Decreased Serum AST Research Articles

Ameliorative Effects of Soya Bean Oil and Vitamin C on Liver Enzymes in Ethanol -Induced Oxidative Stress in Wistar Rats

The protective potential of soya bean oil and vitamin C on Ethanol-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats was evaluated. Thirty five Wistar rats of both sexes weighing 120-200g were grouped into five groups of seven rats each. Oxidative stress was induced by administration of 20% ethanol (w/v) for 28 days, at the end of the period of administration, the rats were fasted over night and their blood was collected directly from the heart via cardiac puncture in EDTA sample bottles and the blood was centrifuged and the serum was used to determine the levels of of AST, ALT and ALP in all the groups . The result revealed that Ethanol significantly (p<0.05) increased plasma AST, ALT and ALP levels. Vitamin C significantly (p<0.05) decreased serum AST while soya bean oil produced no significant (p<0.05) effect on plasma AST. The serum levels of ALT and ALP were significantly reduced following vitamin C and Soya bean oil administration. The elevation of serum AST, ALT and ALP after alcohol administration is an indication oxidative stress. The decrease in plasma concentration of the liver enzymes after treatment with vitamin C and Soya bean oil reveals the ameliorative potential of vitamin C and soya bean oil against ethanol-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats.

Normothermic Acellular Ex Vivo Liver Perfusion (NEVLP): Development of a New Method for the Storage, Assessment, and Repair of Marginal Liver Grafts

Livers retrieved after cardiac death (DCD) are often declined for transplantation because of the increased risk for graft failure and bile duct injury. The current cold static preservation technique is associated with a high risk of biliary complications and does not offer the opportunity to assess graft injury and function. We compared the novel normothermic acellular ex vivo liver perfusion (NEVLP) with conventional cold static organ preservation for livers retrieved after cardiac death. We implemented spectrophotometric imaging as tool for online monitoring of blood flow and oxygen transport to tissue during NEVLP to predict organ function post reperfusion. Methods: First, pig livers were perfused (n=5) for 12 hours in a cell free, oxygenated perfusion solution (STEEN), followed by 12hr perfusion with whole blood as a model of transplantation. ALT and histology were evaluated as parameters of the liver injury, urea synthesis, bile production and oxygen consumption were determined as marker of the liver function. In a second approach, pig livers either subjected to 1hr warm ischemia plus 12hrs cold storage in UW (n=5) or 1hr warm ischemia plus 4hr cold storage plus 8hr NEVLP. After 12hr organ preservation the livers were perfused for 8hr in a pig liver transplant model. Spectrophotometric imaging was used to monitor blood flow and oxygen supply to liver tissue and bile duct tissue. Results: 12hr normothermic acellular ex vivo liver perfusion followed by 12hr whole blood reperfusion was not associated with liver injury. Serum ALT (mean 27U/L) remained normal, and histology did not show any evidence of necrosis (< 1%). Bile production (mean 3cc/hr), oxygen consumption (400mmHg), and BUN synthesis (1.8mmol/l) were within normal limits. In a second approach, NEVLP was compared to cold static storage in a DCD model using 1hr warm ischemia and 12hr preservation. NEVLP was associated with significantly decreased serum AST (26U/L vs 285U/L), decreased necrosis (10% vs 35%, p< 0.05), and increased oxygen consumption (400mmHg vs 230mmHg, p< 0.05). Cold static storage after DCD retrieval was associated with loss of peripheral arterial blood supply, while arterial blood flow was maintained in NEVLP preserved grafts. Accordingly, UW preserved grafts had massive biliary necrosis (90%), while bile ducts were normal in NEVLP preserved livers. Spectrophotometric imaging showed decreased oxygen supply especially in peripheral parts of liver and bile duct tissue. Conclusion: NEVLP allows prolonged organ storage with normal liver metabolism without inducing preservation injury. Bile duct injury after DCD liver retrieval develops in cold static, but not NEVLP preserved organs. NEVLP is a novel preservation technique for the assessment of marginal grafts. The implemented spectrophotometric imaging can monitor oxygen transport to tissue and seems to be a promising tool to predict organ function post reperfusion.

Clinical and pathological features of primary biliary cirrhotic patients with negative anti-mitochondria antibody

To explore the clinical and pathological features of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients with negative anti-mitochondria antibody (AMA). Two hundreds and eight PBC patients were enrolled. The clinical and histological data of the negative AMA cases were compared with the AMA/AMA-M2 positive cases. 30 out of the 208 cases (14.4%) were AMA negative patients in our study. The general status, biochemical tests and histological findings between the two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05). The Gamma-globulin, IgG, IgM and IgA levels of AMA/AMA-M2 positive PBC patients were higher than that of the AMA negative cases (P < 0.05). The abnormal rate of cholesterol in AMA negative PBC patients was 65.4% as compared to 50.4% in AMA/AMA-M2 positive cases, no significant difference existed between (P > 0.05). Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) was observed in 29 (96.7%) AMA negative PBC patients, including 14 (48.3%) with granular pattern, 8 (27.6%) with nuclear membrane pattern, 6 (20.7%) with kinetochore pattern and 1 (3.4%) with homogeneous pattern. AMA negative PBC patients had elevated serum ALP, GGT, IgM and cholesterol levels, and decreased serum AST, IgG and IgA levels as compared with that of autoimmune hepatitis patients (P < 0.05, respectively). In cholestatic patients with elevated IgM and cholesterol levels, ANA positive with non-homogeneous pattern, the diagnosis of PBC should be suspected, albeit AMA negative. The clinical, biochemical and histological features of the AMA negative PBC patients were similar to classic PBC patients, but quite different from autoimmune hepatitis.

Therapeutic effect of &lt;I&gt;Tongluo&lt;/I&gt; recipe on hepatic injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and its possible mechanism

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of Tongluo recipe(TLR) on hepatic injury in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and the possible mechanism.Methods Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(60 mg/kg) in male Sprague-Dawley rats.The study included 5 groups:normal control(CN) group,diabetes mellitus control (DM) group,low-dose TLR (TL) group,middle-dose TLR (TM) group and high-dose TLR (TH) group,with 10 rats in each group.Diabetic rats in the latter three groups received 0.5 g/(kg·d),1.0 g/(kg·d),2.0 g/(kg·d) TLR,respectively throughout the experiment.The fasting glucose,blood lipid,and serum liver function indices were measured.Twelve weeks after treatment,rats were sacrificed and the liver tissues were collected to examine the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD),catalase (CAT),glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),and malondialdehyde (MDA).The ultrastructure of liver tissues was observed through transmission electron microscope.Results The serum AST,ALT and AKP levels of diabetic rats were increased 12 weeks after intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (P 0.01),and electron microscope observation showed characteristic pathological changes of diabetes.TLR treatment (middle and high dose) obviously decreased serum AST,ALT levels(P 0.05)and ameliorated ultrastructure changes of liver tissues:glycogen granules decreased in cytoplasm,mitochondrial cristae became distinct and electron density decreased,appearance of smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum became nearly normal,and the interstitial collagenofiber decreased.The SOD and CAT activities were significantly decreased and MDA levels were increased in liver tissues of diabetic rats (P 0.01).Twelve weeks of treatment with TLR obviously improved SOD activity (at all three doses,P 0.01) and decreased the levels of MDA (middle and high dose,P 0.01).Conclusion Our data suggest that TLR can improve hepatic injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats,probably through increasing activities of antioxidant and depleting lipid peroxidation production.