ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the relationship between serum 25(OH) vitamin D and liver fat content in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).@*METHODS@#A total of 120 patients with NAFLD admitted in our hospital between June and August, 2017 were enrolled and divided into 4 groups with different serum 25 (OH) vitamin D levels: >75 nmol/L (group A, =25), 50-75 nmol/L (group B, =35), 25-50 nmol/L (group C, =32), and < 25 nmol/L (group D, =28). For all the patients, serum 25 (OH) vitamin D level was measured by ELISA, and liver fat content was determined using in-phase opposed-phase TWI sequences. The measurement data were compared among the 4 groups to assess the association between serum 25(OH) vitamin D level and liver fat content.@*RESULTS@#The liver fat content appeared to be higher in group B (28.66±6.45%) and group C (38.74±11.47%) than in group A (22.79 ± 6.10%), but the difference was not statistically significant (>0.05); the liver fat content in group D (54.79 ± 5.28%) was significantly higher than that in the other 3 groups (>0.05). Liver fat content increased significantly as serum 25(OH) vitamin D level decreased, showing an inverse correlation between them in these patients ( < 0.05, =-0.125).@*CONCLUSIONS@#In patients with NAFLD, a decreased serum 25(OH) vitamin D level is associated with an increased liver fat content, suggesting the value of serum 25(OH) vitamin D as a predictor of NAFLD.
Subject(s)
Humans , Liver , Pathology , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease , Blood , Pathology , Vitamin D , BloodABSTRACT
Objective To observe platelet dynamics in a monkey infected with Plasmodium cynomolgi before and after treatments with antibiotics and antimalarial drug. Methods One experimental monkey was examined for parasite density and platelet count 2 days after parasite inoculation. Observation without treatment continued for 24 days after the parasite was detected in the blood sample of the monkey. Then the monkey was treated with Azithromycin (total 1500 mg) for 3 days. Thirty days after parasite detection in the blood, the monkey was treated with Artesunate for 5 days. Parasite density and platelet count were monitored daily during treatments. The result was compared with that from a healthy monkey as control. Results The experimental monkey's platelet count was 240× 109/L before infection. When parasite density was 2/100 white blood cells (WBC),platelet count increased to 540 × 109/L. During the subsequent period of infection, parasite density fluctuated at (1-60)/100 WBC, and the platelet count reduced to a persistent level of (130-150)×109/L. After the infected monkey was treated with Azithromycin, parasite density reduced initially but subsequently fluctuated at (16-64)/100 WBC. Meanwhile, platelet count was restored to 234.5 × 109/L.The infected monkey was treated with Artesunate and parasite clearance time was 64 hours, and the mean platelet count was 247 × 109/L after treatment. Conclusion Azithromycin and Artesunate treatment have direct influence on the recovery of platelet counts during malaria infection in monkeys.