ABSTRACT
Objective: Jh//s study explored the association between serum nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase [NAMPT] and hepatic de novo lipogenesis [DNL] in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] and determined whether or not this association is sex dependent
Subjects and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 62 consecutive patients [32 males, 30 females] with NAFLD were recruited. Serum NAMPT [by ELI-SA], palmitic acid, and the DNL index of erythrocyte membranes as markers of hepatic DNL [by gas chromatography] were analyzed
The controlled attenuation parameter [CAP] and body impedance analyzer were used to assess hepatic and body fat respectively. Univariate and multiple linear regressions [to adjust for confounders] were used to analyze the association of serum NAMPT with palmitic acid, DNL index, CAP, and body fat
Results: The respective values of serum NAMPT [2.44 +/- 1.03 vs. 2.45 +/-1.13 ng/mL,p = 0.98], DNL index [3.11 [2.60-3.71 ] vs. 3.05 [2.40-3.59],p = 0.90], and pal-mitic acid [20.55% [15.34-24.04] vs. 22.64% [21.15-25.95], p = 0.07] were not significantly different between men and women, but those of CAP [326 [300-340] vs. 300 [261.25-329], p = 0.002] and body fat [37.71 +/- 3.80 vs. 26.60 +/- 5.70, p < 0.001] were significantly higher in women. In women, serum NAMPT had a significant negative association with the DNL index [p = -0.56, p = 0.01]. The DNL index also hada significant negative association with body fat [P = -0.46, p = 0.02]
In men, the only significant association was the positive association between serum NAMPT and CAP [p = 0.35, p = 0.035]
Conclusion: Higher serum NAMPT in women was associated with a lower hepatic DNL index, while in men it was associated with higher hepatic fat and had no association with the DNL index. Therefore, the serum NAMPT level interpretation for NAFLD prognosis is probably sex dependent
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Male , Adult , Middle Aged , Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase , Lipogenesis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Chromatography, Gas , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Linear ModelsABSTRACT
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] is one of the aspects of metabolic syndrome [MetS]. Due to the increase of MetS in Iran, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of NAFLD, its potential predictors and their sex distribution in north of Iran, Amol. In 2008 this population based cross-sectional study included 5023 adult individuals who were randomly selected from Amol healthcare centers. Blood analysis and hepatic sonography was performed for each individual and Clinical histories were reviewed. MetS was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze data. The prevalence of NAFLD and metabolic syndrome was 43.8% and 29.6% respectively. Both NAFLD and metabolic syndrome were significantly more prevalent in women. There was a stronger association between these two factors in women which may indicate MetS has a much more potency to result in NAFLD in women. The strongest predictors of NAFLD in men were waist circumference>102 cm, serum ALT >/= 40 [U/L] and the age group of 40-60 years. The strongest predictors of NAFLD in women were waist circumference >88 cm, the age groups of 40-60 and >60 years. The observed prevalence is alarming because almost 7out of 10 subjects with MetS had NAFLD. As high waist circumference was an important predictor of NAFLD in both sexes, health care policies to reduce the incidence of obesity in the country will have an important impact on the occurrence of NAFLD
ABSTRACT
Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] is recognized as the causative agent of peptic and duodenal ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma, and low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue [MALT] lymphoma. In the present study, we investigate the genotoxic damage of lysates of H, pylori in human B lymphocytes. Human B lymphocytes were treated with 0, 10, 20, and 30 microg/mL of total protein concentration of lysates obtained from H. pylori isolates from dyspeptic patients. Direct H. pylori-induced DNA damage was investigated by the in vitro cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay which detects chromosomal fragments and maldistributed whole chromosomes. The total mean micronuclei number [tMMN] observed per 1000 binucleus B cells significantly correlated with increasing protein concentration of H pylori lysates [r[2]=0.994, p=0.006]. The highest tMMN [3.81-fold] was observed in cells treated with 30 microg/mL of H, pylori lysate [12.43 +/- 1.91] when compared with the control [3.26 +/- 0.48]. This study provides evidence of the direct effect of H, pylori in chromosomal breakage of human B lymphocytes, which might lead to the development of abnormal B cells. Long-term infection by H. pylori has been implicated in epithelial cell damage as a result of continuous induction of the immune system by bacterial antigens. However, the results of this study propose that persistent H. pylori infection could also directly damage B lymphocyte DNA from which gastric MALT lymphoma arises
ABSTRACT
Disturbances in lipid metabolism which occur during hypothyroidism lead to the formation of gallstones. This study aims to evaluate the thyroid function pattern in patients with common bile duct [CBD] stones. This case-control study recruited 151 patients with preliminary diagnoses of CBD stone who underwent ERCP [cases]. The control group comprised healthy people who met the study criteria in the same hospital. The control group underwent ultrasonography to exclude any asymptomatic bile duct lithiasis. A questionnaire that included demographic and anthropometrics data were completed by an assigned physician. Morning blood samples that followed 12 hours of fasting were taken from all participants for measurements of serum total thyroxin [T4], serum thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], fasting blood sugar [FBS], triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein [LDL] and high density lipoprotein [HDL]. The mean TSH in patients [2.59 +/- 4.86mg/dl] was higher than the control group [2.53 +/- 4.13 9mg/dl]. In subclinical hypothyroidism, serum TSH levels higher than 5 MU/L were found in 30.6% of cases compared with 22.5% of controls [OR: 1.53; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.968-2.438]. Hypothyroidism was detected in 10.8% of the control group and in 11.3% of cases [OR: 1.87; 95% CI: 0.578-2.043]. The mean total cholesterol levels in cases was higher than the control group [p=0.61].The levels of TG [p=0.05], HDL [73.35 vs. 46.41; p<0.01] and LDL [64.81.88 vs. 111.04; p<0.01] was statistically significant between both groups. There is an association between thyroid disorders and the presence of bile duct stones. Thyroid testing in patients with gallstone and bile duct stones is recommended because hypothyroidism may be a predisposing factor for stone passage from the gallbladder
ABSTRACT
Patients with bleeding disorders are frequently infected with hepatitis C virus [HCV]. There are few reports on the effect of standard interferon in these patients and no published report on pegylated interferon. The aim of this study was to compare pegylated interferon alpha-2a and standard interferon alpha with ribavirin in patients with bleeding disorders and chronic HCV infection. Consecutive patients referring to a specialized clinic in Tehran were included in the study. The first 37 patients received pegylated interferon [PEGASYS, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Basel, Switzerland], 180 microg weekly and the next 38 patients received standard interferon, 3 million units 3 times a week. Both groups also received ribavirin 800 mg daily. Patients were treated for 48 weeks and were followed for 24 weeks. Liver biopsy was not performed due to the potential risks involved in patients with bleeding disorders. 34 patients in each group completed the study. The intention-to-treat sustained viral response was 34% and 62% in the standard interferon and pegylated interferon group, respectively [p=0.02]. Pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin is almost twice as effective as standard interferon and ribavirin in treating HCV infection in patients with bleeding disorders and is an acceptable treatment option even when histologic data is not available
ABSTRACT
Patients with bleeding disorders are frequently infected with hepatitis C virus [HCV]. There are few reports on the effect of standard interferon in these patients and no published report on pegylated interferon. The aim of this study was to compare pegylated interferon alpha-2a and standard interferon alpha with ribavirin in patients with bleeding disorders and chronic HCV infection. Consecutive patients referring to a specialized clinic in Tehran were included in the study. The first 37 patients received pegylated interferon [PEGASYS, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Basel, Switzerland], 180 microg weekly and the next 38 patients received standard interferon, 3 million units 3 times a week. Both groups also received ribavirin 800 mg daily. Patients were treated for 48 weeks and were followed for 24 weeks. Liver biopsy was not performed due to the potential risks involved in patients with bleeding disorders. 34 patients in each group completed the study. The intention-to-treat sustained viral response was 34% and 62% in the standard interferon and pegylated interferon group, respectively [p=0.02]. Pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin is almost twice as effective as standard interferon and ribavirin in treating HCV infection in patients with bleeding disorders and is an acceptable treatment option even when histologic data is not available