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)

Impaired liver regeneration in cirrhosis complicates the surgical treatment of liver tumors which arise in this setting. We developed a rat model to investigate the regenerative response of cirrhotic liver after hepatectomy and studied the effect of exogenous transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), a potent liver mitogen. Micronodular cirrhosis was established by the simultaneous administration of CCl4 and phenobarbital. Hepatic DNA synthesis ([3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA) 24 hr after partial hepatectomy in cirrhotic rats was 15.6 +/- 3.4 cpm/micrograms DNA (means +/- SEM), which was significantly lower than in normal rats (37.3 +/- 3.4 cpm/micrograms DNA, P less than 0.05). Exogenous TGF-alpha (30 nmol/kg, sc every 12 hr) significantly improved [3H]thymidine incorporation (35.6 +/- 8.2 cpm/micrograms DNA, P less than 0.05). An autoradiographic nuclear labeling index also confirmed increased DNA synthesis (6.7% vs 13.4%). TGF-alpha had no effect on normal regenerating liver (42.5 +/- 8.8 cpm/micrograms DNA, NS). Although the significance of TGF-alpha-enhanced liver regeneration in cirrhosis has yet to be assessed, this model may be useful for the study of mechanisms which control hepatic proliferation.
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PMID:Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) improves hepatic DNA synthesis after hepatectomy in cirrhotic rats. 152 43

We evaluated plasma amino acid (AA) concentrations associated with a histologically defined lesion caused by bile duct ligation (BDL) in developing rats. Nineteen rats that underwent BDL at 14 days of age had marked bile duct proliferation with bridging fibrosis, multifocal lobular necrosis, and minimal polymorphonuclear periportal infiltrate in their livers at sacrifice (11-31 days after ligation). These were compared to two age-matched control groups: 21 nonoperated rats and 22 sham-operated rats; and eight rats with cirrhosis caused by carbon tetrachloride. Signs of liver damage including jaundice, growth failure, bleeding, and ascites were accompanied by elevated bilirubin, ammonia, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase levels in BDL rats compared to controls. They had higher concentrations of total AAs, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and cyst(c)ine when compared to controls and to CCl4-treated rats. Micronodular cirrhosis was present in CCL4-treated rats with elevated AST and alkaline phosphatase levels. Glutamine and glutamate levels were higher in them than in BDL rats or controls, and branched chain AA levels were lower. These two chronic lesions, one obstructive and one hepatotoxic, both result in fibrotic change, but their metabolic abnormalities as reflected in plasma AA levels are distinct. We found that BDL is an appropriate model with which to study metabolic changes and growth failure due to chronic biliary stasis during its progression to frank cirrhosis.
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PMID:Plasma amino acids in long-term models for obstructive versus toxic liver injury in developing rats. 232 99

The present study is concerned with the early events associated with the development of cirrhosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). The antigenic expression of MHC class II components (Ia) and of some intermediate filament proteins (vimentin and desmin) have been studied by immunohistochemistry and the findings correlated with ultrastructural data. Micronodular cirrhosis developed after 3 weeks of treatment with DMN but enhanced expression of Ia antigen on macrophages and on infiltrating lymphocytes was observed after 1 week, before the formation of septa, suggesting that immune-mediated mechanisms are involved in the response to DMN-induced liver injury. The expression of vimentin and of desmin also increased at an early stage and at 3 weeks the septa were outlined by cellular elements showing positivity for both intermediate filament proteins. In keeping with these observations, ultrastructural data showed active division of macrophages in situ, infiltration of the parenchyma by T and B lymphocytes, activation of lipocytes (Ito cells) showing evidence of mitosis, and the presence of transitional elements between lipocytes, myofibroblasts and fibroblasts. This experimental model may be helpful in understanding the relationship between immune-mediated response to liver injury and development of hepatic fibrosis.
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PMID:Dimethylnitrosamine-induced cirrhosis. Evidence for an immunological mechanism. 292 2

In order to examine the frequency of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency of phenotype Pi-Z in a consecutive liver biopsy material, PAS/diastase resistent globules with positive immunohistochemical reaction for AAT (AAT globules) were used as a marker of the Pi-Z gene. 34 (4%) of 850 liver biopsies contained AAT globules. More than half of the biopsies with globules had chief histological diagnoses within the groups fibrosis, suspicion of cirrhosis and cirrhosis. Micronodular cirrhosis was significantly more frequent in biopsies with AAT globules. The results support the assumption that AAT deficiency of phenotype Pi-Z as well in homozygous as heterozygous form is associated with development of liver cirrhosis.
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PMID:Alpha-1-antitrypsin globules in liver biopsies. 696 25

The spectrum of histological changes in needle biopsies of the liver tissue was analysed in 43 patients with chronic liver disease who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in their sera. Majority of the patients were around 40 years and there was a male predominance. According to histopathological pattern, there were 18 (41.8%) cases of chronic active hepatitis, 16 (37.2%) cases of inactive cirrhosis, 3 (6.9%) cases of chronic persistent hepatitis and 2 (4.7%) cases of chronic lobular hepatitis and hepatoma each. Two (4.7%) cases could not be exactly categorised into any particular histological entity. The inflammation, hepatic cell necrosis and fibrosis were more marked in cases of chronic active hepatitis without past history of jaundice. Micronodular cirrhosis was the most common histological pattern in the study. Shikata orcein stain for detection of HBsAg in the hepatocytes was positive in 8 (18.6%) cases only.
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PMID:Hepatic histology in chronic liver disease in hepatitis B surface antigen positive cases. 782 48

We have previously established a model for micronodular cirrhosis by feeding Wistar rats alcohol, in the Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet, and exposing them to 'low-dose' carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) vapour for 10 weeks. This study reports the spectrum of liver pathology seen in male Porton rats exposed to 'low-dose' CCl4 vapour 5 nights/week, 6 h/night while being fed alcohol (300 kcal/L) in the Lieber-DeCarli diet. Micronodular cirrhosis developed in all animals after 5-7 weeks of treatment. The simultaneous administration of silymarin, a putative hepatoprotective agent, in the liquid diet, did not alleviate or prevent the chronic liver injury. The histopathological features of the liver injury are described, with particular emphasis on the presence of small epithelial cells ('progenitor or stem cell'), which appear to be playing a role in liver regeneration.
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PMID:The pathology of liver injury induced by the chronic administration of alcohol and 'low-dose' carbon tetrachloride in Porton rats. 805 23

This study aims at establishing the pattern of liver cirrhosis. Histology slides and duplicate copies of reports were retrieved and re-examined while fresh sections were processed from original paraffin blocks when necessary. Cirrhosis was the second commonest cause of chronic liver disease after hepatocellular carcinoma. The commonest morphological type was macronodular cirrhosis. Micronodular cirrhosis is not as common in black Africans as among the Caucasians. This is not unexpected since alcoholic liver disease that is of aetiopathogenetic importance is also not as common as what is often found in Causasians. Biliary cirrhosis was reported in an 8 months old girl consequent upon congenital absence of gallbladder and biliary tree. There was male preponderance in the occurrence of cirrhosis with a male, female ratio of 2.5:1. The incidence gradually increased from early adult life but was highest in the middle age especially between the age group of 51-60 years and subsequently dropped sharply. Adequate diagnostic facilities should be provided to determine the incidence of hepatotropic viruses and their contribution to the incidence of chronic liver diseases. Case-controlled studies should be carried out to determine the role of local cultural practices on hepatocellular injury and the development of chronic liver disease.
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PMID:Histopathological assessment of the pattern of liver cirrhosis in a tropical population. 1502 82

In this study, we describe the development of acute pulmonary oedema and cardiac arrest after therapeutic ascitic paracentesis, in a gentleman with decompensated liver cirrhosis. There was no previous history of cardiorespiratory symptoms or disease. Postmortem examination revealed oedematous and congested lungs with bilateral pleural effusions; in addition, the right heart was dilated and congested. Micronodular cirrhosis was present with histological features of alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency. This is the first study of acute cardiac decompensation after large volume paracentesis. Owing to the postmortem findings, underlying asymptomatic cardiorespiratory disease may have been present. Cirrhosis is associated with cardiovascular complications including cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, portopulmonary hypertension and hepatopulmonary syndrome which may manifest or worsen under situations of haemodynamic stress. This report thus raises the question whether routine screening for cardiovascular abnormalities is warranted in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, particularly before the procedures such as paracentesis that impose significant haemodynamic strain.
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PMID:Pulmonary oedema after therapeutic ascitic paracentesis: a case report and literature review of the cardiac complications of cirrhosis. 2063 44