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)

Total plasma exchange (TPE) corrects coagulopathy in patients with liver disease and removes hepatotoxins/cytokines. This improvement is transient but can be used as a bridge until an organ is identified for liver transplantation (LTx) or the liver itself regenerates. Our aim was to retrospectively assess the efficacy of TPE in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and its impact on liver function tests. Between 1995-2001, 39 patients with FHF who had undergone TPE were reviewed. FHF was defined according to the O'Grady criteria based on the duration of encephalopathy as well as jaundice. TPE was performed using the Cobe Spectra TPE (Gambro) in Liver Intensive Care Unit, continued on a daily basis, until either adequate clinical response was achieved, the patient expired, or transplantation occurred. INR, PTT, Fibrinogen, ALT, AST, GGT, BUN, Ammonia, and Total Bilirubin were analyzed before and after TPE. Student's t-test and chi-square test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Thirty-nine patients with FHF (31 females, 8 males with mean age of 32.3, range: 7-64) underwent TPE. Coagulopathy, hyperbilirubinemia, hyperammonemia were significantly improved (P < 0.05). Twenty-one patients survived (54%), 12 required LTx, and 18 patients (including one after LTx) expired. TPE was found to be significantly effective for correction of coagulopathy and improvement of liver tests. This intervention can be considered for temporary liver support until recovery or liver transplantation.
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PMID:The effect of total plasma exchange on fulminant hepatic failure. 1614 21

Valproic acid (VPA) has been used as anticonvulsants, however, it induces hepatotoxicity such as microvesicular steatosis and necrosis in the liver. To explore the mechanisms of VPA-induced steatosis, we profiled the gene expression patterns of the mouse liver that were altered by treatment with VPA using microarray analysis. VPA was orally administered as a single dose of 100 mg/kg (low-dose) or 1000 mg/kg (high-dose) to ICR mice and the animals were killed at 6, 24, or 72 h after treatment. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were not significantly altered in the experimental animals. However, symptoms of steatosis were observed at 72 h with low-dose and at 24 h and 72 h with high-dose. After microarray data analysis, 1910 genes were selected by two-way ANOVA (P<0.05) as VPA-responsive genes. Hierarchical clustering revealed that gene expression changes depended on the time rather than the dose of VPA treatment. Gene profiling data showed striking changes in the expression of genes associated with lipid, fatty acid, and steroid metabolism, oncogenesis, signal transduction, and development. Functional categorization of 1156 characteristically up- and down-regulated genes (cutoff >1.5-fold) revealed that 60 genes were involved in lipid metabolism that was interconnected with biological pathways for biosynthesis of triglyceride and cholesterol, catabolism of fatty acid, and lipid transport. This gene expression profile may be associated with the known steatogenic hepatotoxicity of VPA and it may provide useful information for prediction of hepatotoxicity of unknown chemicals or new drug candidates through pattern recognition.
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PMID:Gene expression profiles of murine fatty liver induced by the administration of valproic acid. 1729 31

Pentoxifylline (POF) is a new candidate for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Its effects on the cytokine production in patients with NASH are not completely understood. This study was designed to investigate the effect of POF on TNF-alpha production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with NASH. After preliminary experiments in healthy control subjects to determine the range of POF concentration to be used in NASH patients, PBMCs from patients with NASH (n = 13) were cultured in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 ng/ml) and various concentrations of POF for 24 hr. Concentrations of TNF-alpha in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA and the transcriptional activity was determined by RT-PCR. As dictated by the results of our preliminary study in PBMC from healthy control subjects, we treated LPS stimulated PBMCs from NASH patients with 10, 100, and 500 microg/ml of POF. Stimulation of PBMCs from NASH patients with LPS resulted in a strong up-regulation of TNF-alpha production from median 355.9 (interquartile range, 206.7-463.5) pg/ml to 1,670 pg/ml (interquartile range, 1,121-2,414) pg/ml. In this LPS-stimulated culture system, POF caused a dose-dependent suppression of TNF-alpha levels (P < 0.001, ANOVA on ranks for repeated measures). TNF-alpha levels in culture supernatants decreased to 870.3 (range, 598.3-2,077) pg/ml with 10 microg/ml of POF treatment, and to levels similar to those obtained in baseline unstimulated cultures (133.4 (range, 95.8-1518.5) pg/ml) at 100 microg/ml. At 500 microg/ml, POF suppressed TNF-alpha production to levels significantly lower than that obtained in unstimulated (baseline) culture supernatants (76.3 (range, 33-94.5) pg/ml; P = 0.001). The mRNA expression was consistent with the effects on protein concentration. Demographic characteristics of the patients, laboratory results, such as AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, and triglyceride levels, and the liver histology did not seem to influence the in vitro TNF-alpha response of the PBMCs from NASH patients. POF can significantly decrease the LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha production by PBMCs in NASH patients. Our results support the notion that POF might be a good candidate for the treatment of NASH.
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PMID:Effects of pentoxifylline on TNF-alpha production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. 1743 95

Previous studies showed that responses to chronic administration of copper were significantly associated with gender, raising the need to better characterize the relation between the effects observed and stradiols. The objective of this study was to measure copper and liver function indicators and the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) serum concentrations in healthy adults exposed to copper, grouped by sex and phase of the female hormonal cycle. Healthy females on day 7 (follicular phase, Group 1, n = 39), on day 21 (secretory phase, Group 2, n = 34) and males (comparison group, Group 3, n = 34) received 8 mg Cu/day (as copper sulfate), orally, for 6 months. On days 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180, the serum concentration of copper, ceruloplasmin, liver aminotransferases, and SHBG were measured. Analysis of results included analysis of variance (ANOVA; repeated measures) and the post hoc Bonferroni correction. Participants remained healthy throughout the study period, including aminotransferases below the cut off in all measures. GGT, AST, and ALT activities were significantly different by group and by time (ANOVA repeated measures P < 0.05). Six-month curves of serum copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations were different by group, by time and interaction group x time (all P < 0.001). SHBG curves were different by group and time (P < 0.01), and interaction group x time (P < 0.009). Serum copper, ceruloplasmin, and liver aminotranferases are influenced by estrogens/progesterone, something that should be considered when these indicators are used as outcomes of effects. Time of sampling was also significantly associated with the indicators and deserves further study.
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PMID:Copper and liver function indicators vary depending on the female hormonal cycle and serum hormone binding globulin (SHBG) concentration in healthy women. 1818 96

Resveratrol administration after adverse circulatory conditions is known to be protective, however, the mechanism by which resveratrol produces the salutary effects remains unknown. Recently, it was shown that resveratrol activates estrogen receptor (ER) in endothelial cells. We hypothesized that resveratrol administration in males after trauma-hemorrhage decreases cytokine production and protects against hepatic injury through an ER-dependent pathway. To study this, male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to trauma-hemorrhage (mean blood pressure, 40 mmHg for 90 min) then resuscitation. A single dose of resveratrol (30 mg/kg of body weight) with or without an ER antagonist (ICI 182,780), ICI 182,780, or vehicle was administered i.v. during resuscitation. Tissue myeloperoxidase activity (a marker of neutrophil sequestration), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant 1 (CINC-1), CINC-3, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in the liver and plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations were measured at 2 and 24 h postresuscitation (n = 6 rats per group). One-way ANOVA and Tukey test were used for statistical analysis. Results showed that trauma-hemorrhage increased hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, CINC-1, CINC-3, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and IL-6 levels and plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations. These parameters were significantly improved in the resveratrol-treated rats at both 2 and 24 h postresuscitation. Coadministration of the ER antagonist ICI 182,780 prevented the beneficial effects of resveratrol administration on postresuscitation proinflammatory responses and hepatic injury. Thus, resveratrol administration after trauma-hemorrhage attenuated hepatic injury, likely through reduction of proinflammatory mediators. Resveratrol-mediated hepatic preservation seemed to progress via an ER-related pathway.
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PMID:Resveratrol attenuates hepatic injury after trauma-hemorrhage via estrogen receptor-related pathway. 1827 52

Methotrexate (MTX) is used to treat a variety of chronic inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. However, it can induce hepatotoxicity such as microvesicular steatosis and necrosis. To explore the mechanisms of MTX-induced hepatic steatosis, we used microarray analysis to profile the gene expression patterns of mouse liver after MTX treatment. MTX was administered orally as a single dose of 10mg/kg (low dose) or 100 mg/kg (high dose) to ICR mice, and the livers were obtained 6 h, 24 h, and 72 h after treatment. Serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and triacylglycerol levels were not significantly altered in the experimental animals. Signs of steatosis were observed at 24 h after administration of high dose of MTX. From microarray data analysis, 908 genes were selected as MTX-responsive genes (P<0.05, two-way ANOVA; cutoff > or =1.5-fold). Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) analysis revealed that the predominant biological processes associated with these genes are response to unfolded proteins, phosphate metabolism, and cellular lipid metabolism. Functional categorization of these genes identified 28 genes involved in lipid metabolism that was interconnected with the biological pathways of biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport of lipids and fatty acids. Taken together, these data provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of MTX-induced steatogenic hepatotoxicity, and useful information for predicting hepatotoxicity through pattern recognition.
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PMID:Gene expression profiles of murine fatty liver induced by the administration of methotrexate. 1850 57

Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are exposed to nutritional risk. Malnutrition in Crohn's Disease (CD) and to a somewhat lesser in Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is very frequent. Depending on the severity of the disease, weight loss has been reported in 65% to 76% of those with CD and in 18% to 62% of those with UC. The role of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) is essential in very severe cases where enteral nutrition is not tolerated or standard drug therapy is not effective. Nutritional therapy is important for the correction of nutritional deficiency, especially in cases where elective surgical treatment is required. This study examined the effects of preoperative TPN administration in patients with IBD. Since 1990, 29 pts, 13 (44.8%) male and 16 (55.2%) female with severe IBD; 16 (55.2%) with UC and 13 (44.8%) with CD were treated with TPN in our department in the preoperative period. Evaluation of this group was compared with a group which was not treated with TPN preoperatively: 61 pts, 34 (55.7%) male, 27 (44.3%) female; 50 (82%) with CD, 11 (18%) with UC. Evaluation of this group was compared with the group of patients who were subjected to surgical procedure without prior TPN administration, in total a number of 61, of whom 34 (55.7%) were male and 27 (44.3%) female patients. In this group, the number of patients with CD and UC was 50 (82%) and 11(18%) respectively. During the course of the study, the following parameters were examined: Body mass index (BMI), Disease Activity Index (CDAI/AI), laboratory parameters and the number of hospital days. The parameters were analysed before the surgical intervention, and one week and six months after the surgical intervention. The duration of the application of TPN was 12.5 +/- 5 days. The analysis of these parameters has shown that there is no statistically significant difference in the number of hospital days in both groups, which was 18.9 +/- 8.9 in the intervention group and 18.9 +/- 6.5 days in the control group, p = 0.9808, but analysis of the Disease Activity (CDAI/AI) has shown that patients who were on TPN were in a more severe stage of the disease. In the TPN treated group of patients none, 0 pts (0%), of the pts had no Index of Activity, 1.7 pts (24.1%) had Index 2 and 22 (75.9%) had Index 3. In the other group 3 pts (4.9%) had Index 1; 39 pts (63.9%) had Index 2 and 19 pts (31.2%) had Index of Activity 3. During the monitoring period of six months the activity of the disease was lower in patients treated with TPN. The BMI in the group of patients treated with TPN was lower in both sexes. It was lower than 18.4 in 7 males and 5 females; between 18.4 and 19.9 in 2 males and 4 females; between 19.9 and 25 in 3 males and 6 females; between 25 and 19.9 in 1 male and 1 female; there were no pts with BMI higher than 29.9. In the control non-TPN group, 5 males and 3 females had BMI < or = 18.4; 2 males and 5 females had between 18.4 and 19.9; 23 males and 13 females had between 19.9 and 25; 3 males and 5 females had between 25 and 29.9 and 1 male and 1 female had BMI higher than 29.9. The BMI had an increasing trend in the postoperative period in both groups. The laboratory parameters that we examined were: number of erythrocytes and sedimentation, number of leukocytes, haemoglobin levels, total number of lymphocytes, albumin level, C-reactive protein, orosomucoid, electrolytes; sodium, potassium, calcium and serum iron, the enzymes (AP, AST and ALT); level of bilirubin and urea and creatinine. The results were analysed using the Tukey honest significant difference test (HSD), ANOVA and Student t-test. Statistically significant differences were observed between preoperative and postoperative period in both groups. The intergroup comparison showed significant differences in the level of albumin, AST, ALT and bilirubin.
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PMID:Total parenteral nutrition in treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. 1870 98

Insulin resistance, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia are strongly associated with metabolic syndrome (MeSy), which is considered to be a reversible clinical stage before its evolution to coronary heart disease and diabetes. Currently, the antihypertensive and hypolipidemic properties of aqueous Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts (HSE) have been demonstrated in clinical trials and in vivo experiments. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a Hibiscus sabdariffa extract powder (HSEP) and a recognized preventive treatment (diet) on the lipid profiles of individuals with and without MeSy according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. The protocol was a follow-up study carried out in a factorial, randomized design (T1=preventive treatment comprises Diet, T2=HSEP, T3=HSEP+preventive treatment (Diet) X MeSy, non-MeSy individuals). A total daily dose of 100 mg HSEP was orally administered in capsules for one month. The preventive treatment (diet) was selected according to NCEP-ATP III recommendations and adjusted individually. Total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, VLDL-c, triglycerides, glucose, urea, creatinine, AST, and ALT levels in the blood were determined in all individuals pre- and post-treatment. The MeSy patients treated with HSEP had significantly reduced glucose and total cholesterol levels, increased HDL-c levels, and an improved TAG/HDL-c ratio, a marker of insulin resistance (t-test p<0.05). Additionally, a triglyceride-lowering effect was observed in MeSy patients treated with HSEP plus diet, and in individuals without MeSy treated with HSEP. Significant differences in total cholesterol, HDL-c, and the TAG/HDL-c ratio were found when the means of absolute differences among treatments were compared (ANOVA p<0.02). Therefore, in addition to the well documented hypotensive effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa, we suggest the use of HSEP in individuals with dyslipidemia associated with MeSy.
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PMID:Effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract powder and preventive treatment (diet) on the lipid profiles of patients with metabolic syndrome (MeSy). 1996 89

Liver biopsy is the gold-standard method to stage fibrosis; however, it is an invasive procedure and is potentially dangerous. The main objective of this study was to evaluate biological markers, such as cytokines IL-13, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta, platelets, bilirubins (Bil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total proteins, gamma-glutamil transferase (gamma-GT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP), that could be used to predict the severity of hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis and hepatitis C (HC) as isolated diseases or co-infections. The following patient groups were selected: HC (n = 39), HC/hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HSS) (n = 19), HSS (n = 22) and a control group (n = 13). ANOVA and ROC curves were used for statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was considered significant. With HC patients we showed that TNF-alpha (p = 0.020) and AP (p = 0.005) could differentiate mild and severe fibrosis. With regard to necroinflammatory activity, AST (p = 0.002), gamma-GT (p = 0.034) and AP (p = 0.001) were the best markers to differentiate mild and severe activity. In HC + HSS patients, total Bil (p = 0.008) was capable of differentiating between mild and severe fibrosis. In conclusion, our study was able to suggest biological markers that are non-invasive candidates to evaluate fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in HC and HC + HSS.
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PMID:Correlation of biological serum markers with the degree of hepatic fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in hepatitis C and schistosomiasis patients. 2072 91

Coal dust causes lung diseases in occupational exposure. Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the pathogenesis of its toxicity. In this study, serum enzymes, lipid profile and other biochemical values with oxidant/antioxidant status in whole blood and serum of central heating system workers (CHSW; the persons responsible for heating the apartment with coal) were determined to reflect the cell injury. Blood samples were obtained from CHSW (n = 25) and healthy individuals (n = 25). All values were measured in whole blood and serum. ANOVA was used for the estimation of statistical data. In the group of CHSW, creatinine, ferritin, alanin aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, gamma glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase activities as well as triglyceride, very low density lipoprotein, protein carbonyl and malondialdehide were significantly higher, while transferrin, high density lipoprotein and catalase (CAT) activities were lower than the group of healthy individuals. This result is consistent with hypothesis that respirable coal dust generates lipid and protein oxidation and induces leakage of serum enzymes by cell damage. It also leads to imbalance in antioxidant defense system, lipid profile and other biochemical parameters.
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PMID:Increased occupational coal dust toxicity in blood of central heating system workers. 2072 14


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