Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase Concentrations Research Articles

Role of TNF-α in patients with omicron coronavirus: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) omicron variant has spread through the world and has caused a global pandemic. In order to make an accurate diagnosis of the disease’s severity, several immunological and biomarkers (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), D-dimer, serum ferritin, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) are evaluated immediately. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the concentration of TNF-α level in the omicron coronavirus patients, and to determine the correlation of TNF-α with some biomarkers [TNF-α, D-dimer, serum ferritin, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), GPT, and LDH]. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients (40 males and 20 females), with the age ranging from 23 to 71 years from the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in Babylon Iraq, were included in the current investigation. The period of study was between October and December 2021. Included criteria omicron coronaviruses patients with positive “Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)” results while the excluded criteria omicron coronaviruses patients with positive “RT-PCR” results were reviewed. Then the positive patient divided by using saturation oxygen (SPO2) into three groups (mild, moderate, and severe groups). Sex, age, and SPO2 were recorded, and biomarkers (GOT, GPT, and LDH) were measured in all patients using a bio-based device (ACCENT-200 ALAT KIT). The D-dimer and serum ferritin for all patients were done by VIDS instrument. Results: In this sample, the ages ranged from 23 to 71, with a mean of 60.32 ± 13.39. TNF-α concentrations were found to be significantly greater in the severe patient group compared to the mild patient group and the moderate patient group (P = 0.06). Severe patients had greater GPT and GOT concentrations than mild and moderate patients. There was a positive and statistically significant association between TNF-α and D-dimer in the mild group (r = 0.734**, P = 0.000). Neither TNF-α nor serum ferritin levels were correlated with liver function tests. Conclusion: Among omicron coronavirus patients, GOPT, GPT, and LDH were all elevated in the severe group, whereas there was no statistically significant difference between the mild and moderate groups (mild, moderate, and severe group). TNF-α levels were not associated with liver function tests in this research.

Anti-hangover and Anti-gout Effects of Asparagus Byproduct Extracts

Background: Given the reported pharmacological effects of rutin from asparagus stems and roots, here, we assessed the anti-hangover and anti-gout effects of asparagus stem and root extracts.<BR>Methods and Results: We found that rutin amount in ethanol extracts of asparagus stems was 10.15 ㎎/g, and in hydrothermal extracts of asparagus roots it was 3.28 ㎎/g. Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities in asparagus-stem extracts were 80% and 40% of those in the control group, respectively. Following hangover induction in rats using alcohol, an injection of 400 ㎎/㎏ body weight (BW) of the extract significantly reduced the blood alcohol concentration compared to that of the control group. Additionally, blood gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) concentrations measured 5 h after alcohol administration revealed that treatment with 400 ㎎/㎏ BW of extract significantly reduced GGT and GOT concentrations compared to the control group, whereas changes in GPT were not significant. Moreover, xanthine oxidase activity after treatment with hydrothermal extracts of asparagus roots was 44.01 ± 0.32%, showing 53.3% inhibition compared to the positive control (allopurinol; 82.50 ± 4.98%). To assess the anti-gout effect of hydrothermal extracts of asparagus roots, we induced gout in rats by intraperitoneal injection of potassium oxonate and measured blood uric acid, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen concentrations at 3 h post-administration of the extract. The results showed a significant reduction in creatinine and uric acid levels in the treated group compared to the control.<BR>Conclusions: These findings demonstrated the potential of asparagus stem and root extracts as functional ingredients.

Effects of castration and a lidocaine-plus-flunixin treatment on growth and indicators of pain, inflammation, and liver function in Korean cattle bull calves

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of castration and a lidocaine-plus-flunixin (LF) treatment on growth and indicators of pain, inflammation, and liver function in Korean cattle bull calves. Forty Korean cattle bull calves (body weight 197.0 ± 2.94 kg and age 6.3 ± 0.09 months) were each assigned to one of four treatments (n = 10 heads/group): no castration with no LF injection (NC-NLF); no castration with LF injection (NC-LF); castration with no LF injection (C-NLF); and castration with LF injection (C-LF). LF treatment included a local anesthetic lidocaine hydrochloride injection (12 mL of 2% in the scrotum) and intravenous injection of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, flunixin meglumine (2 mg/kg body weight of 50 mg/mL solution), immediately prior to castration. For the NLF groups, a 0.9% NaCl placebo solution was used. Castration was performed surgically using a Newberry knife and a Henderson castrating tool. Blood was collected immediately before castration and at h 0.5, h 6, d 1, d 3, d 7, and d 14 after castration. Feed intake was recorded daily, and body weight was measured on the day prior to the experiment and at d 14 after castration. Castration tended (P = 0.07) to decrease average daily weight gain, but LF treatment did not affect weight gain. Castration increased both circulating cortisol concentrations (P < 0.001) at h 0.5 after castration and substance P (SP) concentrations (P = 0.001) at h 6 after castration. However, the LF treatment did not significantly reduce cortisol and SP concentrations in castrated animals. Castration increased (P < 0.001) circulating haptoglobin (Hp) concentrations on d 1 and d 3 after castration, and LF treatment tended (P = 0.09) to decrease Hp concentrations on d 1 and decreased (P = 0.02) Hp concentrations on d 3. Castration did not affect glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT) concentrations. LF treatment increased GOT concentrations at h 6 (P < 0.001), d 1 (P < 0.001), and d 3 (P = 0.003). LF treatment also increased GPT concentrations on d 1 (P = 0.006) and d 3 (P = 0.003). In conclusion, castration of bull calves resulted in time-sequential increases in circulating concentrations of cortisol at h 0.5, SP at h 6, and Hp on d 1. LF treatment did not significantly reduce elevated cortisol and SP, but tended to decrease elevated Hp concentrations in castrated animals. Our study demonstrates that LF treatment is not sufficient for the reduction of the indicators of pain and inflammation in castrated calves, suggesting that additional alleviation methods are required.

The Role of Turmeric Powder Supplementation in Improving Liver Performances to Support Production of Siam Catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)

In oviparous animals, the qualities of offspring are determined by the materials deposited in the developing oocytes that are synthesized and produced by the hepatocytes under the control of estrogen. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of turmeric powder supplementation on liver performance to support the reproduction performances of catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). The study used 60 catfish with average body weight of ± 2 kg. The experimental catfish were assigned into a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and each treatment consisted of 15 replications. The treatment was the dose of turmeric powder supplementation in the commercial feed i.e., 0, 240, 480, and 960 mg/100 g feed. The experimental catfish were fed two times a day in the morning and in the evening as much as 3% of body weight. The results showed that turmeric powder supplementation at a dose of 240 mg/100 g feed could inhibit liver cell destruction in the catfish as was indicated by the increase in body weight, liver weight, and DNA concentrations of liver, as well as the decrease in the liver malondialdehyde, and serum glutamic piruvic transaminase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase concentrations. Turmeric powder supplementation can be used in oviparous animals and fish to increase liver function and capacity to synthesize vitellogenin to be deposited in the developing follicles during reproduction phase.

Effect of adding clay with or without a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product on the health and performance of lactating dairy cows challenged with dietary aflatoxin B1

The study was conducted to examine the effect of supplementing bentonite clay with or without a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP; 19 g of NutriTek + 16 g of MetaShield, both from Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) on the performance and health of dairy cows challenged with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Twenty-four lactating Holstein cows (64 ± 11 d in milk) were stratified by parity and milk production and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment sequences. The experiment had a balanced 4 × 4 Latin square design with 6 replicate squares, four 33-d periods, and a 5-d washout interval between periods. Cows were fed a total mixed ration containing 36.1% corn silage, 8.3% alfalfa hay, and 55.6% concentrate (dry matter basis). Treatments were (1) control (no additives), (2) toxin (T; 1,725 µg of AFB1/head per day), (3) T + clay (CL; 200 g/head per day; top-dressed), and (4) CL+SCFP (CL+SCFP; 35 g/head per day; top-dressed). Cows were adapted to diets from d 1 to 25 (predosing period) and then orally dosed with AFB1 from d 26 to 30 (dosing period), and AFB1 was withdrawn from d 31 to 33 (withdrawal period). Milk samples were collected twice daily from d 21 to 33, and plasma was sampled on d 25 and 30 before the morning feeding. Transfer of ingested AFB1 into milk aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was greater in T than in CL or CL+SCFP (1.65 vs. 1.01 and 0.94%, respectively) from d 26 to 30. The CL and CL+SCFP treatments reduced milk AFM1 concentration compared with T (0.45 and 0.40 vs. 0.75 µg/kg, respectively), and, unlike T, both CL and CL+SCFP lowered AFM1 concentrations below the US Food and Drug Administration action level (0.5 µg/kg). Milk yield tended to be greater during the dosing period in cows fed CL+SCFP compared with T (39.7 vs. 37.7 kg/d). Compared with that for T, plasma glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase concentration, indicative of aflatoxicosis and liver damage, was reduced by CL (85.9 vs. 95.2 U/L) and numerically reduced by CL+SCFP (87.9 vs. 95.2 U/L). Dietary CL and CL+SCFP reduced transfer of dietary AFB1 to milk and milk AFM1 concentration. Only CL prevented the increase in glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase concentration, and only CL+SCFP prevented the decrease in milk yield caused by AFB1 ingestion.

Immunometabolic Status during the Peripartum Period Is Enhanced with Supplemental Zn, Mn, and Cu from Amino Acid Complexes and Co from Co Glucoheptonate.

The peripartum (or transition) period is the most-critical phase in the productive life of lactating dairy cows and optimal supply of trace minerals through more bioavailable forms could minimize the negative effects associated with this phase. Twenty Holstein cows received a common prepartal diet and postpartal diet. Both diets were partially supplemented with an inorganic (INO) mix of Zn, Mn, and Cu to supply 35, 45, and 6 ppm, respectively, of the diet dry matter (DM). Cows were assigned to treatments in a randomized completed block design, receiving an daily oral bolus with INO or organic trace minerals (AAC) Zn, Mn, Cu, and Co to achieve 75, 65, 11, and 1 ppm supplemental, respectively, in the diet DM. Liver tissue and blood samples were collected throughout the experiment. The lower glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase concentration after 15 days in milk in AAC cows indicate lower hepatic cell damage. The concentration of cholesterol and albumin increased, while IL-6 decreased over time in AAC cows compared with INO indicating a lower degree of inflammation and better liver function. Although the acute-phase protein ceruloplasmin tended to be lower in AAC cows and corresponded with the reduction in the inflammatory status, the tendency for greater serum amyloid A concentration in AAC indicated an inconsistent response on acute-phase proteins. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity increased over time in AAC cows. Furthermore, the concentrations of nitric oxide, nitrite, nitrate, and the ferric reducing ability of plasma decreased with AAC indicating a lower oxidative stress status. The expression of IL10 and ALB in liver tissue was greater overall in AAC cows reinforcing the anti-inflammatory response detected in plasma. The greater overall expression of PCK1 in AAC cows indicated a greater gluconeogenic capacity, and partly explained the greater milk production response over time. Overall, feeding organic trace minerals as complexed with amino acids during the transition period improved liver function and decreased inflammation and oxidative stress.

Effect of trinitroglycerin therapy on serum zinc and copper levels and liver enzyme activities in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major MRHO/IR/75/ER.

To evaluate the effect of trinitroglycerin (TNG) as nitric oxide donor agent on serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels and liver enzymes in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major (L. major) MRHO/IR/75/ER. Inbred female mice were divided into three groups: healthy group (uninfected naive mice), control group (infected with L. major), and test group (L. major infected mice treated with TNG). TNG (200 µg/µl) was inoculated subcutaneously into the mice of the test group. Serum Cu and Zn levels and liver enzymes activities were then evaluated by atomic absorption spectrophometer and colorimetric methods, respectively. Serum Cu levels were significantly higher in the test group than in the control and naive groups (P-value <0.05), while Zn levels were higher in the test group than in the control group with no significant difference. Serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase concentrations in the test group were significantly lower than those in other groups (P-value <0.05), while serum glutamate pyruvic transaminase concentrations were significantly higher in test compared with those in other groups (P-value <0.05). Moreover, alkaline phosphatase in the control and test groups were significantly lower than that in the naive group (P-value <0.05). TNG treatment increased Zn and Cu levels and thus increased resistance to Leishmania because of the role of Zn and Cu; therefore, TNG therapy will be useful for treating cutaneous leishmania. In addition, the decrease of serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase activity can be an index of therapeutic process of TNG.

Hemato-biochemical and Cortisol Profile of Holstein Growing-calves Supplemented with Vitamin C during Summer Season.

Effect of vitamin C (VC) on biochemical, hematological and cortisol profile of growing Holstein calves during summer was investigated. Eighteen calves between 14 and 16 weeks of age were divided equally into two groups. One group received a diet supplemented with VC (20 g/d) for 60 days, while other non-supplemented diet fed group served as a control (CON). The temperature humidity index (THI) was recorded and computed during the experiment. From days 0 to 60, the THI exceeded 70. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of each calf at days 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60. Serum albumin and total protein decreased (p<0.05) in CON and VC calves with age. Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase concentrations were not affected by treatments. Serum creatinine, albumin and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase concentrations were higher in calves in the VC group than the CON group. While red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit were lower (p<0.05) in VC calves, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, red blood cell distribution width and mean platelet volume were higher (p<0.05) in these VC supplemented calves. Leukocyte parameters including white blood cells and full term for lymphocytes were not affected by the treatments. Also, serum cortisol was not affected by treatments. At day 15, 30 and 45, the total VC in plasma was higher (p<0.05) in calves fed with VC. In conclusion, serum cortisols were not affected by plasma VC concentration, while some blood parameters were positively influenced in calves fed with VC.

Effect of Drug Residues of Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen on Aquatic Neocaridina denticulate

近年来许多研究指出，人类长期使用的药物如抗生素或止痛剂等医疗药品，无法经由污水处理厂而完全分解消失，当这些药物进入环境中时将可能具有生物毒性，并对生态环境系统造成冲击。为了解人类常用止痛剂—布洛芬(ibuprofen, IBU)及乙酰胺酚(acetaminophen, ACE)残留于水体后对水生生物可能的影响。本研究应用多齿新米虾(Neocaridina denticulate，后简称米虾)进行0.1、1和5 mg/L的IBU及ACE不同浓度的曝露。并于曝露后1、4及7天，并测定米虾体内解毒酵素的活性(monooxygenase, Mon)及glutathione-S-transferase, GST)与肝胰脏受损指标(glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, GOT)及(glutamic pyruvic transaminase, GPT)。试验结果显示，米虾曝露IBU及ACE后1，4及7天，各处理组间Mon活性并无明显高于对照组(37.8 ± 9.1 ΔA650 mm/30 min/mg)，GST活性在曝露5 mg/L的IBU及ACE处理组中有明显上升的趋势；5 mg/L IBU处理组在7天时GOT及GPT有上升的情况，代表IBU可能米虾的肝胰脏造成影响。综合实验结果，止痛剂IBU及ACE等药物于水体中残留时，不但会诱发米虾的解毒机制，甚至可能造成肝胰脏的发炎的现象。初步结果显示，止痛剂IBU及ACE等药物残留于水体中确实会对水生生物生理上的影响，此等问题势必会成为环境生态重要议题之一。 The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug—ibuprofen (IBU) and acetaminophen (ACE) are common drug residues in water environment because they cannot be degraded completely in treatment industry. They could be potentially affect non-target aquatic organisms when they are input into an aquatic system. To investigate the impact of IBU and ACE on aquatic system, in this study, on day 1, 4 and 7 after Neocaridina denticulate exposed to either IBU (0, 0.1, 1, and 5.0 mg·L–1) or ACE (0, 0.1, 1 and 5.0 mg·L–1), four biochemical parameters were determined in the hepatopancreas, including the activities of monooxygenase (Mon) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), the concentrations of hematopancrease-associated glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT). After treatment in1, 4 and 7 days, all treatment groups of the Mon activity were higher than control group (37.8 ± 9.1 ΔA650mm/30 min/mg). The GST activity were significantly increased then control group in IBU and ACE group treated with 5 mg/L after expose 7 days. The concentrations of GOT and GPT was increased the control group in exposure 7 day. These results suggest that the detoxification may be initiated when the both drug residues in aquatic environment, and the IBU has deleterious effects on the aquatic organisms. Therefore, the risk of drug residues at water ecology will be an important environmental issue.

IFATS Collection: In Vivo Therapeutic Potential of Human Adipose Tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cells After Transplantation into Mice with Liver Injury

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), largely present in the adult human body, represent an attractive tool for the establishment of a stem cell-based therapy for liver diseases. Recently, the therapeutic potential and immunomodulatory activity of MSCs have been revealed. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs), so-called adipose-derived stem cells or adipose stromal cells, because of their high accessibility with minimal invasiveness, are especially attractive in the context of future clinical applications. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of AT-MSCs by their transplantation into nude mice with CCl(4)-caused liver injury. We observed that after transplantation, AT-MSCs can improve liver functions, which we verified by changes in the levels of biochemical parameters. Ammonia, uric acid, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase concentrations returned to a nearly normal level after AT-MSC transplantation. These results raised the question of how AT-MSCs can achieve this. To discover the possible mechanisms involved in this therapeutic ability of AT-MSCs, in vitro production of cytokines and growth factors was analyzed and compared with MSCs from bone marrow (BM-MSCs) and normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). As a result we observed that AT-MSCs secrete interleukin 1 receptor alpha (IL-1Ralpha), IL-6, IL-8, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte chemotactic protein 1, nerve growth factor, and hepatocyte growth factor in a volume higher than both BM-MSCs and NHDFs. Thus, our findings suggest that AT-MSCs may account for their broad therapeutic efficacy in animal models of liver diseases and in the clinical settings for liver disease treatment. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.

Estimates of Genetic and Environmental Contribution to 43 Quantitative Traits Support Sharing of a Homogeneous Environment in an Isolated Population from South Tyrol, Italy

As part of the genomic health care program ‘GenNova’, we measured 43 quantitative traits in 1,136 subjects living in three isolated villages in South Tyrol (Italy), for which extended genealogical information was available. Thirty-seven of the studied traits had been previously investigated in other populations, while six of them are, to the best of our knowledge, studied here for the first time. For all 43 traits we estimated narrow-sense heritability, individual-specific environmental effects, and shared environmental effects. Estimates of narrow-sense heritability were in good agreement with previous findings. We found significant heritability for all traits; after correcting for multiple testing, all traits except serum concentration of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and potassium still showed significant heritability. In contrast, the effect of living in the same sibship or village (the so-called sibship and household effects, respectively) was significant for a few traits only, and after correcting for multiple testing no trait showed significant shared environment effect. We suggest that the sharing of a highly similar environment by the subjects included in this study explains the low contribution of the household effects to the overall trait variation. This peculiarity should provide an advantage in gene-mapping projects by reducing environmental bias.

Isquemia hepática normotérmica em ratos: estudo da lesão celular através do uso de clampeamento pedicular contínuo e intermitente

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as alterações bioquímicas decorrentes da isquemia hepática normotérmica, seguida de reperfusão em duas modalidades de clampeamento da tríade portal em ratos. MÉTODO: Trinta ratos Wistar machos pesando entre 250 e 320 gramas foram divididos em três grupos de 10 animais cada. Induzimos 40 minutos de isquemia hepática por clampeamento pedicular contínuo (grupo I) ou intermitente (grupo II). No grupo controle não houve clampeamento. Como parâmetro de lesão hepatocelular adotamos a concentração plasmática de: transaminase glutâmico oxalacética (TGO), transaminase glutâmico pirúvica (TGP) e lactato desidrogenase (LDH). Colhemos as amostras de sangue no início (T1) e no final da cirurgia (T2). Todos os animais foram submetidos ao mesmo tempo operatório: 60 minutos. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença estatística nos valores iniciais (T1) das três enzimas nos três grupos. Todos apresentaram aumento significativo das enzimas do momento 1 (T1) para o momento 2 (T2). Houve diferença estatística no aumento médio de TGO e TGP entre os três grupos, sendo o maior aumento encontrado no grupo I e o menor, no grupo controle. Não houve diferença significativa, em relação à LDH, entre o grupo II e o grupo controle. No grupo I, entretanto, houve aumento significativo em relação aos demais. Conclusão: Comparado ao clampeamento contínuo, para um período total de 40 minutos de isquemia, o clampeamento da tríade portal em ratos realizado de forma intermitente, com ciclos de 10 minutos de isquemia e 5 minutos de reperfusão, provoca menor dano hepatocelular, o que foi constatado pela menor alteração enzimática.

Pharmacologic graft protection without donor pretreatment in liver transplantation from non-heart-beating donors.

Non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) are considered potential sources of transplant organs in an effort to alleviate the problem of donor shortage in clinical liver transplantation. We investigated the possibility of pharmacologic protection of hepatic allograft function from NHBDs without donor pretreatment. Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed using pigs. In donors, cardiac arrest was induced by stopping the respirator. Forty-five minutes after cessation of the respirator, the liver was flushed with cold lactated Ringer's solution including heparin and with the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution, and then preserved for 8 hr at 4 degrees C in the UW solution. The pigs were divided into two groups: a control group and a treated group. In the treated group, an endothelin antagonist TAK-044 was added to the UW solutions (10 mg/L), and TAK-044 (10 mg/kg body weight) and a platelet activating factor antagonist E5880 (0.3 mg/kg body weight) were also administered to the recipients. TAK-044 and E5880 treatment significantly increased the 7-day survival rate of the recipients (100% vs. 17%, P<0.05). In the treated group, portal venous pressure immediately after reperfusion of the graft was significantly lower than in the control group, and postoperative increase in serum concentrations of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and total bilirubin was attenuated. Moreover, the energy charge and adenosine triphosphate concentration of the liver were rapidly restored after reperfusion. Pharmacologic modulation with TAK-044 and E5880 avoiding donor pretreatment can improve the viability of hepatic allografts procured from NHBDs.

Chemiluminescence of bovine polymorphonuclear leucocytes during the periparturient period and relation with metabolic markers and bovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein

The respiratory burst activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) was evaluated in eight Holstein cows from 8 weeks before until 6 weeks after calving by chemiluminescence (CL). The CL response started to decrease 1 week before parturition, reaching a minimum during the first 2 weeks after calving. From week 3 of lactation, CL increased again and returned to original levels by week 6 of lactation. Plasma concentrations of 3-hydroxybutyric acid, total bilirubin and bovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein started to increase before parturition to reach a maximum during the first or second week of lactation. The concentrations of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, non-esterified fatty acids and bilirubin increased after calving, reaching a maximum during the second week. A small decrease in plasma cholesterol during the week before and after calving was followed by an increase. The CL response of the PMN showed significant temporal relationships with the plasma concentrations of 3-hydroxybutyric acid, bovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein, bilirubin, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, non-esterified fatty acids; that with cholesterol was nearly significant. This means that the change in the CL response with time coincided with the changes in plasma concentrations of these substances with time and that these changes were significantly related with each other. The results of this study show that the decreased respiratory burst activity of bovine PMN around parturition may be related to the extent of the metabolic and hormonal changes. Although the causative relationships are not proven, these results support earlier results suggesting that 3-hydroxybutyric acid and bovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein may directly affect neutrophil function, whereas non-esterified fatty acids, cholesterol, bilirubin, and liver enzymes may have potential as diagnostic markers of impaired neutrophil function and consequently increased disease risk around parturition.

Induction of Transient Proteinuria, Hematuria, and Glucosuria by Ethanol Consumption in Japanese Alcoholics

Urinalysis was carried out in 231 inpatients with alcohol dependence syndrome (215 males and 16 females). Fifty-nine patients (25.5%) showed proteinuria, 97 (42.0%) showed glucosuria, and 62 patients (26.8%) showed hematuria on admission. A total of 135 out of 231 patients (58.4%) showed abnormal urinalysis. Proteinuria was related to high blood pressure, high serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, uric acid, and triglyceride levels, and high urinary amylase concentration. Glucosuria was related to high serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase concentration and a history of gastrectomy. Hematuria was related to high age and high urinary amylase levels. By chi-square test, there was a significant correlation between proteinuria and hematuria (p < 0.001) and between hematuria and glucosuria (p < 0.001), but no correlation was found between proteinuria and glucosuria. The incidence of diabetes mellitus was 10.8% (25 out of 231 patients), but transient hyperglycemia was observed in some patients without diabetes mellitus on admission. Elevated hemoglobin A1, hemoglobin A1c, and fructosamine concentrations were observed in patients with either impaired glucose tolerance or transient hyperglycemia, which suggested the presence of persistent hyperglycemia before admission. On discharge, only 12 out of 198 patients (6.1%) showed abnormal urinalysis. We report that heavy ethanol consumption induces transient abnormal urinalysis results in Japanese alcoholics.

Prolonged hepatic warm ischemia in non-heart-beating donors: Protective effects of FK506 and a platelet activating factor antagonist in porcine liver transplantation

Background: Prolonged warm ischemic injury in non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) significantly affects hepatic allograft function after liver transplantation (LTx). Methods: The effects of FK506 and the platelet activating factor antagonist E5880 on postoperative function of hepatic allografts procured from NHBDs were evaluated in porcine orthotopic LTx. In donors, livers were subjected to 90 minutes of warm ischemia and a subsequent 4-hour cold preservation. Group 1 (n = 6) was the untreated control group. In group 2 (n = 4), donors were pretreated with FK506 (0.3 mg/kg). In group 3 (n = 4), donors and recipients were treated with E5880 (0.3 mg/kg). In group 4 (n = 6), pigs were treated with both FK506 and E5880. Results: All of the recipients in group 1 died within 12 hours. In groups 2 and 3, half of the recipients survived more than 12 hours. In group 4, all of the recipients survived more than 2 days ( p < 0.01 compared with group 1). The improved survival seen in group 4 was associated with a reduction in the serum concentrations of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and lactate, and a restoration of hepatic energy charge. Conclusions: The present study suggests that FK506 and E5880 can improve the function of hepatic allografts subjected to prolonged warm ischemia in NHBDs, and that the protective effects of the two drugs seem to be synergistic. (Surgery 1998;123:692-8.)

Prolonged hepatic warm ischemia in non-heart-beating donors: Protective effects of FK506 and a platelet activating factor antagonist in porcine liver transplantation

Background: Prolonged warm ischemic injury in non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) significantly affects hepatic allograft function after liver transplantation (LTx). Methods: The effects of FK506 and the platelet activating factor antagonist E5880 on postoperative function of hepatic allografts procured from NHBDs were evaluated in porcine orthotopic LTx. In donors, livers were subjected to 90 minutes of warm ischemia and a subsequent 4-hour cold preservation. Group 1 (n = 6) was the untreated control group. In group 2 (n = 4), donors were pretreated with FK506 (0.3 mg/kg). In group 3 (n = 4), donors and recipients were treated with E5880 (0.3 mg/kg). In group 4 (n = 6), pigs were treated with both FK506 and E5880. Results: All of the recipients in group 1 died within 12 hours. In groups 2 and 3, half of the recipients survived more than 12 hours. In group 4, all of the recipients survived more than 2 days (p < 0.01 compared with group 1). The improved survival seen in group 4 was associated with a reduction in the serum concentrations of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and lactate, and a restoration of hepatic energy charge. Conclusions: The present study suggests that FK506 and E5880 can improve the function of hepatic allografts subjected to prolonged warm ischemia in NHBDs, and that the protective effects of the two drugs seem to be synergistic. (Surgery 1998;123:692-8.)

Effect of food products on endogenous generation of N-nitrosamines in rats.

An experiment was conducted to study the efficacy of two tomato pastes and aronia nectar (fruit juice + pulp from the black chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa Elliot) as inhibitors of nitrosamine production in cancer prophylaxis programmes. White male rats of the Wistar strain were employed in an acute trial. Aminopyrin+sodium nitrite (APSN) were used as precursors for generation of endogenous nitrosamine. The animals were allocated to different dietary groups and fed by intubation with APSN or APSN + food products. Introduction of tomato paste (TP), high-beta-carotene tomato paste (HCTP) and aronia nectar (AN) as inhibitors of N-nitrosamine formation exerted a positive effect on blood and liver variables which was demonstrated by decreased concentrations of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (EC 2.6.1.1), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (EC 2.6.1.2) and uric acid in serum and lipid content in hepatocytes. Animals treated with APSN developed dystrophic changes in liver such as centrolobular necrosis, intense exangia, and enlarged cells with two, often large, pyknotic nuclei, while the structure of livers of rats fed with TP, HCTP or AN was well protected and almost normal. TP had a particularly beneficial effect on serum total protein and albumin concentrations as had AN on the urea value. The inhibitory effect of the food products used is explained by their chemical nature including pH, ascorbic index (ascorbate:nitrate), lycopene and beta-carotene contents.

Efficacy of intraportal infusion of prostaglandin E1 to improve the hepatic blood flow and graft viability in porcine liver transplantation.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has been reported to have a protective effect in experimental and clinical models of liver damage. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of the intraportal infusion of PGE1 on hepatic blood flow and graft viability after orthotopic liver transplantation in pigs. First, the hepatic arterial flow (HAF), portal venous flow (PVF), and liver tissue blood flow (LTBF) were measured during the continuous intravenous or intraportal infusion of PGE1. Second, two groups of pigs underwent orthotopic liver transplantation: group A, untreated controls; and group B, animals that received intraportal PGE1 for 2 hr after vascular reconstruction of the allograft. Changes in HAF, PVF, LTBF, and hepatic function were measured. The intraportal infusion of PGE1 significantly increased HAF and had no effect on blood pressure, PVF, or LTBF. In group B, HAF and LTBF increased significantly with time. In group A, HAF remained unchanged and a decrease in LTBF was observed. Group B exhibited a higher arterial ketone body ratio and a greater bile flow compared with group A. A significant elevation in serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase concentration was observed in group A, but not in group B. This study demonstrates that the intraportal infusion of PGE1 improves hepatic allograft blood flow, predominantly through an effect on HAF, and may improve graft viability after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Hepatic allograft procurement from non-heart-beating donors: limits of warm ischemia in porcine liver transplantation.

To investigate the tolerance to warm ischemia of liver grafts from non-heart-beating donors, porcine orthotopic liver transplantation was performed using grafts obtained at various periods after cardiac arrest. Graft viability was investigated in relation to changes in hepatic adenine nucleotide metabolism. In donors, livers were divided into four groups according to warm ischemic time after cardiac arrest (group 1: 0 min, n=3; group 2: 30 min, n=3; group 3: 60 min, n=5; group 4: 90 min, n=4). Thereafter, the livers were flushed and preserved for 4 hr using 4 degrees C Euro-Collins solution. After surgery, all of the recipients in groups 1, 2, and 3 survived more than 4 days, except for one pig in group 3 that died of bleeding from an arterial catheter on day 2. By contrast, all of the recipients in group 4 died within 12 hr. The serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase concentration at 4 hr after reperfusion of the graft was significantly higher in group 4 (mean+/-SE, 2563+/-556 IU/L) than in groups 1, 2, and 3 (298+/-29 IU/L, 1226+/-222 IU/L, and 1181+/-174 IU/L, respectively). The adenylate energy charge of the liver graft recovered at 1 hr after reperfusion of the graft to 0.852+/-0.013, 0.845+/-0.003, and 0.842+/-0.003 in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The recovery was significantly suppressed in group 4 (0.796+/-0.011). The hepatic adenosine triphosphate concentration also was significantly lower in group 4 compared with the other groups. The present study suggests that liver allografts can be used from non-heart-beating donors subjected to warm ischemia for less than 60 min. Postoperative survival is associated with prompt recovery of the adenylate energy charge of the liver graft.