnormalities in 1112 patients with a histologic diagnosis of NAFLD. We performed logistic or ordinal logistic regression models, adjusting for covariates relevant to an increase of hepatic metabolic stress. We found that pre-menopausal women were at an increased risk of lobular inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning, and Mallory-Denk bodies than men and also at an increased risk of lobular inflammation and Mallory-Denk bodies than post-menopausal women (P

There are many causes of HCC, and NAFLD/NASH is now emerging as a leading risk factor owing to the epidemic of obesity and type 2 DM. The mechanisms leading to HCC in obesity and type 2 DM likely involve interactions between several signaling pathways, including oxidative stress, inflammation, oncogenes, adiponectins, and insulin resistance associated with visceral adiposity and diabetes. Understanding the molecular signaling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of HCC will aid in the development of molecular therapies targeting specific receptors and/or signaling proteins for the prevention and treatment of HCC. In addition, a better understanding of the role of insulin and leptin resistance and adiponectin deficiency in these pathways may provide greater awareness of dietary, lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions.

A S L D A b st ra ct s rates in patients treated with DCV/ASV/BCV combined with RBV and in patients with GT1b subtype. Other baseline factors such as age, gender, BMI, IL28B genotype, HCV RNA >800,000 IU/mL, and platelet count

The High Gravity (HG) ethanol fermentation at high temperature is very attractive and promising technology for fuel ethanol production. This study was designed to improve the osmotic as well as thermal behavior of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain isolated from distillery waste. Therefore, initial pH and substrate concentrations were optimized for this strain. The S. cerevisiae was subjected to thermal treatment to improve its fermentation ability without significant yield losses. At pHo 5.0, 95g/L ethanol was produced with the productivity (Qp) value of 1.02. The activation energy Ea value calculated at 30-40oC was 16.48kcal/mol indicating the thermal tolerance of the strain SC36. The results of glucose optimization revealed that at 250g/L glucose concentration, Qp, Yp/s and Yp/x value of 1.53g/Lh, 0.443g/g substrate and 41.4g/g biomass were obtained. The strain’s potential to be able to ferment very high gravity medium is very promising for fuel ethanol production

Source Citation Nguyen-Khac E, Thevenot T, Piquet MA, et al; AAH-NAC Study Group. Glucocorticoids plus N-acetylcysteine in severe alcoholic hepatitis. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:1781-9. 22070475