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:2.6.1.2 (alanine aminotransferase)
26,722 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Most patients with liver cancer are diagnosed when they are not suitable for resection. Although some palliative approaches can be applied to these patients, the overall survival rate remains unsatisfactory. Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), a newly developed functional food, has been shown to act as a potent biological response modifier in in vitro experiments. Recently, AHCC was found to improve the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients following surgical treatment. We investigated whether AHCC could prolong survival and improve the prognosis of patients with advanced liver cancer. A prospective cohort study was performed with 44 patients with histologically confirmed liver cancer. All of the patients underwent supportive care. Survival time, quality of life, clinical and immunological parameters related to liver function, cellular immunity, and patient status were determined. Of the 44 patients, 34 and 10 received AHCC and placebo (control) orally, respectively. Patients in the AHCC treated-group had a significantly prolonged survival when compared to the control group by Mann-Whitney test (95% CI, p = 0.000). Quality of life in terms of mental stability, general physical health status, and ability to have normal activities were significantly improved after 3 months of AHCC treatment when tested using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (on one-sided test, p = 0.028, 0.037, and 0.040, respectively). The apparent different clinical parameters between the two groups were the levels of albumin and percentage of lymphocytes with p-values of 0.000 and 0.026 at 1 and 2 months after treatment, respectively. Unlike the control patients, AHCC treated-patients with longer survival time had the tendency of better outcomes since the levels of AST and ALT had not increased rapidly from their baselines at follow-up. In addition, the levels of total IL-12 and neopterin were slightly increased in AHCC treated-patients. This study suggests that AHCC intake could prolong the survival and improve the prognosis of patients with advanced liver cancer and delay the gradual decline of their physiological status.
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PMID:Prognostic improvement of patients with advanced liver cancer after active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) treatment. 1691 87

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical features and survival in patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) and hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCV-HCC). A total of 2820 HCC patients were included. The mean age of HBV-HCC patients was 52.5+/-13.4 years, while it was 64.8+/-8.7 years in HCV-HCC patients. The male/female ratio was 7.8 in HBV-HCC, while it was 1.7 in HCV-HCC. The mean alpha-fetoprotein level in HBV-HCC was 11,661+/-22,805 ng/mL, while it was 5079+/-15,005 ng/mL in HCV-HCC. The mean tumour size was 6.4+/-4.1 cm in HBV-HCC, while it was 4.6+/-3.1 cm in HCV-HCC. The median survival was 11.1 months in HBV-HCC, while it was 23.9 months in HCV-HCC. Compared with HBV-HCC patients, HCV-HCC patients were older, had a lower male/female ratio, lower white blood cell count, lower serum albumin level, higher serum ALT level, lower serum alpha-fetoprotein level, smaller tumour size and survived longer.
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PMID:Hepatitis B- and C-related hepatocellular carcinomas yield different clinical features and prognosis. 1692 Mar 52

Chronic hepatitis B is an important public health problem worldwide. In Poland the incidence rate decreased from 40,0 (in the year 1990) to 3,86 (in 2004) per 100,000 inhabitants. The goal of anti-chronic hepatitis B therapy is to prevent the progression of liver disease to cirrhosis which may effect in development of liver failure or HCC. The aims of treatment are: reduction of HBV viral load and normalization of ALT activity. Among HBeAg positive patients important marker is the loss of e antigenemia followed by seroconversion to anti-HBe positivity. Lamivudine is an oral nucleoside analogue with strong antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus. The objective of this study was to analyse the efficacy of lamivudine treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). 224 patients were treated in Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Warsaw in the years 2001-2002. Patients were treated for 48 weeks with 100 mg lamivudine once daily (50 mg in case of renal failure). Results obtained at the end of therapy: loss of HBeAg was observed in 33,4% and seroconversion to anti-HBe in 15,1% patients, normalization of ALT activity was noticed in 53,4% patients, inhibition of HBV DNA replication was observed in 37,9% patients. The results are comparable with known randomized clinical trials.
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PMID:[Results of 48 weeks lamivudine treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B and HBeAg (+)]. 1696 76

N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) is a potent carcinogenic agent that induces liver cancer. To evaluate the chemopreventive function of melatonin in this experimental model, Wistar male rats received a single i.p. injection of NDEA or vehicle followed by weekly s.c. injections of carbon tetrachloride or vehicle for 6 weeks. Melatonin (5 mg/kg body weight) or its vehicle (0.5 mL saline) was given i.p. on a daily basis 2 hr before lights off for 20 wk. At the end of this period the rats were killed and liver and blood samples were taken for histological and biochemical studies. As markers for liver function, the activity of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) and the levels of alpha-fetoprotein were measured in serum. To assess lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant status in liver and blood, the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and of reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) was assessed in liver and erythrocyte fraction of NDEA-treated rats. NDEA administration inhibited body weight, macro- and microscopically detectable liver tumors and increased levels of plasma AST, ALT and alpha-fetoprotein. NDEA treatment decreased liver TBARS levels and CAT and SOD activities and increased liver GSH levels and GST and GPx activities. Plasma TBARS were augmented, while plasma GSH levels and the activities of erythrocyte CAT, SOD, GST and GPx decreased, in NDEA-treated rats. Melatonin administration significantly curtailed tumor development and counteracted all the biochemical effects.
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PMID:Prevention by melatonin of hepatocarcinogenesis in rats injected with N-nitrosodiethylamine. 1780 29

In a group of patients (n=18) with primary (n=7) liver cancer high increase in enzyme activities (AST, ALT, AP, gama-GT, 5'NU), billirubin, alpha-1 AT, alpha- and beta-globulins and alpha-phetoprotein, and considerable decrease of albumin and cholinesterase, were established. These disturbances were duo to the weakened biofunction of the liver. All the examined biochemical parameters are of great significance in the differential diagnosis of cancer, prognosis and development of the disease.
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PMID:[Biochemistry in liver cancer]. 1797 39

Some hepatotropic viruses (HBV and HCV) are capable of triggering autoimmune phenomena and manifest the features of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in the course of the disease. Careful attention is required to differentiate between AIH and chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) before the selection of treatment. This study was performed to assess the prevalence of rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA), anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA), anti-parietal cell antibodies (APCA), anti-liver/kidney microsomal antibodies type I (ALKMA1) and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) among patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD), and to assess the diagnostic value of these autoantibodies and their relation to HCV viral load and genotype and treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). Five groups of patients with CLD (HCV, HBV, HCC, AIH and schistosomal hepatic fibrosis {SHF}) as well as a group of age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All the studied persons were subjected to full clinical assessment and laboratory investigations, including liver function tests, hepatitis markers, and HCV RNA by PCR. Detection of ANA, ASMA, APCA, AMA and ALKMA-1 was done by indirect immunofluorescence technique, while ANCA and RF were detected by EIA and latex agglutination test respectively. Results showed a significantly higher prevalence of RF, ASMA and ANCA among patients with CHC, RF and ASMA among HCC patients and ASMA and ALKMA1, among AIH patients as compared to the control group. Patients with HBV and those with SHF had a non-significantly higher prevalence of RF, ASMA and ANCA compared to controls. However, AMA was not detected in this study, and APCA showed no significant difference between the studied groups. The occurrence of these autoantibodies was not significantly related to HCV viral load, HCV genotype or treatment with IFN-alpha. There was a significant association between the occurrence of RF, ANA, ASMA, and ALKMA1 and high ALT levels, and between the occurrence of ANA, ASMA and ALKMA-1 and high AST and ALP levels. In conclusion, autoantibodies are commonly found among patients with HCV infection. The co-existence of HCV infection and autoimmune hepatitis should be considered in patients who are positive for both viral markers and autoantibodies and thorough evaluation of patients must be performed before selection of treatment. Testing for RF, ASMA and ANCA may have a good diagnostic value, however, AMA is the least useful in diagnosis.
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PMID:Autoantibodies in chronic liver disease. 1797 15

An estimated 350 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Three phases of chronic hepatitis B virus infection is are recognized: the immune tolerant phase (HBeAg-positive, high levels of serum HBV-DNA, normal ALT, and no evidence of active liver diseases), the immune clearance phase or chronic hepatitis phase (HBeAg-positive, high levels of serum HBV-DNA, elevated ALT, and active liver disease ), and the inactive carrier state or asymptomatic phase (HBsAg-positive in serum without HBeAg, HBV-DNA levels than < 10(5) copies/mL, and normal ALT levels). Chronic hepatitis B is classified into 2 major forms: HBeAg-positive disease (wild-type HBV) and HBeAg negative disease (pre-core/core promoter HBV variant). Both forms can lead to liver cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation and liver cancer. The purpose of this article is to review the principal aspects of natural history of chronic hepatitis B.
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PMID:[Natural history of chronic hepatitis B]. 1820 Apr 23

Chronic hepatitis B in children is mainly asymptomatic, but they are at life long risk for severe complications. Treatment is considered to suppress the virus and to prolong the survival by preventing the progression to cirrhosis and HCC. Therapeutic options for children are interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) with antiviral, antiproliferative and immuno-modulatory effects and lamivudine (LAM) which inhibits HBV replication and increases cellular immune response. IFN-alpha, 5 MU/m(2), thrice weekly for 6 months is used in patients with high ALT levels which is associated with virologic response rate of 30-40%. Predictors of response are high ALT levels, low HBVDNA levels and high histological activity index. The response is sustained in 85%-90% of responders. Adverse events include flu-like syndrome, bone marrow suppression, hair loss, and psychiatric side effects, induction of autoimmunity and temporarily suppression of weight gain and growth velocity. LAM, a nucleoside anolog, leads to a virologic response rate of 20-30% when used for 12 months. High ALT levels, low HBVDNA levels and high histological activity index predict better response. Maintenance of HBeAg seroconversion is 56-80%. Longer courses of treatment with LAM increases the seroconversion rate but with high mutation rate and viral resistance. Except for causing mutations, LAM doesn't have serious adverse events. Different timing and durations of combination treatment with IFN and LAM were also evaluated without any significant superiority over monotherapy. In conclusion, the best approach for treatment of chronic HBV infection in children haven't been determined yet. Future developments concerning new drugs and different treatment strategies are needed.
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PMID:Treatment of chronic hepatitis B in children. 1822 Nov 87

Approximately 30% of patients with chronic HCV infection show persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels (PNAL). The prevalence of HCV carriers with normal liver seems to be very low (less than 15-20%). Liver disease is usually minimal/mild and fibrosis is generally absent or minimal, although the association of normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with cirrhosis or with liver cancer has been reported. In all studies, liver histology was, on average, significantly less severe in subjects with PNAL than with abnormal ALT. Although the majority of data seem to show that HCV carriers with normal ALT have mild and stable disease, with a favourable prognosis, several studies reported a significant progression of fibrosis in approximately 20-30% of the patients with ALT normality, and the development of HCC in some cases has been described, despite persistent ALT normality. Sudden worsening of disease with ALT increase and histological deterioration has been described after up to 15 years of follow-up, in particular in patients harboring genotype 2. As to antiviral treatment, it has been clearly stated that it no longer seems reasonable to affirm that sustained response rates for patients with normal ALT levels are any different than those for patients with elevated ALT levels when the combination of pegylated interferon (IFN) and ribavirin is used. The issue at hand is whether or not patients with mild disease should be treated. There are numerous other factors which impact on this decision, including genotype, histology, patients motivation, symptoms, co-morbid illness, and the age of the patient.
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PMID:Antiviral treatment of HCV carriers with persistently normal ALT levels. 1828 98

8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is a promutagenic DNA lesion produced by hydroxyl radicals and is recognized as a useful marker in estimating DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of hepatic 8-OHdG levels in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Hepatic 8-OHdG accumulation was investigated in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) (n = 77) and chronic hepatitis B (CH-B) (n = 34) by immunohistochemical staining of liver biopsy samples. 8-OHdG positive hepatocytes were significantly higher in patients with CH-C compared to CH-B (median 55.0 vs 18.8 cells/10(5) mum(2), P < 0.0001). The number of positive hepatocytes significantly increased with the elevation of serum aminotransferase levels, especially in CH-C patients (8-OHdG vs alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotrasferase (AST) were r = 0.738/0.720 in CH-C and 0.506/0.515 in CH-B). 8-OHdG reactivity was strongly correlated with body and hepatic iron storage markers in CH-C (vs serum ferritin, r = 0.615; vs hepatic total iron score, r = 0.520; vs hepatic hepcidin mRNA levels, r = 0.571), although it was related to serum HBV-DNA titers (r = 0.540) and age of patients (r = -0.559) in CH-B. These results indicate that hepatic oxidative DNA damage is common in chronic viral hepatitis, in particular chronic HCV-infected patients, suggesting a possible link between chronic hepatic inflammation and hepatocarcinogenesis. The strong positive correlation between hepatic DNA damage and iron overload suggests that iron content is one of the most likely mediators of hepatic oxidative stress and iron reduction may be beneficial to reduce the incidence of hepatic cancer in CH-C patients.
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PMID:Comparison of hepatic oxidative DNA damage in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C. 1833 Dec 51


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