Lower Alanine Aminotransferase Activity Research Articles

Effect of soybean meal replacement with corn gluten meal on the survival, biochemical and metabolic responses, and disease resistance of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Abstract This study delves into the potential of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with corn gluten meal (CGM) in the diet of Litopaeneaus vannamei. We aimed to investigate the effects of a dietary soybean meal replacement on various aspects of shrimp, including survival, biochemical indices, digestive enzymes, metabolomics, and disease resistance against Vibrio harveyi. To conduct the study, we fed 840 juvenile Pacific shrimp seven different diets, each containing varying levels of CGM. The control group received a diet with 0% CGM; the other diets contained 3%, 5%, 7%, 9%, 12%, and 14% CGM. Each group comprised three replicates, and the shrimp were fed their diets for eight weeks. Our findings revealed that the survival rate of the shrimp ranged from 90.83% to 97.50% and did not differ significantly between the control and those fed diet treatments 2–5. Additionally, there were no significant differences in crude protein, moisture, and lipid content. However, we observed that total antioxidant capacity content increased with the dietary inclusion of CGM. Furthermore, malondialdehyde content decreased with increasing CGM levels, while superoxide dismutase increased, indicating no obvious oxidative damage was observed in CGM treatment groups. Interestingly, shrimp fed diets 2 and 3 had considerably lower alanine aminotransferase activity than shrimp in the control group. The disease resistance in shrimp was improved across all treatment groups, with a notably higher CGM inclusion having the highest level of mortality during the challenge test. Finally, we analyzed the metabolomics data and found PCA score plots clearly separated the control group and shrimp fed CGM diets. Our study revealed that a 3% substitution rate of SBM with CGM can enhance survival and immunity, regulate metabolites and improve disease resistance.

Dexmedetomidine's Effects on the Livers and Kidneys of Rats with Pancreatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Pancreatic surgeries inherently cause ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, affecting not only the pancreas but also distant organs. This study was conducted to explore the potential use of dexmedetomidine, a sedative with antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, in mitigating the impacts of pancreatic IR on kidney and liver tissues. A total of 24 rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (C), dexmedetomidine (D), ischemia reperfusion (IR), and dexmedetomidine ischemia reperfusion (D-IR). Pancreatic ischemia was induced in the IR and D-IR groups. Dexmedetomidine was administered intraperitoneally to the D and D-IR groups. Liver and kidney tissue samples were subjected to microscopic examinations after hematoxylin and eosin staining. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), aryllesterase (AES), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activity were assessed in liver and kidney tissues. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine were measured. A comparison of the groups revealed that the IR group exhibited significantly elevated TBARS (p<0.0001), AES (p=0.004), and CAT enzyme activity (p<0.0001) levels in the liver and kidney compared to groups C and D. Group D-IR demonstrated notably reduced histopathological damage (p<0.05) and low TBARS (p<0.0001), AES (p=0.004), and CAT enzyme activity (p<0.0001) in the liver and kidney as well as low AST and ALT activity levels (p<0.0001) in the serum compared to the IR group. The preemptive administration of dexmedetomidine before pancreatic IR provides significant protection to kidney and liver tissues, as evidenced by the histopathological and biochemical parameters in this study. The findings underscored the potential therapeutic role of dexmedetomidine in mitigating the multiorgan damage associated with pancreatic surgeries.

Frailty and Sarcopenia Assessment upon HospitalAdmission to Internal Medicine Predicts Length ofHospital Stay and Re-Admission: A ProspectiveStudy of 980 Patients.

Background: Frailty and sarcopenia are associated with frequent hospitalizations and poor clinical outcomes in geriatric patients. Ascertaining this association for younger patients hospitalized in internal medicine departments could help better prognosticate patients in the realm of internal medicine. Methods: During a 1-year prospective study in an internal medicine department, we evaluated patients upon admission for sarcopenia and frailty. We used the FRAIL questionnaire, blood alanine-amino transferase (ALT) activity, and mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) measurements. Results: We recruited 980 consecutive patients upon hospital admission (median age 72 years (IQR 65–79); 56.8% males). According to the FRAIL questionnaire, 106 (10.8%) patients were robust, 368 (37.5%) pre-frail, and 506 (51.7%) were frail. The median ALT value was 19IU/L (IQR 14–28). The median MAMC value was 27.8 (IQR 25.7–30.2). Patients with low ALT activity level (<17IU/L) were frailer according to their FRAIL score (3 (IQR 2–4) vs. 2 (IQR 1–3); p < 0.001). Higher MAMC values were associated with higher ALT activity, both representing robustness. The rate of 30 days readmission in the whole cohort was 17.4%. Frail patients, according to the FRAIL score (FS), had a higher risk for 30 days readmission (for FS > 2, HR = 1.99; 95CI = 1.29–3.08; p = 0.002). Frail patients, according to low ALT activity, also had a significantly higher risk for 30 days readmission (HR = 2.22; 95CI = 1.26–3.91; p = 0.006). After excluding patients whose length of stay (LOS) was ≥10 days, 252 (27.5%) stayed in-hospital for 4 days or longer. Frail patients according to FS had a higher risk for LOS ≥4 days (for FS > 2, HR = 1.87; 95CI = 1.39–2.52; p < 0.001). Frail patients, according to low ALT activity, were also at higher risk for LOS ≥4 days (HR = 1.87; 95CI = 1.39–2.52; p < 0.001). MAMC values were not correlated with patients’ LOS or risk for re-admission. Conclusion: Frailty and sarcopenia upon admission to internal medicine departments are associated with longer hospitalization and increased risk for re-admission.

Baseline low ALT activity is associated with increased long-term mortality after COPD exacerbations

BackgroundCOPD exacerbations have negative impact on patients’ survival. Several risk factors for grave outcomes of such exacerbations have been descried. Muscle dysfunction and mass loss were shown to impact negatively on prognosis and survival. Low activity of the enzyme ALT (Alanine amino-transferase) in the blood is a known indicator for sarcopenia and frailty, however, no previous studies addressed the association of low ALT amongst patients hospitalized due to COPD exacerbation and long-term survival.MethodsThis is a historic prospective cohort study of patients hospitalized due to acute COPD exacerbation.ResultsIncluded were 232 consecutive COPD exacerbation patients. The median time of follow-up was 34.9 months (IQR 23.13–41.73 months). During this period 104 (44.8%) patients died. All patients were grouped to quartiles according to blood ALT levels (after exclusion of cases considered to have hepatic tissue damage (ALT > 40 IU)). The risk of long-term mortality increased, in a statistically significant manner, amongst patients with low ALT values: the median survival of patients with ALT < 11 IU was 18.5 months only while the median survival for the rest of the study group was not reached. For ALT < 11 IU; 12-16 IU; 17-20 IU and > 21 IU the mortality rates were 69%; 40.9%; 36.3 and 25% respectively (p < 0.001 for comparison of lower quartile with upper three quartiles). The crude hazard ratio for mortality amongst patients with ALT levels lower than 11 IU was 2.37 (95% CI; 1.6–3.5). This increased risk of mortality remained significant after adjustment for age, weight, creatinine, albumin concentration and cardiovascular diseases (HR = 1.83; 95% CI 1.08–3.1, p < 0.05).ConclusionsLow ALT values, a biomarker of sarcopenia and frailty, are associated with poor long-term survival amongst patients hospitalized due to COPD exacerbation.

Analytical performance of several tumor markers immunoassays on cobas c8000-e801 analyzer

Previous studies have revealed that alanine aminotransferase (ALT) may be one of the risk factors of developing diabetes. We aimed to demonstrate the independent effect of ALT on incident diabetes and to investigate whether the association between ALT and incident diabetes is modified by age and gender in the general Chinese population.The present study was a retrospective cohort study, including 210,051 Chinese adult participants. The primary outcome was developing diabetes. The serum ALT activities were stratified by quintiles. We obtained data from ‘DATADRYAD’ website and used the data for secondary analysis.At a median follow-up of 3.0 y, 4144 of 210,051 (1.97%) participants developed diabetes. After adjustment for potential confounders, a significantly higher risk of the incident diabetes (HR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.25–1.63) was found in participants in the fifth quintile (Q5, ≥31 U/L) compared to those in the first to fourth quintiles (Q1–4) for ALT activities. Among males aged 30 to 40 and 40 to 50 y with the fifth quintile of ALT activity had 2.4- and 1.5-fold increased odds of developing diabetes, respectively, in comparison with those in the lower ALT activities. Among females with age 30 to 40 and ≥ 70 y, the fifth quintile of ALT activity had 4.9- and 2.2-fold increased odds for incident diabetes.Our result indicated that the ALT activity was positively associated with the incident diabetes among Chinese persons. Moreover, 30–40 y individuals, whether male or female, with elevated ALT activities had the greatest increased risk for diabetes compared with persons with lower ALT activities in the same age group.

Independent effect of alanine transaminase on the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, stratified by age and gender: A secondary analysis based on a large cohort study in China

BackgroundPrevious studies have revealed that alanine aminotransferase (ALT) may be one of the risk factors of developing diabetes. We aimed to demonstrate the independent effect of ALT on incident diabetes and to investigate whether the association between ALT and incident diabetes is modified by age and gender in the general Chinese population. MethodsThe present study was a retrospective cohort study, including 210,051 Chinese adult participants. The primary outcome was developing diabetes. The serum ALT activities were stratified by quintiles. We obtained data from ‘DATADRYAD’ website and used the data for secondary analysis. ResultsAt a median follow-up of 3.0 y, 4144 of 210,051 (1.97%) participants developed diabetes. After adjustment for potential confounders, a significantly higher risk of the incident diabetes (HR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.25–1.63) was found in participants in the fifth quintile (Q5, ≥31 U/L) compared to those in the first to fourth quintiles (Q1–4) for ALT activities. Among males aged 30 to 40 and 40 to 50 y with the fifth quintile of ALT activity had 2.4- and 1.5-fold increased odds of developing diabetes, respectively, in comparison with those in the lower ALT activities. Among females with age 30 to 40 and ≥ 70 y, the fifth quintile of ALT activity had 4.9- and 2.2-fold increased odds for incident diabetes. ConclusionOur result indicated that the ALT activity was positively associated with the incident diabetes among Chinese persons. Moreover, 30–40 y individuals, whether male or female, with elevated ALT activities had the greatest increased risk for diabetes compared with persons with lower ALT activities in the same age group.

Genetic Mapping of Novel Loci Affecting Canine Blood Phenotypes.

Since the publication of the dog genome and the construction of high-quality genome-wide SNP arrays, thousands of dogs have been genotyped for disease studies. For many of these dogs, additional clinical phenotypes are available, such as hematological and clinical chemistry results collected during routine veterinary care. Little is known about the genetic basis of variation in blood phenotypes, but this variation may play an important role in the etiology and progression of many diseases. From a cohort of dogs that had been previously genotyped on a semi-custom Illumina CanineHD array for various genome-wide association studies (GWAS) at Cornell University Hospital for Animals, we chose 353 clinically healthy, adult dogs for our analysis of clinical pathologic test results (14 hematological tests and 25 clinical chemistry tests). After correcting for age, body weight and sex, genetic associations were identified for amylase, segmented neutrophils, urea nitrogen, glucose, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. Additionally, a strong genetic association (P = 8.1×10−13) was evident between a region of canine chromosome 13 (CFA13) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), explaining 23% of the variation in ALT levels. This region of CFA13 encompasses the GPT gene that encodes the transferase. Dogs homozygous for the derived allele exhibit lower ALT activity, making increased ALT activity a less useful marker of hepatic injury in these individuals. Overall, these associations provide a roadmap for identifying causal variants that could improve interpretation of clinical blood tests and understanding of genetic risk factors associated with diseases such as canine diabetes and anemia, and demonstrate the utility of holistic phenotyping of dogs genotyped for disease mapping studies.

HEMATOLOGIC AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF THE NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL (MIROUNGA ANGUSTIROSTRIS): VARIATION WITH AGE, SEX, AND SEASON

The foraging success, and thus the survival and reproductive success, of deep-diving pinnipeds such as the northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, depends on the ability to withstand repetitive breath-hold dives. Health parameters can be incorporated as potential explanatory variables for differences observed in diving and migratory performance of individual seals. Furthermore, biomedical samples from apparently healthy individuals can provide valuable baseline data for evaluating effects of natural or anthropogenic threats to individuals and populations. We evaluated 42 blood parameters in 134 northern elephant seals during the breeding and molting seasons (1992-1999) to test for age, sex, and seasonal differences and to develop reference ranges. Adult males sampled during the breeding season differed from all other adult groups for a suite of parameters often associated with inflammation, infection, or other stressors: lower hematocrit, higher white blood cell count, higher band neutrophils, higher neutrophil count, lower albumin, and lower serum iron. Adult females during the breeding season differed from all other adult categories for two parameters (lower platelet counts, lower alanine aminotransferase activity). Molting males had higher blood urea nitrogen than all other classes; creatinine did not differ between breeding and molting adult males, but was higher in males than in females in both seasons. We found significant differences among age classes for 24 of 42 parameters measured, including higher levels of triglycerides, total protein, calcium, and iron in pups than we found in juveniles or adults. Unlike other mammals which undergo substantial decreases in energy expenditure during prolonged fasting (e.g., hibernation), northern elephant seals defend territories, give birth and suckle large offspring, mate, and molt during their bi-annual fasts. Nonetheless, many studies have described physiologic homeostasis during fasting in elephant seals. The genus Mirounga is superbly adapted to going without feeding for extended periods, and this is reflected in our hematologic and serum biochemical profiles.

Mitochondrial Bax Translocation Accelerates DNA Fragmentation and Cell Necrosis in a Murine Model of Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity

Mitochondria generate reactive oxygen and peroxynitrite and release endonucleases during acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity. Because mitochondrial translocation of Bax can initiate these events, we investigated the potential role of Bax in the pathophysiology of hepatic necrosis after 300 mg/kg APAP in fasted C57BL/6 mice. APAP overdose induced Bax translocation from the cytosol to the mitochondria as early as 1 h after APAP injection. At 6 h, there was extensive centrilobular nitrotyrosine staining (indicator for peroxynitrite formation) and nuclear DNA fragmentation. In addition, mitochondrial intermembrane proteins were released into the cytosol. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities of 5610 +/- 600 U/l indicated extensive necrotic cell death. Conversely, Bax gene knockout (Bax(-/-)) mice had 80% lower ALT activities, less DNA fragmentation, and less intermembrane protein release at 6 h. However, immunohistochemical staining for nitrotyrosine or APAP protein adducts did not show differences between wild-type and Bax(-/-) mice. In contrast to the early hepatoprotection in Bax(-/-) mice, plasma ALT activities (7605 +/- 480 U/l) and area of necrosis (53 +/- 6% hepatocytes) in wild-type animals was similar to values in Bax(-/-) mice at 12 h. In addition, there was no difference in DNA fragmentation or nitrotyrosine immunostaining. We concluded that the rapid mitochondrial Bax translocation after APAP overdose has no effect on peroxynitrite formation but that it contributes to the mitochondrial release of proteins, which cause nuclear DNA fragmentation. However, the persistent oxidant stress and peroxynitrite formation in mitochondria may eventually trigger the permeability transition pore opening and release intermembrane proteins independently of Bax.

Early Virological Response in Children with Chronic Hepatitis C Treated with Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is widespread worldwide. It is estimated that this problem affects approximately 3% of global population. By introducing weekly doses of pegylated interferon (IFN) alfa in combination with ribavirin, given daily, to chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment one can achieve a full inhibition of HCV replication in 54-56% of adult patients. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between prognostic factors and early virological response (EVR) after combination treatment with peginterferon alfa- 2a or alfa-2b and ribavirin in children with CHC. Twenty-three children with chronic HCV were treated with a combination of peginterferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b once a week and ribavirin twice a day. Assessment included age at the time of infection, the length of infection, HCV genotype, viral load in serum and HCV RNA level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and adherence to therapy. The efficacy endpoint was EVR defined as undetectable HCV RNA in serum or >2 log10 decrease in HCV RNA compared with baseline values. An EVR was achieved in 15 out of 23 patients (65.3%) after 12 weeks of therapy. Lower HCV RNA viral load have positive influence on EVR. HCV RNA presence in PBMCs and lower ALT activity do not influence the achievement of EVR. Oncologic history does not bear any influence on EVR. Adherence to the therapy has an unclear influence on the achievement of EVR in children with CHC.

Low Alanine Aminotransferase Activity in Older People Is Associated with Greater Long‐Term Mortality

To find possible association between liver enzymes and mortality in older people. A prospective cohort study. Jerusalem. A systematically selected representative sample of 455 70-year-old ambulatory individuals was prospectively followed for 12 years. An extensive social and medical profile was developed at age 70 using a detailed interview and physical and ancillary examination. Information on mortality was obtained annually. Differences in survival between subjects stratified according to liver enzyme levels were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable survival analyses using a Cox proportional hazards model were performed to determine the association between liver enzyme levels at age 70 and mortality over 12 years. Median alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity of the study population was 11.00 U/L for women and 13.00 U/L for men. Twelve-year survival rates for women with ALT below and above the median levels were similar (78%). For men, these rates were 54% and 65%, respectively (P < .001). Proportional hazards models demonstrated that this greater mortality risk was independent of numerous common risk factors for mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-2.19). Adding an interaction between sex and low ALT to the model demonstrated a higher risk of mortality for men with low ALT levels (HR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.15-5.08). No such risk was demonstrated for the other liver enzymes. ALT activity represents a strong and independent surrogate marker for mortality in community-dwelling elderly men.

Coffee and caffeine consumption reduce the risk of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase activity in the United States

Based on experimental and epidemiologic studies, we investigated whether coffee and caffeine consumption reduced the risk of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in persons at high risk for liver injury in a national, population-based study. Participants were 5944 adults in the Third US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994, with excessive alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis, iron overload, overweight, or impaired glucose metabolism. Liver injury was indicated by abnormal serum ALT activity (>43 U/L). Elevated ALT activity was found in 8.7% of this high-risk population. In unadjusted analysis, lower ALT activity was associated with increasing consumption of coffee ( P = .001) and caffeine ( P = .001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the risk of elevated ALT activity declined with increasing intake of coffee ( P for trend = .034) and caffeine ( P < .001). Comparing persons who drank more than 2 cups per day with noncoffee drinkers, the odds ratio was .56 (95% confidence interval, .31-1.0). Comparing persons in the highest caffeine quintile with the lowest, the odds ratio was .31 (95% confidence interval, .16-.61). These relationships were consistent across subgroups at risk for liver injury and were relatively unchanged when analyses included the entire population or when limited to persons without impaired liver function or right upper quadrant pain. Fasting insulin concentrations did not mediate the effects. In this large, national, population-based study, among persons at high risk for liver injury, consumption of coffee and especially caffeine was associated with lower risk of elevated ALT activity.

Low Activities of Aspartate and Alanine Aminotransferase: Their Significance in Alcoholic Liver Disease

Two widely used and well-established enzyme tests used to detect diseases of the liver, heart, skeletal muscle, brain, and kidney are elevations in the activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). We hypothesized that the frequency of low ALT would greatly exceed the frequency of low AST in a population with a high prevalence of alcoholic liver disease. During 1 year, the frequency of low AST and ALT activity (<10 U/L) was found to be 0.17% (27/16,067) and 4.1% (472/11,582), a 24-fold difference, in 26 and 261 individual patients, respectively. Patients with alcoholic liver disease and low ALT were 10 times the number of those with alcoholic liver disease and low AST, which may reflect the low hepatic and serum ALT activity seen in these patients, as well as the widespread distribution of AST in tissues.

Low serum aminotransferase activity in patients undergoing regular hemodialysis.

Of 150 patients undergoing regular hemodialysis (HD), 14 (9.3%) and 12 (8.0%), respectively, showed low serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). An investigation was conducted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms in 20 patients with low serum AST and/or ALT activity. Fifty-five percent of the patients with low aminotransferase activity manifested serum levels of pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) that were lower than normal. Serum PLP levels correlated neither with AST nor with ALT activity. Oral administration of vitamin B6 to the cases with low aminotransferase activity resulted in an increase in pre-hemodialysis aminotransferase activity. Addition of vitamin B6 in vitro to the sera from the patients with low aminotransferase activity did not increase the values when the added vitamin B6 was within the physiological range, but did increase when added in larger (pharmacological) amounts. However, aminotransferase activity increased, but PLP levels remained unchanged when these values were compared before and after HD. On the other hand, guanase being within the normal range in all cases studied, did not change after HD. Although our study does not correlate with vitamin B6 deficiency, but rather with some uremic substance(s) which interfere(s) with the enzyme reaction as a cause of low aminotransferase activity, the fact that less than 10% of our patients showed low AST and/or ALT points to the latter possibility, suggesting the need of further study.