Functional recompensation during decompensated-stage cirrhosis / 中华肝脏病杂志

Recent studies suggest that recompensation of liver function appears in decompensated cirrhosis after effective treatment. However, liver function recompensation degree, recompensation evaluation diagnostic criteria, how to predict recompensation from the perspective of liver function, and others still need to be further explored. Therefore, functional recompensation is explored here from the perspective of decompensated-stage cirrhosis.

Novel matrine derivative MD-1 attenuates hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting EGFR activation of hepatic stellate cells

Matrine (MT), the effective component of Sophora flavescens Ait, has been shown to have anti-inflammation, immune-suppressive, anti-tumor, and anti-hepatic fibrosis activities. However, the pharmacological effects of MT still need to be strengthened due to its relatively low efficacy and short half-life. In the present study, we report a more effective thio derivative of MT, MD-1, and its inhibitory effects on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in both cell culture and animal models. Cytological experiments showed that MD-1 can inhibit the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 62 μmol/L. In addition, MD-1 more strongly inhibits the migration of HSC-T6 cells compared to MT and can more effectively induce G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis. Investigating the biological mechanisms underlying anti-hepatic fibrosis in the presence of MD-1, we found that MD-1 can bind the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the surface of HSC-T6 cells, which can further inhibit the phosphorylation of EGFR and its downstream protein kinase B (Akt), resulting in decreased expression of cyclin D1 and eventual inhibition of the activation of HSC-T6 cells. Furthermore, in rats with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatic fibrosis, MD-1 slowed the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis, protecting hepatic parenchymal cells and improving hepatic functions. Therefore, MD-1 is a potential drug for anti-hepatic fibrosis.

Study on the prevailing trend of overweight and obesity in Shanghai Bao-Steel Company based population from 1995 to 2002 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the change of the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in Shanghai Bao-Steel Company population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of all employees undergoing health examination biennially from 1995 to 2002. Overweight and obesity were respectively diagnosed when body mass index (BMI) > or = 24 kg/m2 but still less than 28 kg/m2 and > or = 28 kg/ m2. SPSS 11.5 and SAS of statistical software were used for data analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During the period studied, in 59 131 times of medical check-up, 27.1% participants received four times check-up, 26.6% thrice and 24.0% twice. After adjusted by sex and age, the total prevalence rates of overweight and obesity increased from 26.50% and 4.10% to 34.60% and 7.70% between 1995 to 1996 and 2001 to 2002, respectively. After adjusted by age, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in men increased from 28.20% and 4.20% to 37.90% and 8.40%; less significantly in women from 19.60% and 3.70% to 21.10% and 5.20%. Among men, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in men younger than 60 years old increased along with time. While in women, only the overweight prevalence in women younger than 30 years old and the obesity prevalence in women between 50 years old and 60 years old increased along with time, with unchanged prevalence in other age sub-group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity have been growing rapidly in Bao-Steel Company employees, primarily in middle-aged and young men, who should be paid more attention.</p>

Effects of pentoxifylline on hepatic nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway and insulin resistance in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis rats induced by fat-rich diet / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway, insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) expressions in livers in a rat model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats fed a fat-rich diet for 4 weeks were randomly allocated into two groups; the model group rats (n = 12) were fed a high-fat diet alone and the PTX group rats (n = 12) were fed a high-fat diet plus PTX (100 mg x kg(-1)/d(-1)) in drinking water. Meanwhile, rats (n = 6) fed a standard diet from the start served as controls. All the rats were sacrificed at the end of the 24th week. Hepatic NF-kappaB binding activity was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and inhibitor kappaB (IkappaBalpha) proteins in livers were determined by Western blot. Messenger RNA of IRS-1, IRS-2 and GLUT2 expressions were examined by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NF-kappaB binding activity was higher in the model group than that in the controls, while it was lower in the PTX group compared with that in the model group. The expression of TNFalpha protein was markedly increased in the model group (vs. the control group) but decreased in the PTX group (vs. the model group). The expression of IkappaBaalpha protein was decreased in the model group (vs. the control group) but increased in the PTX group (vs. the model group) to a certain extent. IRS-2 mRNA expression was markedly increased in the model group, and significantly decreased in the PTX group when compared with the model group (P less than 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PTX could influence NF-kappaB signaling pathway and IRS expression in livers of NASH rats, which might be involved in the improvement of hepatic insulin resistance.</p>

A study of the changes of hepatic gene expression in the process of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease development using U230A oligonucleotide microarray / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To explore the changes of hepatic gene expression during the course of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A rat model of NAFLD was developed by feeding the animals a high-fat diet for 24 weeks. Liver tissues of the model rats and the control rats were analyzed at different time points using rat U230A (Affymetrix GeneChip), which covers 15650 genes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control rats, the number of genes expressed differently in the model group rats at 4 and 8 weeks was 426 and 540. The up-regulated genes among them were intracellular phosphorylase genes, metabolic enzyme genes, fatty acid binding protein genes, cytochrome P450 genes, cellular transcription and differentiation genes. The down-regulated genes were ionic channel genes, hormone receptor genes, and cytoskeleton genes. At the 12th week, the number of the genes expressed differently was 501, in which 352 were up-regulated genes, including genes related to inflammation and apoptosis such as interleukin and Toll-like receptor 4. At the 16th week, the number of the differently expressed genes was 665, with 430 up-regulated, such as those related to the inflammation and apoptosis genes and collagen I and fibrosis genes, however cell regeneration genes were down-regulated. At the 24th week the number was 663, of which fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor and insulin-like growth factor genes were up-regulated. Of all the differently expressed genes, the number of up-regulated genes was 128, including 10 lipogenic genes, 46 metabolic genes, 15 inflammation genes, 10 apoptosis genes, and 16 fibrosis genes; and the down-regulated genes were 52, including 6 hormone receptor genes, 5 cell regeneration genes and 11 electron transport genes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The changes of the hepatic gene expression of rats fed a fat-rich diet are related to the duration of the feeding, and are correlated with their histopathology in the livers.</p>

Prevalence of fatty liver in a district of Shanghai detected by B-type ultrasonography and serum activity of alanine aminotransferase / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective To study the prevalence of fatty liver and its risk factors in adult population of Pudong New District,Shanghai detected by combination of B-type uhrasonographic features and elevated serum activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT).Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed in 2017 residents aged 16 years over recruited from four neighborhoods of Prdong New District of Shanghai with multi-phase cluster sampling,including interview with questionnaire,physical check-up,anthropometry, measurement of plasma glucose and lipid profile,ALT activity and real-time B-type ultrasnnography.Serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was further detected for those with elevated ALT activity.Results Prevalence of fatty liver was 21.32 percent (430/2017) in the residents of the District participated in this survey.Prevalence of abdominal obesity,hypertriglyceridemia,hyperlipoproteinemia (low-density lipoprotein-cholecterol),essential hypertension,impaired glucose tolerance,diabetes and metabolic syndrome were 71.16,71.16,11.86,66.74,35.58,24.40 and 47.21 percent in those with fatty liver, respectively,as compared to 26.34,12.73,4.79,39.57,24.01,6.81 and 11.28 percent in those without fatty liver (controls),respectively.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index, 2-h postprandial glucose level,diastolic blood pressure,serum level of triglyceride,abdominal obesity and diabetes all were independent risk factor for tatty liver,with odds ratio (OR) of 1.080,1.149,1.035, 1.526,1.960 and 1.391,respectively.Conclusions Prevalence of fatty liver was relatively high in Shanghai Pudong New District.Fatty liver closely associates with disturbance of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.