Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:2.6.1.1 (aspartate aminotransferase)
21,665 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Liver biopsy is thought mandatory for management in patients with hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) especially for histopathological grading and staging of the disease to assess suitability for treatment and monitoring disease progression. However, tracking of liver disease progression can't rely on repeated biopsies. The study aimed to evaluate two significant items, we try to develop and validate a non-invasive predictive tool to assess hepatic necro-inflammation and fibrosis. Also, to determine factors that associate severity of hepatic pathology in HCV infected Egyptian patients particularly at Sharkia G. The study included 109 patients with detectable HCV by Real Time-PCR. The patients were classified into three different pathological stages and grades according to the new concept of histopathoglical staging and grading. The different clinical, biochemical, virological and ultra-sonographic parameters were assessed and analyzed and the variables that showed significant association with histopathological staging and grading were included in multivariate logistic regression analysis. The regression model revealed that, platelet count, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), portal vein diameter, splenic longitudinal axis, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and viral load were the factors that add significance to the model in decreasing order of significance. From these findings we generate a new score ranged from 0-9. The score model was applied to our patients to assess its validity where it proved to be accurate in discriminating patients with mild inflammation and fibrosis (sensitivity 81.8%, specificity 80.5% and accuracy 80.7%) and more accurate in detecting patients with cirrhosis (specificity 96.6%, sensitivity 80% & accuracy 93.6%) but less accurate in detecting patients with moderate to severe fibrosis (specificity 66.7%, sensitivity 68.7% & accuracy 67.9%). Also the results revealed that, co-infection with schistosomiasis, old age > or = 45 years and positive history of blood transfusion as a source of infection was significantly associated with severe hepatic pathology. It is concluded that, the score model can't completely replace liver biopsy but at least it could be used to substantially reduce the number of liver biopsies done in patients with HCV infection in assessing disease progression during follow up. Also, it can be used to make decisions about treatment in patients who have contraindications to or who refused liver biopsy. Co-infection with schistosomiasis, age > or = 45 and positive history of blood transfusion in patients with HCV warrant special attention with more intensive follow up. These factors may play a major role in forecasting the course of HCV as well as in determining the therapeutic approach in each case.
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PMID:Non-invasive markers and predictors of severity of hepatic fibrosis in HCV patients at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. 1512 53

To investigate whether infection with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) affects fibrosis development in patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni, we evaluated schistosomiasis-induced pathology in the livers of Kenyan patients co-infected with HIV-1. Compared with persons with schistosomiasis alone (n = 58), there were no significant differences in distribution of ultrasound-detectable pathology in persons with HIV-1 co-infection (n = 23). Similarly, serum aspartate aminotransferase levels were not significantly different in HIV-1+ individuals. Hepatic fibrosis was associated with significantly decreased CD4+ T cell counts, even in the absence of HIV-1 infection. These data suggest that HIV-1 co-infection does not significantly alter the proportion of patients experiencing schistosomiasis-induced fibrosis, but pathology associated with S. mansoni infections leads to CD4+ T cell reductions and thereby may exacerbate the effects of HIV-1 in co-infected individuals.
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PMID:Short report: Evaluation of hepatic fibrosis in persons co-infected with Schistosoma mansoni and human immunodeficiency virus 1. 1564 72

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide with a prevalence of approximately 14% in Egypt. IL-10 is a cytokine produced by Th2 cells. It down-regulates the proinflammatory response and modulates hepatic fibrogenesis. IL-12 is produced by antigen presenting cells. It promotes Th1 cell response and has many antiviral properties. Data concerning the Th-1/Th-2 balance in chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) are rather conflicting. Using ELISA, we assessed serum IL-10 and IL-12p40 levels in 66 Egyptian patients with HCV-related liver illness (CH-C, cirrhosis, and HCC), and their relationship to disease activity. Our results showed that spontaneous IL-10 was undetectable in patients with CH-C, HCC or controls. Only 5/22 (23%) of patients with cirrhosis showed detectable levels of IL-10. IL-12p40 was elevated in the patient groups compared to controls (p= 0.01, p= 0.01, p= 0.05 in CH-C, cirrhosis and HCC, respectively). The presence of IL-12p40 was associated with HCV level of viremia and serum AST. Serum ALT level was significantly associated with the level of IL-12p40. IL-12p40 was unrelated to liver histology or fibrosis. We concluded that in the Egyptian patients an augmentation of IL-12p40 and a suppression of IL-10 are both found. Whether this pattern is related to HCV genotype 4, or to the presence of schistosomiasis would need to be further investigated.
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PMID:IL-10 and IL-12p40 in Egyptian patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease. 1571 17

Praziquantel (PZQ) is widely and effectively used in the control of bilharziasis which constitutes a major endemic health problem in Egypt. However, recent studies recommended that the drug must be re-evaluated because of its potential carcinogenicity and genotoxicity. Mirazid is a new natural anti-schistosomal drug formed of myrrh extract and considered to be a safe drug. This work was conducted to evaluate and compare hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of PZQ and Mirazid on adult male albino rats by assessment of serum levels of ALT, AST and bilirubin, histopathological study of the liver and cytogenetic study of bone marrow cells. 100 adult male albino rats were equally divided into 4 groups: (I): negative control, (II): control rats received distilled water, (III): received weekly single oral dose of PZQ (1500 mg/kg) for 6 weeks, (IV): received daily oral dose of Mirazid (500 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. At the end of the study 10 rats of each group were investigated by assessment of the levels of AST, ALT, & Bilirubin. After scarification, liver sections were examined by light microscopy. Another 10 rats of each group were submitted to cytogenetic examination. It was found that praziquantel induced a significant increase in the mean values of AST, ALT and bilirubin with areas of hyaline degeneration, fatty changes, dysplasia and necrosis in the liver sections. It also induced a significant increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations as polyploidy, fragment, deletion and ring chromosome as compared with control group. Mirazid induced a non significant increase in the mean values of AST, ALT and bilirubin, with a normal hepatic tissue, and a non significant increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations, as compared with the control group. On comparing both drugs, praziquantel induced a significant hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. It was concluded that, Praziquantel is considered to be a hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic drug. On the other hand, Mirazid seemed to be a safe and promising antiparasitic drug, free from hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects.
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PMID:Comparative study of the hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of praziquantel distocide & the natural myrrh extract Mirazid on adult male albino rats. 1588 Oct 15

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-schistosomal activity of colostral and mature camel milk on Schistosoma mansoni infected mice. Six weeks post infection, mean percentage of protection was detected through the hepatic portal vein. Glutathione-s-transferase (GST), alanine, aspartate transaminase (ALT and AST) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were detected in sera of treated mice before and after infection. Antischistosomal activity of colostral and mature camel milk on Schistosoma mansoni infected mice were 12.81% and 31.60% respectively. The results showed that GST levels in sera of mice fed on colostral and mature camel milk were increased with mean values of 0.070, 0.108, 0.128 and 0.120 in colostral milk groups and 0. 072, 0.085, 0.166 and 0.20 in mature camel milk groups compared with the mice fed on basal diet with means values of 0.070, 0.085, 0.078 and 0.069 before infection and after two, four and six weeks of infection, respectively. On the other hand, there were slight differences on ALT and AST activities. Mice treated with colostral and mature milk (200 microl/day) showed an immunostimulatory effect by inducing IgG titers against soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP) compared with control. Nevertheless, the difference was not considered significant (0.31 +/- 0.1) for colostrum (0.34 +/- 0.1) and for mature milk, as compared to normal control (0.2 +/- 0.04). Two, four and six weeks post infection, IgG level showed no significant change in sera from mice treated with colostral and mature milk as compared to control. In conclusion, colostral and mature camel milk showed an immuno-modualatory effect in normal healthy mice by inducing IgG and GST levels before and after infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Colostral and mature camel milk have a protective response against schistosomiasis.
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PMID:Anti-schistosomal activity of colostral and mature camel milk on Schistosoma mansoni infected mice. 1632 52

The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective immunity of excretory-secretory products of Fasciola hepatica (FhES) worm against S.mansoni infection in mice. Evaluation of FhES antigen was through measuring worm burden, ova count, granuloma size and frequency as well as the histopathological picture of the liver. The study was extended to determine the level of free radical scavengers; lipid peroxide, glutathione (GSH), vitamin C, vitamin E, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Liver function enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were also taken into consideration. Four groups of eight mice each were selected for this study. Group 1 served as control group. Group 2: normal healthy mice vaccinated with FhES product. Group 3: S.mansoni infected mice for 2 months and group 4: infected mice pre-vaccinated with FhES antigen. Vaccination schedule comprised of a single subcutaneous injection of FhES antigen emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant in a dose 0.5 mg protein/mouse, followed by intraperitoneal injections of the same antigen without adjuvant in 3 doses/week for 3 successive weeks. The total antigen inoculation was 5 mg protein/mouse. The present results revealed a drastic change in all the measured parameters after S.mansoni infection and a noticeable improved level after vaccination with FhES antigen. It can be concluded that FhES antigen succeeded to protect mice against schistosomiasis by a significant reduction in worm burden, ova count, granuloma size and number, improvement in the histopathological architecture of the liver as well as amelioration in the antioxidant levels under investigation.
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PMID:Excretory-secretory product of fasciola hepatica worm protects against Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice. 1687 44

In this study, twenty HCV/PCR-RNA positive patients with neither infection nor infestation were 15 males and five females with ages ranging between 17-78 years old. Liver function tests: S. albumin was decreased in 15 patients (75%), total protein decreased in 3 patients (15%), total bilirubin increased in 7 patients (35%), AST/ALT increased in 3 patients (15%). Globulin value increased in 15 patients (75%). A/G ratio decreased in 12 (60%). Ten normal individuals (five males & five females), gave normal findings. However, a 19 years-old female had non significant elevation (0.26 mg/dl) in direct bilirubin. Liver function tests: one patient had increased AST/ALT, Globulin value decreesed (-0.2) in another one (10%) and A/G ratio increased (+0.3 to +0.6) in three (30%) individuals. Twenty randomly selected patients (15 males and five females) HCV/3rd generation ELISA showed ALT elevation in 17 (85%), AST in all (100%), S. albumin decreased in 9 (45%), and increased in 1 (5%). Total protein decreased in 3 (15%), total bilirubin increased in 7 (35%) and direct bilirubin in 4 (20%), AST/ALT value increased in 3 patients (15%), Globulin value increased in 15 patients (75%). A/G ratio decreased in 12 (60%). Three patients had schistosomiasis, one 30 years old male had increased AST/ALT, normal globulin, increased A/G and positive HBs-Ag. The second one was a 33-year-old male had normal AST/ALT, normal globulin, increased A/G and positive HBs-Ag. The third patient was a 19-year-old female with normal AST/ALT and normal globulin, increased A/G and positive HBs-Ag. Two patients had fascioliasis, one was a 20-year-old male with increased AST/ALT, globulin normal, A/G normal and negative HBs-Ag. The second one was a 26-year-old female with normal AST/ALT and normal globulin, increased A/G and positive HBs-Ag. The other four positive HBs-Ag patients were parasite-free. Also, the other HCV/ELISA positive were negative for HBs-Ag. HCV/ELISA may have cross-reacted with HBs-Ag and/or with elevated ALT and gave false positive HCV. The 3rd generation ELISA in detection of HCV was not as sensitive as PCR/RNA. Out of 41 fascioliasis patients (26 males & 15 females), 14 were positive HCV/ELISA (34.1%), but only six were positive HCV/PCR (14.6%). ALT increased in 18 fascioliasis patients (43.9%), AST in 23 patients (56.1%) but, albumin decreased in 7 patients (17.1%), total protein decreased in 5 (12.2%), but total bilirubin increased in 14 (34.1%) and direct bilirubin increased in 2 (4.9%). Liver function tests of 14 fascioliasis and ELISA positive HCV showed AST/ALT increased in 6 (42.9%), globulin increased in 3 (21.4%) and decreased in 6 (42.8%). A/G decreased in 4 (28.6%) and increased in 8 (57.2%). Liver function tests of pure 27 fascioliasis patients showed that AST /ALT increased in 8 (29.6%), globulin increased in one patient (3.7%) but decreased in 10 (37.0%) and A/G ratio increased in 13 (48.1%).
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PMID:The liver profile in patients with hepatitis C virus and/or fascioliasis. 1692 59

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) exerts a broad range of biologic actions that may include modulation of hepatic granuloma formation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of VIP administration on the course of acute murine schistosomiasis mansoni. Mice were infected each with 40 Schistosoma (S.) mansoni cercariae and injected intraperitoneally with VIP at a total dose of 1mug/kg body weight. VIP treatment was very effective in diminishing worm fecundity, hepatic granuloma size and number by about 54%, 75% and 51%, respectively, and reducing liver collagen content. Serum level of interleukin (IL)-10 was increased, while level of IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were decreased as a result of VIP administration. Carbohydrate antigen 19.9 (CA 19.9) induced by S. mansoni infection was decreased with VIP treatment. Activities of hepatic gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in liver tissue homogenate of infected treated mice were increased. These results indicate that suitable administration of exogenous VIP can be effective in ameliorating immunopathologic damage associated with schistosomiasis.
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PMID:Vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibits liver pathology in acute murine schistosomiasis mansoni and modulates IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-alpha production. 1786 38

In areas where there is a low prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni, faecal examination is a relatively insensitive method of detection and infected people may also be missed because most show only mild morbidity. In such settings, serology may be a more useful diagnostic tool than microscopy. In the present study, the clinical and biochemical characteristics of individuals who were stool-positive for Schistosoma mansoni eggs were compared with those of individuals, from the same low-prevalence area of Brazil, who were stool-negative but seropositive for the parasite. Overall, 269 subjects were checked both for schistosome eggs in their faeces (using Kato-Katz smears and Lutz sedimentation) and for anti-S. mansoni IgG in their sera (using an ELISA). Although 128 (48%) of these subjects were found seropositive, only 26 (10%) were found to be egg excretors and two of the egg excretors were seronegative. Compared with the seropositive egg-negatives, the egg excretors had significantly higher frequencies of fatigue, melaena, jaundice and swelling of the abdomen. The egg excretors also had higher frequencies of hepatomegaly (20% v. 16%) and splenomegaly (4% v. 1%). In both groups of subjects, mean concentrations of serum proteins and haemoglobin and mean leucocyte counts were in the normal range whereas most blood concentrations of alanine aminotransferase and many of those of aspartate aminotransferase were slightly elevated. Although the egg excretors tended to have low-intensity infections, it seems possible that the seropositive nonexcretors had even milder infections that could not be detected by faecal examination. The high frequency of cure observed when the egg excretors were given praziquantel at 40 mg/kg (94%) is probably another indication that most had light infections when they were treated.
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PMID:Schistosoma mansoni-related morbidity in a low-prevalence area of Brazil: a comparison between egg excretors and seropositive non-excretors. 1787 76

To investigate whether infection of Swiss outbred mice with the digenetic fluke Schistosoma mansoni is influenced by exposure to environmental pollutants, experimentally infected mice were exposed to 200 and 400 mg/kg of malathion. Pathology of liver and spleen, worm burden and levels of key hematological, biochemical and liver enzymes parameters of these mice were evaluated and were compared with data from infected, unexposed mice, uninfected, exposed mice as well as with data from uninfected, unexposed mice. Oral administration of malathion to mice infected with 20, 40 or 60 S. mansoni cercariae adversely affect architecture of liver and spleen and critically alter hematological, biochemical, histological and hepatic enzymes parameters significantly more than the controls. Alterations observed in infected, exposed mice included (i) higher mortality rate; (ii) severe pathologies in liver and spleen; (iii) increased serum level of bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) enzymes; (iv) decreased serum level of albumin and total proteins; and (v) decreased red blood cell count (RBC), lymphocytes, leucocytic count, and hemoglobin content. The number of recovered adult worms of S. mansoni or their oviposition capacity did not seem to be affected with malathion treatment. Statistical analysis revealed that the increase alteration in hepatic functions is correlated with increasing the number of S. mansoni cercariae and malathion doses. Such alterations were more significant in mice treated with the higher dose of malathion or infected with the largest numbers of S. mansoni cercariae. These data indicate that schistosomiasis can be exacerbated by simultaneous malathion exposure, which in turn adversely impact the clinical and pathological outcome of the disease.
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PMID:Clinico-pathological effects of Schistosoma mansoni infection associated with simultaneous exposure to malathion in Swiss outbred albino mice. 1872 91


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