Differences In Aspartate Aminotransferase Research Articles

The Role of Hyperemesis Gravidarum in the First-Trimester as a Predictor of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and hyperemesis gravidarum (HEG) are pregnancy-specific liver diseases associated with significant fetal and maternal complications. Typically, HEG is diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy, and ICP in the third trimester of pregnancy. The aim of this study is to investigate whether primigravid women diagnosed with ICP between the 26th and 37th weeks of pregnancy were also diagnosed with HEG during the first trimester, and to evaluate whether the diagnosis of ICP can be predicted in pregnant women with a prior diagnosis of HEG. Methods: Our study is a retrospective analysis. A total of 4000 pregnant women, aged 18 to 45 years and between 26th and 37th weeks of gestation, who presented to the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic of the Health Sciences University, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital with complaints of pruritus between 01/07/2018 and 01/07/2023, were screened. 227 patients were diagnosed with ICP. Complete medical records and blood test results were available for 141 patients. 39 patients with a history of previous pregnancies and/or comorbidities, as well as 30 patients without available serum total bile acids (TBA) results, were excluded from the study. Of these, 72 pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study and grouped into primigravid women with and without a history of HEG in the first-trimester. Demographic characteristics, gestational age, detailed medical history, ultrasound findings, and biochemical parameters—including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, bilirubin, and fasting bile acid (FBA) levels were statistically compared. Results: In our study, comparisons revealed no significant differences in AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and direct bilirubin levels (p > 0.05) between the groups with and without a history of HEG diagnosed with cholestasis. In pregnant women diagnosed with cholestasis, the total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the group with a history of HEG compared to the group without a history of HEG. In contrast, TBA levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the group with a history of HEG compared to the group without a history of HEG. Conclusions: This study found that primigravid women with ICP and a history of HEG had elevated TBA levels, while total and indirect bilirubin levels were reduced. This suggests that patients with a history of HEG should be closely monitored in later stages of pregnancy for the development of ICP and potential liver damage. However, larger and more comprehensive studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Effects of increasing doses of enrofloxacin on biochemical parameters in ducks

This research aims to determine the effect of oral single-dose administration of 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg of enrofloxacin on ducks on biochemical parameters. The research was carried out on eighteen ducks. Ducks were divided into 3 equal groups to receive 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg doses. Blood samples were taken at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours. No clinical side effects were observed in ducks after enrofloxacin administration. When dose groups were compared, significant differences were observed in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), albumin (ALB), cholesterol (CHOL), total protein (TP) and creatinine (CRE) values (p0.05). However, there were significant differences in AST, ALP, ALB, and CRE values at 10 mg/kg, AST at 50 mg/kg, and TP at 100 mg/kg (p

Ultrasound Findings of Liver and Pancreas in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case-Control Study

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and insulin dependence, is caused by the autoimmune destruction of β-cells in the pancreas. Diabetes mellitus can potentially lead to excessive accumulation of fat in the liver, resulting in fatty liver. Changes in pancreatic tissue during the course of the disease can lead to decreased insulin secretion and increased insulin resistance. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the size and fat content of the liver and pancreas in children with T1D using ultrasound and to explore their relationship with clinical and laboratory indicators. Patients and Methods: In this case-control research, 43 children without diabetes made up the control group, whereas 43 children with T1D (diagnosed based on American Diabetes Association criteria) between the ages of 3 and 18 years made up the case group, from March 2020 until July 2021. A checklist was used to collect data on age, the duration of diabetes, insulin dose, gastrointestinal or liver symptoms, and autoimmune diseases. Moreover, the height and weight of patients were measured. The results of blood tests, including hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), liver function tests, and autoantibodies related to diabetes, were extracted from the files. A transabdominal ultrasound study was performed by two pediatric radiologists, with 8 years and 5 years of experience, to evaluate the liver and pancreas regarding size and fat content. Correlation between laboratory test results and ultrasound findings was assessed by statistical analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS v26 with a significance level considered less than 0.05. T-test, Fisher’s exact test, and Partial correlation were the tests applied for data analysis. Results: The two groups had significant differences in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, and HbA1c levels, with higher values observed in diabetic subjects. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of liver size. The frequency of fatty liver was higher in patients with T1D (65.1% in diabetic subjects versus 23.3% in non-diabetic subjects). The size of the body and tail of the pancreas in the case group was significantly lower than in the control group (10.33 ± 2.87 vs. 12.30 ± 2.1, P = 0.004 for the body, 9.47 ± 2.4 vs. 10.86 ± 2.2, P = 0.007 for the tail). Fatty pancreas was more prevalent in T1D compared to the control group (P = 0.03). The size and grade of fatty pancreas did not significantly correlate with the presence of autoantibodies. Liver size and body mass index were positively correlated (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Patients with T1D are more susceptible to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Pancreatic morphological alterations, including increased echogenicity and a decrease in the size of the pancreas (particularly at the body and tail), can be detected in ultrasound studies of children with T1D. Furthermore, no significant association was found between T1D autoantibodies and pancreatic morphological changes, suggesting that autoantibodies cannot be used to predict future pancreatic morphological alterations.

The Combination of Gardenia jasminoides, Boswellia serrata, Commiphora myrrha, Foeniculum vulgarae, and Daucus carota Essential Oil Blend Improved the Inflammatory and Clinical Status in Respiratory Tract Infection of COVID-19 Patients: A Multicentre, Randomized, Open-label, Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Essential oils (EO) are complex volatile, naturally synthesized compounds from aromatic plants. It considers as healthy, effective, and safe since they were coming from nature. Gardenia jasminoides, Boswellia serrata, Commiphora myrrha, Foeniculum vulgarae, and Daucus carota are known to have antimicrobials, antioxidants, antiinflammation properties against respiratory tract infection. However, despite its natural content, a safety profile needs to be observed. Therefore, in this study, EO blend (EOB) made from the combination of these 5 plants was assessed for its efficacy and safety for respiratory tract infection in human.METHODS: A multicentre, randomized, open-label, phase II controlled trial involving 80 hospitalized adults with COVID-19 was conducted. One group of subjects only received standard of care (SoC), while the other group receive SoC and EOB orally for 10 days.RESULTS: There were significant decrease in interleukin (IL)-6 level (p=0.016) and interferon (IFN)-γ level (p=0.012), as well as better respiratory rate (p=0.024) for the group receiving SoC and EOB compared to the group receiving SoC only. However, there was no significant differences in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, and the corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation value in both groups. All subjects with adverse effects were improved and recovered, and there were no serious adverse events found.CONCLUSION: The combination of G. jasminoides, B. serrata, C. myrrha, F. vulgarae, and D. carota EOB could improve the inflammatory and clinical status and safe to be used as adjuvant therapy for treating COVID-19 in adults.KEYWORDS: essential oils, COVID-19, inflammation, safety

Retrospective Analysis of Aberrant Hepatic Artery in 1250 Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Transarterial Chemoembolization.

Aberrant hepatic artery is particularly common, and its diversity and complexity play a critical role in surgery. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and type of aberrant hepatic artery, and to compare differences in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with vs without aberrant hepatic artery. This was a retrospective study of patients with HCC who received TACE at the same intervention center between March 15, 2020 and December 31, 2022. All patients who met inclusion criteria were divided into two groups based on whether or not they had aberrant hepatic artery. The aberrant hepatic artery was systematically classified according to variations in origin. We compared differences in baseline characteristics, operation duration, and postoperative hospitalization between the two groups. Postoperative adverse events and laboratory data were also compared. A total of 1250 patients hospitalized with HCC were included in the study (mean age, 58 ± 10 years, 1019 [81.5%] males). A high incidence of aberrant hepatic artery was found during TACE (21.3%, 266 of 1250), mainly involving a single variation of the aberrant left hepatic artery (aLHA) (6.1%, 76 of 1250) or aberrant right hepatic artery (aRHA) (10.9%, 136 of 1250) origin, as well as complex variations of the aLHA and aRHA origin (2.4%, 30 of 1250). When comparing patients with vs without aberrant hepatic artery, the TACE operation duration was significantly different (p < 0.001), and tended to be greater for patients with aberrant hepatic artery. In addition, differences between aberrant and normal hepatic artery groups in postoperative nausea and vomiting were statistically significant (40.2% vs 30.8%, respectively, p = 0.004). Postoperative laboratory examinations revealed significant differences in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and neutrophil percentage between the two groups (p < 0.05). The incidence of aberrant hepatic artery is extremely high, and the condition is characterized by complex variations. Moreover, aberrant hepatic artery may have a critical impact on the course of TACE treatment.

Changes in serum levels of liver-related parameters, uric acid, and hemoglobin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus under treatment with tofogliflozin-a post-hoc analysis of the UTOPIA study.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of tofogliflozin, a selective sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, on circulating levels of hepatic enzymes, uric acid and hemoglobin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We evaluated longitudinal changes in circulating aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP), uric acid, and hemoglobin levels in tofogliflozin (n = 169) and conventional treatment groups (n = 170) using data obtained from the UTOPIA trial, a randomized prospective study conducted to evaluate the efficacy of tofogliflozin in preventing atherosclerosis. Within 104weeks, tofogliflozin treatment, but not conventional treatment, significantly reduced AST, ALT, and γ-GTP levels. This reduction was significantly greater in the tofogliflozin group than in the conventional group. Stratified analysis showed that, in patients with obesity (defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25.0kg/m2), significant differences were observed in AST, ALT, and γ-GTP changes from baseline to 104weeks between treatment groups. However, in patients without obesity, there were no significant differences in AST and γ-GTP changes from baseline to 104weeks between treatment groups. Multivariable regression analysis showed that changes in BMI and HbA1c levels were independently associated with changes in AST, ALT, and γ-GTP levels. The reduction of uric acid and the increase of hemoglobin from baseline to 104weeks were significantly greater in the tofogliflozin group than in the conventional group. The beneficial effects of tofogliflozin on circulating levels of hepatic enzymes, uric acid, and Hb lasted for 2years in patients with T2DM. UMIN000017607 (https://www.umin.ac.jp/icdr/index.html). The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-024-00693-x.

Prognostic value of plasma Aβ1-40 for Alzheimer's disease.

To investigate the clinical significance of plasma p-amyloid 1-40 (Aβ1-40) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this retrospective study, the clinical data of 305 patients, with or without Alzheimer's disease (AD), who were treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities and the People's Hospital of Baise between January 2018 and December 2021 were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: an AD group (n=147) and a non-AD group (without AD, n=158 cases). Blood test indices, including serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine (CRE), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and plasma β-amyloid 1-40 were collected and compared between the two groups. The plasma β-amyloid 1-40 in the AD group was (3.71±3.45) mol/L, which was significantly higher than (2.8±1.35) mmol/L in the non-AD group (P<0.05). Similarly, hsCRP expression was significantly higher in the AD group than that in the non-AD group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in AST, ALT, UA, T-tau, NFL or Cr levels between the two groups (all P>0.05). Moreover, univariate regression analysis showed that plasma β-amyloid 1-40 and hsCRP were significantly correlated with AD. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that plasma p-amyloid 1-40 (P<0.0001) and hsCRP (P=0.002) were independent predictors of AD. Plasma p-amyloid 1-40 and hsCRP are closely related to AD, and may serve as important clinical predictors of AD.

Effect of different levels of Labazyme supplementation on production and biochemical traits in quail

The study was conducted to determine the effect of different levels of Labazyme (a multi-enzyme with probiotics) on production and biochemical traits in quail. A total of 180 quail were housed in 12 pens; each group was randomly allocated to four replicates (15 hens/replication); Group 1 was designated as the control, Groups 2 and 3 were supplemented with Labazyme at 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, respectively. The addition of Labazyme to the diet substantially increased quail production compared to the control group, and there was a substantial difference in feed intake and improved feed conversion efficiency, with the Labazyme groups generally superior to the control group. The groups did not differ substantially in egg quality parameters. The economic analysis indicated that Labazyme groups were substantially different to the control group. Globulin, total protein, and alkaline phosphatase were substantially reduced, whereas lipid profiles were reduced in Labazyme groups compared to the control. The glutathione level was increased and a decrease in malondialdehyde levels was observed in all groups. In addition, there were no substantial differences in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in either group. Labazyme can be used in quail feed as a feed additive to improve egg production and reduce lipid profiles.

The role of serum nesfatin-1 in a rat model of acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease that can still be fatal despite rapid advances in medicine. The relationship between serum nesfatin-1 levels and AP is still to be fully resolved. To investigate the utility of serum nesfatin-1 levels in the diagnosis of AP. Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into control, mild pancreatitis and severe pancreatitis groups (n = 8/group). Acute pancreatitis was induced by cerulein injection and the control group received saline injections. Then, the serum nesfatin-1, amylase, lipase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were determined. A pathologist blinded to the study scored the severity of pancreatitis. There was a considerable decrease in serum nesfatin-1 levels in parallel to the severity of pancreatitis, though there was no statistically significant relationship observed between pancreatitis and nesfatin-1. In addition, there was no significant difference in AST or ALT levels among the groups. However, a strong positive correlation between amylase and lipase levels was observed (p < 0.05). The severe pancreatitis group (group 3) had a higher lipase level and pathology score than mild pancreatitis group (group 2), and this difference was statistically significant. Serum nesfatin-1 may be used as a diagnostic and severity marker in pancreatitis in the future.

Correlation of liver and kidney indicators with foetal vital organ function

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between indicators of liver and kidney function and foetal vital organ function. One hundred and eighty-five pregnant women who underwent cordocentesis and whose foetuses were diagnosed with abnormal foetal organ function were enrolled. The indicators of liver and kidney function were compared between foetuses with abnormal vital organ function and healthy foetuses. There was a significant difference between foetuses with and those without normal cardiovascular systems in terms of total protein, albumin, total bile acid, and creatinine levels (P < .05). A significant difference in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels was observed in foetuses with and those without normal foetal urinary systems (P < .05). A difference between foetuses with normal and those without normal musculoskeletal systems was noted when comparing LDH levels. Further, there was a significant difference in gestational age and AST, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, LDH, adenosine dehydrogenase, fibronectin, and creatinine levels between foetuses with normal versus abnormal blood systems (P < .05). Thus, hepatic and renal function indicators may be associated with abnormal foetal vital organ function. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Foetal cardiac function is currently evaluated using colour Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in clinical practice, but there are few predictive indicators of the function of other vital organs. It is difficult to determine whether children have abnormalities in the urinary system, digestive system, nervous system, or other vital organs. What do the results of this study add? In this study, it was found that total protein, albumin, total bile acid, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, fibronectin, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, adenosine dehydrogenase, and other liver and kidney function indicators may be associated with foetal vital organ dysfunction. However, the forecast range of specific indicators must be further improved upon. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study provides an additional reference for predicting foetal cardiac function.

COVID-19 Severity and Comorbidities in Diabetic Patients

Background: This study aimed to investigate the demographic factors, comorbidities, and laboratory results of diabetic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 171 diabetic patients with COVID-19 admitted based on chest CT scan findings to the COVID-19 ward of Shahid Mohammadi Hospital in Hormozgan, Iran from 1 March to 1 June, 2020. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test was performed, and the patients were divided into three groups (mild, moderate, and severe) based on the severity of disease. Then we investigated the demographic factors, comorbidities, and laboratory results of diabetic patients with severe COVID-19 severity. Results: Regarding comorbidities, there was no significant difference between the three groups. Moreover, there was a significantly lower lymphocyte count in the severe group compared to moderate and mild groups (P = 0.001). We showed the increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine to be significantly associated with increased disease severity (P = 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively). We also showed a significant difference in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels between different groups of patients (P = 0.002) with a higher level of AST in the severe group (P = 0.020). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and troponin were also significantly associated with an increase in COVID-19 severity in patients with diabetes (P = 0.013 and P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: There was a significant association between disease severity and BUN, creatinine, AST, LDH, and troponin levels in diabetic patients with COVID-19. There was no significant association between different groups regarding severity of disease and comorbidities.

The Differences in Transaminase Enzyme Levels among Children with Acute Diarrhea due to Rotavirus and Non-rotavirus

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is the particular disease that still affects children in Indonesia, with rotavirus being the most common etiology among children under 5 years old. Rotavirus and non-rotavirus diarrhea can spread to the extraintestinal and localized to the liver which causes liver cell damage, thus, the level of the glutamic oxaloacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminase enzymes increases. AIM: The objective of the study was to prove that there are differences in serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminase in children with acute diarrhea due to rotavirus and non-rotavirus infection. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design, the research subjects were children aged 6 months old until 60 months old with acute diarrhea in Denpasar Public Health Center, Sanglah, and Wangaya General Hospital within the period of March 2018 until March 2021. Statistical analysis used the Mann–Whitney. RESULTS: A total of 70 subjects were analyzed in this study. There were 24.28% of subjects with rotavirus. Each group had nearly the same degree of severity of 29.4% for rotavirus and 30.2% for non-rotavirus, with a median of serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) 47 (19–261) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) 25 (7–217). The results of this study showed that the median difference in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels was not significant in rotavirus and non-rotavirus diarrhea (SGOT 45 [16–168], 32 [11–261], p = 0.077; (SGPT 22 [14–91], 18 [5–217], p = 0.12). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that there is a higher median level of SGOT and SGPT in children with acute diarrhea due to rotavirus infection compared to non-rotavirus infection, although it is not statistically significant.

Acute and Subchronic Toxicity Assessment of Proteins from Plumeria pudica Latex in Mice

Latex proteins extracted from Plumeria pudica (LPPp) have anti-inflammatory activity in different experimental models. Considering this relevant result, we evaluated the toxicological aspects of the treatment of mice with LPPp. Acute and subchronic toxicities were determined by daily intraperitoneal administration of 40 mg/kg of LPPp for 10 or 20 days, respectively, and were followed by behavioral, hematological, biochemical and histopathological evaluation. Results showed no significant changes in body weight and organs of animals treated with LPPp. Total and differential blood leukocyte counts of LPPp groups did not differ from controls. There was no significant difference in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine and urea measurements for the group treated for 20 days. The level of glutathione in the kidney was significantly higher in animals treated with LPPp in the acute toxicity test, but no differences were observed for the subchronic evaluation. The concentration of malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase activity in the organs did not differ from controls. Histopathological examination of kidney, spleen and liver tissue of animals treated with LPPp revealed normal structures or reversible alterations. Intraperitoneal LD50 of LPPp was higher than 2,000 mg/kg. The data obtained reveal that LPPp is nontoxic at 40 mg/kg.

Impact of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Administration for 12 Months on Renal Function.

Background: The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with an increased risk of renal complications. Resolution of renal adverse effects after NSAID administration has been observed after short-term use. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate a series of patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain who underwent long-term NSAID administration followed by switching to tramadol hydrochloride/acetaminophen (TA) combination tablets to study the impact of NSAID-induced renal adverse effects.Methods: This was a longitudinal retrospective study of 99 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The patients were administrated with NSAIDs daily during the first 12 months, followed by daily TA combination tablets for 12 months. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase were measured at baseline, after NSAID administration and after TA administration.Results: eGFR was significantly reduced after 12-month NSAID administration (median, from 84.0 to 72.8 ml/min/1.73 m2), and the reduction was not shown after the subsequent 12-month TA administration (median, 71.5 ml/min/1.73 m2). Reduction in eGFR was less in patients who received celecoxib (median, −1.8 ml/min/1.73 m2) during the first 12 months. There was no significant difference in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase in each period.Conclusions: Thus, patients receiving NSAIDs for 12 months displayed both reversible and irreversible reduction of eGFR upon cessation of NSAIDs and switching to TA. Our data highlight the potential safety benefit of utilizing multimodal analgesic therapies to minimize the chronic administration of NSAIDs.

Association between serum vitamin D level and immune imbalance in advanced schistosomiasis patients with liver fibrosis

To examine the relationship between serum vitamin D level and immune imbalance in advanced schistosomiasis patients with liver fibrosis. A total of 120 advanced schistosomiasis patients with liver fibrosis that were admitted to the Department of Schistosomiasis of The First Hospital of Jiaxing City from May 2016 to September 2018 were recruited as the observation group, and 50 healthy volunteers randomly sampled from the hospital during the same period served as the control group. The serum IgG antibody, IgA antibody, C3 complement, C4 complement, CD4+ cell proportion, CD8+ cell proportion, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were compared between the two groups. Liver fibrosis was classified into grade I, II and III according to the classification criteria of liver fibrosis by ultrasonography, and the serum IgG antibody, IgA antibody, C3 complement, C4 complement, CD4+ proportion, CD8+ proportion, 25(OH)D levels were compared among patients with grade I, II and III liver fibrosis. In addition, all patients were classified into the sufficient group, the insufficient group and the deficient group according to the serum vitamin D level, and the serum IgG antibody, IgA antibody, C3 complement, C4 complement, CD4+ proportion, CD8+ proportion, 25(OH)D levels were compared among these three groups. Moreover, the associations of the serum vitamin D level with these immune indicators were examined. The 120 advanced schistosomiasis patients with liver fibrosis included 58 men and 62 women, and had a mean age of (72.00 ± 3.00) years. There were 32 cases with grade I liver fibrosis, 46 cases with grade II liver fibrosis, and 42 cases with grade III liver fibrosis. There were no significant differences between the observation group and the control group in terms of serum D-dimer, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), C3 complement or C4 complement levels (t = 2.467, 0.322, 0.790, -2.432 and -2.630, all P values > 0.05); however, there were significant differences seen in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood calcium, blood phosphorus, IgG antibody, IgA antibody, CD4+ proportion, CD8+ proportion, and 25(OH)D levels (t = 5.130, 6.382, -1.341, 2.361, 8.708, 11.783, -2.995, -6.543 and -3.022, all P values < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in AST, ALT, blood phosphorus, IgA antibody, C3 complement, CD8+ cell proportion and 25(OH)D levels among patients with grades I, II and III liver fibrosis (F = 19.704, 16.254, 62.669, 49.347, 5.430, 5.434 and 5.783, all P values < 0.05). There were significant differences in ALT, blood phosphorus, IgA antibody, CD8+ cell proportion and 25(OH)D levels between patients with grades I and III liver fibrosis (all P values < 0.05), and significant differences were seen between patients with grades II and III liver fibrosis in terms of blood phosphorus, IgA antibody and CD8+ cell proportion (all P values < 0.05), while there was a significant difference in the CD8+ cell proportion between patients with grades I and II liver fibrosis (P < 0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences among the sufficient, insufficient and deficient groups in terms of IgG antibody, IgA antibody, C3 complement, CD4+ cell proportion and CD8+ cell proportion (F = 13.303, 59.623, 8.698, 9.969 and 12.805, all P values < 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the CD8+ cell proportion between the insufficient and deficient groups (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that serum 25(OH)D level were negatively associated with IgG and IgA antibody levels (r = -0.754 and -0.773, both P values < 0.05), and positively associated with C3 complement, CD4+ cell proportion and CD8+ cell proportion in advanced schistosomiasis patients with liver fibrosis (r = 0.827, 0.850 and 0.830, all P values < 0.05). Immune imbalance occurs in advanced schistosomiasis patients with liver fibrosis, and serum vitamin D level may correlate with immune imbalance in advanced schistosomiasis patients with liver fibrosis.

Non-Heme Iron Content and Antioxidant Activities of Wistar Rats Fed Aqueous Extract of &lt;i&gt;Elaeis guineensis &lt;/i&gt;(Banga Soup) Cooked Using Different Utensils

Cooking utensils may leach toxic metals or trace elements into food. Iron is an essential nutrient and both iron deficiency and iron excess can affect optimal health. The aim of the study was to determine non-heme iron (NHI) and some antioxidant parameters of rats fed banga soup (BS) prepared using different utensils. Twentyfive Wistar albino rats were used for the study. They were allowed to acclimatize for one week before commencement of the experiment. Group 1 served as control. Rats in Group 2, 3, 4 and 5 were administered BS cooked using cast iron pot (CIP), aluminium pot (AP), blended mixture (BM) of BS and aqueous tween 80 respectively. Rats in Group 1 to 5 received tap water daily and standard laboratory diet (feed) throughout the experiment period of 28 days. There were no significant difference in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, albumin (Alb) and total protein (TP) in the serum and liver of the entire experimental Groups. Significant decrease were observed in total phenol content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ascorbic oxidase (AO) activity in the serum and NHI content in the serum, liver and kidney of Group 2, 3 and 4 when compared with Group 1 and 5.&#x0D; Keywords: Banga soup; non-heme iron; antioxidant; aluminium pot; cast iron pot

Analysis of baseline liver biochemical parameters in 324 cases with novel coronavirus pneumonia in Shanghai area

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics and liver biochemical parameters of 324 cases admitted with novel coronavirus pneumonia in Shanghai area. Methods: Clinical data and baseline liver biochemical parameters of 324 cases with novel coronavirus pneumonia admitted to the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from January 20, 2020 to February 24, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the status of illness: mild type (mild and typical) and severe type (severe and critical).The differences in clinical data and baseline liver biochemical parameters of the two groups were described and compared. The t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used for measurement data. The enumeration data were expressed by frequency and rate, and chi-square test was used. Results: Of the 324 cases with novel coronavirus pneumonia, 26 were severe cases (8%), with median onset of 5 days, 20 cases were HBsAg positive (6.2%), and 70 cases (21.6%) with fatty liver, diagnosed with X-ray computed tomography. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBil), albumin(ALB) and international normalized ratio (INR) of 324 cases at baseline were 27.86 ± 20.02 U/L, 29.33 ± 21.02 U/L, 59.93 ± 18.96 U / L, 39.00 ± 54.44 U/L, 9.46 ± 4.58 μmol / L, 40.64 ± 4.13 g / L and 1.02 ± 0.10. Of which, ALT was > than the upper limit of normal (> ULN), accounting for 15.7% (51/324). ALT and AST > ULN, accounting for 10.5% (34/324). ALP > ULN, accounting for 1.2% (4/324). ALP and GGT > ULN, accounting for 0.9% (3/324). INR > ULN was lowest, accounting for 0.6% (2/324). There were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) in ALT [(21.5 vs. 26) U / L, P = 0.093], ALP [(57 vs.59) U/L, P = 0.674], and GGT [(24 vs.28) U/L, P = 0.101] between the severe group and the mild group. There were statistically significant differences in AST (23 U/L vs. 34 U/L, P < 0.01), TBil (10.75 vs. 8.05 μmol / L, P < 0.01), ALB (35.79 ± 4.75 vs. 41.07 ± 3.80 g/L, P < 0.01), and INR (1.00 vs. 1.04, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The baseline liver biochemical parameters of 324 cases with novel coronavirus pneumonia in Shanghai area was comparatively lower and the liverinjury degree was mild, and the bile duct cell damage was rare.

Expression analysis of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and alkaline phosphatase in occupational workers exposed to low dose of X-radiation: A case-control study.

To evaluate liver and inflammatory biomarkers in occupationally exposed radiology workers. The descriptive study was conducted at Mufti Mehmood Memorial Teaching Hospital and Gomal Centre of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, from September 2017 to May 2018, and comprised X-ray technicians working 48-72 hours per week, and a group of age- and gender-matched unexposed healthy controls. The exposed group was divided into three sub-groups based on their radiation work duration. Liver health status involved estimation of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase GGT and bilirubin through automated chemistry analyser, while serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin- 6 levels through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Relative gene expression analysis of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and alkaline phosphatase was performed through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. Of the 70 subjects, 50(71.4%) were cases with a mean age of 36.98±8.07 years and 20(28.6%) were controls with a mean age of 36.80±7.78 years. Serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels showed significant elevation in the cases compared to the controls (p<0.0001), although alanine aminotransferase levels were within the normal range. The difference in aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and bilirubin levels was not significant (p>0.05). Tumour necrosis factor-alpha concentration was significantly high in the cases compared to the controls (p<0.0001). In contrast with proteomic analysis, relative gene expression analysis revealed reduced level of alkaline phosphatase and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in the cases compared to the controls (p<0.05). Serum proteomic analysis of X-ray technicians indicated acute inflammatory conditions, while genomic analysis exhibited down-regulation of alkaline phosphatase and tumour necrosis factor-alpha genes.

Investigation of Association between Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

It was aimed to evaluate the relationship between diabetes and hepatitis B in patients with type 2 diabetes. This retrospective study was conducted between January 2012 and December 2017 in Dicle University Hospital. A total of 686 patients (344 male, 342 female) diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) (whose with HbA1c>6.5) were included. Alcohol users, patients who underwent dialysis and with frequent blood transfusions (such as thalassemia major or hemophilia) were excluded from the study. Patients were divided into two groups as those with hepatitis B (HBsAg >1) and those without hepatitis B (HBsAg <1). Age, gender and liver function tests of the patients were evaluated retrospectively and compared between the two groups. Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated between the variables. Student's t test was used to compare the two groups. Chi-square test was used for categorical variables. In the HBsAg positive patient group; the relationship of HbsAg with Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) was significant (p <0.05), also a statistically significant relationship was found between Hba1c elevation with ALT levels and age (p<0.01). No statistically significant difference was found between HBsAg and HbA1c in HB patients group. There was no significant difference in AST and ALT levels between two groups. Conclusion: There was no significant relationship between HB and T2DM in current retrospective study including T2DM patients. Keywords: Hepatitis B Virus, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Aspartate Aminotransferase, Alanine Aminotransferase DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/5-10-10

Sub-lethal toxicity of chlorpyrifos alone and in combination with polyethylene glycol to common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

In the present study, sub-lethal effects of chlorpyrifos, alone (25 and 50 μg L−1) and in combination with Polyethylene glycol (5 and 10 mg L−1), on common carp were investigated. Exposure to chlorpyrifos caused significant changes in all blood biochemical parameters compared to control groups. Total protein, triglyceride, glucose levels, as well as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activities in plasma changed after exposure to 10 mg L−1 polyethylene glycol (PEG), while fish exposed to PEG did not show any significant difference in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities and albumin and globulins levels. Exposure to a combination of chlorpyrifos and PEG caused a significant change in AST, GGT, CPK, LDH and AChE activity, total protein and glucose level. The influence of chlorpyrifos and PEG combination on ALP, cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin, and globulin depends on the concentration of the insecticide and PEG. With a reduction in chlorpyrifos concentration, PEG can maintain ALP activity and albumin at a normal level. Although fish exposure to chlorpyrifos, alone or in combination with polyethylene glycol, significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT) level, it decreased total antioxidant level (TAN). Exposure to just polyethylene glycol had no impact on CAT activity, TAN and MDA level. According to the results, PEG can have an antagonistic effect on chlorpyrifos toxicity, depending on these two materials concentration. However, chlorpyrifos increased the toxicity of PEG.