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)

The effect of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) administration on the lipid composition of the membrane fraction obtained from livers of cirrhotic rats was studied. Four groups of animals were used: group 1 received CCl4 for 8 weeks to induce cirrhosis. Animals in group 2 received 3 daily i.m. injections of SAM 20 mg/kg in addition to CCl4. Groups 3 and 4 were control groups of SAM and vehicles. Seventy-two h after the end of treatment all animals were killed and livers were studied to measure glycogen, cAMP contents and to isolate membrane fractions. The membrane activity of Na+,K(+)- and Ca(2+)-ATPases was measured and the lipid content was analyzed in extracts. Phospholipids were determined by thin-layer chromatography and fatty acids by gas chromatography. Chronic CCl4 treatment led to increases in cholesterol and in the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio. Analysis of phospholipids revealed an increase in phosphatidylserines. Saturated fatty acids increased, while unsaturated decreased significantly. The CCl4-treated group showed a decrease in glycogen and an increase in cAMP contents. Na+,K(+)- and Ca(2+)-ATPases activity were highly reduced in cirrhotic membranes. In the group receiving CCl4 + SAM the lipid composition and the function of liver membrane fraction showed no difference compared to normal controls, except for fatty acid composition which was similar to concentrations in the CCl4-treated group. Glycogen depletion was only partially prevented whereas cAMP levels were normalized in the CCl4 + SAM group. Our results showed that membrane lipid alterations were accompanied by changes in the activity of enzymes embedded in the membrane fraction derived from CCl4-cirrhotic rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Characterization of membrane fraction lipid composition and function of cirrhotic rat liver. Role of S-adenosyl-L-methionine. 131 Jul 4

The contribution of obesity and/or diabetes to liver pathology in the morbidly obese patient is controversial. We studied the liver biopsies of 100 consecutive patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery for morbid obesity. Multiple morphologic parameters were analyzed and graded independently, without knowledge of the clinical history, liver function tests, and oral glucose tolerance results of the patients. Six percent of the entire group demonstrated no fat, 42% mild fat, 20% moderate fat, and 24% severe fatty metamorphosis of the liver. Twenty-three percent of the patients had central vein fibrosis, 23% sinusoidal fibrosis, 19% bridging fibrosis, and 4% cirrhosis. Thirty-six percent of the patients had some degree of steatohepatitis, 66% possessed so-called glycogen nuclei of hepatocytes, 6% had PAS-positive thickening of blood vessels in the portal tracts, and 1% had lipogranulomas. The degree of fatty metamorphosis and fibrosis was analyzed in three separate groups, categorized by the glycemic status of the patient: 46 patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 23 patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 31 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Increasing severity of fatty metamorphosis from the normoglycemic obese to the diabetic obese patients was found, which was statistically significant by chi 2 analysis. Four of the six patients showing no fatty metamorphosis were normoglycemic. Glycogen nuclei and PAS-positive blood vessels were significantly more prevalent in the diabetic obese than in the normal obese. In conclusion, the distribution of significant liver histopathology in the morbidly obese patient correlates in severity with the degree of impaired glycemic status.
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PMID:Liver pathology in morbidly obese patients with and without diabetes. 153 87

We have examined the hypothesis that insulin insensitivity in hepatic cirrhosis is related to abnormalities of glycogen deposition and skeletal muscle enzyme activities. Otherwise well patients with biopsy-proven hepatic cirrhosis secondary to previous excess alcohol intake were studied. Prior to study, in basal state, patients had identical blood glucose concentrations but raised serum insulin concentrations (cirrhotic: 8.5 +/- 0.8 mU per liter; matched control subjects: 5.7 +/- 0.5 mU per liter, p less than 0.01). Muscle glycogen content, glycogen synthase activity and pyruvate dehydrogenase activity were normal in the basal state. The cirrhotic patients required less glucose to maintain the clamp in response to 0.1 unit per kg per hr insulin (6.7 +/- 0.5 vs. control 8.3 +/- 0.4 mg per kg per min, p less than 0.05) and deposited less glycogen in muscle during the clamp (8.6 +/- 0.5 vs. 12.0 +/- 1.4 mg per gm protein, p less than 0.05). Glycogen deposition correlated with clamp glucose requirement in the cirrhotic patients (r = 0.78, p less than 0.05). The expressed activity of glycogen synthase activity was significantly lower in cirrhotic patients at the end of the clamp (26.5 +/- 1.1% vs. 30.9 +/- 1.6%) and again correlated with clamp glucose requirement (r = 0.82, p less than 0.05). Skeletal muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase activity was not different in patients and control subjects. Insulin insensitivity in hepatic cirrhosis appears to be related to abnormalities of glucose deposition as glycogen in skeletal muscle.
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PMID:The relationship between insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle enzyme activities in hepatic cirrhosis. 314 11

The glycogen storage diseases are caused by inherited deficiencies of enzymes that regulate the synthesis or degradation of glycogen. In the past decade, considerable progress has been made in identifying the precise genetic abnormalities that cause the specific impairments of enzyme function. Likewise, improved understanding of the pathophysiologic derangements resulting from individual enzyme defects has led to the development of effective nutritional therapies for each of these disorders. Meticulous adherence to dietary therapy prevents hypoglycemia, ameliorates the biochemical abnormalities, decreases the size of the liver, and results in normal or nearly normal physical growth and development. Nevertheless, serious long-term complications, including nephropathy that can cause renal failure and hepatic adenomata that can become malignant, are a major concern in GSD-I. In GSD-III, the risk for hypoglycemia diminishes with age, and the liver decreases in size during puberty. Cirrhosis develops in some adult patients, and progressive myopathy and cardiomyopathy occur in patients with absent GDE activity in muscle. It remains unclear whether these complications of glycogen storage disease can be prevented by dietary therapy. Glycogen storage diseases caused by lack of phosphorylase activity are milder disorders with a good prognosis. The liver decreases in size, and biochemical abnormalities disappear by puberty.
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PMID:Glycogen storage diseases. Phenotypic, genetic, and biochemical characteristics, and therapy. 1060 21

Using cytophotometric method, the content of glycogen was studied in hepatocytes of the portal and central zones of a liver lobule in norm, in cirrhosis, and 1, 3, and 6 months after a partial hepatectomy of the normal and cirrhotic rat liver. As we showed earlier, glycogen content in cirrhotic liver hepatocytes rose 2-3-fold, along with obvious impairment of glycogen metabolic heterogeneity in these. In cirrhotic liver glycogen dominates in the central zone, whereas in norm more glycogen is observed in the portal one. The objective of this study was to find out to what degree a partial hepatectomy of cirrhotic liver may promote recovery of the metabolic glycogen heterogeneity in hepatocytes. Glycogen was determined in hepatocytes, using a quantitative variant of PAS-reaction on sections of the material obtained from serial supravital punctate liver biopsies. Glycogen amount in hepatocytes of different liver lobule zones was determined by an image analyzer technique that allows to bring together the cytophotometric analysis of the substance with its localization in a particular liver lobule. Results of these studies have shown that a partial hepatectomy of cirrhotic liver promotes restoration of the hepatocyte metabolic heterogeneity in the liver lobule.
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PMID:[Effect of partial hepatectomy on the glycogen level in hepatocytes in the portal and central lobule zones in cirrhotically-changed rat liver]. 1155 50

The glycogen storage diseases (GSD) are a heterogenous group of inherited disorders involving one of the several steps of glycogen synthesis or degradation. Type III GSD, also known as Cori's or Forbe's disease, results from a deficiency of the enzyme, amylo-1,6-glucosidase, which is responsible for the breakdown or debranching of the glycogen molecule during catabolism. As a result of this deficiency, inadequate glycogen breakdown occurs, resulting in hypoglycaemia during periods of fasting or stress, as well as storage of excessive glycogen, predominantly in the liver. Glycogen accumulation in the liver leads to hepatogmegaly and, in some instances, hepatic dysfunction with cirrhosis in the third and fourth decades of life. Additionally, deficiency of the enzyme in skeletal and cardiac muscle can lead to skeletal muscle weakness and cardiomyopathy. We present a 28-month-old girl who presented for anaesthetic care for cardiopulmonary bypass and closure of an atrial septal defect. The potential perioperative implications of GSD type III are discussed.
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PMID:Perioperative management of a child with glycogen storage disease type III undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and repair of an atrial septal defect. 1235 66

Resveratrol is a nonflavonoid polyphenol with antioxidant, anticancer and antiinflammatory properties. Moreover, it has been reported that this compound inhibits NF-kappaB, which regulates the transcription of several genes including cytokines such as the profibrogenic TGF-beta. The aim of this work was to evaluate the pharmacological effects of resveratrol on CCl(4)-induced cirrhosis in the rat. Four groups were formed: the control group that received the vehicles only; the CCl(4) group that received the toxin (0.4 g kg(-1), i.p., three times a week, for 8 weeks); the CCl(4) plus resveratrol (10 mg kg(-1), daily) group; and the resveratrol alone group. Alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubins were increased by CCl(4), but resveratrol afforded some degree of protection. Glycogen was decreased markedly by CCl(4) and resveratrol prevented almost completely this effect. No antioxidant effect of resveratrol was observed. One of the most prominent effects was on fibrosis which increased near 5-fold (hydroxyproline) in the CCl(4) group; resveratrol preserved the content of collagen. These results were corroborated by histopathology. To elucidate the antifibrogenic mechanism of resveratrol, the activation of NF-kappaB and the production of TGF-beta were measured; in both cases CCl(4) increased them and resveratrol abolished them; however, changes in NF-kappaB were modest and did not reach statistical significance, while the increase in TGF-beta was about three fold and resveratrol decreased it under control values. Together, the present results indicate that resveratrol possesses a strong antifibrogenic effect at least in the CCl(4) model of cirrhosis. Moreover, the action mechanism is probably associated with its ability to reduce NF-kappaB activation and TGF-beta content.
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PMID:Resveratrol prevents fibrosis, NF-kappaB activation and TGF-beta increases induced by chronic CCl4 treatment in rats. 1742 1

Glycogen storage diseases (GSD) are inherited metabolic disorders of glycogen metabolism. Different hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and cortisol regulate the relationship of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and glycogen synthesis. The overall GSD incidence is estimated 1 case per 20000-43000 live births. There are over 12 types and they are classified based on the enzyme deficiency and the affected tissue. Disorders of glycogen degradation may affect primarily the liver, the muscle, or both. Type Ia involves the liver, kidney and intestine (and Ib also leukocytes), and the clinical manifestations are hepatomegaly, failure to thrive, hypoglycemia, hyperlactatemia, hyperuricemia and hyperlipidemia. Type IIIa involves both the liver and muscle, and IIIb solely the liver. The liver symptoms generally improve with age. Type IV usually presents in the first year of life, with hepatomegaly and growth retardation. The disease in general is progressive to cirrhosis. Type VI and IX are a heterogeneous group of diseases caused by a deficiency of the liver phosphorylase and phosphorylase kinase system. There is no hyperuricemia or hyperlactatemia. Type XI is characterized by hepatic glycogenosis and renal Fanconi syndrome. Type II is a prototype of inborn lysosomal storage diseases and involves many organs but primarily the muscle. Types V and VII involve only the muscle.
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PMID:Glycogen storage diseases: new perspectives. 1755 1

Cirrhosis is a very common disease and its treatment is limited due to lack of effective drugs. Some studies indicate that this disease is associated with oxidative stress. Therefore, we decided to study the effect of trolox, an effective antioxidant, on experimental cirrhosis. Cirrhosis was induced by CCl4 administration (0.4 g/kg, intraperitoneally, three times per week, for 8 weeks) to Wistar male rats. Trolox was administered daily (50 mg/kg, orally). Fibrosis was assessed histologically and by measuring liver hydroxyproline content. Glutathione, lipid peroxidation and glycogen were measured in liver; serum markers of liver damage were also quantified. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) was determined by Western blot and quantified densitometrically. Alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminotransferase increased in the group receiving CCl4; trolox completely or partially prevented these alterations. Glycogen was almost depleted by CCl4 but was partially preserved by trolox. Lipid peroxidation increased while glutathione decreased by CCl4 administration; trolox corrected both effects. Histology showed thick bands of collagen, necrosis and distortion of the hepatic parenchyma in the CCl4 group, such effects were prevented by trolox. Hydroxyproline content increased 5-fold by CCl4, while the group receiving both CCl4 and trolox showed no significant difference compared to the control group. CCl4 increased 3-fold TGF-beta, while trolox completely prevented this increase. We found that trolox effectively prevented cirrhosis induced with CCl4 in the rat. Our results suggest that the beneficial effects of trolox may be associated to its antioxidant properties and to its ability to reduce the profibrogenic cytokine TGF-beta expression.
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PMID:Trolox down-regulates transforming growth factor-beta and prevents experimental cirrhosis. 1881 77

Glycogen storage diseases (GSD) and inborn errors of galactose and fructose metabolism are the most common representatives of inborn errors of carbohydrate metabolism. In this review the focus is set on the current knowledge about clinical symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Hepatomegaly and hypoglycaemia are the main findings in liver-affecting GSD like type I, III and IX. Diagnosis is usually made by non invasive investigations, e.g. mutation analysis. In GSD I, a carbohydrate balanced diet with frequent meals and nocturnal continuous tube feeding or addition of uncooked corn starch are the mainstays of treatment to prevent hypoglycaemia. Liver transplantation has been performed in different types of GSD. It should only be considered in high risk patients e.g. with substantial cirrhosis. Many countries have included classical galactosaemia in their newborn screening programs. A lactose-free infant formula can be life-saving in affected neonates whereas a strict fructose-restricted diet is indicated in hereditary fructose intolerance.
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PMID:Inborn errors of carbohydrate metabolism. 2095 63


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