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

Schistosomiasis, a chronic disease with considerable social impact, is an important health problem in many countries. To investigate the possible use of immunomodulators as coadjuvants in the treatment of chronic Schistosoma mansoni infection, we evaluated the effect of dexamethasone on histological, hematological, and biochemical parameters that reflect disease severity and morbidity. Animals treated from the first day or after 35 days of infection, were analyzed. In both groups, dexamethasone: (1) induced a decrease in the number of granulomas in hepatic tissue without affecting the alanine aminotransferase profile, (2) reduced splenomegaly and hepatomegaly associated with disease, and (3) improved hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit values and reduced the percentage of reticulocytes, preventing the development of anemia that occurs in the chronic phase of infection. These data suggest that treatment with dexamethasone results in a mild course of murine schistosomiasis and point to this drug as a promising agent to complement S. mansoni specific treatment.
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PMID:Dexamethasone treatment improves morphological and hematological parameters in chronic experimental schistosomiasis. 1499 68

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of nuclear receptors whose ligands include fatty acids, eicosanoids and the fibrate class of drugs. In humans, fibrates are used to treat dyslipidemias. In rodents, fibrates cause peroxisome proliferation, a change that might explain the observed hepatomegaly. In this study, rats were treated with multiple dose levels of six fibric acid analogs (including fenofibrate) for up to two weeks. Pathological analysis identified hepatocellular hypertrophy as the only sign of hepatotoxicity, and only one compound at the highest dose caused any significant increase in serum ALT or AST activity. RNA profiling revealed that the expression of 1288 genes was related to dose or length of treatment and correlated with hepatocellular hypertrophy. This gene list included expression changes that were consistent with increased mitochondrial and peroxisomal beta-oxidation, increased fatty acid transport, increased hepatic uptake of LDL-cholesterol, decreased hepatic uptake of glucose, decreased gluconeogenesis and decreased glycolysis. These changes are likely linked to many of the clinical benefits of fibrate drugs, including decreased serum triglycerides, decreased serum LDL-cholesterol and increased serum HDL-cholesterol. In light of the fact that all six compounds stimulated similar or identical changes in the expression of this set of 1288 genes, these results indicate that hepatomegaly is due to PPARalpha activation, although signaling through other receptors (e.g. PPARgamma, RXR) or through non-receptor pathways cannot be excluded.
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PMID:Profiling of hepatic gene expression in rats treated with fibric acid analogs. 1512 Sep 67

The aim of the study was to identify moderate liver impairment in a group of hyperbilirubinaemic adolescents. Using gas chromatography we assessed both total bile acid and primary bile acid levels in 50 adolescents with juvenile hyperbilirubinaemia. At the same time we performed hepatologic examinations and subsequent follow-up assessment of these patients for a period of at least 2 years. As a control group we examined 30 adolescents without any impairment of both the liver and gastrointestinal tract, and 18 patients with low grade (moderately) active chronic hepatitis. In both groups we assessed total and primary bile acids levels as well as conventional liver tests (bilirubin, ALT, AST). On the basis of the clinical course and laboratory findings we divided our patients with juvenile hyperbilirubinaemia into two groups: a group of individuals with Gilbert's syndrome (30 patients) and a group of individuals with probable moderate liver impairment (20 patients). The latter group consisted of the adolescents who exhibited bilirubinaemia over 90 micromol/l and/or exhibited hepatomegaly or splenomegaly proved by the ultrasound examination and/or exhibited intermittent elevation of the liver aminotransferases serum levels. In the group of individuals with moderate liver impairment serum total bile acid levels were significantly elevated in 26% of patients, and the serum cholic acid level was significantly elevated in 25% of patients. These two parameters mutually correlated at a high level of significance. Juvenile hyperbilirubinaemia is one of the common conditions of adolescent age. Its etiology is diverse; it includes both benign conditions like Gilbert's syndrome and post-hepatitic and toxic conditions that require a long-term regimen and follow-up examinations. The number of people suffering from juvenile hyperbilirubinaemia has been growing in the population. Currently 4-6% of the adolescent population suffers from this disease. This growing number is probably caused by external factors of our environment (infection, toxic effects). The determination of mild liver disease in hyperbilirubinaemic patients and the provision of an adequate regimen of exercise and adequate nutritional measures is of great importance for the health of the adolescent population.
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PMID:Importance of serum bile acids determination in adolescents with juvenile hyperbilirubinaemia. 1524 29

A 24-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of liver dysfunction. He had been diagnosed as having psoriasis vulgaris at 18 years of age. Physical examination demonstrated obesity, general erythema, and hepatomegaly. Laboratory data revealed elevated serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and glucose. A histological examination of the liver revealed macrovesicular fatty change and infiltration of inflammatory cells, including lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells, within the liver lobules. Pericentral fibrosis and pericellular fibrosis were also recognized. He was diagnosed as having nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), based on the fact that he had no habit of drinking alcohol, as well as psoriasis vulgaris and diabetes mellitus. We herein report a very rare case of NASH associated with psoriasis vulgaris.
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PMID:Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis associated with psoriasis vulgaris. 1558 Apr 5

A 16-year-old Caucasian girl of Albanian origin was admitted to the hospital complaining of intermittent fever (38 degrees C) for a week, nausea, vomiting, and abnormal laboratory findings (elevated serum aminotransferases levels AST/ALT 77/40 U/l and erythrocyte sedimentation rate 80 mm/first hour, as well as leukopenia 2.5 x 10(3)/mm3), which were found in a blood examination. Physical examination revealed slight hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, as well as cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy. A diagnostic open lymph node biopsy was performed and Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) was established based on the characteristic histological pattern. Other abnormal laboratory findings were C-reactive protein 6.8 mg/dl and serum lactate dehydrogenase 900 U/l. Her history included a diarrhoea syndrome 2 months before the present admission, during the summer holidays, for which she was treated with metronidazole. At that time, characteristic cysts of giardia lamblia intestinalis were observed in the stools. Herein, we present this case hypothesising that the protozoal infection caused by the giardia lamblia intestinalis was probably triggering an immune response leading to KFD. The patient's age in combination with this firstly reported protozoal pathogen, as a triggering agent leading to KFD, consist a very interesting originality. Additionally, some review data is also given.
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PMID:Giardia lamblia intestinalis: a new pathogen with possible link to Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. An additional element in the disease jigsaw. 1564 21

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a well-established cause for chronic liver disease. In most studies on NASH, elevation in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is taken as one of the diagnostic criteria. However, the clinical and histological spectrum and natural history of NAFLD with normal ALT are not well explored. This study was planned to define the clinical spectrum and natural history of patients with NAFLD with normal ALT, and to compare them with NAFLD with abnormal ALT. A prospective study including 81 consecutive patients with ahistological diagnosis ofNAFLD was planned during the period from 1999 to 2003. Consecutive (n=81) patients with the histological diagnosis of NAFLD were included in the study. In all the patients, clinical, anthropometric, laboratory, histological and imaging features were noted at the baseline. All these patients were followed up regularly at 6-month intervals. Of the 81 cases, 25 patients (including 60% cirrhotics) had persistently normal enzyme, whereas 56 (including 23% cirrhotics) had abnormal ALT. Both the groups were comparable with respect to distribution of age, gender, ethnicity, clinical features, imaging features, histological severity and laboratory features; except a higher incidence of diabetes and higher occurrence of advanced liver disease at baseline in NAFLD with normal ALT. Natural history of NAFLD was better in patients without cirrhosis irrespective of baseline ALT levels than in patients with cirrhosis; except for a higher incidence of decompensation in cirrhotics with normal ALT. The entire clinical and histological spectrum of NAFLD is seen in patients with normal ALT and is not different from patients with abnormal ALT. In patients with diabetes and hepatomegaly in the absence of other obvious liver diseases, even normal ALT may not rule out advanced liver disease, and liver biopsy may be necessary to identify the severity of liver disease.
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PMID:Clinical spectrum and natural history of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with normal alanine aminotransferase values. 1568 60

Exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin) results in a broad spectrum of toxic effects. Most, if not all, of these responses are dependent upon the binding of dioxin to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Given their common roles in chemically induced toxicity, we asked whether interleukin 1 (IL1)-like cytokines play a role in acute aspects of the dioxin response. To test this idea, we employed a "triple-null" mouse model that lacks the two receptors for the tumor necrosis factors-alpha and -beta and the receptor for the IL1-alpha and IL1-beta cytokines. When triple null mice were treated with dioxin, there was significant attenuation in the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, signifying reduced hepatocellular damage. In addition, the triple-null mice were protected from dioxin-induced liver inflammation. Loss of receptors for the IL1-like cytokines was not protective for all aspects of dioxin toxicity. Endpoints such as thymic involution, Cyp1a2 induction, hepatomegaly, and hydropic degeneration remain unchanged in this model.
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PMID:Aspects of dioxin toxicity are mediated by interleukin 1-like cytokines. 1572 56

A 7-year-old, intact male Dachshund was presented to the Lyon veterinary school for lethargy and anorexia of several weeks duration. The main clinical signs were pale and icteric mucous membranes, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy. Results of a CBC and plasma biochemistry tests revealed severe nonregenerative anemia, thrombocytopenia, and increased alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities. Blood smear evaluation and cytologic examination of lymph node and bone marrow aspirate specimens revealed a large population of poorly differentiated blast cells with morphologic features suggesting megakaryocytic lineage. A low number of well-differentiated but dysplastic megakaryocytes also were observed in lymph node and bone marrow smears. A few blast cells were erythrophagocytic. Blast cells were positive for glycoprotein IIIa, factor VIII-related antigen, and factor XIII using immunocytochemistry. The dog was euthanized and necropsied. Histologic findings consisted of diffuse, massive infiltration of lymph nodes, liver, and spleen by megakaryoblasts and atypical megakaryocytes, with widespread thrombosis. This case confirms the usefulness of immunochemistry, including for factor XIII, in the diagnosis of megakaryoblastic leukemia, and demonstrates the unique features of tumor cell erythrophagocytosis and marked fibrinous thrombosis, which have not been reported previously in dogs.
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PMID:Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia with erythrophagocytosis and thrombosis in a dog. 1573 19

Cholestatic hepatitis is frequently found in Niemann-Pick C (NPC) disease. We studied the influence of diet and the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR, Ldlr in mice, known to be the source of most of the stored cholesterol) on liver disease in the mouse model of NPC. Npc1-/- mice of both sexes, with or without the Ldlr knockout, were fed a 18% fat, 1% cholesterol ("high-fat") diet and were evaluated by chemical and histological methods. Bile acid transporters [multidrug resistance protein (Mrps) 1-5; Ntcp, Bsep, and OatP1, 2, and 4] were quantitated by real-time RT-PCR. Many mice died prematurely (within 6 wk) with hepatomegaly. Histopathology showed an increase in macrophage and hepatocyte lipids independent of Ldlr genotype. Non-zone-dependent diffuse fibrosis was found in the surviving mice. Serum alanine aminotransferase was elevated in Npc1-/- mice on the regular diet and frequently became markedly elevated with the high-fat diet. Serum cholesterol was increased in the controls but not the Npc1-/- mice on the high-fat diet; it was massively increased in the Ldlr-/- mice. Esterified cholesterol was greatly increased by the high-fat diet, independent of Ldlr genotype. gamma-Glutamyltransferase was also elevated in Npc1-/- mice, more so on the high-fat diet. Mrps 1-5 were elevated in Npc1-/- liver and became more elevated with the high-fat diet; Ntcp, Bsep, and OatP2 were elevated in Npc1-/- liver and were suppressed by the high-fat diet. In conclusion, Npc1-/- mice on a high-fat diet provide an animal model of NPC cholestatic hepatitis and indicate a role for altered bile acid transport in its pathogenesis.
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PMID:Liver disease with altered bile acid transport in Niemann-Pick C mice on a high-fat, 1% cholesterol diet. 1579 Jul 56

Severe lipodystrophy is characterized by diminished adipose tissue and hypoleptinemia, leading to ectopic triglyceride accumulation. In the liver, this is associated with steatosis, potentially leading to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We investigated the prevalence of NASH and the effect of leptin replacement in these patients. Ten patients with either generalized lipodystrophy (8 patients) or Dunnigan's partial lipodystrophy (2 patients) were included in this analysis. Paired liver biopsy specimens were obtained at baseline and after treatment with recombinant methionyl human leptin (r-metHuLeptin), mean duration 6.6 months. The extents of portal and parenchymal inflammation, steatosis, ballooning, presence of Mallory bodies, and fibrosis in liver biopsy specimens were scored using a previously validated system developed to assess NASH activity. Histological disease activity was defined as the sum of ballooning, steatosis, and parenchymal inflammation scores. We concurrently tested serum triglycerides and aminotransferases and estimations of liver volume and fat content by magnetic resonance imaging. Eight of 10 patients met histological criteria for NASH at baseline. After treatment with r-metHuLeptin, repeat histological examinations showed significant improvements in steatosis (P = .006) and ballooning injury (P = .005), with a reduction of mean NASH activity by 60% (P = .002). Fibrosis was unchanged. Significant reductions were seen in mean serum triglycerides (1206-->226 mg/dL, P = .002), glucose (220-->144 mg/dL, P = .02), insulin (46.4-->24.8 muIU/mL, P = .004), ALT (54-->24 U/L, P = .02), AST (47-->22 U/L, P = .046), liver volume (3209-->2391 cm(3), P = .007), and liver fat content (31-->11%, P = .006). In conclusion, r-metHuLeptin therapy significantly reduced triglycerides, transaminases, hepatomegaly, and liver fat content. These reductions were associated with significant reductions in steatosis and the hepatocellular ballooning injury seen in NASH.
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PMID:Leptin reverses nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with severe lipodystrophy. 1579 19


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