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)

The hepatoprotective activity of crude extract of artemisia scoparia (aerial parts) was investigated against experimentally produced hepatic damage using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) as a model hepatotoxin. CCl4 at the dose of 1.5 ml/kg, produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the rise in serum levels of AST and ALT to 395 +/- 110 and 258 +/- 61 IU/l (mean +/- SEM; n = 10) respectively, compared to control values of 106 +/- 15 and 26 +/- 04. Pretreatment of rats with plant extract (150 mg/kg) significantly lowered (P < 0.01), the respective serum GOT and GPT levels to 93 +/- 05 and 27 +/- 03 IU/l, indicating hepatoprotective action. Pentobarbital sodium (75 mg/kg)-induced sleeping time in mice was found to be 140.8 +/- 1.5 min (n = 10) which was similar (P > 0.05) to that obtained in the group of animals pretreated with the plant extract (139.9 +/- 1.8 min). CCl4 treatment extended the pentobarbital sleeping time to 212.2 +/- 19.1 min and pretreatment of animals with plant extract reversed the CCl4-induced prolongation in pentobarbital sleeping time to 143.9 +/- 5.5 min (P < 0.001) which further confirms the protective action of the plant extract against CCl4-induced liver damage. These data indicate that the plant artemisia scoparia is hepatoprotective and validate the folkloric use of this plant in liver damage.
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PMID:Hepatoprotective effects of artemisia scoparia against carbon tetrachloride: an environmental contaminant. 804 Oct 1

In order to assess the liver protective activity and the antioxidant properties of a new silybin complex (IdB1016), we carried out a short-term pilot study on 20 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH), randomly assigned to 240 mg of silybin b.i.d. (10 patients, 4 m/6 f, mean age: 50 years) or placebo (10 patients, 2 m/8 f, mean age: 55 years). Blood samples were collected before and after 7 days of treatment for liver function tests (LFTs), malonaldehyde (MDA) as an index of lipid peroxidation, and copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), two trace elements involved in protecting cells against free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation. In the treated group, there was a statistically significant reduction of mean (+/- SEM) serum concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) from 88.0 (+/- 13.3) to 65.9 (+/- 7.5) u/l, (p < 0.01), of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) from 115.9 (+/- 12.9) to 82.5 (+/- 10.6) u/l (p < 0.01), of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT) from 51.4 (+/- 9.3) to 41.3 (+/- 4.2) u/l (p < 0.02) and of total bilirubin (TB) from 0.76 (+/- 0.08) to 0.53 (+/- 0.04) mg/dl (p < 0.05). Alkaline phosphatase (AP) fell slightly from 143.4 (+/- 6.4) to 137.5 (+/- 7.8) u/l. There were no significant changes in MDA, Cu or Zn serum concentrations. These results show that IdB1016 may improve LFTs related to hepatocellular necrosis and/or increases membrane permeability in patients affected by CAH.
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PMID:A pilot study on the liver protective effect of silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex (IdB1016) in chronic active hepatitis. 822 95

Cell damage within the sinusoidal lining of human liver grafts during transplantation is an early event that is critical in ischemia-reperfusion injury and probably plays a key role in primary liver dysfunction after transplantation. No simple biochemical marker for sinusoidal injury is currently available. Because creatine kinase activity has been described in heart endothelial cells, we hypothesized that release of this enzyme might serve as an index of sinusoidal injury. To test this hypothesis, we used several in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Occlusion of the rat hepatic pedicle in situ for 60 min (normothermic ischemia) induced a significant increase in serum creatine kinase levels relative to those in laparotomized controls (2,530 +/- 530 vs. 389 +/- 64 IU/L, mean +/- SEM; p < 0.005). In the isolated perfused rat liver, 60-min ischemia induced early (< or = 3 min) creatine kinase and AST release (0.87 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.01 IU/min/gm liver, respectively). A similar phenomenon was observed after 24-hr or 48-hr hypothermic conservation in University of Wisconsin solution. Electrophoretic analysis and immunoinhibition studies showed that creatine kinase activity comprised creatine kinase-BB (approximately 50%) and mitochondrial creatine kinase. Trypan blue infusion showed a loss of viability in sinusoidal cells, whereas hepatocytes were relatively spared. Finally, murine sinusoidal cells were isolated, cultured and then lysed by a freeze-thaw cycle and sonication. Creatine kinase activity was found in endothelial cells (creatine kinase-BB), Kupffer cells (creatine kinase-BB) and Ito cells (creatine kinase-MM). Creatine kinase-BB was not found in hepatocytes, but mitochondrial creatine kinase was detected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Creatine kinase-BB: a marker of liver sinusoidal damage in ischemia-reperfusion. 827 65

The uptake of hyaluronic acid (HA) was used to assess preservation damage to sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) during cold storage and subsequent normothermic reperfusion of rat livers. After 8, 16, 24, and 48 h storage in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution, livers were gravity-flushed via the portal vein with a standard volume of cold UW solution containing 50 micrograms/l HA. The effluent was collected for analysis of HA, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The mean uptake of HA at 0 h was 59.1% +/- 4.6% (mean +/- SEM). After 8 h of storage, HA uptake was similar (55.5% +/- 7.3%), whereas after 16 h of storage it was reduced to 34.7% +/- 5.8%. At 24 and 48 h of storage, no uptake of HA was found. In a second series of experiments, livers were stored in UW solution and subsequently reperfused for 90 min with a Krebs-Henseleit solution (37 degrees C) in a recirculating system containing 150 micrograms/l HA. Following 8 h of storage, 34.6% +/- 8.0% of the initial HA concentration was taken up from the perfusate. After 16 and 24 h of storage, no uptake of HA was found. The results of this study indicate that damage to SEC occurs progressively during storage, leading to zero uptake of HA by the rat livers at 24 h of cold ischemia time. Additional reperfusion injury to the SEC was demonstrated by the reduced ability of the SEC to take up HA following normothermic reperfusion. The uptake of exogenous HA in preserved livers, used as a tool to assess SEC injury, enables the detection of early preservation damage.
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PMID:Hyaluronic acid uptake in the assessment of sinusoidal endothelial cell damage after cold storage and normothermic reperfusion of rat livers. 887 86

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have proven to be effective in the reduction of ischemia/reperfusion damage after myocardial ischemia. Whether this favorable effect can be related to other models of ischemia and reperfusion has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we studied in a model of syngeneic liver transplantation in the rat the effect of recipient enalapril treatment on postischemic liver injury. Untreated animals served as the control group. Treatment with enalapril was started 5 minutes before reperfusion by intravenous infusion of enalapril at a dosage of 5 mg/kg/h. By means of in vivo microscopy, the sinusoidal perfusion rate and leukocyte adherence in sinusoids and postsinusoidal venules were analyzed during 45 to 60 minutes of reperfusion. Liver function was monitored by measuring bile output over a period of 60 minutes. Analysis of coagulation factors (prothrombin time, factor V, fibrinogen) and liver enzymes (alanine transaminase [ALT], aspartate transaminase [AST]) served for the evaluation of organ dysfunction and damage secondary to ischemia/reperfusion injury. The sinusoidal perfusion rate was significantly improved by enalapril treatment (94.7% [1.0] vs. 75.3% [3.8]; mean [SEM]; P = .005). In addition, leukocyte-sticking in both liver sinusoids and postsinusoidal venules was remarkably reduced in enalapril-treated animals as compared with controls (stickers/lobule: 21.0 [3.3] vs. 59.2 [2.1]; P = .0004; stickers/mm2 venular surface: 20.5 [4.7] vs. 110.3 [18.1]; P = .0004). Moreover, bile output was increased (1.13 [0.35] vs. 0.43 [0.18] g bile/60 min x 100 g liver; P = .06). Values for PT (22.5% [2.1] vs. 9.7% [1.8]; P = .005), factor V 99.4% [9.5] vs. 49.5% [8.5]; P = .007), and fibrinogen (64.1% [7.7] vs. 12.8% [3.2]; P = .001) were significantly improved, paralleled by a remarkable reduction in serum ALT (1,428 U/L [190] vs. 2,315 [248]; P = .02). Our data show for the first time that ACE inhibition in the liver recipient by enalapril attenuates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion damage after experimental liver transplantation. Our results may offer a novel approach to reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury in clinical liver transplantation.
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PMID:Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition by enalapril: a novel approach to reduce ischemia/reperfusion damage after experimental liver transplantation. 904 13

Whole-body hyperthermia is currently under investigation as a method to treat systemic malignancies; however, available techniques induce a derangement in serum and urine chemistries. This study was done to determine whether veno-venous perfusion induced hyperthermia (vv-PISH) that incorporated a parallel dialysis system to control blood chemistries would eliminate these heat induced derangements. Adult female Yorkshire swine were divided into perfusion only (group P, n = 6, 62.8 +/- 2.5 kg), and perfusion with dialysis (group PD, n = 6, 63.8 +/- 4.3 kg). In both groups, hyperthermia was induced with a computer assisted jugular-to-femoral venovenous heat exchange/perfusion system primed with a balanced electrolyte solution, operating at 30 ml/min-1/kg-1, which used a thermal gradient induced by blood heated to a maximum of 48 degrees C and a perfusate-to-blood temperature gradient < 10 degrees C during heating. The target core temperature was 43 degrees C for 120 min as measured by the average of the rectal, bladder, esophageal, bilateral tympanic, and pulmonary artery temperatures. Including ramp-up and cool down, the total perfusion interval was 263 +/- 29 min in group P and 240 +/- 18 min in group PD (ns). Serum and urine chemistry values expressed as the mean value +/- SEM were compared before and after hyperthermia treatment. Variables include blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, glucose, total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), creatinine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), plasma free hemoglobin, urine specific gravity, pH and urine creatinine. All variables remained within normal ranges for the PD group. In the P group, the following final values were outside the normal range: (normal range) creatinine 2.1 +/- 1 (0.4-1.4) mg/dl, Ca2+ 5.1 +/- 1 (6-13) mg/dl, Mg2+ .8 +/- 0.1 (1.2-10) mg/dl, ALKP 134 +/- 6 (34-122) U/L, ALT 69 +/- 3 (9-51) U/L, and LDH 1291 +/- 237 (300-600) U/L. We conclude that the significant changes in serum and urine chemistries associated with vv-PISH are normalized with the use of a parallel dialysis system and may decrease the incidence of electrolyte associated complications.
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PMID:Parallel dialysis normalizes serum chemistries during venovenous perfusion induced hyperthermia. 936 Jan 58

For a substantial number of patients with acute pancreatitis, no recognizable causes can be identified and such cases are called "idiopathic". With the introduction of duodenal bile collection for microscopic examination, it became possible to detect minor constituents of the bile, such as cholesterol and/or calcium bilirrubinate crystals. The mechanism by which crystals produce pancreatitis seems to be related to migration of aggregate crystals through the papilla, inducing papillary trauma or temporary impaction which can cause a biliopancreatic reflux. We now report a series of 45 patients with acute pancreatitis idiopathic, 120 with gallstones and 22 alcoholic. Of the patients with idiopathic pancreatitis whom we studied by biliary drainages, 22 were found to have abnormal drainages (MC+) (20 cholesterol crystals and 2 calcium bilirrubinate), 9 patients had more than 10 crystals per slide. The microcrystals positive (MC+) group had significantly higher values for AST (69.8 +/- 1.7) (mean +/- SEM), ALT (123.3 +/- 28.1), FA (252 +/- 28.1), G-GT (144.6 +/- 26.7) and BT (1.83 +/- 0.37) than the microcrystals negative group: AST (19.6 +/- 2.5), ALT (28.3 +/- 5.8), FA (170.5 +/- 15.1), G-GT (54.3 +/- 10.7) and BT (0.76 +/- 0.09). The more 10 crystals group had higher values (AST: 82.0 +/- 29.1, ALT: 143.1 +/- 43.5, FA: 294.8 +/- 57.2, G-GT: 171.8 +/- 38.4, BT: 2.61 +/- 0.82) than in the microcrystals negative group. We concluded that in the absence of other overt causes, the presence of crystals in bile of patients with pancreatitis justifies etiology. The number is not important.
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PMID:Acute pancreatitis and microcrystals. Importance of the bile collection and biochemical parameters. 953 58

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have decreased concentrations of expired nitric oxide (FENO) as compared with healthy individuals. A number of factors, including viscous mucus as a diffusion barrier for airway NO, consumption of NO by bacterial enzymes, and decreased NO production have been hypothesized to account for these low levels of FENO. We examined the relationship between the size of an AAT repeat polymorphism in intron 20 of the NOS1 gene and FENO in 75 patients with CF. Mean FENO was significantly (p = 0.027) lower in CF patients who harbored two alleles with a high number of repeats (>/= 12) than in those who harbored alleles with fewer repeats at this locus (4.0 +/- 0.8 [mean +/- SEM] ppb versus 6.4 +/- 0.9 ppb). Colonization of the airways with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was significantly (p = 0.0358) more common in CF patients with high numbers of AAT repeats in the NOS1 gene. Significant differences between NOS1 genotypes were also observed among patients homozygous for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator delta F508 mutation for FENO (2.3 +/- 0.4 ppb versus 5.3 +/- 0.7 ppb, p = 0.0006), and this was also true for colonization of the airways with P. aeruginosa (p = 0.0147) and Aspergillus fumigatus (p = 0.0221). These data provide evidence that the NOS1 gene is not only associated with the variability of FENO, but also with P. aeruginosa colonization of airways in CF patients.
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PMID:Airway nitric oxide levels in cystic fibrosis patients are related to a polymorphism in the neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene. 1111 33

We have demonstrated that pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid contributes to hepatocyte injury during acute pancreatitis; a phenomenon independent of ascites' enzymatic content and Kupffer cell-derived cytokines. Our aim is to characterize the mechanisms of pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid induced hepatocyte death. NIH mice were injected intraperitoneally with pathogen-free pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid. Twenty-four hours later, serum AST, ALT, LDH, and hepatocyte apoptosis (TUNEL) were measured. Human hepatocytes (CCL-13) were treated with pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid +/-SB203580 or caspase-3 inhibitor-II. Mitochondrial membrane integrity was determined by DiOC6 staining. Apoptosis was measured by TUNEL staining and flow cytometry after dual labeling with Annexin-V/7-AAD. Data are mean +/- SEM of triplicates. Pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid increased serum AST, ALT, LDH, and apoptotic cells in the mouse liver (all P < 0.03 vs. sham). In CCL-13 cells, pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid induced a time and dose-dependent increase in apoptosis, in addition to p38-MAPK phosphorylation (P = 0.02 vs. control), caspase-3 cleavage (P < 0.03 vs. control) and decreased DiOC6 mitochondrial staining (P < 0.01 vs. control). Both caspase-3 inhibitor-II and SB203580 decreased apoptosis, but the former had no effect on DiOC6 staining. Pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid induces liver injury and hepatocyte apoptosis by activating p38-MAPK and caspase-3 dependent pro-apoptotic pathways.
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PMID:Liver injury during acute pancreatitis: the role of pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid (PAAF), p38-MAPK, and caspase-3 in inducing hepatocyte apoptosis. 1260 Apr 44

In order to determine the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, 30 patients with body mass indices higher than 25, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) at least more than 1.5 times the upper limit of normality, and hepatic steatosis demonstrated by ultrasonography were randomized into two groups of 15 patients to receive placebo or 10 mg kg-1 day-1 ursodeoxycholic acid for three months. Abdominal computed tomography was performed to quantify hepatic fat content, which was significantly correlated with histological grading of steatosis (r s = -0.83, P < 0.01). Patient body mass index remained stable for both groups throughout the study, but a significant reduction in mean ( +/- SEM) serum levels of ALT, AST and gamma-GT was observed only in the treated group (ALT = 81.2 +/- 9.7, 44.8 +/- 7.7, 48.1 +/- 7.7 and 52.2 +/- 6.3 IU/l at the beginning and after the first, second and third months, respectively, N = 14, P < 0.05). For the placebo group ALT values were 66.4 +/- 9.8, 54.5 +/- 7, 60 +/- 7.6 and 43.7 5 IU/l, respectively. No alterations in hepatic lipid content were observed in these patients by computed tomography examination (50.2 +/- 4.2 Hounsfield units (HU) at the beginning versus 51.1 +/- 4.1 HU at the third month). These results show that ursodeoxycholic acid is able to reduce serum levels of hepatic enzymes in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but this effect is not related to modifications in liver fat content.
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PMID:A randomized double-blind study of the short-time treatment of obese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with ursodeoxycholic acid. 1279 1


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