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)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as a component of the metabolic syndrome, although it is not known whether markers of NAFLD, including elevated concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALK), predict the development of metabolic syndrome. Our objective was to investigate the associations of elevated AST, ALT, and other liver markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), with incident National Cholesterol Education Program-defined metabolic syndrome among 633 subjects in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study who were free of metabolic syndrome at baseline. Insulin sensitivity (Si) and acute insulin response (AIR) were directly measured from the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test among African-American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white subjects aged 40-69 years. After 5.2 years, 127 individuals had developed metabolic syndrome. In separate logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, clinic, and alcohol consumption, subjects in the upper quartiles of ALT, ALK, and CRP were at significantly increased risk of incident metabolic syndrome compared with those in the lowest quartile: ALT, odds ratio 2.50 (95% CI 1.38-4.51); ALK, 2.28 (1.24-4.20); and CRP, 1.33 (1.09-1.63). Subjects in the upper quartile of the AST-to-ALT ratio were at significantly reduced metabolic syndrome risk (0.40 [0.22-0.74]). After further adjustment for waist circumference, Si, AIR, and impaired glucose tolerance, the associations of ALT and the AST-to-ALT ratio with incident metabolic syndrome remained significant (ALT, 2.12 [1.10-4.09]; the AST-to-ALT ratio, 0.48 [0.25-0.95]). These associations were not modified by ethnicity or sex, and they remained significant after exclusion of former and heavy drinkers. In conclusion, NAFLD markers ALT and the AST-to-ALT ratio predict metabolic syndrome independently of potential confounding variables, including directly measured Si and AIR.
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PMID:Liver markers and development of the metabolic syndrome: the insulin resistance atherosclerosis study. 1624 37

The objective is to investigate the relation between the levels of two serum adipocytokines (adiponectin and resistin) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese children. In this study, 113 obese children were enrolled and divided into 3 groups. Obese group 1 was defined as obese children without any liver abnormality. Obese group 2 was defined as obese children just with fatty infiltration of the liver in ultrasonic appearance and obese group 3 was defined as obese children with liver function abnormality. The controls consisted of 37 nonobese children without endocrine, metabolic or kidney disease. The levels of serum adiponectin and resistin were measured by ELISA method. Insulin resistance by homeostasis model (HOMA-IR), area under curve of glucose (AUCG), serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase, uric acid, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) were measured as well. In obese children, NAFLD were found in 63 cases (55.75%). Serum adiponectin levels of obese children were significantly lower than that of controls (3.63 vs 5.79 microg/mL, P<0.001) while serum resistin levels were not different (P = 0.876). Moreover, serum adiponectin levels in obese group 1 were significantly higher than that of group 2 and 3 (4.24 vs 3.37 and 3.12 microg/mL, all P<0.05) and no difference was found between obese group 2 and obese group 3 (P>0.05). Serum resistin levels among the three obese groups were 4.37 ng/mL, 3.72 ng/mL and 4.24 ng/mL without significant difference (P = 0.592). NAFLD, BMI, gender and HDL-cholesterol were independent determinants of serum adiponectin levels in children analyzed by multiple regression analysis, which explained 33% of the variance. Serum adiponectin levels were inversely associated with BMI, gender and NAFLD (all P<0.05) and were positively associated with HDL-cholesterol levels (P = 0.033). These results suggest that adiponectin might be a protective factor in NAFLD occurrence in obese children, and that the measurement of adiponectin should be part of the standard evaluation of the obese child and may help to evaluate the occurrence of NAFLD.
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PMID:Serum adiponectin, resistin levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children. 1628 27

Low adiponectin levels are associated with elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase, a marker of reduced hepatic insulin sensitivity and a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. This study aims to determine the relationship between serum adiponectin level and alanine aminotransferase in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Fifty-six type 2 diabetic patients and 33 non-diabetic subjects participate in the study. Baseline plasma concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and glucose are measured on a chemistry analyser. Insulin and adiponectin are measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay techniques and insulin resistance is determined using the homeostatic model assessment method. Diabetic patients showed significantly lower levels of serum adiponectin than did the non-diabetic subjects, whereas levels of alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were similar in both groups. While female non-diabetic subjects showed higher serum adiponectin levels than did female diabetic patients, alanine aminotransferase level did not differ (P>0.05). No significant relationship was seen between adiponectin and alanine aminotransferase in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects (P>0.05). Serum adiponectin levels were higher in non-diabetic subjects but there was no significant correlation between adiponectin and alanine aminotransferase in both groups of subjects. The data suggest that low serum adiponectin level may not be a suitable marker for impaired liver function in diabetic patients.
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PMID:Serum adiponectin levels and enzyme markers of liver dysfunction in diabetic and non-diabetic Caribbean subjects. 1705 11

While obesity has a high prevalence in developed countries, the routine abnormalities seen from the clinical biochemistry laboratory that may be caused by obesity related pathology do not seem to be as common. Insulin resistance, which is often associated with obesity, is difficult to assess as formal procedures are too complex for clinical practice. Furthermore the interpretation of insulin levels is hampered by their in vivo variability, assay differences and the lack of reference intervals from an unaffected reference population. Interpretation of fasting glucose levels between 5.5 and 6.0mmol/L are also being debated however, it is useful to understand the age related changes in this parameter, which may also be due to increasing obesity in the reference population. The association of obesity and dyslipidaemia in the metabolic syndrome should focus on elevated triglycerides (>1.5mmol/L), which is associated with low HDLC and correlates with atherogenic small dense LDL. High triglycerides are also predictive of fatty liver and the common abnormality of an elevated ALT may not be appreciated if laboratories allow their reference intervals to increase as the population gets more obese with aging. SHBG levels fall with insulin resistance/hyperinsulinaemia and this needs to be taken into account when testosterone is measured. However, low SHBG is showing huge potential as a disease and prognostic marker in obesity. These commonly available tests provide useful insights for the obese patient and their utility may improve with future research into the growing problem of obesity.
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PMID:The clinical biochemistry of obesity-more than skin deep. 1761 Nov 53

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) covers a wide spectrum of liver pathology--from steatosis alone, through the necroinflammatory disorder of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to cirrhosis and liver cancer. NAFLD/NASH is mostly related with visceral adiposity, obesity, type 2 diabetes melitus (DM t.2) and metabolic syndrome. Pathogenetic concepts of NAFLD include overnutrition and underactivity, insulin resistance (IR) and genetic factor. The prevalence of NAFLD has been estimated to be 17-33% in some countries, NASH may be present in about 1/3 of such cases, while 20-25% of NASH cases could progress to cirrhosis. NAFLD is now recognized as one of the most frequent reason of liver tests elevation without clinical symptoms. Insulin resistance is considering as having a central role in NAFLD pathogenesis. In hepatocytes, IR is related to hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia, formation of advanced glycation end-products, increased free fatty acids and their metabolites, oxidative stress and altered profiles of adipocytokines. Early stages of fatty liver are clinically silent and include elevation of ALT and GGTP, hyperechogenic liver in USG and/or hepatomegaly. Among clinical symptoms, abdominal discomfort is relatively common as well as chronic fatigue. NAFLD/NASH is not a benign disease, progressive liver biopsy have shown histological progression of fibrosis in 32%, the estimated rate of cirrhosis development is 20% and a liver--related death is 12% over 10 years. No treatment has scientifically proved to ameliorate NAFLD or to avoid its progression. The various therapeutic alternatives are aimed at interfering with the risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of the disorder in order to prevent the progression to end-stage liver disease. The most important therapeutic measure is increasing insulin sensitivity by an attempt to change a lifestyle mostly by dieting and physical activity in order to loose weight. The most used agent is metformin, the others are under controlled trials or their effectiveness is low. NASH is not a common indication for liver transplantation because of the older age distribution of patients and high prevalence of comorbidity, related to metabolic syndrome. Recurence of NASH in the grafted liver is also a relatively frequent complication.
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PMID:[Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease--new view]. 1870 46

Fatty liver is one of the local morphological manifestations of metabolic syndrome and is frequently associated with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is also common in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Hyperinsulinemia is an independent risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), telmisartan and olmesartan, for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C (CH-C). We analyzed the incidence of obesity, insulin resistance, and other disorders in patients with NAFLD (Group A), CH-C (Group B), or other liver diseases (Group C). We evaluated whether the ARBs, telmisartan and olmesartan, improved insulin resistance and liver injury by measuring the homeostasis model assessment ratio of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The incidence of obesity (BMI > or =25 kg/m2) was significantly higher in Group A than in Groups B and C. The incidence of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR > or =2.5) in Groups A and B was significantly higher than in Group C. Regular doses of telmisartan and olmesartan significantly improved HOMA-IR and ALT levels not only in NAFLD patients but also in patients with CH-C. The effects tended to be more notable with telmisartan. In conclusion, telmisartan and olmesartan improved insulin sensitivity and may possibly be used as liver protecting agents in CH-C as well as NAFLD patients.
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PMID:Therapeutic effect of ARBs on insulin resistance and liver injury in patients with NAFLD and chronic hepatitis C: a pilot study. 1881 60

Insulin resistance is a major feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Several studies pointed out the possible role of increased leptin in NAFLD in humans. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of metformin on plasma leptin levels in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and NAFLD compared with lifestyle interventions. Thirty-four obese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus were prospectively followed for 6 months. All patients had ultrasonographic evidence of NAFLD at baseline. The patients were randomized into two groups: group 1 (n = 15) followed lifestyle changes only and group 2 (n = 19) received metformin (1,700 mg/day). At the end of treatment, BMI, WHR, HbA1c, fasting glucose, leptin, HOMA-IR, alanine aminotransferase values decreased in both groups. No significant difference in the end-points was observed between two groups. Only in group 2, LDL decreased and HDL increased significantly. Liver echogenity decreased significantly at the end of study in both groups. The percentage of patients who no longer had evidence of NAFLD was not significantly different between the groups (20% of patients on lifestyle intervention vs. 16% of patients on metformin). The data demonstrate that, metformin and lifestyle interventions equally affected the plasma leptin levels, BMI and degree of NAFLD in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, the effects of metformin on the variables were not found to be mediated by leptin.
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PMID:The effect of metformin on leptin in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. 1883 53

Treatment with angiotensin II receptor blockers is associated with lower risk for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus compared with thiazide diuretics. The Mechanisms for the Diabetes Preventing Effect of Candesartan Study addressed insulin action and secretion and body fat distribution after treatment with candesartan, hydrochlorothiazide, and placebo. Twenty-six nondiabetic, abdominally obese, hypertensive patients were included in a multicenter 3-way crossover trial, and 22 completers (by predefined criteria; 10 men and 12 women) were included in the analyses. They underwent 12-week treatment periods with candesartan (C; 16 to 32 mg), hydrochlorothiazide (H; 25 to 50 mg), and placebo (P), respectively, and the treatment order was randomly assigned and double blinded. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests and euglycemic hyperinsulinemic (56 mU/m(2) per minute) clamps were performed. Intrahepatic and intramyocellular and extramyocellular lipid content and subcutaneous and visceral abdominal adipose tissue were measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and MRI. Insulin sensitivity (M-value) was reduced following H versus C and P (6.07+/-2.05, 6.63+/-2.04, and 6.90+/-2.10 mg/kg of body weight per minute, mean+/-SD; P<or=0.01). Liver fat content was higher (P<0.05) following H than both P and C. The subcutaneous to visceral abdominal adipose tissue ratio was reduced following H versus C and P (P<0.01). Glycosylated hemoglobin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were higher (P<0.05) after H, but not C, versus P. There were no changes in body fat, intramyocellular lipid, extramyocellular lipid, or first-phase insulin secretion. Blood pressure was reduced similarly by C and H versus P. In conclusion, visceral fat redistribution, liver fat accumulation, low-grade inflammation, and aggravated insulin resistance were demonstrated after hydrochlorothiazide but not candesartan treatment. These findings can partly explain the diabetogenic potential of thiazides.
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PMID:Hydrochlorothiazide, but not Candesartan, aggravates insulin resistance and causes visceral and hepatic fat accumulation: the mechanisms for the diabetes preventing effect of Candesartan (MEDICA) Study. 1925 58

Extracts of ginseng species show antihyperglycemic activity. We evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antiobesity effects of ginsam, a component of Panax ginseng produced by vinegar extraction, which is enriched in the ginsenoside Rg3. Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats, an obese insulin-resistant rat model, were assigned into 1 of 3 groups (n = 8 each): controls (isotonic sodium chloride solution, 5 mL/d), rats given 300 mg/(kg d) ginsam, and rats given 500 mg/(kg d) ginsam. An intraperitoneal 2-hour glucose tolerance test was performed at the end of the 6-week treatment. After 8 weeks, body and liver weights, visceral fat measured by computed tomography, and fasting glucose and insulin concentrations and lipid profiles were recorded. Insulin-resistant rats treated with ginsam had lower fasting and postprandial glucose concentrations compared with vehicle-treated rats. Importantly, overall glucose excursion during the intraperitoneal 2-hour glucose tolerance test decreased by 21.5% (P < .01) in the treated rats, indicating improved glucose tolerance. Plasma insulin concentration was significantly lower in ginsam-treated rats. These changes may be related to increased glucose transporter 4 expression in skeletal muscle. Interestingly, when the data from both ginsam-treated groups were combined, body weight was 60% lower in the ginsam-treated rats than in the controls (P < .01). Liver weight and serum alanine aminotransferase concentrations were also lower in the ginsam-treated rats. These effects were associated with increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma expression and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase phosphorylation in liver and muscle. Our data suggest that ginsam has distinct beneficial effects on glucose metabolism and body weight control in an obese animal model of insulin resistance by changing the expression of genes involved in glucose and fatty acid metabolism.
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PMID:Effect of ginsam, a vinegar extract from Panax ginseng, on body weight and glucose homeostasis in an obese insulin-resistant rat model. 1905 25

Burn injury is a significant and severe representation of critical illness. Nearly, 50% of patients admitted to hospitals for burn injuries have detectable levels of ethanol in their circulations and these patients have poorer clinical outcomes than burned individuals without measurable circulating ethanol. We report here data on a clinically relevant form of hepatic injury, the development of microvesicular steatosis, in a murine model wherein animals were either given ethanol or saline, and were subjected to burn or sham injury. Because better glycemic control with insulin has been shown in clinical studies to impart major clinical benefit, an additional group of burn ethanol animals were treated with insulin. Insulin significantly reduced blood glucose in injured animals to levels no different from those seen in animals that were neither ethanol exposed nor burned. A single intraperitoneal injection of ethanol was insufficient to raise blood alanine aminotransferase (ALT), measured as an index of liver injury. However, burn injury led to significant increases in ALT at 24 and 48 hours, which had returned to preinjury levels by 7 days. This ALT rise was completely prevented with insulin treatment. A single injection of ethanol did not evoke increased microvesicular steatosis but did potentiate the ability of burn to do so at 24 hours after injury. The burn induced increase in microvesicular steatosis was also seen at 48 hours, but had subsided by 7 days. The increased microvesicular steatosis was prevented by insulin therapy. Thus, ethanol potentiates the ability of burn to cause acute liver injury, which is completely preventable by insulin therapy. These findings may have substantial clinical significance and suggest this model may be useful for the study of the mechanisms of hepatic injury as well as the mechanisms, probably multiple, of insulin action in this setting.
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PMID:Ethanol potentiates the acute fatty infiltration of liver caused by burn injury: prevention by insulin treatment. 1934 79


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