Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0023890 (cirrhosis)
 42,195 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Soluble HLA-class I and CD8 molecules were determined by sandwich ELISA in patients with viral-induced hepatic disorders. As a whole, the patients with hepatic disorders (acute hepatitis: AH; chronic hepatitis: CH; liver cirrhosis: LC; hepatocellular carcinoma: HCC) showed higher sHLA-class I and sCD8 levels than normal controls (P < 0.001). AH patients had the highest sHLA-class I levels (mean, 3513 +/- 2112 ng/ml), followed by CH (2896 +/- 1290 ng/ml), LC (2293 +/- 1266 ng/ml), and HCC (2221 +/- 1212 ng/ml) sCD8 levels wer highest in AH, followed by HCC, LC, and CH, in that order. Among histologically defined C virus-positive patients, sHLA-I levels were higher in those with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) 2A (3802 +/- 1124 ng/ml) than in those with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH; 2200 +/- 711 ng/ml; P < 0.01), the levels then decreased as the disease progressed (CAH2B, 3564 +/- 1783 ng/ml, LC, 2376 +/- 1265 ng/ml). In contrast, sCD8 values showed little difference among the disorders. sHLA-class I levels showed a positive correlation with sCD8 values both in whole patients and in patients with AH (P < 0.01), but no correlation was shown, in any patients, with biochemical parameters such as GPT and GOT. These findings, taken together, suggest that hepatic destruction is not the only cause of sHLA-class I production, but that sHLA-class I levels, together with sCD8 levels, may reflect immunological activity in hepatic disorders.
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PMID:Serum concentrations of soluble HLA-class I and CD8 forms in patients with viral hepatic disorders. 921 47

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the resting level of superoxide anion (O2.) and liver cirrhosis (LC). The resting levels of superoxide anion in the whole blood of healthy controls and patients with compensated or decompensated LC were measured, by an ultra-sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) analyzer and lucigenin amplification. The assay system can be performed in the absence of leukocyte isolation and stimulant administration. The results showed that the blood CL levels of compensated cirrhotic patients (381.0 +/- 201.5 counts/10 s, mean +/- SD, n = 24) were similar to that of healthy controls (467.9 +/- 299.5 counts/10 s, n = 24). However, the blood CL levels of decompensated cirrhotic patients (2083.5 +/- 1462.4 counts/10 s, n = 24) were significantly greater than that of healthy controls and patients with compensated LC (both p < .001, Student's t-test). The correlation analysis revealed that the blood CL levels in cirrhotic patients were significantly correlated with serum concentrations of albumin (r = -0.65, p < .001) and total bilirubin (r = +0.42, p < .005). However, there was no significant correlation between the blood CL levels and serum levels of transaminases (GOT and GPT). These results suggest that blood levels of superoxide of decompensated cirrhotic patients were greater than those of healthy controls or compensated cirrhotic patients. Moreover, the increase of blood levels of superoxide in decompensated cirrhotic patients is related to the impairment of liver function but not to the inflammation.
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PMID:Increase of resting levels of superoxide anion in the whole blood of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. 921 13

Characteristics of hepatitis C virus (HCV), importance of its genotypes and mutant variants "quasi-species", as well as the mechanisms of disease chronicity and tissue injuries caused by HCV have been discussed. Both a presumed direct cytopathy of the virus and the host's immune response may play a role in the pathogenesis. HCV infects not only hepatocytes but lymphoid cells, thereby modulates immune functions. A molecular minicri--that is a cross-reaction between viral and host antigens--also contributes to autoimmune phenomena developed during chronic HCV infection, in addition a genetic predisposition for autoimmunity can be involved. Until now the only accepted therapy for HCV infection is interferon, that at a standard low dose regimen, results long-term benefit only in one-fourth of treated patients. In Hungary, between 1994-1996 601 chronic hepatitis C patients have been treated: biochemical remission (ALT normalization) was found in 38% of the patients and elimination of the HCV was achieved in 25%. Several questions are to be answered concerning the optimalization of the treatment, e.g. dosage, duration of treatment, re-treatment of relapse, problem of non-responders, the role of predictors of response in the individualized therapy, usefulness of combination treatment. The original end-points and goals of therapy are sustained HCV-RNA negativity, normalization of serum GPT/ALT, and inactivity in liver histology, yet the real end-points are incidence and prevention of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, that is the better survival. Concerning these questions, newer therapeutic experiences are discussed, including results from Hungarian researchers.
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PMID:[Chronic hepatitis C: virologic and immunologic aspects and questions of therapy]. 922 76

Fifty-one cases of resected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the clinicopathologic features of HCC in patients with negative virus markers. The data were compared between three groups: hepatitis B surface antigen positive (HB, n = 11), hepatitis C virus antibody positive (HC, n = 21), and non-BC (both HbsAg and HCVAb negative, n = 12). Seven patients were excluded from the study because of operative death (n = 3), a history of alcohol abuse (n = 3), or the presence of dual positive HB and HC virus markers (n = 1). The data were analyzed by either an analysis of variance (ANOVA) or a contingency table. The age of the non-BC patients was higher (63.0 +/- 4.1, +/- SE) than that of HB patients (54.0 +/- 3.2, p < 0.05) but was identical to that of the HC group (62.0 +/- 1.8). Among the preoperative laboratory data, the serum glutamic oxaloacetate and glutamate pyruvate transaminoses (GOT, GPT) levels were statistically lower in the non-BC patients (32.8 +/- 4.8 and 28.0 +/- 4.4 IU/L, respectively) than in the HB and HC patients. The pathologic features of the resected specimens in the non-BC patients showed more invasive growth than in specimens from the HB or HC patients. The clinical stages (defined based on the criteria of the Japanese Association of Hepatocellular Carcinoma) were also more advanced in the non-BC patients than in the other groups. Postoperative survival time showed no significant difference among the groups. In conclusion, the non-BC patients had comparatively greater invasive growth and more advanced clinical stages than the HB and HC patients, despite the absence of liver cirrhosis, and so demonstrated the same poor survival data as observed in the HB and HC patients.
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PMID:Characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with negative virus markers: clinicopathologic study of resected tumors. 993 3

Ki-67 antigen was visualized in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver biopsy specimens using monoclonal antibody to Mib-1 to identify the proliferating hepatocytes. Thirty liver specimens obtained from 10 patients with chronic hepatitis (CH) or liver cirrhosis (LC) and 10 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were studied. Liver specimens were treated with a pepsin solution or heated with autoclave or treated with microwave as a part of antigen retrieval system; then stained with an immunoperoxidase method using a monoclonal antibody to Ki-67 (Mib-1). Stable stainings were obtained in the sections treated with autoclave. Ki-67 was detected in the nuclei of hepatocytes, bile duct epithelium, fibroblast and infiltrating mononuclear cells. In patients with CH and LC, the numbers of hepatocytes positive for Ki-67 has a good co-relation with serum GPT level (p < 0.01), while has no relationship with the degree of fibrosis. The number of hepatocytes positive for Ki-67 has a good co-relation with the degree of the differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma. Detection of proliferating hepatocytes using Mib-1 is useful to understand the degree of proliferation.
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PMID:[Detection of Ki-67 in liver biopsy specimens using monoclonal antibody to Mib-1]. 1059 Jun 70

We measured serum PIVKA-II concentrations in 18 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Alcoholic liver disease was diagnosed by the history of ethanol intake of more than 900 ml/day for over 10 years. Liver cirrhosis was diagnosed histologically. Infections with hepatitis B and C viruses were ruled out by assaying serum virus markers. No tumor was detected in liver by ultrasonography and computed tomography during observation period. None of the patients studied were positive for alpafetoprotein (AFP). Eight out of 18 (44.4%) patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis showed elevated serum PIVKA-II levels. In contrast, only eight out of 93 (8.6%) patients with nonalcholic liver cirrhosis had elevated serum PIVKA-II levels. PIVKA-II is well known as a tumor marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The rates of positive PIVKA-II found in alcoholic liver cirrhosis approached its rates in HCC. However, the time course for the elevation of serum PIVKA-II levels was different each other in alcoholic liver cirrhosis and HCC. In HCC, serum PIVKA-II "levels" continued to elevate until therapy. In contrast, its elevation was transient and its levels returned to baseline in alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The values of ALT (GPT), gamma-GTP, and ALP correlated poorly with serum PIVKA-II levels in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. To investigate the mechanism by which elevation of serum PIVKA-II levels in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis occurred, we studied the effect of vitamin K on production of PIVKA-II and AFP by hepatocytes. Hepatocytes(Alexander PLC/PRF/F cell line) were cultured in the presence of various concentrations of vitamin K (Kaytwo, Eisai, Tokyo). Vitamin K had no effect on AFP production. In contrast, PIVKA-II production was inhibited by addition of vitamin K in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, elevation of serum PIVKA-II levels in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis was suppressed by administration of vitamin K (Kaytwo) to these patients. Taken together, these results suggest that vitamin K may have a role in the mechanism of PIVKA-II elevation in sera of these patients. Then, we measured serum concentrations of vitamin K(PK, MK-4, MK-7) in these patients. There was no correlation observed between vitamin K and PIVKA-II in these patients. This result suggests that elevation of serum PIVKA-II in these patients may not be due to vitamin K deficiency. One question not answered here is how serum PIVKA-II levels in these patients are suppressed by treatment with vitamin K (Kaytwo). More detailed analysis of the mechanism of elevation of serum PIVKA-II levels in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis is needed.
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PMID:[Studies on the mechanism of elevation of serum PIVKA-II levels in alcoholic liver cirrhosis]. 1198 59

Copper in drinking water has been associated with Non-Indian Childhood Cirrhosis (NICC), a form of early childhood liver cirrhosis. This epidemiological study examines the exposition of infants to increased copper concentrations through drinking water from public water supplies in Berlin, Germany, and if this dietary copper intake can cause liver damage in early childhood. In total, water samples from 2944 households with infants were tested for copper. Mean copper concentrations in the two different types of collected composite samples were 0.44 and 0.56 mg/l, respectively. Families having a copper concentration at or above 0.8 mg/l in one or both of the composite samples (29.9% of all sampled households) and a defined minimum ingestion of tap water of their infant were recommended to undergo a paediatric examination. Nearly every of the 541 recommended infants were examined by a local paediatrician and of these 183 received a blood serum analysis, too. None of the infants had clear signs of a liver disease although a few serum parameters lay outside the accompanying reference range and abdominal ultrasound imaging gave slightly unusual results in five cases. Additionally, no signs of a negative health effect could be found in the statistical analysis of the serum parameters GOT, GPT, GGT, total bilirubin, serum copper, or ceruloplasmin in relation to estimated daily and total copper intakes of the infants from tap water. No dose relation of serum parameters and estimated copper intakes could be established. From the results of the study, no confirmed indication of a liver malfunction in infants whose food had been prepared using tap water with an elevated copper concentration could be found and, therefore, no indication of a hazard due to copper pipes connected to public water supplies could be detected.
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PMID:Epidemiological investigation on chronic copper toxicity to children exposed via the public drinking water supply. 1252 4

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aqueous extract of Anoectochilus formosanus (AFE) on liver fibrogenesis in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhosis. Fibrosis was induced in rats by oral administration of CCl4 (20%, 0.5 ml/rat, p.o.) twice a week for 8 weeks. AFE (0.5 and 2.0 g/kg, p.o., daily for 8 weeks) was administered to rats simultaneously. AFE showed reducing actions on the elevated levels of GOT and GPT caused by CCl4. Liver fibrosis in rats induced by CCl4 led to the drop of serum albumin concentration; the AFE increased the albumin concentration. The CCl4-induced liver fibrosis markedly caused liver atrophy and splenomegalia, while AFE increased the liver weight, and decreased the spleen weight. The CCl4-induced liver fibrosis decreased the protein content, and increased collagen contents in rat's liver. AFE significantly increased the contents of protein and reduced the amount of collagen in the liver. In CCl4-treated rats, glutathione concentrations of liver were not affected. AFE significantly increased liver glutathione concentrations. All these results clearly demonstrate that AFE can reduce the liver fibrogensis in rats induced by CCl4.
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PMID:Aqueous extract of Anoectochilus formosanus attenuate hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats. 1600 22

We report a 75-year-old man with the liver cirrhosis of Child-Pugh B who underwent nephrectomy. Preoperative serum examination revealed increases in GOT, GPT, LDH and total bilirubin, decreases in cholinesterase and albumin, and prolongation of prothrombin time. We selected spinal anesthesia using bupivacaine and fentanyl rather than epidural anesthesia in combination with isoflurane inhalation anesthesia to supplement intra-operative anesthesia and post-operative pain relief. We explained the risks of blood coagulopathy and the predictable venous dilatation in the epidural space to the patient and relatives on obtaining informed consent. The surgery was completed uneventfully in 2.5 hours. Post-operative pain control was satisfactory and hepatic dysfunction did not deteriorate in the postoperative period.
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PMID:[Combination of spinal and inhalation anesthesia for nephrectomy in a cirrhotic patient]. 1724 50

According to the new German guidelines therapy of chronic hepatitis B is recommended when HBV-DNA is >10.000 copies/ml and when GPT is >twice the ULN or biopsy shows inflammation/fibrosis. When patients are not suitable for interferon therapy, mono-therapy with adefovir, entecavir, telbivudine of lamivudine may be initiated provided that HBV-DNA is <1 Mio. copies/ml and cirrhosis is absent. When viral load is high, entecavir should be preferred. HBV-DNA need to be checked for early detection of non-response or resistance. When resistance is present, combination therapy is recommended.New studies warrant individualization of previous recommendation for therapy of hepatitis C because one can now early evaluate how successful and long the therapy shall be. When viral load is low and HCV-RNA becomes negative after 4 weeks, therapy may be shortened to 24 weeks. Without such rapid response HCV-RNA needs to be checked after 12 and 24 weeks: when HCV-RNA becomes negative only after 24 weeks, a prolongation of therapy might be advisable.
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PMID:[New data and recommendations of antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B and C]. 1834 Apr 26


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