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)

Previous our studies showed that some steroid hormones, as pure crystalline Progesterone (pPc) and 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone capronate (17 alpha HPC) heightened the cirrhogenic action produced in rat liver by carbon tetrachloride. Medroxyprogesterone (MPA), however, did not appear to promote cirrhosis, but increased just steatosis. In the present paper, we have studied the above mentioned steroid hormones for their possible capability of inducing changes in plasma fibronectin concentration. For this purpose, the soluble plasma fibronectin level was measured in female rats 45 days after CCl4-induced cirrhosis, and it was compared with the insoluble fibronectin of liver (detected by immunostaining) and the collagen content in the organ. The results obtained show that, after treatment with CCl4 and MPA, both plasma and liver fibronectin content strongly increases, whereas liver collagen content lowers. However, after treatment with CCl4 alone or in association with the other two steroid hormones, any changes in fibronectin content is not observable, but, on the contrary, is evident a heightened collagen production associated with a cirrhotic change of liver.
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PMID:Changes in fibronectin production in rat liver during cirrhotic evolution due to treatment with CCl4 and steroid hormones: correlation with plasmatic fibronectin. 146 20

Progesterone receptors (PgR), estrogen receptors (ER), and androgen receptors (AR) were assayed consecutively for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that was surgically removed from 19 men and three women. The methods of receptor assay were the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for PgR and the dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) technique for ER and AR. The patients ranged in age from 32 to 77 years (average, 60.3 years). No patients had received any specific anti-cancer therapy before tissue collection. All patients but one had underlying liver disease: cirrhosis in 13 and chronic hepatitis in eight. The positive rate of each receptor was 18% for PgR, 48% for ER, and 82% for AR. The titer was highest for AR, intermediate for ER, and lowest for PgR. The titers of PgR in four PgR-positive patients ranged from only 1.1 to 3.0 fmol/mg of protein. There was no relationship between PgR, ER, and AR in terms of positivity and titer. Also, other clinical and histopathologic data did not influence the positivity or concentration of these three sex hormone receptors. It can be concluded that no or little PgR exists in the cytosol of untreated HCC.
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PMID:Progesterone receptor in hepatocellular carcinoma. Correlation with androgen and estrogen receptors. 184 88

MAP, RPF, GFR, V and UNaV were measured in nine conscious control and in 11 conscious cirrhotic rats with ascites before and following two bolus injections (100 and 600 pmol/kg body wt) of endothelin (ET). PRA and plasma concentration of aldosterone and ANP were measured in basal conditions and following the high dose ET. ET induced similar increase in MAP and decrease in RPF and GFR in control and cirrhotic rats. High-dose ET produced a significant reduction in UNaV in control rats (from 2.22 +/- 0.46 to 1.14 +/- 0.28 microEq/min, P less than 0.01). By contrast, it induced marked natriuresis in cirrhotic rats (from 0.76 +/- 0.18 to 2.31 +/- 0.70 microEq/min, P less than 0.05). ET significantly increased aldosterone (control rats: 59.3 +/- 2.2 vs. 85.4 +/- 7.4 ng/dl, P less than 0.025; cirrhotic rats: 115.0 +/- 15.8 vs. 163.9 +/- 30.8, ng/dl, P less than 0.05) and ANP (control rats: 20.1 +/- 3.4 vs. 42.7 +/- 7.7, fmol/ml, P less than 0.025; cirrhotic rats: 107.5 +/- 17.3 vs. 214.2 +/- 41.1, fmol/ml, P less than 0.025) and significantly suppressed PRA (control rats: 2.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 0.2 +/- 0.04, ng/ml.hr, P less than 0.025; cirrhotic rats: 16.6 +/- 2.9 vs. 5.0 +/- 1.1, ng/ml.hr, P less than 0.01) in both groups of animals. These results indicate that ET has marked natriuretic properties in cirrhosis with ascites due to inhibition of tubular sodium reabsorption.
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PMID:Doses of endothelin have natriuretic effects in conscious rats with cirrhosis and ascites. 194 66

Central nervous system (CNS)-induced natriuresis was investigated in nonascitic rats with CCl4-induced cirrhosis (CTC rats) under pentobarbital anesthesia. At baseline, urine sodium output (UNa+V, in mumol.min-1.100 g body wt-1) (-30%, P less than 0.01) and mean arterial pressure (MAP, in mmHg) (-12%, P less than 0.001) were significantly reduced in CTC rats (n = 32) compared with matched controls (n = 34). In response to intracerebroventricular infusion of sodium-rich (349 mM) artificial cerebrospinal fluid (Na(+)-CSF infusion), UNa+V was significantly higher in CTC rats (2.8 +/- 0.3; n = 15) than in controls (1.7 +/- 0.2; n = 17; P less than 0.01); no differences were found in pressor changes (24 +/- 3 vs. 19 +/- 2). A similar but normal sodium CSF (150 mM) infusion did not influence UNa+V or MAP in any group (n = 12, both). In contrast, CTC rats (n = 5) showed, compared with controls (n = 5), significantly reduced natriuretic (UNa+V, 6.9 +/- 0.5 vs. 12.4 +/- 0.9; P less than 0.001) and pressor (+16 +/- 3 vs. +31 +/- 2; P less than 0.01) responses to an intravenous hypertonic sodium overload. Natriuresis induced by Na(+)-CSF infusion was related to increases in creatinine clearance (similar in both groups) and in fractional sodium excretion, which was significantly higher in CTC rats (5.90 +/- 0.15%) than in controls (3.65 +/- 0.14%; P less than 0.01). In summary, CNS-dependent efferent natriuretic mechanisms were preserved in CTC rats and were able to reverse renal tubular sodium retention in these animals. It is proposed that Na(+)-CSF infusion may be a useful tool for the study of renal sodium retention in experimental liver cirrhosis.
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PMID:Enhanced responsiveness to CNS-induced natriuresis in anesthetized nonascitic cirrhotic rats. 205 81

Several biochemical events accompany and mediate the development of chronic liver disease and its evolution into cancer. Low plasma zinc and high copper levels have been observed in various liver diseases, such as liver cirrhosis and viral hepatitis, while increased oestradiol levels have been documented in chronic liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma. We administered CCL4 intragastrically to 10 female Sprague Dawley rats for 30 weeks. All animals developed cirrhosis and four also developed hepatocellular carcinoma. Plasma levels of zinc, copper and oestradiol were significantly higher in the latter group than in animals with simple cirrhosis. Progesterone, AST and bilirubin showed a trend toward significant differences whereas testosterone and ALP levels were unchanged. These findings add to the evidence that sex hormones and trace elements are involved in the process of the development of chronic liver damage and carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Sex hormones and trace elements in rat CCL4-induced cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. 835 89

Progesterone and estradiol are metabolized in the liver and are elevated in patients with cirrhosis. Progesterone stimulates ventilation by activating progesterone receptors in the central nervous system; estradiol may facilitate progesterone's actions by increasing progesterone receptors. This study evaluated whether progesterone and estradiol contribute to the respiratory alkalosis common in cirrhotic patients. Arterial blood gases and progesterone and estradiol levels were obtained in 50 patients with cirrhosis. Multiple linear regression revealed a statistically significant correlation between PaCO2 and progesterone and estradiol (r = .54, P < .05). Patients with severe hyperventilation (PaCO2 < or = 30 mm Hg) had statistically higher levels of progesterone and estradiol than did patients with mild hyperventilation (30 < PaCO2 < or = 35) or normal ventilation (PaCO2 > 35) (P < .05). Although the progesterone levels were two orders of magnitude lower than those associated with hyperventilation in pregnant patients, the increased ventilatory effect may be because of the altered blood-brain barrier (BBB) present in cirrhotic patients. Progesterone and estradiol appear to contribute to the hyperventilation in cirrhotic patients.
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PMID:The hyperventilation of cirrhosis: progesterone and estradiol effects. 898 64

Recent work indicates that nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the systemic and renal alterations of liver cirrhosis. This study used aminoguanidine (AG), a preferential inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), to evaluate the role of this NOS isoform in the systemic and renal alterations of an experimental model of liver cirrhosis with ascites (carbon tetrachloride/ phenobarbital). Experiments have been performed in anesthetized cirrhotic rats and their respective control rats prepared for clearance studies. Administration of AG (10 to 100 mg/kg, iv) elevated dose-dependent mean arterial pressure (MAP, in mm Hg) in the cirrhotic rats from a basal level of 79.3 +/- 3.6 to 115.0 +/- 4.7, whereas in the control animals, MAP increased only with the highest dose of the inhibitor (from 121.8 +/- 3.6 to 133.3 +/- 1.4). In the cirrhotic group, AG also significantly increased sodium and water excretion, whereas these effects were very modest in the control group. Plasma concentration of nitrates+nitrites, measured as an index of NO production, were significantly increased in the cirrhotic animals in the basal period and decreased with AG to levels not significantly different from the control animals. Similar experiments performed with the nonspecific NOS inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine (NNA) also demonstrated an increased pressor sensitivity of the cirrhotic rats, but the arterial hypotension was completely corrected. These results, in an experimental model of liver cirrhosis with ascites, show that AG exerts a beneficial effect as a result of inhibition of NO production, increasing blood pressure and improving the reduced excretory function. Because NNA, but not AG, completely normalized the arterial hypotension, it is suggested that the constitutive NOS isoform is also contributing in an important degree. It is concluded that the activation of both inducible and constitutive NOS isoforms plays an important role in the lower systemic blood pressure and associated abnormalities that characterize liver cirrhosis.
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PMID:Renal and pressor effects of aminoguanidine in cirrhotic rats with ascites. 898 51

Although the fertility status of women with Wilson's disease may be preserved, contraceptive method choice is complicated by the tendency for some methods to have an adverse effect on hepatic function and, conversely, for liver disease to compromise the efficacy of some contraceptives. This paper presents the case of a 28-year-old woman diagnosed with Wilson's disease at 13 years of age. She presented to an Israeli hospital at 9 weeks' gestational age with bleeding esophageal varices, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension. Although the patient had been oligomenorrheic, with menses every 2-3 months, she had experienced 3 spontaneous first-trimester abortions. Due to the urgent need for a portal decompression shunt procedure and the risk of further bleeding, the patient opted to terminate the current pregnancy. To prevent conception until the patient's liver condition stabilized, she was injected with Depo-Provera and penicillamine treatment was resumed. Although IUDs and estrogen-containing oral contraceptives are relatively contraindicated in women with liver dysfunction, spermicide and barrier contraceptives are highly recommended and progesterone-only preparations can be safely prescribed.
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PMID:The contraceptive choice for a Wilson's disease patient with chronic liver disease. 940 5

The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of terlipressin (TP) alone or in combination with tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on anesthetized portal hypertensive rats. Portal hypertension was induced by either partial portal vein ligation (PVL, without cirrhosis) or bile duct ligation (BDL, with cirrhosis) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Each PVL or BDL rat received only one of the two regimens: vehicle for 3 min followed by TP (0.017 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1) for 3 min) or TMP (10 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1) for 3 min) followed by TP. In PVL rats, infusion of vehicle followed by TP induced significant reduction of portal venous pressure (PVP, -15.0+/-1.0%) and prominent elevation of mean arterial pressure (MAP, 57.3+/-8.1%) as well as total peripheral resistance (TPR, 113+/-11%) from baseline, and there was a cardiodepressant response (cardiac index, CI, -26.3+/-1.1%). Infusion of TMP followed by TP induced significant reduction of PVP (-20.3+/-0.4%) and CI (-9.9+/-1.2%) and significant elevation of MAP (31.3+/-2.5%) and TPR (46.0+/-4.1%) from baseline. In BDL rats, infusion of vehicle followed by TP also induced significant reduction of PVP (-13.8+/-1.7%) but an increase in MAP (57.1+/-2.2%) and TPR (101+/-6%) from baseline, and there also was a cardiodepressant response (CI, -21.4+/-2.3%). Infusion of TMP followed by TP induced significant reduction of PVP (-18.9+/-1.4%) and CI (-11.9+/-2.1%), but an increase in MAP (36.2+/-2.5%) and TPR (55.0+/-5.2%). Compared with vehicle followed by TP, TMP not only significantly enhanced portal hypotensive (PVP reduction) effects of TP but also attenuated the systemic pressor (MAP and TPR elevation) and cardiodepressant (CI reduction) effects of TP in both PVL and BDL rats. Our results suggest that TP, alone or in combination with TMP, induced portal hypotensive effects in two models of portal hypertensive rats. Combination of TP and TMP was beneficial in enhancing portal hypotensive effects of TP and ameliorating the systemic pressor and cardiodepressant effects of TP.
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PMID:Beneficial effects of combined terlipressin and tetramethylpyrazine administration on portal hypertensive rats. 1054 25

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. The HCV capside core is a multifunctional protein with regulatory functions that affects transcription and cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Here, we show that both HCV genotype 1a and 3 core proteins activate MEK1 and Erk1/2 MAP kinases and that the costitutive expression of the HCV core results in a high basal activity of Raf1 and MAP/kinase/kinase, as determined by endogenous Raf1 in vitro kinase assay and immunodetection of hyperphosphorylated Erk1 and Erk2 even after a serum starvation. Moreover, the activation of both Erk1/2 and the downstream transcription factor Elk-1 in response to the mitogenic stimulus EGF is significantly prolonged. The sustained response to EGF in cells expressing the HCV core occurs despite a normal induction of the MAP phosphatases MKP regulatory feedback and is likely due to the costitutive activation of Raf-1 activity. The ability of HCV core proteins to directly activate the MAP kinase cascade and to prolong its activity in response to mitogenic stimuli may contribute to the neoplastic transformation of HCV infected liver cells.
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PMID:Sustained activation of the Raf/MEK/Erk pathway in response to EGF in stable cell lines expressing the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) core protein. 1142 Jun 71


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