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)

Glucose reduces the hepatic conversion of aminonitrogen to urea, quantified by the functional hepatic nitrogen clearance (i.e., the slope of the linear relation between urea synthesis rate and blood alpha-aminonitrogen concentration). This is due to a direct effect of glucose and to inhibition of glucagon. In this study, the effect of glucose on functional hepatic nitrogen clearance was examined during spontaneous hormone responses and during hormonal control by somatostatin. In 7 control subjects (study 1) and 9 patients with cirrhosis (study 2), functional hepatic nitrogen clearance was assessed twice in each subject: during infusion of alanine and during alanine administration superimposed on a continuous glucose infusion (blood glucose, on average = 8.4 mmol/L). In study 3, 6 patients with cirrhosis had functional hepatic nitrogen clearance determined on three occasions: during infusions of alanine and of alanine superimposed on infusion of somatostatin with either euglycemia or hyperglycemia (blood glucose = 8.4 mmol/L). In the control subjects (study 1), functional hepatic nitrogen clearance was 32.5 +/- 1.9 L/hr, and glucose reduced it to 18.4 +/- 0.9 L/hr (p < 0.01). In the cirrhotic patients, functional hepatic nitrogen clearance was only 9.8 +/- 1.3 L/hr (p < 0.01 vs. controls), and glucose did not change it. In the control subjects, glucose reduced the glucagon response to alanine from 204 +/- 36 ng/L to 106 +/- 8 ng/L (p < 0.05). In the cirrhotic patients the mean fasting glucagon level was increased twofold (180 +/- 21 ng/L). The response to alanine increased to 968 +/- 265 ng/L; it was not reduced by glucose. In study 3, somatostatin and hyperglycemia reduced functional hepatic nitrogen clearance from 13.2 +/- 1.5 L/hr to 6.4 +/- 0.7 L/hr (p < 0.01). Somatostatin and euglycemia reduced functional hepatic nitrogen clearance to 9.2 +/- 1.2 L/hr (p < 0.01 vs. alanine and hyperglycemia). The results show that the reduction by glucose of hepatic aminonitrogen conversion is lost in cirrhotic patients. The markedly increased glucagon response to alanine was not suppressed by glucose. Inhibition of the glucagon response by somatostatin reestablished the glucose effect, which was in part due to inhibition of glucagon in itself. Thus hepatic aminonitrogen conversion in cirrhosis depends on increased glucagon levels. The hormone-independent effect of glucose is preserved if the hyperglucagonemia is abolished, but the spontaneous high glucagon level overrules the glucose effect. The results indicate reduced hepatic contribution to the nitrogen-sparing effect of glucose in cirrhotic patients.
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PMID:Effects of glucose on hepatic conversion of aminonitrogen to urea in patients with cirrhosis: relationship to glucagon. 790 54

Time-velocity wave-form analysis of Doppler signals from small intrarenal arteries allows estimation of intrarenal arteriolar vascular resistance. Among the various indexes proposed, the resistive index is the most widely used for this estimation. To investigate whether the resistive index is useful in the diagnosis of functional kidney failure and prediction of survival in cirrhotic patients with ascites, we measured resistive index, kidney and liver function and plasma levels of renin, aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone in 10 healthy subjects, 12 patients with compensated cirrhosis and 32 patients with cirrhosis and ascites (17 with kidney failure). A total of 28 clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed for prognostic value. Resistive index was significantly increased in patients with kidney failure (0.74 +/- 0.01) compared with those in the other three groups (0.64 +/- 0.01, 0.64 +/- 0.02 and 0.67 +/- 0.01) and correlated significantly with glomerular filtration rate, arterial pressure, plasma renin activity and free water clearance in the cirrhotic patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the resistive index in detecting kidney failure in patients with ascites were 71% and 80%, respectively. Nine variables were correlated with survival in the univariate analysis, including resistive index, age, hepatomegaly, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, plasma sodium concentration, glomerular filtration rate, plasma renin activity and plasma concentration of antidiuretic hormone. Multivariate analysis disclosed only three independent predictors of survival: plasma renin activity, plasma concentration of antidiuretic hormone and serum sodium concentration. In conclusion, resistive index is a sensitive method to assess intrarenal hemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. It also has predictive value for survival in these patients.
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PMID:Diagnosis of functional kidney failure of cirrhosis with Doppler sonography: prognostic value of resistive index. 792 24

Bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis leads to the activation of catabolic processes, accumulation of end products of nitrogen metabolism and pronounced imbalance of blood plasma amino acids. There is a correlation between the changes observed and disorders in neurological status. The authors hold that increased catabolism, pronounced imbalance of blood plasma amino acids and elevated blood ammonia level are the leading factors affecting the onset of hepatic encephalopathy.
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PMID:[Several factors in the pathogenesis of hepatic failure in patients with liver cirrhosis and bleeding from esophageal and gastric varicose veins]. 794 76

Although spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is considered a precipitating factor of renal impairment in cirrhosis, no study specifically addressing this problem has been reported. This study was aimed at assessing the incidence, clinical course, predictive factors and prognosis of renal impairment in cirrhotic patients with peritonitis. Therefore, 252 consecutive episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in 197 patients were analyzed. Clinical and laboratory data obtained before and after diagnosis of peritonitis were considered as possible predictors of renal impairment and hospital mortality. Renal impairment occurred in 83 (33%) episodes, and in every instance it fulfilled the criteria of functional kidney failure. Renal impairment was progressive in 35 episodes, steady in 27 and transient in 21. Blood urea nitrogen and serum sodium concentration before peritonitis and band neutrophils count in blood at diagnosis were independent predictors for the development of renal impairment. Renal impairment was the strongest independent predictor of mortality during hospitalization. Other independent prognostic factors were blood urea nitrogen level before peritonitis, age, positive ascitic fluid culture and serum bilirubin level during infection. These results indicate that renal impairment is a frequent event in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis that occurs mainly in patients with kidney failure before infection. Renal impairment is the most important predictor of hospital mortality in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
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PMID:Renal impairment after spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis: incidence, clinical course, predictive factors and prognosis. 798 50

Total paracentesis is widely used in the treatment of patients with cirrhosis and tense ascites. However, very little information is available regarding its consequences on splanchnic circulation, and its effects on portocollateral blood flow have not been investigated. Ten cirrhotic patients admitted because of tense ascites had measurements of hepatic and systemic hemodynamics, renal function and endogenous vasoactive neurohumoral systems at baseline, just after total paracentesis and 1 hr later. Total paracentesis caused a significant increase in cardiac output (+11%; 95% confidence interval, +4% to +19%) and a rapid fall in portal pressure, as shown by significant decreases in both the wedged hepatic venous pressure (-27% +/- 8%; p < 0.005) and the hepatic venous pressure gradient (-10%; 95% confidence interval, -3% to -18%). This was accompanied by a marked decrease in azygos blood flow (-28%; 95% confidence interval, -13% to -43%). These favorable hemodynamic effects were associated with a fall of the elevated levels of plasma renin activity (-47% +/- 9%; p < 0.05), plasma aldosterone (-31% +/- 21%; p < 0.05) and plasma norepinephrine and by a decrease in levels of serum creatinine (-24% +/- 15%; p < 0.05) and blood urea nitrogen (-4% +/- 3%; p < 0.05). These changes were maintained 1 hr later. This study indicates that in patients with cirrhosis and tense ascites total paracentesis favorably influences the systemic hemodynamics, portocollateral blood flow and portal pressure.
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PMID:Favorable effects of total paracentesis on splanchnic hemodynamics in cirrhotic patients with tense ascites. 802 Sep 1

Marked changes in the redox state of liver cells in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhosis after chronic treatment with the hepatotoxin (4-8 weeks) were observed. A shift of the redox state towards the reduced side is noticed in both compartments, cytosol and mitochondria. At 8 weeks of treatment an imbalance between these two compartments was evident. The alteration produced by the CCl4 treatment in the cell redox state might be related to the mitochondrial damage elicited by the hepatotoxin. Adenosine treatment to CCl4-poisoned rats was able to counteract the effect of the hepatotoxin on the redox equilibrium; hence, it could be linked to the beneficial action of the nucleoside in the maintenance of mitochondrial function. The changes in the hepatocyte redox state, induced by CCl4 and/or adenosine, seem to modify collagen and nitrogen metabolism, indicating a linear correlation between the redox state and the collagen synthesis rate, whereas an inverse relationship was observed with collagenase activity. The possible role of the changes in cell redox state as signals for communication between parenchymal and mesenchymal liver cells is discussed. The results suggest an important correlation among mitochondrial function, cellular redox state, and regulation of collagen metabolism that could be relevant for the physio-pathology of this model of experimental cirrhosis.
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PMID:Possible role of cell redox state on collagen metabolism in carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis as evidenced by adenosine administration to rats. 803 47

In a randomized cross-over comparison, the effects of a mainly vegetable protein diet were compared with an animal protein diet in eight patients with cirrhosis and chronic permanent encephalopathy, under optimum lactulose therapy. After a run-in period, patients were fed two equi-caloric, equi-nitrogenous diets for 7 days (71 g total proteins), containing either 50 g protein of animal origin or 50 g vegetable proteins. In the last 3 days of each period, nitrogen balance was significantly better during the vegetable protein diet (+0.2 (SD 1.4) g vs. -1.7 (2.4); P < 0.01), the difference being entirely due to a reduced urinary nitrogen excretion. Average daytime integrated blood glucose was slightly higher during vegetable proteins, whereas insulin, plasma amino acids and ammonia were lower. The clinical grading of encephalopathy improved slightly on vegetable proteins, and psychometric tests improved significantly, but remained grossly abnormal. Compliance to dietary manipulation was good. The data prove that a mainly vegetable protein diet is worthwhile in cirrhotic patients with chronic encephalopathy under optimum lactulose therapy. Improved nitrogen balance may be related to more effective nitrogen use for protein synthesis, probably due to blunted hormonal response, and largely outweighs the effects on encephalopathy.
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PMID:Vegetable versus animal protein diet in cirrhotic patients with chronic encephalopathy. A randomized cross-over comparison. 848 1

Lysinuric protein intolerance is an autosomal recessive disease caused by defective transport of cationic amino acids. Of the 38 lysinuric protein intolerance patients diagnosed in Finland since 1965, four pediatric patients have died. We describe the clinical courses and autopsy findings for these patients. All patients developed acute respiratory insufficiency. In addition to pulmonary hemorrhages, three of the patients had pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and one had cholesterol granulomas. Three patients had a clinically obvious renal insufficiency, but all four showed histologic signs of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis. The patients also developed hepatic insufficiency with fatty degeneration or cirrhosis. All patients showed anemia, thrombocytopenia, and a severe bleeding tendency. The bone marrow of three patients was hypercellular, but the amount of megakaryocytes was decreased in two cases. Amyloid was present in the lymph nodes and the spleen. Bone specimens showed osteoporosis. We conclude that pediatric patients with lysinuric protein intolerance are predisposed to develop pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and glomerulonephritis. They are also at risk of protein malnutrition in the active growth phase, probably due to higher requirements for total nitrogen and amino acids.
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PMID:Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and glomerulonephritis in lysinuric protein intolerance: case reports and autopsy findings of four pediatric patients. 816 73

From November 1973 to June 1992, cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) was performed on 113 patients with hepatic cancer, including 107 patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) and 6 patients with secondary liver cancer (SLC). Of the 107 PLC patients, the subclinical stage constituted 30.8% (33/107), the moderate stage 61.7% (66/107), and the late stage 7.5% (8/107). There were 32 cases with small PLC (up to 5 cm). Liver cirrhosis was observed in 86.0% (92/107). We designed flat cryoprobes for freezing tumors deep within the hepatic parenchyma. Intraoperative ultrasound was used for monitoring hepatic cryolesions. There were no operative mortalities and complications, such as rupture of a tumor, delayed bleeding, or bile leakage. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 22.0% and 8.2%, respectively, for the 107 PLC patients and 48.8% and 17.1%, respectively, for the 32 patients with small PLC. Of the 6 SLC patients, survival ranged from 2 months to 90 months (average, 23.2 months). One SLC patient has been well for 7 years and 6 months after cryosurgery. These results indicate that cryosurgery, the in situ freezing of cancer, is a safe and effective treatment for unresectable hepatic cancer.
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PMID:The role of cryosurgery in the treatment of hepatic cancer: a report of 113 cases. 827 May 98

A three compartment mathematical model was used to analyse the urea response to an alanine infusion in six control subjects, and in 15 patients with liver cirrhosis and variable degree of hepatocellular failure. Model-derived coefficients were used to calculate two parameters (Ymax and Tmax), able to describe the theoretical response of the conversion of amino acid derived nitrogen into urea, in response to a unit impulse in alanine concentration. They correspond to the maximum rate of conversion of nitrogen from an intermediary pool into urea and to the time delay between the impulse and Ymax, respectively. In cirrhosis, the apparent volume of distribution of infused alanine was smaller than in controls, while the conversion of alanine nitrogen into an intermediary pool of nitrogen and finally into urea nitrogen were both reduced. Also Ymax was reduced by 50% in cirrhosis, whereas Tmax was increased by 50%, and both significantly correlated with galactose elimination capacity (GEC; R2 = 0.706 and R2 = 0.505, respectively) and with antipyrine clearance (Ap Cl; R2 = 0.823 and R2 = 0.576, respectively). Model-derived assessment of urea appearance in response to alanine infusion is able to quantify the functional liver cell mass, and may prove useful for the study of nitrogen metabolism in cirrhosis, mainly in relation to encephalopathy.
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PMID:Model-derived assessment of urea appearance in response to alanine infusion: a quantitative measure of liver function in cirrhosis. 828 Aug 43


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