Aspartate Aminotransferase Research Articles

Serum Enzymes and Pathologic Complete Response to the Addition of Targeted Therapy in Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Patients.

This study investigated the association between circulating alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and the pathologic complete response (pCR) in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab (H) and pertuzumab (P). Data were collected from 290 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer at Sichuan Cancer Hospital between August 2019 and August 2023. Blood samples were collected to assess the serum enzyme levels, including ALT, AST, CK, LDH, and GGT. Univariable analysis was first performed, followed by multivariable logistic regression, to assess the association of pCR with ALT, AST, CK, LDH, and GGT levels before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with H and P. Of the 290 patients, 174 (60%) achieved pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with dual-target therapy. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that lower ALT and GGT levels, higher ALT levels before treatment (odds ratio [OR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-3.67; p = 0.02), and higher GGT levels after treatment (OR, 2.04; 95% CI 1.14-3.66; p = 0.017) were significantly associated with pCR. Additionally, neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with H and P dual-target therapy increased ALT, AST, LDH, and GGT levels in patients' blood. Before neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with H and P dual-target therapy, ALT levels were associated with pCR. After the treatment, GGT levels were linked to pCR. This treatment regimen was associated with increased blood levels of ALT, AST, LDH, and GGT.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Ethanolic Leaves Extract of Musa Paradisiaca on CCL4-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats

Musa paradisiaca (banana) leaves have been extensively used in traditional medicine for the treatment and management of disorders related to oxidative stress, including diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. However, there is limited scientific evidence supporting these claims. This study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of Musa paradisiaca leaf extract in albino rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver damage. Fresh leaves of Musa paradisiaca were collected, shade-dried, and extracted using 60% ethanol. Thirty albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups: control, CCl₄-induced, CCl₄ + silymarin (100 mg/kg), CCl₄ + Musa paradisiaca extract (200 mg/kg), and CCl₄ + Musa paradisiaca extract (400 mg/kg). The extract was administered orally, while CCl₄ was given intraperitoneally (IP) to induce liver damage. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and steroids. Liver function biomarkers—alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)—were analyzed spectrophotometrically. The results indicated that the Musa paradisiaca extract significantly reduced ALT, AST, and ALP levels (p ≤ 0.05) compared to the CCl₄-treated group, demonstrating its hepatoprotective effects. The 400 mg/kg dose exhibited a more pronounced effect, comparable to that of silymarin. These findings provide scientific validation for the traditional use of Musa paradisiaca leaves in managing liver disorders and conditions associated with oxidative stress. Further studies are recommended to isolate and characterize the bioactive compounds responsible for these effects.

Useful Biomarkers for Preeclampsia: Evaluating the Diagnostic Potential of FIB-4 and FIB-5 Indices

Background/Objectives: Preeclampsia is a systemic condition that can result in liver impairment and potentially lead to negative outcomes for both the mother and baby. Various indices have been created to facilitate the early detection of liver issues. Among these, the Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and Fibrosis-5 index (FIB-5) have been utilized for several years to forecast liver dysfunction. In our research, we aimed to apply these indices to patients with preeclampsia for the first time. Methods: This retrospective study, conducted at Giresun University from 2017 to 2024, included 207 patients with preeclampsia and 205 healthy controls. Data on maternal age, BMI, obstetric history, delivery method, gestational age, birth weight, and Apgar scores were extracted from medical records for analysis and biochemical parameters. Data were analyzed statistically. Results: The study found that FIB-4 index values were significantly higher and FIB-5 index values were lower in preeclampsia patients compared to the controls. FIB-4 demonstrated a better diagnostic performance with higher sensitivity and specificity. Although the difference between the two indices was not statistically significant, both were independently predictive of preeclampsia. The correlation coefficient showed that FIB-4 was positively correlated with spot urine protein/creatinine ratio (SPCR) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), while FIB-5 was negatively correlated with these parameters and with alkaline phosphatase. Conclusions: This study found that FIB-4 and FIB-5 are useful for predicting preeclampsia, with FIB-4 showing superior diagnostic performance. These findings highlight their potential in the early detection and management of preeclampsia. Further research is needed for clinical validation.

Glycerol Monolaurate Affects Growth, Amino Acid Profile, Antioxidant Capacity, Nutrient Apparent Digestibility, and Histological Morphology of Hepatopancreas in Juvenile Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

An eight-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with glycerol monolaurate (GML) on Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). A basal diet was formulated containing 100 g fish meal, while four additional GML-supplemented diets were prepared: GML1 (0.25 g), GML2 (0.50 g), GML3 (0.75 g), and GML4 (1.00 g). Each diet was given to triplicate tanks containing 50 shrimp, each weighing 1.67 ± 0.25 g. GML2 supplementation enhanced the final body weight, weight gain, condition factor, specific growth rate, and viscerosomatic index of the shrimp compared to the other diets (p < 0.05). The whole-body amino acid profile was significantly high in the GML3 group. The antioxidant and immune indicators in the serum, like total protein, triglyceride, and aspartate aminotransferase, were significantly high in the GML2-supplemented group. The immune and antioxidant indicators in the hepatopancreas of the shrimp, like total protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and complement protein 3, were significantly high in the GML2 group. However, the malondialdehyde in their livers and serum were significantly high in the control group. Digestive enzymes were significantly high in the GML2 group. In conclusion, this study confirms that GML may benefit the health of Pacific white shrimp, offering new insights into aquaculture.

When to resume antitumor therapy in COVID-19-infected tumor patients: a retrospective, real-world study

PurposeTo study the safety of resuming antitumor therapy in tumor patients infected with COVID-19.MethodsWe collected the clinical information of patients with tumors who were infected with COVID-19 and resume antitumor therapy between December 2022 and June 2023. Information about antitumor therapy, COVID-19-related symptoms, laboratory tests, antitumor therapy-related adverse events (AEs), and re-infection with COVID-19 were recorded. Primary endpoints included the incidence of AEs and re-infection of COVID-19. The secondary endpoints included the incidence and duration of COVID-19 related symptoms.ResultsThe most common COVID-19 symptoms were fever (39.5%), cough (37.2%), and fatigue (44.2%). Most patients’ symptoms lasted no more than a week Two patients were re-infected with COVID-19. All-grade AEs with an incidence rate > 10% included anemia, increased gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), anorexia, neutropenia, hypocalcemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, increased alanine aminotransferase, increased aspartate aminotransferase, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, and nausea. Grade 3–4 AEs with an incidence rate higher than 5% included anemia, neutropenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anorexia, and vomiting. The incidence of AEs before and after COVID-19 infection did not show a significant difference.ConclusionResuming antitumor therapy early after SARS-CoV-2 test turned negative did not increase antitumor therapy-related AEs or the incidence of re-infection in COVID-19 infection patients.

Evaluation of the activity of geraniol isolated from lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon commutatus</i> Stapf.) on ochratoxin A-induced nephrotoxicity: role of the pPI3K/AKT-Nrf2 signaling pathway

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that causes immunotoxicity, teratogenicity, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in humans and animals. Numerous studies have suggested that oxidative stress may increase OTA's nephrotoxicity. Geraniol (GNL), a monoterpene found in many plant oils is an antioxidant and free radical scavenger that helps repair multiple types of tissue damage. OTA-induced nephrotoxicity in mice was assessed using GNL as a protective natural compound. The Swiss albino mice (six to eight weeks old, 25-30g weight) were divided into four groups: control (normal saline), OTA (OTA 5 mg/wt), GNL (GNL 40 mg/wt), and GNL + OTA (OTA 5 mg/wt, 4 h later). Animals were tested for 42 days. Evaluation using body weight, kidney weight, spleen weight, H&E staining for tissue pathology, biochemical markers (Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), creatinine, Blood Urea nitrogen (BUN), Western blot, DNA fragmentation), and oxidative markers (malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) has been performed. A significant decrease in body weight was observed after exposure to OTA, while a significant augmentation in spleen weight was noticed. As a result, tissue concentrations of SOD, CAT, and GPx were decreased, while serum concentrations of marker enzymes (ALT, AST, BUN, creatinine and tissue MDA) were increased. In mice, GNL improved enzyme and antioxidant levels. OTA-induced renal injury was prevented by GNL based on H&E tissue pathology. The OTA group also upregulated cleaved caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation, while downregulating pPI3K, pAKT, Nrf2, and Bcl2 protein expression. GNL increased the expression of pPI3K, pAKT, Nrf2, Bcl2, and decreased cleaved caspase-3. Based on these results, GNL protects nephrons via the pPI3K/AKT-Nrf2 signaling pathway. The molecular of OTA-induced renal injury and how GNL protects the kidneys was explained in this study.

Exploring the Clinical Value of Combined Detection of Blood Lipids, Blood Glucose, and Liver Function in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Objective: To study the clinical value of combined detection of blood lipids, blood glucose, and liver function in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: 105 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease treated in our hospital from May 2022 to July 2024 were selected as the research subjects. All patients underwent a B-ultrasound examination. According to the severity of the disease, they were divided into group A (mild, n = 35), group B (moderate, n = 44), and group C (severe, n = 26). Another 30 healthy residents who came to the hospital for physical examination during the same period were selected as group D. The differences in blood lipids, blood glucose, and liver function indicators between groups were compared. Results: The triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels in groups A, B, and C were higher than those in group D, while the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) level was lower (P < 0.05). The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels in groups B and C were higher than those in group D (P < 0.05). The TG, LDL, and FPG levels in groups B and C were higher than those in group A (P < 0.05). The TC level in group C was higher than that in group A, while the HDL level was lower (P < 0.05). The TC and FPG levels in group C were higher than those in group B (P < 0.05). The total bilirubin (TBil), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in groups A, B, and C were higher than those in group D (P < 0.05). The TBil and ALT levels in groups B and C were higher than those in group A (P < 0.05). The AST level in group C was higher than that in group A (P < 0.05). The AST and ALT levels in group C were higher than those in group B (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease have disordered glucose and lipid metabolism. Blood lipids, blood glucose, and liver function are closely related to the severity of the disease. Strengthening exercise and dietary intervention early on can help control the progression of simple fatty liver disease and reduce the risk of severe liver diseases such as steatohepatitis and cirrhosis.

The challenge of treating hepatitis C virus infection in children with comorbidities

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have revolutionized hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment and enabled the treatment of those who could not be treated using interferon. The aim of this work was to assess the efficacy and safety of oral DAAs in HCV-infected children with associated comorbidities. This analytical retrospective study included children with HCV mono-infection versus those with associated comorbidities. The study included 187 HCV-infected children aged 6–18 years; 114 patients (61%) had associated comorbidities. The most frequent comorbidities were hematological disorders (30.7%), followed by renal and cardiac diseases. Baseline total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase were significantly more elevated in patients with comorbidities. Sustained virologic response (SVR) was achieved in 100% of patients with HCV mono-infection versus 98.2% of patients with comorbidities. The most frequently reported treatment adverse effects were headache, asthenia, and irritability. All side effects were transient and did not necessitate treatment discontinuation. Conclusion: DAAs allowed treatment of HCV-infected children with comorbidities with high SVR and excellent safety profile. Treatment with sofosbuvir/ledipasvir achieved an SVR of 98.9% in HCV-infected children with comorbidities. Treatment was safe and well tolerated with mild transient adverse events.What is Known:• The novel DAAs have revolutionized the landscape of HCV treatment and enabled the treatment of those who could not be treated using IFN.• When treating HCV, clinicians should take into consideration the presence of other comorbid conditions.In the IFN-RBV era, many HCV patients with comorbidities were ineligible for therapy.What is New:• There are limited data in the literature about the efficacy and tolerability of DAAs in children with comorbidities.• We reported in the current study that DAAs allowed treatment of HCV-infected children with comorbidities with high SVR and excellent safety profile. These patients should be offered treatment with oral DAAs to help decrease the infectious pool and hence reach the ambitious final goal of global eradication.

Mechanism of skull base osteoradionecrosis explored through laboratory assessment with propensity score-matched analysis

Skull base osteoradionecrosis (sbORN) is a severe complication of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) that can severely affect quality of life (QOL) and may even be life-threatening. The etiology and pathogenesis of sbORN remain largely unknown or uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to identify potential risk factors for sbORN by analyzing the laboratory assessments of patients to enable early clinical interventions. This retrospective case-control study reviewed NPC patients who were pathologically diagnosed with sbORN after primary radical radiotherapy. These patients were matched 1:1 with propensity scores for patients without sbORN at our center. The impact of laboratory examination indexes on sbORN occurrence was assessed using both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. We reviewed 1,200 NPC patients who were followed up in our department from 2010 to 2020; a total of 57 patients met the inclusion criteria. Each patient underwent endoscopic and pathological examinations, which confirmed the diagnosis. In addition, 98 patients without sbORN were also collected and matched 1:1 by propensity score matching, resulting in the inclusion of 38 patients. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed statistically significant differences in hemorrhage (HB), erythrocytes (RBC), albumin (Alb), platelets (PLT), indirect bilirubin (IBil), globulin (Glo), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and fibrinogen (Fg) between the two groups (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed statistically significant differences only for Fg (p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis further demonstrated the diagnostic utility of Fg, yielding an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.829, with specificity and sensitivity values of 0.842 and 0.711, respectively. The occurrence of sbORN was closely associated with elevated plasma Fg levels, suggesting that high plasma Fg may be a potential risk factor for sbORN. Plasma Fg has a certain diagnostic value for sbORN and can be used as a supplementary diagnostic method.

Additive association of blood group A allele with 15 cardiometabolic diseases: a UK Biobank life-course study

BackgroundAlthough existing studies have reported associations between blood group A and cardiometabolic diseases (CMD), most have focused on dominant inheritance models. However, genome-wide association studies have mostly been based on additive genotypes. This study aims to investigate the association between the blood group A allele and 15 CMD using recessive, dominant, and additive models and identify potential mediators.MethodsThis study leveraged data from over 320,000 participants with O and A blood groups in the UK Biobank to investigate the association between blood group A allele and 15 major CMD under recessive, dominant, and gene dosage (additive) models. Protein data from nearly 30,000 participants were used to analyze the association between ABO protein levels and CMD. Mediation analysis further explored whether blood cell count traits and blood biochemistry mediate the association between the number of A allele and CMD.ResultsThe additive model demonstrates a dose–response association of the blood group A allele with venous thromboembolism (VTE), myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke (IS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and heart failure (HF), among others. Each additional A allele increased disease risk, particularly for VTE (HR = 1.273, P[FDR] = 4.43 × 10−96). ABO protein levels also correlated with five CMD outcomes, particularly VTE and coronary artery disease (CAD). Mediation analyses revealed that blood cell traits (e.g., hemoglobin, hematocrit) and biochemistries (e.g., aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio, apolipoprotein B) significantly mediated the associations for specific CMD, suggesting shared biological mechanisms.ConclusionsOur findings reveal that blood group A allele is associated with an increased risk of multiple CMD, particularly under the additive model. Some blood cell count traits and blood biochemistries play significant mediating roles.Graphical abstract

Prognostic Impact and Safety of Ketorolac Tromethamine in Tibial Plateau Fracture Patients Undergoing Open Reduction and Internal Fixation

AIM: To evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy and safety of ketorolac tromethamine in tibial plateau fracture (TPF) patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 194 TPF patients treated at Dongtai People's Hospital between October 2022 and March 2024. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups: the ketorolac tromethamine group (n = 104), who received ketorolac tromethamine combined with imrecoxib, and the control group (n = 90), who received imrecoxib alone after ORIF. Baseline characteristics, postoperative analgesia (measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Ramsay sedation scores), fracture healing parameters (healing time, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein (BGP), and collagen type I carboxy-terminal propeptide (PICP), and adverse events were evaluated preoperatively and at hospital discharge. RESULTS: The ketorolac tromethamine group demonstrated significantly lower VAS scores (1 h, p = 0.017; 6 h, p = 0.022) and Ramsay sedation scores (1 h, p = 0.017; 6 h, p = 0.034) after anesthesia recovery compared to the control group. No significant differences between the two groups were observed in fracture healing time, ALP, BGP, or PICP levels (p &gt; 0.05). The incidence of adverse events was comparable between the groups (p &gt; 0.05). Laboratory results, including routine blood tests (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, p = 0.080; hemoglobin, p = 0.830), liver function tests (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), p = 0.773; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), p = 0.629), and renal function markers (creatinine, p = 0.596; uric acid (UA), p = 0.466; β2-microglobulin, p = 0.605), exhibited no significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of ketorolac tromethamine and imrecoxib was more effective than imrecoxib alone in alleviating postoperative pain in TPF patients undergoing ORIF. Ketorolac tromethamine had no significant impact on bone healing, indicating its potential as bone-safe analgesia when combined with imrecoxib.

Determining Urinary Bile Acid Profiles to Predict Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Patients with Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

Objective: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with an elevated risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, including perinatal morbidity and mortality. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the bile acid (BA) metabolism profiles in the urine of patients with ICP and to investigate the association between specific BAs and maternal and neonatal outcomes in patients with ICP. Methods: A total of 127 Chinese women with ICP and 55 healthy pregnant women were enrolled in our retrospective study. Spot urine samples and clinical data were collected from pregnant women from January 2019 to December 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing. Based on total bile acid (TBA) levels, the ICP group was subdivided into mild (10–40 μmol/L) and severe (≥40 μmol/L) ICP groups. Patients in the ICP group were further divided into two categories according to neonatal outcomes: an ICP with adverse pregnancy outcomes group and an ICP with non-adverse pregnancy outcomes group. Metabolites from maternal urine were collected and analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (UPLC-triple TOF-MS). Results: Significant differences were observed between the mild and severe ICP groups in the onset time of symptoms, gestational weeks at time of ICP diagnosis, the duration of using ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) drugs during pregnancy, gestational age at delivery, premature delivery, and cesarean delivery. The expression levels of the composition of different urinary bile acids including THCA, TCA, T-ω-MCA, TCA-3-S, TCDCA-3-S, TDCA-3-S, GCDCA-3-S, DCA-3-G and GDCA-3-G were remarkably higher in the ICP with adverse pregnancy outcomes group than those in the ICP with non-adverse pregnancy outcomes group and the control group. The single-parameter model used to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in ICP had similar areas under the curve (AUCs) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC), ranging from 0.755 to 0.869. However, an AUC of 0.886 and 95% CI were obtained by the index of combined urinary bile acids in multiple prediction models (95% CI 0.790 to 0.983, p &lt; 0.05). TCA-3-S in the urinary bile acids had a strong positive correlation with the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level (r = 0.617, p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, TCDCA-3-S and GCDCA-3-S in the urinary bile acids had a strong positive correlation with the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (r = 0.607, p &lt; 0.05; r = 0.611, p &lt; 0.05) and AST level (r = 0.629, p &lt; 0.05; r = 0.619, p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Maternal urinary bile acid profiles were prominent for the prognosis of maternal and neonatal outcomes of ICP. Elevated levels of TCA-3-S, TCDCA-3-S, and GCDCA-3-S in urine might be important predictors for indicating adverse pregnancy outcomes in ICP.

Machine learning-based models for advanced fibrosis in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients: A cohort study

BACKGROUND The global prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and its associated risk of adverse outcomes, particularly in patients with advanced liver fibrosis, underscores the importance of early and accurate diagnosis. AIM To develop a machine learning-based diagnostic model for advanced liver fibrosis in NASH patients. METHODS A total of 749 patients who underwent liver biopsy at Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, between January 2010 and January 2020 were included. Patients were randomly divided into training (n = 522) and validation (n = 224) cohorts. Five machine learning models were applied to predict advanced liver fibrosis, with feature selection based on Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP). The diagnostic performance of these models was compared to traditional scores such as the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis index based on the 4 factors (FIB-4), using metrics including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), decision curve analysis (DCA), and calibration curves. RESULTS The Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model outperformed all other machine learning models, achieving an AUROC of 0.934 (95%CI: 0.914-0.955) in the training cohort and 0.917 (95%CI: 0.880-0.953) in the validation cohort (P &lt; 0.001). Incorporating liver stiffness measurement into the model further improved its performance, with an AUROC of 0.977 (95%CI: 0.966-0.980) in the training cohort and 0.970 (95%CI: 0.950-0.990) in the validation cohort, significantly surpassing APRI and FIB-4 scores (P &lt; 0.001). The XGBoost model also demonstrated superior clinical utility, as evidenced by DCA and calibration curve analysis in both cohorts. CONCLUSION The XGBoost model provides a highly accurate, non-invasive diagnosis of advanced liver fibrosis in NASH patients, outperforming traditional methods. An online tool based on this model has been developed to assist clinicians in evaluating the risk of advanced liver fibrosis.

Efficacy of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-PET as a non-invasive evaluation method of liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is a chronic fibrosing hepatic disorder following recurrent injury, characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. Early detection has a great clinical impact because 80-90% of hepatocellular carcinomas are known to develop in fibrotic or cirrhotic (end-stage fibrotic) livers. PET imaging with FAP ligands exhibited highly promising results in recent years to visualize fibrosis in various organs due to the crucial role of activated fibroblasts in fibrosing processes. However, still little is known about the efficacy of FAP imaging in liver fibrosis. Thus, we sought to investigate the potential of FAPI-PET in a cohort of oncological and non-oncological patients. 199 patients who underwent FAPI-PET/CT at the University Hospital of Heidelberg between July 2017 and July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The tracer uptake of the liver was analyzed and correlated with radiological and clinical parameters. We observed a weak but significant negative correlation between the hepatic FAPI uptake and CT density (r = - 0.273, P < 0.001***). A positive correlation was observed between hepatic FAPI uptake and the aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) (r = 0.183, P = 0.009**), an established surrogate for liver fibrosis. The liver SUV (standardized uptake value) mean and SUVmax of FAPI showed significant differences between groups of patients with low (< 0.5), middle (0.5-1.0) and higher (> 1.0) levels of APRI (both P < 0.001***). These preliminary observational results suggest that FAPI-PET may be a viable non-invasive method to asses liver fibrosis.

Metabolism Plasticity on Account of Aspartate aminotransferase 10 Promotes Poplar Growth under Altered Nitrogen Regimes.

Improving poplar productivity across a wide spectrum of nitrogen conditions is a primary objective in poplar breeding. In this research, we engineered transgenic poplars to overexpress the aspartate aminotransferase 10 (AspAT10) gene. The results showed that these transgenic plantlets significantly outperformed the wild-type control in terms of growth under both nitrogen-poor and nitrogen-rich conditions, exhibiting increased biomass, height, and root development. This improvement was linked to changes in internal nitrogen pools (including NO3-, NH4+, and total free amino acids) and sugar content. In line with the metabolic results, notable alterations in genes related to nitrogen and carbon metabolism as well as hormone signaling pathways were identified. Our findings highlight the versatile role of AspAT10 in regulating poplar's adaptation to variable nitrogen availability, attributed to the reversible nature of its catalytic reaction, which allows for the flexible reprogramming of nitrogen and carbon metabolism to align nitrogen supply with plant demand.

Mangrove Against Invasive Snails: Aegiceras corniculatum Shows a Molluscicidal Effect on Exotic Apple Snails (Pomacea canaliculata) in Mangroves

Apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata), one of the 100 most serious invasive species in the world, have invaded mangrove wetlands due to their salinity tolerance. We firstly prepared a plant molluscicide against apple snails based on the mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum in coastal wetland. The effects of four mangrove extracts from A. corniculatum, including ethanol extract (EE), petroleum ether extract (PEE), ethyl acetate extract (EAE), and n-butanol extract (BE), were studied for molluscicidal activity against apple snails in a saline environment. The LC50 values at 48 h of EE, PEE, EAE, and BE were 25 mg/L, 123 mg/L, 170 mg/L, and 14 mg/L, respectively. BE had the highest molluscicidal value (96.7%) against apple snails at 48 h. At 48 h, BE of A. corniculatum leaves significantly decreased the soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, acetylcholinesterase, and glutathione of apple snails to 4.25 mg/g, 29.50 mg/g, 947.1 U/gprot, and 6.22 U/gprot, respectively, compared to those in the control. The increased BE concentration significantly enhanced the malondialdehyde and aspartate aminotransferase contents to 4.18 mmol/gprot and 18.9 U/gprot at 48 h. Furthermore, the damage in the hepatopancreas tissue of apple snails increased, and the cellular structure became necrotic as the concentration of BE from A. corniculatum increased. The content of palmitic acid in BE of A. corniculatum leaves was the highest (10.9%), possibly be a toxic ingredient against apple snails. The n-butanol extract of A. corniculatum leaves showed a potential to control apple snails in the brackish water, and its plantation was beneficial to control the further spread of apple snails in mangrove wetlands.

Biochemical, coagulation, and platelet count profiles among Schistosoma mansoni infected patients attending at selected Dembiya health institutions, Northwest Ethiopia

BackgroundSchistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that causes coagulation disorders and biochemical abnormalities. This is due to liver failure, platelet destruction, disruption of blood flow, and endothelial function by the schistosomes. However, there is no adequate data on biochemical and coagulation profiles and platelet count of patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni in Dembiya Selected Health Institutions. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of Schistosoma mansoni infection on selected biochemical and coagulation profiles and platelet count.MethodAn institutional-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2022 at Dembiya Primary Hospital, Chuahit Health Center, and Abrija Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 70 individuals were enrolled in the study using convenient sampling techniques. A stool sample was collected for Schistosoma mansoni detection. Likewise, a blood sample was collected for biochemical and coagulation profiles and platelet count analysis. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsMedian values for alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin values were significantly higher, while total protein and glucose were significantly lower in Schistosoma mansoni infected than in the healthy control participants (P < 0.05). Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and international normalization ratio were significantly higher, while the platelet count was significantly lower in the Schistosoma mansoni infected than healthy control participants (P < 0.05). The values of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and international normalization ratio were significantly higher, while total protein, glucose, and platelet count were significantly lower in those with moderate and heavy Schistosoma mansoni infection intensity compared to healthy control participants (P < 0.05). The number of Schistosoma mansoni eggs per gram of stool had a positive correlation with biochemical and coagulation profiles, except for total protein, glucose, and platelet count, which were correlated negatively in Schistosoma mansoni infected participants (P < 0.05).ConclusionBiochemical and coagulation profiles, including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, glucose, total protein, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, international normalization ratio, and platelet count, were significantly altered in S. mansoni infected participants compared to controls (p < 0.05). These findings underscore the need for routine biochemical and coagulation monitoring in endemic areas.

Expression quantitative trait loci associated with performance traits, blood biochemical parameters, and cytokine profile in pigs

Identifying expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL) and functional candidate variants associated with blood biochemical parameters can contribute to the understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in complex traits in pigs. We identified eQTLs through gene expression levels in muscle and liver tissues of Large White pigs. The identified eQTL were then tested for association with biochemical parameters, cytokine profiles, and performance traits of pigs. A total of 41,759 SNPs and 15,093 and 15,516 expression gene levels from muscle and liver tissues, respectively, enabled the identification of 1,199 eQTL. The eQTL identified related the SNP rs345667860 as significantly associated with interleukin-6 and interleukin-18 in liver tissue, while the rs695637860 SNP was associated with aspartate aminotransferase and interleukin-6, and rs337362164 was associated with high-density lipoprotein of the blood serum. In conclusion, the identification of three eQTL significantly associated with aspartate aminotransferase and cytokine levels in both serum and liver tissues suggests a potential role for these variants in modulating immune function and overall health in production pigs. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore their potential for improving pig health and productivity.

Use of Biomarkers in Plasma and Faeces to Evaluate Physiological Status of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) During Salmonid Alphavirus Infection.

Salmonid alphavirus (SAV) is the causative agent of pancreas disease (PD), a disease that can cause severe implications for marine farming of Atlantic salmon. This study examines physiological changes in Atlantic salmon during SAV infection through a controlled trial and two field trials. In the controlled trial, plasma creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) levels increased significantly 4 weeks post challenge, peaked at 8 weeks and by 12 weeks, ALAT levels returned to pre-challenge levels, while CK and ASAT remained elevated. Weekly mortality peaked at 4.1% in week 5, and there was an 89% reduction in appetite in week 4 post challenge. In two field trials in southern Norway, SAV3 was detected in spring/early summer by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). As SAV prevalence increased, plasma CK, ALAT, ASAT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels peaked, along with the stress markers cortisol and tetrahydrocortisone in faeces. Despite low mortality (< 0.2% weekly), a decrease in appetite was observed in both field trials. Understanding the physiological status of the fish through monitoring tools like RT-qPCR, blood chemistry and stress markers provides a foundation for implementing mitigation measures such as stress reduction, timed harvest or clinical nutrition at the onset of pancreas disease.

Caspase 3 Gene Expression Profile in Carbon Tetrachloride (CCL4) Induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats against Hepatoprotective Effect of Azadiracthta indica

Liver is the vital organ of metabolism and excretion. It is also an important target of the toxicity of xenobiotics and oxidative stress. The study was carried out to determine the expression profile of caspase-3 gene in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity in wistar rats. Thiry-five (35) wistar rats were divided into seven groups of five rats each group were given varying treatments along with intraperitonial administration of CCl4. The effects of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica were determined by evaluating the liver function enzymes namely Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and Total bilirubin (T. bil). Histopathological changes induced on the liver was examined and Caspase-3 expression in the liver was determined by real time PCR. Results showed increased in levels of AST (24.6±3.79), ALT, ALP (438.6±46.19), and T.BIL in CCl4-intoxicated rats were restored towards normalization in rats treated with the aqueous and methanolic extracts in a dose-dependent manner the highest from ALP and the least in AST. Histopathological studies revealed that rats treated with high dose (150mg/kg) of aqueous and methanolic extracts showed maximum hepatoprotective effects by alleviating the serum enzymes level at 150mg/kg body weight. Results furthermore, showed that A. indica significantly (p &lt; 0.05) decreased the level (0.07, 0.06, 0.08, 0.04, 0.05) of caspase-3 gene expression towards normal in rats administered with the aqueous, methanolic leaf extracts and silymarin respectively. This reveals that the Caspase-3 gene, as the enzyme executing apoptosis were expressed in less amount while wistar rats were induced with CCl4. Thus, conferring the protective effects of the leaf extracts and silymarin.