Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.6.1.2 (alanine aminotransferase)
26,722 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Adult GH deficiency (AGHD) has been established as a syndrome associated with various metabolic disturbances such as hyperlipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance and protein catabolism, in addition to changes in body composition such as increased visceral fat, decreased muscle mass and bone density. We investigated the clinical findings, complications and prognosis of AGHD in Japan. The questionnaire was sent to various expert facilities of endocrinology and metabolism to gather cross-sectional information as well as longitudinal follow-up data on adult patients with hypopituitarism. We received answers on 422 subjects, of which number the GH stimulation test was performed in only 63% of them. An age- and sex-matched group of 259 adults with hypopituitarism (125 male and 134 female subjects) was finally selected for this investigation. Of them 185 subjects (81 male and 104 females) were diagnosed as AGHD with plasma peak GH levels less than 3 ng/ml after GH stimulation test. Male adult patients with GHD had significantly lower ratio of smoking and drinking in their life style compared with those without GHD. Male adult patients with GHD revealed significantly higher BMI on physical examination, and significantly higher plasma ALT, AST, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol in blood chemistry compared with those without GHD (P < 0.05). Though patients with ischemic heart disease were more frequent in female patients than male patients, the rate of frequency was not different between female adult patients with and without GHD. Clinical characteristics found in especially male adult patients with GHD in Japan were consistent with findings reported so far in foreign countries. However, consequent complications such as atherosclerosis seemed less severe than expected. Moreover, GH stimulation test for the diagnosis of AGHD as well as clinical test to perform when AGHD was suspected is still less frequently carried out. Therefore, the clinical outcome of AGHD in our country requires further investigation.
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PMID:Adult growth hormone deficiency in Japan: results of investigation by questionnaire. 1262 8

Hyperlipidemia, a condition normally observed in cholestatic liver disease, is also a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. The relationship between the elevation of lipoproteins in cholestatic liver diseases and atherosclerosis formation has not been elucidated. In this study, we propose that the impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) of blood vessels in cholestatic liver diseases may lead to the development of atherosclerosis. Using bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats as a model, we examined the liver function, serum lipid profile, EDR and morphologic change of the aorta from both sham operated and BDL rats. Significant increases in liver and spleen weights, serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities and the bilirubin level were observed in BDL rats. Upon bile duct ligation, the total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased but the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were reduced. Less contractility and lowered response to acetylcholine-induced relaxation were found in aorta segments. In addition, the acetylcholine-induced relaxation was blocked by both L-NAME and 15 mM KCl. Our results suggest that both nitric oxide and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor are important elements for the impairment of the EDR in BDL rats. In addition, a mild atrophy of the media of the aorta was detected in BDL rats. We conclude that the alterations of lipid profile and the mild atrophy of the media may lead to the impairment of EDR in the aorta in BDL rats, and these factors may potentiate the development of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Change in lipid profile and impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation of blood vessels in rats after bile duct ligation. 1285 Feb 41

Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) is a rare codominant disorder of lipoprotein metabolism characterized by low levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) B. Heterozygotes for FHBL have less-than-half normal LDL-cholesterol and apoB concentrations, whereas homozygotes have extremely low or undetectable LDL-cholesterol and apoB levels. These reductions in LDL-cholesterol and apoB have been suggested to provide FHBL subjects with resistance to atherosclerosis. FHBL can be caused by mutations in the APOB gene on chromosome 2. We present four novel mutations and one previously described mutation in APOB causing FHBL in five families. Immunoblotting and DNA sequencing were used to characterize the novel mutation apoB-40.3 (c.5564_5565insC) and the previously reported mutation apoB-80.5 (c.11040T>G). The apoB-6.9 (c.1018_1025del) and apoB-25.8 (c.3600T>A) mutations were identified by DNA sequence analysis, as variants shorter than apoB-31 are not detectable in plasma. A fifth mutation, the splice variant c.82+1G>A, was identified by sequencing and was found in a homozygous subject. In approximately 50% of the FHBL subjects, plasma alanine aminotransferase concentrations were mildly increased, suggestive of fatty liver. All affected FHBL subjects had low to low-normal serum vitamin E concentrations, highlighting the important and recognized relationship between lipid and vitamin E concentrations.
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PMID:Four novel mutations in APOB causing heterozygous and homozygous familial hypobetalipoproteinemia. 1287 64

Advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation may contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis, particularly in diabetes. The present study explored atherosclerosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE-/-) mice that were randomized (n = 20) to receive for 20 weeks no treatment, the AGE cross-link breaker ALT-711, or the inhibitor of AGE formation aminoguanidine (AG). A sixfold increase in plaque area with diabetes was attenuated by 30% with ALT-711 and by 40% in AG-treated mice. Regional distribution of plaque demonstrated no reduction in plaque area or complexity within the aortic arch with treatment, in contrast to the thoracic and abdominal aortas, where significant attenuation was seen. Diabetes-associated accumulation of AGEs in aortas and plasma and decreases in skin collagen solubility were ameliorated by both treatments, in addition to reductions in the vascular receptor for AGE. Collagen-associated reductions in the AGEs carboxymethyllysine and carboxyethyllysine were identified with both treatments. Diabetes was also accompanied by aortic accumulation of total collagen, specifically collagens I, III, and IV, as well as increases in the profibrotic cytokines transforming growth factor-beta and connective tissue growth factor and in cellular alpha-smooth muscle actin. Attenuation of these changes was seen in both treated diabetic groups. ALT-711 and AG demonstrated the ability to reduce vascular AGE accumulation in addition to attenuating atherosclerosis in these diabetic mice.
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PMID:Advanced glycation end product interventions reduce diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis. 1522 Feb 6

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia with vascular component (DVC) are the most prevalent forms of dementia. Both clinical entities share many similarities, but they differ in major phenotypic and genotypic profiles as revealed by structural and functional genomics studies. Comparative phenotypic studies have identified significant differences in 25% of more than 100 parametric variables, including anthropometry, cardiovascular function, aortic atherosclerosis, brain atrophy, blood pressure, blood biochemistry, hematology, thyroid function, folate and vitamin B12 levels, brain hemodynamics and lymphocyte markers. The phenotypic profile of patients with DVC differs from that of AD patients in the following: anthropometric values (weight, height); cardiovascular function (ECG, heart rate); blood pressure; lipid metabolism (HDL-CHO, TGs); uric acid metabolism; peripheral calcium homeostasis; liver function (GOT, GPT, GGT); alkaline phosphatase; lactate dehydrogenase; red and white blood cells; regional brain atrophy (left temporal region, inter-hippocampal distance); and left anterior blood flow velocity. Functional genomics studies incorporating APOE-related changes in biological markers extended the difference between AD and DVC up to 57%. Brain perfusion studies show a severe brain hypoperfusion in dementia associated with enlarged age-dependent arterial perfusion times. Structural genomics studies with AD-related genes, including APP, MAPT, APOE, PS1, PS2, A2M, ACE, AGT, cFOS and PRNP genes, demonstrate different genetic profiles in AD and DVC, with an absolute genetic variation rate ranging from 30% to 80%, depending upon genes and genetic clusters. Single gene analysis identifies relative genetic variations ranging from 0% to 5%. The relative polymorphic variation in genetic clusters integrated by two, three or four genes associated with AD ranges from 1% to 3%. The main phenotypic differences between AD and DVC are genotype-dependent, especially in AD, probably indicating that different genomic factors are determinant for the expression of dementia symptoms which might be accelerated or induced by environmental and/or cerebrovascular factors.
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PMID:Phenotypic profiles and functional genomics in Alzheimer's disease and in dementia with a vascular component. 1526 64

Constitutive genomics are probably determinant for the onset of dementia in conjunction with cerebrovascular and environmental factors. Furthermore, pharmacogenomic studies predict that the therapeutic response in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is genotype-specific, and that the expression of genes involved in the regulation of drug metabolism can influence efficacy and safety issues in pharmacotherapy. AD and dementia with a vascular component (DVC = VD + MXD) are the most prevalent forms of dementia. These clinical entities share many similarities, but they differ in major phenotypic and genotypic profiles, as revealed by structural and functional genomics studies. Comparative phenotypic studies have identified significant differences in 25% of more than 100 parametric variables, including anthropometry, cardiovascular function, aortic atherosclerosis, brain atrophy, blood pressure, blood biochemistry, hematology, thyroid function, folic acid and vitamin B(12) levels, brain hemodynamics and lymphocyte markers. The phenotypic profile of patients with DVC differs from that of AD patients in the following: (a) anthropometric values, (b) cardiovascular function, (c) blood pressure, (d) lipid metabolism, (e) uric acid levels, (f) peripheral calcium levels, (g) liver function (GOT, GPT, GGT), (h) alkaline phosphatase, (i) lactate dehydrogenase, (j) red and white blood cells, (k) regional brain atrophy (left temporal region, inter-hippocampal distance) and (l) brain blood flow velocity. Functional genomics studies incorporating APOE-related changes in biological markers extended the difference between AD and DVC up to 57%. Structural genomics studies with AD-related genes, including APP, MAPT, APOE, PS1, PS2, A2M, ACE, AGT, cFOS and PRNP genes, demonstrate different genetic profiles in AD and DVC, with an absolute genetic variation rate ranging from 30 to 80%, depending upon genes and genetic clusters. Single gene analysis identifies relative genetic variations ranging from 0 to 5%. The relative polymorphic variation in genetic clusters integrated by 2, 3 or 4 genes associated with AD ranges from 1 to 3%. The main phenotypic differences between AD and DVC are genotype-dependent, especially in AD, probably indicating that different genomic factors are essential for the expression of dementia symptoms that might be accelerated or induced by environmental and/or cerebrovascular factors.
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PMID:Genomics and phenotypic profiles in dementia: implications for pharmacological treatment. 1534 38

A limited number of studies have reported associations of markers of liver injury, including elevated concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), with prospective risk of type 2 diabetes. However, only one study has adjusted for a detailed measure of insulin sensitivity (insulin sensitivity index [S(i)]), which is important given associations of obesity and S(i) with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Our objective was to investigate the associations of elevated AST and ALT with incident type 2 diabetes among 906 participants in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study who were nondiabetic at baseline. S(i) and acute insulin response (AIR) were measured directly from the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test among black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white participants aged 40-69 years. After 5.2 years, 148 individuals had developed type 2 diabetes. Baseline AST and ALT were positively correlated with fasting insulin (r = 0.22 and r = 0.35, respectively), waist circumference (r = 0.18 and r = 0.34), and fasting glucose (r = 0.13 and r = 0.29) and inversely with S(i) (r = -0.18 and r = -0.30; all P < 0.0001). In separate logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, clinical center, and alcohol consumption, participants in the highest quartiles (Q4) of AST and ALT were at significantly increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes compared with those in the lowest three quartiles (Q1-Q3): AST: odds ratio (OR) 1.73 (95% CI 1.17-2.57); ALT: OR 2.32 (1.36-3.75). After further adjustment for smoking, waist circumference, triglyceride, HDL, impaired glucose tolerance, S(i), and AIR, both AST and ALT remained significantly associated with incident type 2 diabetes: AST, Q4 vs. Q1-Q3: OR 1.98 (1.23-3.17); ALT, Q4 vs. Q1-Q3: OR 2.00 (1.22-3.28). There were no interactions of sex, ethnicity, obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, or S(i) with AST or ALT in the prediction of type 2 diabetes. When entered into the same model with adjustment for demographic variables, both C-reactive protein and ALT independently predicted type 2 diabetes. In addition, AST and ALT were positively associated with incident type 2 diabetes after excluding former and moderate to heavy drinkers. In conclusion, AST and ALT independently predict type 2 diabetes. Baseline elevations of these markers may reflect NAFLD or related pathologies.
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PMID:Elevations in markers of liver injury and risk of type 2 diabetes: the insulin resistance atherosclerosis study. 1544 93

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) is associated with elevated cholesterol levels and early-onset atherosclerosis. We assessed the efficacy and safety for up to 2 yr of pravastatin treatment in 19 girls and 11 boys (age range, 4.1-18.5 yr) with HeFH. Pravastatin was started at 10 mg/d, with a forced titration by 10 mg at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months until the target cholesterol level [< or =194 mg/dl (< or =5 mmol/liter)] was reached. By 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 months of treatment, the total cholesterol levels had, respectively, decreased by 19, 20, 23, 27, and 26%, and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels had decreased by 25, 27, 29, 33, and 32% compared with the dietary baseline values. Seventeen percent of patients had lipid deposits (carotid plaque, xanthomas, or corneal arcus) at baseline, and 27% had deposits at 1 yr. The side effects were mild, and no clinically significant elevations in alanine aminotransferase, creatine kinase, or creatinine were seen. Growth and pubertal maturation remained normal in all subjects. In conclusion, pravastatin treatment was safe and well tolerated. The efficacy in children with slight or moderate hypercholesterolemia was satisfactory, but in children with severe hypercholesterolemia, it was insufficient.
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PMID:Efficacy and safety of pravastatin in children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: a prospective clinical follow-up study. 1565 70

To date, the majority of research on hypercholesterolemia has focused on the effects of a high cholesterol diet on atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The toxic effects of cholesterol on the liver and the relationship between the intake of a high cholesterol diet and hepatic fibrosis, however, have not been investigated clearly or histopathologically. Male Wistar rats were fed a diet supplemented with 1.0% cholesterol and 0.3% sodium cholate for 12 weeks. Rats were sacrificed and analyzed via blood biochemistry, traditional microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Following the feeding of this diet, the rates of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and total cholesterol in the rats were elevated consistently from week 3 and throughout the remainder of the experiment. From microscopic observation, hepatic necrosis, macrophage infiltration and steatosis increased markedly throughout the experiment. Hepatic fibrosis and myofibroblast proliferation were detected at weeks 9 and 12. Mast cell appearance was proportional to the degree of hepatic damage. These findings suggest that hepatic fibrosis is inducible by a high cholesterol diet and is likely the result of the interaction between several different cell types (i.e., macrophages, myofibroblasts, and mast cells) in an inflammatory milieu. Hypercholesterolemia should be considered as a risk factor for hepatic fibrosis as well as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.
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PMID:Mild hepatic fibrosis in cholesterol and sodium cholate diet-fed rats. 1580 24

There is increasing evidence that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their interactions with various receptors (in particular, the receptor RAGE) play a pivotal role in the development and progression of diabetic macro- and microvascular complications. Several approaches have been used to inhibit tissue accumulation of AGEs in diabetes, including inhibitors of AGE formation such as aminoguanidine, ALT 946, and pyridoxamine-or putative cross-link breakers such as ALT 711. Alternative interventions have also included the administration of a soluble receptor for RAGE, sRAGE, thus capturing circulating AGEs and preventing them from binding to the cell-bound full-length receptor RAGE, thereby inhibiting the proinflammatory and profibrotic response following AGE-RAGE binding. In this review we summarize the evidence for such antiglycation therapies in retarding or delaying the development and progression of diabetes-associated atherosclerosis and renal disease while focusing on interventional strategies inhibiting AGE accumulation. In summary, all approaches have been shown to confer some degree of antiatherosclerotic and renoprotective effects, albeit to different degrees and by different mechanisms.
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PMID:Advanced glycation end products in diabetes-associated atherosclerosis and renal disease: interventional studies. 1603 3


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