Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Pivot Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
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Target Concepts:
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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)
Twenty-two patients with clinical, biochemical, immunological and pathological characteristics compatible with primary biliary cirrhosis were studied. There were 17 women and 5 men with a mean age of 57.4 +/- 15.2 years and a mean follow-up of 24.1 +/- 20.1 months. Four of them expired during the follow-up and eighteen patients now survive. The most common complaints were fatigue (63.6%) and itching (59.1%). Only one case (4.5%) was asymptomatic in this series. The major physical findings were jaundice (50%) and hepatomegaly (50%). The significant laboratory findings were: elevation of alkaline phosphatase (91% of the cases greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (100% of the cases greater than 4 times the upper limit of normal),
aspartate transaminase
(95%) and alanine transaminase (100%), presence of anti-mitochondrial antibodies (91%), antinuclear antibodies (73%) and the elevation of IgM (88%). One case was associated with ulcerative colitis. Pathological staging in this series revealed 57.9% of stage II, 26% of stage III, 10% of stage IV and 5.3% of stage I. All patients with granuloma survived but 4 of the 5 patients with cholestasis died during follow-up. The results show that the features in this series of PBC were similar to those observed in western countries. The very high ALP and gamma-GT level as well as only one asymptomatic case in this series, suggest that our patients were diagnosed at a late stage. The reason(s) for the higher positivity of
ANA
, particularly the speckled type and a lower rate of associated auto-immune disease requires further study. Liver biopsy in predicting a prognosis is valuable.
...
PMID:[A clinicopathological study in primary biliary cirrhosis]. 135 58
We prospectively measured serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate and alanine transaminase (
AST
/ALT), and tested sera for antinuclear, smooth-muscle, and antimitochondrial antibodies (
ANA
, SMA, AMA) in our patients with celiac sprue to determine the prevalence of associated liver abnormalities and its relevance to clinical management. Of 129 patients, ALP was the only elevated enzyme in 12 (9%) and in most cases was not thought to reflect significant liver disease. Seventeen (13%) had elevated
AST
and/or ALT with normal ALP. Levels normalized in 15 patients after dietary gluten exclusion and remained elevated in 2 noncompliers. Two patients (2%) with elevated
AST
, ALT, and ALP underwent further investigation: one had negative autoantibodies, liver biopsy, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and the other had
ANA
-positive chronic active hepatitis; enzymes in both cases improved with a gluten-free diet. There was no significant association between elevated
AST
/ALT and positive
ANA
/SMA; no patient had AMA. Abnormalities in liver enzymes are common in celiac sprue, but usually respond to dietary gluten exclusion. We propose that there is no need for invasive liver investigation in these patients unless there is more specific evidence of primary liver disease or failure of dietary response.
...
PMID:Liver abnormalities associated with celiac sprue. How common are they, what is their significance, and what do we do about them? 766 16
The present work investigates whether computer-assisted techniques can contribute any significant information to the characterization of astrocytic tumor aggressiveness. Two complementary computer-assisted methods were used. The first method made use of the digital image analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei, making it possible to compute 15 morphonuclear and 8 nuclear DNA content-related (ploidy level) parameters. The second method enabled the most discriminatory parameters to be determined. This second method is the Decision Tree technique, which forms part of the Supervised Learning Algorithms. These two techniques were applied to a series of 250 supratentorial astrocytic tumors of the adult. This series included 39 low-grade (astrocytomas,
AST
) and 211 high-grade (47 anaplastic astrocytomas,
ANA
, and 164 glioblastomas, GBM) astrocytic tumors. The results show that some
AST
,
ANA
and GBM did not fit within simple logical rules. These "complex" cases were labeled NC-
AST
, NC-
ANA
and NC-GBM because they were "non-classical" (NC) with respect to their cytological features. An analysis of survival data revealed that the patients with NC-GBM had the same survival period as patients with GBM. In sharp contrast, patients with
ANA
survived significantly longer than patients with NC-
ANA
. In fact, the patients with
ANA
had the same survival period as patients who died from
AST
, while the patients with NC-
ANA
had a survival period similar to those with GBM. All these data show that the computer-assisted techniques used in this study can actually provide the pathologist with significant information on the characterization of astrocytic tumor aggressiveness.
...
PMID:Identification of high versus lower risk clinical subgroups in a group of adult patients with supratentorial anaplastic astrocytomas. 774 36
We report on two cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presenting autoimmune hepatic diseases. The first patient, who had been diagnosed as RA at the age of 63, was hospitalized in order to undergo surgery for total left knee replacement at the age of 69. She acquired acute serum hepatitis as a result of blood transfusion she received during the operation. Five years later, she visited our clinic suffering from polyarthritis. She was found to have hyper-alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and hyper rGTP, but no AMA. The second patient, a 60-year-old female whose onset of RA was at the age of 45, complained of general fatigue, and was admitted to the hospital because of persistent liver dysfunction. When corticosteroid was administered to these patients, ALP and rGTP levels in the first case, and
AST
and ALT levels in the second case were reduced to values in the normal range.
ANA
in the first case continued to register negative, but
ANA
in the second case became positive after the patient developed acute hepatitis. Both patients were found to have anti-p25 triplet liver/kidney microsome antibody. We discuss the clinical significance of this antibody.
...
PMID:[Two cases of rheumatoid arthritis presenting autoimmune hepatic diseases]. 805 30
A 27-yr-old Jamaican male presented with a 2-month history of jaundice, pruritus, intermittent diarrhea, and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Over the next month, his abdominal pain and diarrhea improved, but his jaundice and pruritus worsened. He was afebrile and profoundly jaundice, with a benign abdominal examination. Medical workup included a normal abdominal ultrasound, iron studies, ceruloplasm, and serum electrophoresis. Negative viral (Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, mononucleosis, hepatitis A, B, C) studies,
ANA
, AMA, ASMA, RPR were noted. He denied any alcohol, drug, or toxin exposure. Liver tests revealed total bilirubin of 25.6 mg/dl, direct bilirubin of 13.9 mg/dl, alkaline phosphatase 278 IU/L,
AST
45 IU/L, and ALT 71 IU/L. Liver biopsy demonstrated centrilobular zonal necrosis and cholestasis most consistent with a toxic reaction. The patient was again interviewed regarding potential toxins, and he admitted to the ingestion of ackee fruit, a native Jamaican fruit that is illegal in the United States. Shortly after he had ceased intake of the fruit, his symptoms resolved and his liver function tests returned to normal. We present a case of chronic ackee fruit ingestion that led to cholestatic jaundice, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
...
PMID:Cholestatic jaundice due to ackee fruit poisoning. 807 44
To determine the clinical, biochemical, and histological features, and outcome of childhood autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), we reviewed the medical records of 52 children with AIH, 32 (median age: 10 [2-15] years) anti-nuclear and/or smooth muscle antibody (
ANA
/SMA) positive, 20 (7 [0.8-14] years) liver/kidney microsomal antibody (LKM-1) positive, with median follow-up of 5 years (range 0.3-19). At presentation: 56% had symptoms of prolonged acute hepatitis; LKM-1 positive were younger (P = .011), with higher bilirubin (P = .007), and
AST
(P = .047);
ANA
/SMA positive had lower albumin (P = .023); 69%
ANA
/SMA positive, and 38% LKM-1 positive were cirrhotic (P = .080).
ANA
/SMA positive had increased frequency of HLA haplotype A1/B8/DR3/DR52a compared with controls (53% vs. 14%, P < .001). Of six (5 LKM-1 positive) with fulminant hepatitis, four were transplanted, one died, and one
ANA
/SMA positive improved with immunosuppression. Of 47 treated with immunosuppression, 2 (1 LKM-1 positive) died with no remission and 4 (2 LKM-1 positive) were transplanted 8 to 14 years after diagnosis. Immunosuppression was stopped successfully in 19% of
ANA
/SMA positive after a median of 3 years of treatment, but in none of LKM-1 positive. Baseline bilirubin and international normalized prothrombin ratio (INR) were independent variables predictive of outcome. In conclusion,
ANA
/SMA positive and LKM-1 positive AIH in childhood have clinical, biochemical, and histological differences, but similar severity and long-term outcome.
...
PMID:Autoimmune hepatitis in childhood: a 20-year experience. 904 95
To assess whether demography is one of the important factors determining antibody response to nuclear antigens [
ANA
: SSA-Ro (52K and 60K), SSB-La, snRNPs (A, 70K, B'/B), and Cenp-B], we investigated 95 and 47 sera of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) from North America and Asia, respectively, by immunofluorescent (IF) and recombinant ELISA. Correlations among nuclear IF patterns, ELISA, and disease indices were analyzed. The frequency and titer of individual antibodies differed significantly between the groups. Patients with speckled patterns were younger in both regions and had higher
aspartate aminotransferase
levels only in North America. HLA-A1, B8, DQ2, and DR4 or DR3 or both in North America, and A2, B61, DQ7, and DR4 in Asia were predominant. In Asia, B61 correlated with anti-70K, and DQ7 correlated with antibodies to 52K, Cenp-B, and B'/B. In North America, A1, B8, DR3 haplotype, and DQ2 correlated with antibodies to A and 70K. Anti-B'/B and DR4 in North America, and A2 in Asia, were associated with concurrent immunologic disorder. Individual
ANA
clusters correlated with individual HLA in the demography, and different HLA alleles might determine disease expression as well as different
ANA
being produced in AIH.
...
PMID:Antibodies to Ro/La, Cenp-B, and snRNPs antigens in autoimmune hepatitis of North America versus Asia: patterns of immunofluorescence, ELISA reactivities, and HLA association. 963 26
Today the number of women receiving breast implants of silicone gel, for augmentation or reconstruction of the breast, is increasing. Silicon implants may cause local complications (such as capsular contracture, rupture, closed capsulotomy, gel "bleed", nodular foreign body granulomas in the capsular tissue and lymph nodes) or general symptoms. An adverse immune reaction with signs and symptoms of rheumatoid disorders is also possible, although an increased frequency of true autoimmune systemic connective tissue diseases is controversial. The US Food and Drug Administration advised that these silicone implants should be used only in reconstructive surgery and as part of clinical trials. Silicone is not an inert substance and silicone compounds were found in the blood and liver of women with silicone breast implants. The development of disease related to silicone implants would depend on genetic factors, so that only a very few women are potentially at risk. HLA-DR53 may be a marker of predisposed subjects. Breast-feeding by women with silicone implants should not be recommended for possible autoimmune disorders in the children. We report the case of an adult female patient with silicone breast implantation for bilateral mastectomy (performed 12 months before) and a unique syndrome characterized by low-grade fever, chronic fatigue, arthralgias of the hands, dysphagia, dry eye, increased level of rheumatoid factor and decreased value of complement C3 and C4. No increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate occurred, and no
ANA
, nDNA, ENA and
AAT
autoantibodies were evidence. A critical review of literature (source: MEDLINE 1980-1997) was performed and our case seems to be the first one reported in Italy. The internist should become familiar with the immunological disorders related to silicone breast implants, often so marked to require the explantation of the prostheses to improve symptomatology. However, perhaps due to the leak and spreading of silicone, the progression to a severe systemic involvement may remain despite the implant removal.
...
PMID:[Silicone breast prosthesis and rheumatoid arthritis: a new systemic disease: siliconosis. A case report and a critical review of the literature]. 967 77
Patients infected with schistosoma frequently show a high seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibodies. The aim of this study was to find the underlying reason for this phenomenon, and to examine a possible involvement of autoantibodies. Out of 2,400 Egyptian blood donors, 192 (8%) were anti-HCV positive by ELISA. They were 133 males and 59 females with age ranging from 27 to 48 years. According to optical density ratio (ODR) of anti-HCV antibodies, 96 cases were low positive (LP) with ODR (1-2) designated as group I, and 96 were high positive (HP) with ODR (> or =2) (group II). Both groups were examined for quantitative HCV core antigen (HCVcAg), liver function (Albumin, ALT,
AST
) and anti-Schistosoma mansoni(anti-Sm) IgG. Group I cases were HCVcAg negative with normal liver function tests, and 44 of them were anti-Sm positive. Ninety cases (93.75%) of group II were HCVcAg positive with markedly affected liver function tests and 72 cases were anti-Sm positive. All group I cases were examined for autoimmune markers (
ANA
, AMA, SMA and LKM). In group I, 33 (75%) of anti-Sm positive cases were positive for one or more of the autoimmune markers examined, while none of anti-Sm negative was positive for any marker with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.0001). Our results primarily on blood donors indicate that LP anti-HCV frequently represents false-positive reactivity with a possible role of Sm-induced autoantibodies in this phenomenon.
...
PMID:Prevalence of low positive anti-HCV antibodies in blood donors: Schistosoma mansoni co-infection and possible role of autoantibodies. 1678 16
"Anti-HBc alone" which is an unusual serologic pattern of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, may be detected in the seropositive samples for hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and in the presence of autoantibodies due to cross reactions. In this study, 20 serum samples with isolated antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, which were detected in May 2005, have been investigated by means of the presence of some autoantibodies (anti-nuclear antibody;
ANA
and rheumatoid factor; RF), anti-HCV and anti-HIV, in the Central Laboratory of Dicle University Medical School. All of the "anti-HBc alone" samples were negative for HBV-DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and liver enzyme (ALT and
AST
) levels were normal except for three patients. As a result, a total of six (30%) samples were found positive. Four of them were positive for
ANA
and two were positive for anti-HCV, while one serum yielded positivity for both
ANA
and anti-HCV. Anti-HCV positive samples were searched for the presence of HCV-RNA by real-time PCR, and none were found positive. Of three patients with increased
AST
and ALT levels, one was anti-HCV positive, one was
ANA
positive, while the other was negative for all parameters. In conclusion, possible presence of autoantibodies and anti-HCV should be taken into consideration during the evaluation of isolated anti-HBc IgG positive test results.
...
PMID:[Investigation of autoantibody, anti-HCV and anti-HIV seropositivities in "anti-HBc alone" positive samples]. 1700 58
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