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The current research was conducted to investigate and compare the role of functional foods such as probiotics and prebiotics alone or in combinations on the markers of liver damage, oxidative stress markers and inflammatory markers in the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced rats. According to the results, G3, G4 and G6 gained significant weight at the end of the study. Moreover, the weights of different organs (liver, Spleen and kidney) revealed that G1 (control negative) fed on a standard diet gained the lowest liver weight, G2 (control positive) fed on high fat diet (HFD) gained maximum weight (9.63 ± 0.46 g). In addition, the symbiotic group (G8) lowered the liver organ weight (6.77 ± 0.20 g), indicating that HFD induced fat deposition in body and other body organs. Furthermore, results of serum liver function markers were concerned, Maximum reduction of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was found among the G8 (Probiotics, GOS and Inulin) and G4 (GOS). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly reduced among all the treatments compared to the control positive. Alkaline phosphate (ALP) was reduced among G5, G6 and G7. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) remained unaffected during the trial. As far as the results of tumor necrotic factor (TNF) were concerned, probiotics and GOS groups had a significant reduction in the levels of TNF after 19 weeks of study. Upon the prebiotics and probiotics therapy, a strong association was found with the hepatic inflammation at various degrees and hepatic and portal inflammation was reduced among the symbiotic groups significantly (Chi-square value = 49.04**; P-value = 0.000; ** = Highly significant (P

Objectives: The toxicity of cadmium in various animal models, in particular the liver, has been studied. The objective of this research was to determine the antioxidant and the hepatoprotective role of Pleurotus ostreatus (PE) extract in Cadmium-intoxicated rats. Methods: Rats of the first group were used as control animals while rats of the second group were administered PE for 5 days. Animals of the third group were served as Cadmium intoxicated group and finally, rats of the fourth-group were treated orally with PE afterwards; cadmium was administered over 5 consecutive days. By using atomic absorption, the Cadmium concentration was measured in the liver. Hepatic histological changes were estimated through examination of stained tissue sections. The oxidative status in the liver was investigated through determining the concentration of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the liver homogenate. Finally the expression of Nrf2-mRNA was determined using real time PCR. Results: Cadmium induced major hepatic histopathological damage, elevated levels of cadmium, and hepatic oxidative stress where the concentration GSH, CAT, MDA and ROS were affected in the liver. Additionally, cadmium administration resulted in substantial up-regulation of Nrf2-mRNA expression. Moreover, PE attenuated the hepatic cadmium intoxication where it improved the histological impairments and the level of accumulated cadmium in liver tissue was decreased. Likewise, the treatment attenuated the oxidative stress and down-regulated the expression of Nrf2. Conclusions: Our results indicated that PE is associated with significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and alleviated the hepatotoxicity induced by cadmium chloride.

The current research was conducted to investigate and compare the role of functional foods such as probiotics and prebiotics alone or in combinations on the markers of liver damage, oxidative stress markers and inflammatory markers in the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced rats. According to the results, G3, G4 and G6 gained significant weight at the end of the study. Moreover, the weights of different organs (liver, Spleen and kidney) revealed that G1 (control negative) fed on a standard diet gained the lowest liver weight, G2 (control positive) fed on high fat diet (HFD) gained maximum weight (9.63 ± 0.46 g). In addition, the symbiotic group (G8) lowered the liver organ weight (6.77 ± 0.20 g), indicating that HFD induced fat deposition in body and other body organs. Furthermore, results of serum liver function markers were concerned, Maximum reduction of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was found among the G8 (Probiotics, GOS and Inulin) and G4 (GOS). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly reduced among all the treatments compared to the control positive. Alkaline phosphate (ALP) was reduced among G5, G6 and G7. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) remained unaffected during the trial. As far as the results of tumor necrotic factor (TNF) were concerned, probiotics and GOS groups had a significant reduction in the levels of TNF after 19 weeks of study. Upon the prebiotics and probiotics therapy, a strong association was found with the hepatic inflammation at various degrees and hepatic and portal inflammation was reduced among the symbiotic groups significantly (Chi-square value = 49.04**; P-value = 0.000; ** = Highly significant (P <.01). Overall histopathological analysis revealed reduction in the fatty vacuoles and inflammation in the treatment groups compared to control in hepatocytes. The progression of fibrosis was also reduced among the treatment groups. Conclusively, the biomarkers of NAFLD were reduced among the treatment groups compared to the control positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper (Cu) is widely used as an essential trace element in diets as well as a therapeutic chemical. However, excessive Cu has deleterious effects on organisms, including teleosts. Although numerous toxic effects of Cu have been reported, the effects of Cu exposure on the swamp eel (Monopterus albus) as well as the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. In this study, swamp eels were acutely exposed to 100, 200, and 400 μg/L of Cu for 96 h to evaluate liver histopathology, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Dissolution of hepatocyte membrane, vacuolar degeneration, and inflammatory cell infiltration were detected in the livers of the Cu-treated swamp eels, especially in the 400 μg Cu/L group. Cu-induced hepatic dysfunction was further verified by the elevated activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and transcript levels of GOT and GPT genes. In addition, Cu exposure decreased the activities of total superoxide dismutase T-SOD and catalase (CAT) and the contents of glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and increased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). Cu exposure also significantly decreased the transcript levels of glutathione synthetase (GSS) and increased the transcript levels of SOD1, SOD2, CAT, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) genes. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory genes such as interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-8 were significantly upregulated. These results indicate that Cu induces oxidative stress and inflammatory response and causes pathological changes in the liver of the swamp eel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the liver is among the primary organs susceptible to the effects of hyperglycaemia, diabetes mellitus (DM) could be a risk factor for the development and progression of liver damage. In present study, since no side-effects from the herbal medicine have been reported, the effect of silymarin on blood glucose concentration, hepatic histopathological changes and FOXA2 and FOXA3 gene expression, which are key genes in liver regeneration, was investigated. In this fundamental with experimental approach study, 40 male Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g were used. Rats were kept under the standard conditions of temperature of 20-22°C and humidity of 50% and consecutive 12-hour periods of light and darkness. Rats were randomly divided into five different groups (n=8 each), including healthy control rats, diabetic control rats, diabetic rats receiving silymarin (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg). Diabetes was induced by injecting streptozotocin (50 mg/kg B. W., i.p.). For 4 weeks silymarin groups received the drug once every three days through gavage and fasting blood glucose concentration measured once every 10 days. At the end of a month experiment, livers were harvested for hepatic histopathological and FOXA2 and FOXA3 gene expression changes analysis. In the diabetic rats treated with silymarin (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg), by comparison with the diabetic control group (p<0.05), glucose levels decreased significantly. Moreover, FOXA2 and FOXA3 expression in diabetic groups treated with silymarin significantly increased compared to diabetic control group (p<0.05). Hepatic histopathological changes were improved in the treated groups. The present study indicates that silymarin significantly decreased blood glucose concentration and increased the FOXA2 and FOXA3 gene products level. Hence, silymarin is able to improve some of the symptoms associated with diabetes and possesses hepatoprotective effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the liver is among the primary organs susceptible to the effects of hyperglycaemia, diabetes mellitus (DM) could be a risk factor for the development and progression of liver damage. In present study, since no side-effects from the herbal medicine have been reported, the effect of silymarin on blood glucose concentration, hepatic histopathological changes and FOXA2 and FOXA3 gene expression, which are key genes in liver regeneration, was investigated. In this fundamental with experimental approach study, 40 male Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g were used. Rats were kept under the standard conditions of temperature of 20-22°C and humidity of 50% and consecutive 12-hour periods of light and darkness. Rats were randomly divided into five different groups (n=8 each), including healthy control rats, diabetic control rats, diabetic rats receiving silymarin (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg). Diabetes was induced by injecting streptozotocin (50 mg/kg B.W., i.p.). For 4 weeks silymarin groups received the drug once every three days through gavage and fasting blood glucose concentration measured once every 10 days. At the end of a month experiment, livers were harvested for hepatic histopathological and FOXA2 and FOXA3 gene expression changes analysis. In the diabetic rats treated with silymarin (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg), by comparison with the diabetic control group (p

The toxicity of cadmium in various animal models, in particular the liver, has been studied. The objective of this research was to determine the antioxidant and the hepatoprotective role of Pleurotus ostreatus (PE) extract in Cadmium-intoxicated rats. Rats of the first group were used as control animals while rats of the second group were administered PE for 5 days. Animals of the third group were served as Cadmium intoxicated group and finally, rats of the fourth-group were treated orally with PE afterwards; cadmium was administered over 5 consecutive days. By using atomic absorption, the Cadmium concentration was measured in the liver. Hepatic histological changes were estimated through examination of stained tissue sections. The oxidative status in the liver was investigated through determining the concentration of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the liver homogenate. Finally the expression of Nrf2-mRNA was determined using real time PCR. Cadmium induced major hepatic histopathological damage, elevated levels of cadmium, and hepatic oxidative stress where the concentration GSH, CAT, MDA and ROS were affected in the liver. Additionally, cadmium administration resulted in substantial up-regulation of Nrf2-mRNA expression. Moreover, PE attenuated the hepatic cadmium intoxication where it improved the histological impairments and the level of accumulated cadmium in liver tissue was decreased. Likewise, the treatment attenuated the oxidative stress and down-regulated the expression of Nrf2. Our results indicated that PE is associated with significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and alleviated the hepatotoxicity induced by cadmium chloride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor necrosis factor, alpha-induced protein 8-like 2 (TIPE2) is associated with the development of hepatic inflammatory diseases. However, to date, the possible role of TIPE2 in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has not been reported. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of TIPE2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of mice with AIH. Furthermore, the liver function, pro-inflammatory cytokine production and hepatic histopathology were examined in TIPE2-deficient mice in order to evaluate whether TIPE2 is involved in the pathogenesis of AIH. A murine model of AIH was induced by treatment with concanavalin A (ConA). The expression of TIPE family members in the PBMCs was examined using reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, while the protein expression of TIPE2 was additionally detected by western blot analysis. The activity of alanine amiotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum was measured on an automated chemical analyzer to assess liver function. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-12 were measured using commercial ELISA kits. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to assess hepatic histopathology. The results showed that the expression of TIPE2 was significantly decreased in the mice with AIH. Following ConA-induced AIH, TIPE2-deficient mice had significantly increased serum ALT and AST levels, enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as more severe hepatic inflammation compared with the wild-type mice. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated, for the first time, that TIPE2 is involved in the pathogenesis of AIH. TIPE2 prevents liver dysfunction and inhibits deleterious inflammatory immune responses after AIH and may therefore serve as a novel agent for the treatment of AIH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological changes in the liver of thirty-five Gymnotus spp. parasitized by endohelminths collected between April 2012 to October 2013 in commercial bait fish farming of Pantanal basin. Histological cuts of 7μm were stained with hematoxylin-eosin for parasites research and liver changes and have also been submitted to the Perls histochemical method for evaluation of hemosiderosis (Fe+++) based on the incidence degree and severity of change (Grade I, II and III) and tests for the presence of central melanomacrophages. Parasites identified were: Brevimulticaecum sp. with a prevalence of 22,9%, Eustrongylides sp 17,1%, Contracaecum type I 68,7%, Contracaecum type II 5,7%, Contracaecum type III 5,7% and larvae of Anisakidae 11,4%. Histological analysis showed intense disorganization of hepatic parenchyma with degenerate hepatocytes due to high parasitic infection, changes that can be deleterious and compromise the organism functioning, being harmful to the health of evaluated animals. Also evidencing normal tissue interleaved with different stages of Fe+++ deposit in grades II and III, injuring or destroing the cell. Histopathological changes in the tuvira's liver suggested a chronic response and the development of a balance relation between tuvira and parasitism by endohelminth identified in this study. There are also a testimony to the health condition of commercial bait fish farming on current ecosystem conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the responses of meat ducks of 15 to 35 d of age to free gossypol (FG) from cottonseed meal (CSM) and to establish the maximum limits of dietary FG concentration based on growth performance, blood parameters, and tissue residues of gossypol. Nine hundred 15-d-old ducks were randomly allocated to 5 treatments with 10 cages/treatment and 18 ducks/cage on the basis of BW. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric experimental diets were formulated on a digestible amino acid basis to produce diets in which 0% (without FG), 25% (36mg FG/kg), 50% (75mg FG/kg), 75% (111 mg FG/kg), and 100% (153 mg FG/kg) of protein from soybean meal were replaced by that from CSM. Increasing dietary FG content, BW, and ADG decreased (linearly, P < 0.05, except for ADG of days 29 to 35), and F/G linearly increased (P < 0.05). At 35 d, blood hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration linearly decreased (P < 0.05), while serum total protein, albumin, and globulin content linearly decreased (P < 0.05), and the residue of gossypol in liver, kidney, heart, breast, and leg muscle linearly increased (P < 0.001) with increases in dietary FG concentration. Ducks fed 36 mg FG/kg (5.83% CSM of diet) diet had a normal histological structure of liver, and muscle (breast and leg) had no residue of gossypol. The maximum limit of dietary FG concentration was estimated to range from a low of 36 mg/kg to maximize serum globulin concentration to a high of 124 mg/kg to minimize feed intake for 22 to 28d on the basis of a quadratic broken-line model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of Ficus carica mixture and Olea europaea leaf nano extracts, and liraglutide, on liver tissue and serum lipids in type 2 diabetic male albino rat model. Forty rats were divided equally into 4 groups were used. Group 1 was the non-diabetic control group. The animals in Groups 2–4 was injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of 60 mg/kg b.w. Streptozotocin to induce a diabetic rat model. Group 2 served as a positive control for diabetes. 0.02 mg/kg b.w./day of Liraglutide gave to groups 3 and 4 and 4.8 ng/ml × 105 b.w./day of a mixture of the nano extracts, respectively. Eight weeks after treatment, the animals were sacrificed. Blood was collected for glucose analysis and serum low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and triglycerides analysis, and the livers processed for histopathological examination. The elevated lipid profiles and blood glucose levels in diabetic group (Group 2) were significantly reduced (p < 0.001) following the administration of liraglutide and nano extracts in Groups 3 and 4. Progressive fatty acid changes were found in the liver sections, indicated by the deposition of various sizes of lipid droplets in most liver lobules, along with patchy hepatocyte necrosis. These pathological changes were ameliorated in the liraglutide- and nano-extract-treated rats. Treatment with the nano extracts resulted in significant power assays associated with recovery of hepatic histology and functional alterations, compared to liraglutide treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of gossypol from cottonseed meal (CSM) on growth performance, blood biochemical profiles, and liver histopathology of ducks. A total of 900 1-d-old ducks were randomly allocated to 5 treatments with 12 pens/treatment and 15 ducks/pen. The 5 experimental diets were formulated in such a way that 0% (a corn-soybean meal basal diet, diet 1), 25% (diet 2), 50% (diet 3), 75% (diet 4), and 100% (diet 5) of protein from soybean meal were replaced with that from CSM. All diets were formulated on a digestible amino acid basis. The experiment included 2 phases, the starter phase (1 to 3 wk) where the test diets contained graded levels of CSM and the growth phase (4 to 5 wk) where birds were fed a corn-soybean basal diet to examine the recovery of ducks after CSM withdrawal. Dietary CSM and gossypol linearly (P < 0.01) and quadratically (P < 0.01) decreased ADG and ADFI during d 1 to 14. The threshold of daily total gossypol (TG) and free gossypol (FG) intake based on ADG on d 1 to 7 and d 7 to 14 were 32.20 and 2.64 mg/d, and 92.12 and 9.62 mg/d, respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase increased (P < 0.05) linearly with increasing level of gossypol in the diets (d 7), whereas aspartate aminotransferase increased (P < 0.05) linearly and quadratically (d 14). Serum albumin concentration decreased (P < 0.05) quadratically with increasing dietary CSM concentrations on d 21. The degree of damage to the liver increased markedly with increasing dietary CSM and gossypol content and the length of CSM and gossypol intake. On d 35, there was no difference on BW and blood profiles of ducks among all treatments. These results suggest that meat ducks' dietary TG and FG concentration should be lower than 928.9 and 77.2 mg/kg, respectively, during d 1 to 21 of age and that a 2-wk withdrawal of diets containing gossypol should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histopathological examination of the liver is the most direct method for evaluating the pathological changes of the liver in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus ( HBV) infection. Generally, the patients with chronic HBV infection who show normal or slightly elevated serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels ( <2 x ULN) are considered to have mild hepatic fibrosis or inflammation. However, in recent years, many scholars have found that some patients with serum ALT levels below 2 x ULN have severe pathological changes. The relationship between clinical features and pathological changes of the liver in patients with chronic HBV infection is reviewed, and the pathological and clinical features of chronic HBV infection patients with serum ALT levels below 2 x ULN are understood systematically. Age, sex, HBeAg status, HBV DNA level, and ALT level are considered to have certain relationship with these features. Monitoring of these factors is helpful for comprehensive evaluation of pathological changes of the liver in patients with chronic HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the effects of maize naturally contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on growth performance, blood profiles, and hepatic histopathology in ducks. A total of 640 ducks were blocked on the basis of sex and body weight, and then allocated randomly to 5 treatments with 8 pens per treatment and 16 ducks per pen. The experiment lasted for 5 wk, and dietary treatments included control diet (CON) and diets with 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of normal maize replaced by AFB1 contaminated maize. Detectable levels of other toxins were present but only AFB1 exceeded limits and the level of AFB1 was 196.8μg/kg in the contaminated maize and ranged from 2.45 to 128.7μg/kg in the starter diet and 2.02 to 157.2μg/kg in the grower diet. Feeding AFB1 contaminated diets decreased (P<0.05) ADG and ADFI linearly and quadratically during the whole experiment, whereas overall F/G was reduced linearly (P<0.05). The mortality of ducks fed AFB1 contaminated diets linearly and quadratically increased (P<0.05). The red blood cell counts, hemoglobin amounts, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were reduced (P<0.05) linearly on d 14, while mean corpuscular volume increased (P<0.05) quadratically on d 14 and linearly on d 35 in response to AFB1 contaminated diets. Feeding AFB1 contaminated diets increased (P<0.05) the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) linearly, while it decreased (P<0.05) the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and Mg linearly on d 14. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and AST increased (P<0.05) linearly, while the levels of TC and TG reduced (P<0.05) linearly on d 35. The activity of ALT also showed quadratic response (P<0.05) on d 14 and 35. The extent of damaged livers was increased by the inclusion of high levels of AFB1 contaminated maize. In conclusion, the feeding of maize naturally contaminated with AFB1 decreased growth performance, altered the blood profiles, and damaged the liver tissues in ducks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and insulin resistance are common consequences of obesity and are highly prevalent among patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Insulin resistance and NAFLD have been reported to be associated with postoperative complications following major surgery. Methods: We prospectively evaluated complications in a cohort of 437 consecutive patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Detailed metabolic profile was obtained prior to surgery, and liver biopsies were taken routinely during surgery. Results: Mean age was 47.8 years (20-77), and mean body mass index (BMI) was 48.5 kg/m (32-94). Common co-morbid conditions were metabolic syndrome (79%), obstructive sleep apnea (73%), and hypertension (60%). Seventy-seven percent underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 15% biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, and 8% adjustable gastric banding. The operative approach was laparoscopic in 81% of patients. Liver histology was normal in 22% of patients. Seventy-eight percent of patients had NAFLD. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was present in 18%. Advanced fibrosis (stage 3-4) was present in 5%. Complications were observed in 25% of the cohort, the most frequent being infection, occurring in 14%. The wound was the most frequent site of infection (9%). There were no cases of postoperative hepatic decompensation. Reoperation was necessary in 7%. In univariate analysis, the factors associated with complications were male gender ( p = 0.009), type and approach of surgery ( p = 0.023 and p = 0.0001, respectively), BMI ( p = 0.000), serum creatinine ( p = 0.023), and serum albumin ( p = 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, the independent factors associated with complications in bariatric surgery were BMI (OR 1.039, 95% CI 1.010-1.068; p = 0.008), surgical approach (OR 2.696, 95% CI 1.547-4.698; p = 0.000), and serum albumin (OR 0.416, 95% CI 0.176-0.978; p = 0.044). NASH was not predictive of complications. Conclusions: Bariatric surgery is a safe and efficient treatment for obesity. The occurrence of NAFLD or NASH without portal hypertension should not preclude the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We present the preoperative findings of 102 patients who underwent successful splenectomy for advanced schistosomiasis japonica. All patients were symptomatic for schistosomiasis and had splenomegaly greater than or equal to II according to the Hackett criteria. Before surgery, all patients underwent clinical examination including full blood count; fibrinogen and serum protein levels; liver function tests; and serology for hepatitis B, C, and D. Ultrasound examination of the liver and spleen and liver histology for evidence of pathology were also undertaken. Ninety patients had a treatment history for schistosomiasis. Fifty-six patients were seropositive for hepatitis B virus antibody, and 6 patients were seropositive for hepatitis C virus antibody. Immunohistochemical testing of the liver samples confirmed that 45 patients were positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen, thereby indicating active infection. A total of 66.7% of patients had fibrosis stages II to III by ultrasound; and 76.5% of patients had portal vein inner diameter greater than 12 mm, indicating portal vein hypertension. A total of 83.2% of patients showed various stages of esophageal varicosis via x-ray, and 81.4% had fibrotic stages III to IV by liver biopsy. Coinfection with hepatitis B virus accelerated the development of liver fibrosis. There was moderate concordance between the fibrosis assessed by ultrasonography and histopathology, indicating that ultrasound underestimates the true pathology. Combined assessment is needed to improve the diagnosis of clinical hepatic fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common and potentially serious form of chronic liver disease. Although NAFLD is known to be associated with obesity and some comorbid conditions, less is known about the severity of NAFLD among different racial groups. Methods: We prospectively studied 237 consecutive morbidly obese patients presenting for bariatric surgery. All patients underwent intraoperative liver biopsy and chart review. After excluding subjects who reported alcohol use (n = 37) or who had missing biopsy data (n = 11), 189 patients were available for analysis. Clinical and laboratory associations with each of the histological components of NAFLD were assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean age was 43.1 years, 84% were female, and 13% were African American. It was found that 88% had steatosis, including 35% with moderate to severe steatosis (> 33% of hepatocytes involved). Of these patients, 67% had inflammation, 46% had fibrosis, and 45% met Brunt’s criteria for NASH. Compared with Caucasians and after adjustment, African Americans had significantly lower odds of severe hepatic pathology, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.1 (P = .02) for the presence of moderate or severe steatosis, 0.2 for inflammation (P = .006), 0.3 for fibrosis (P = .05), and 0.2 for NASH (P = .02). In addition, participants with one or more features of the metabolic syndrome (ie, diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia) or elevated aminotransferase levels had significantly higher odds of severe hepatic histopathology. Conclusion: Among obese patients presenting for bariatric surgery, NAFLD is more common in Caucasians, patients with features of the metabolic syndrome, and those with elevated aminotransferase levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Compared to either drug alone, therapy with the combination of ribavirin and interferon-alpha leads to improved rates of response in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Side effects often mandate downward dose adjustment or cessation of therapy, and the optimal dose of ribavirin has not been established. The aim of this study was to learn whether 600 mg ribavirin per day would prove as efficacious as 1,000-1,200 mg/day when combined with interferon (3 million units thrice weekly) for therapy of patients previously treated with standard interferon who had failed to respond or who had relapsed. We enrolled 69 patients with chronic hepatitis C and compensated liver disease: 45 were men, 65 were Caucasian, 48 were infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus. By random assignment, 35 received 600 mg ribavirin/day (group A), whereas the other 34 received 1,000 mg (< or = 75 kg body wt) or 1,200 mg/day (>75 kg body wt) (group B). At baseline, the two groups were well matched for demographic and laboratory features. In both groups, mean serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis C viral (HCV) RNA levels fell promptly and remained significantly lower than baseline throughout 24 weeks of therapy. There was no significant difference in mean levels of ALT or HCV RNA during therapy or at the end of follow-up (24 weeks after cessation of therapy). At the end of 24 weeks of posttherapy follow-up, 12 patients in each group had undetectable HCV RNA in serum, whereas 11 (31%) in group A and 9 (26.5%) in group B had normal serum ALT levels. The lower doses of ribavirin (group A) were tolerated better. In conclusion, in previous nonresponders or relapsers to interferon done, combination therapy with interferon-alpha2b (3 MU thrice weekly) + 600 mg ribavirin/day is tolerated better and is as effective as interferon plus higher (standard) doses of ribavirin (1,000-1,200 mg/day). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus could be result from disorders in insulin secretion or receptors, characterized by hyperglycemia. Natural antioxidants including pomegranate have hypoglycemic effect., Aim of the Work: The present research was designed to evaluate the possible protective role of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) against diabetic-induced hepatic complication., Materials and Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats, weighed 200-250 g and aged 3 months, were sorted into four groups: Group 1: Used as control, Group 2: Normal rats received PPE (200 mg/kg bw/day) given orally for 11 consecutive weeks. Group 3: Streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats, injected with 55 mg/kg bw of STZ, and Group 4: Normal rats received PPE for 11 weeks and then rats were injected with STZ (55 mg/kg/bw). Effectiveness of the PPE was assessed by measuring serum glucose and histopathology of liver tissue. Liver enzymes were also assayed. PPE was found to control diabetic hyperglycemia and decrease in body weight. Histological examination showed that pretreatment with PPE provided preservation against diabetes-induced hepatic histological changes (necrotic and apoptosis)., Result: Alanine aminotransferase, alanine phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly elevated in Group 3 diabetics and decreased in Group 4 which confirmed histological finding., Conclusion: This study confirmed the hypothesized possible protective effect of PPE against diabetic-induced histological and functional alteration of rat liver and advised its use by diabetic patients., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2019 Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure.)

Tumor necrosis factor, alpha-induced protein 8-like 2 (TIPE2) is associated with the development of hepatic inflammatory diseases. However, to date, the possible role of TIPE2 in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has not been reported. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of TIPE2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of mice with AIH. Furthermore, the liver function, pro-inflammatory cytokine production and hepatic histopathology were examined in TIPE2-deficient mice in order to evaluate whether TIPE2 is involved in the pathogenesis of AIH. A murine model of AIH was induced by treatment with concanavalin A (ConA). The expression of TIPE family members in the PBMCs was examined using reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, while the protein expression of TIPE2 was additionally detected by western blot analysis. The activity of alanine amiotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum was measured on an automated chemical analyzer to assess liver function. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-12 were measured using commercial ELISA kits. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to assess hepatic histopathology. The results showed that the expression of TIPE2 was significantly decreased in the mice with AIH. Following ConA-induced AIH, TIPE2-deficient mice had significantly increased serum ALT and AST levels, enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as more severe hepatic inflammation compared with the wild-type mice. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated, for the first time, that TIPE2 is involved in the pathogenesis of AIH. TIPE2 prevents liver dysfunction and inhibits deleterious inflammatory immune responses after AIH and may therefore serve as a novel agent for the treatment of AIH.