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Fatty liver and its fibrous changes found in simple obesity of children.

Of 299 obese children who visited our obesity clinics, 36 were found to have elevated levels of serum transaminases by routine laboratory examination. Liver biopsy was carried out in 11 children. Based on the criteria of Adler and Schaffner (1979), the biopsy specimens were studied histologically. As a result, fatty liver (Group I) was observed in three patients, fatty hepatitis (Group II) in two, fatty fibrosis (Group III) in five, and fatty cirrhosis (Group IV) in one. The duration of obesity, but not its degree, was considered to be related to the extent of fibrosis. Accordingly, we concluded that the fatty liver of simple obesity in children may progress to liver cirrhosis and that childhood obesity should be treated as early as possible.

Adolescent↗

Cardiac abnormalities as a new manifestation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: echocardiographic and tissue Doppler imaging assessment.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is linked to the metabolic syndrome. The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of the metabolic syndrome on left ventricular (LV) geometry and function using as a model patients with NAFLD. Thirty-eight patients with NAFLD, less than 55 years of age and with a normal exercise test, were compared with an age and sex-matched control group. Patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and body mass index>40 were excluded. A complete echocardiographic study including tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) was performed. The following parameters were assessed by echo Doppler: peak velocities of early (E) and late (A) diastolic filling, E/A ratio, flow propagation velocity (Vp). Using TDI early diastolic velocity (E'), and systolic velocity (S') of mitral annulus were obtained. The patients with NAFLD had a significantly higher body mass index (31.4+/-5 vs. 26.4+/-4 kg/m, P=0.01), higher glucose (100.6+/-13 vs. 83.0+/-10 mg/dL, P=0.01), and triglyceride levels (126.5+/-44 vs. 206.5+/-67 mg/dL, P<0.001). Increased thickness of the intraventricular septum, posterior wall (11.03+/-2.2 vs. 8.9+/-2.9 mm, P=0.001; 8.5+/-1.7 vs. 9.7+/-2.3 mm, P=0.04), and larger LV mass and LV mass/height (160.7+/-58.7 vs.115.3+/-35.4 g, P=0.001 and 92.6+/-29.5 vs. 69.2+/-19.8 g/m, P=0.001, respectively) were found in NAFLD group. LV systolic function was similar in both groups. Patients with NAFLD had a lower E (73.6+/-11.0 vs. 86.4+/-20.0 cm/s, P<0.006) and E/A ratio (1.0+/-0.3 vs. 1.76+/-0.8 P<0.0001). Moreover, the Vp and the E' on TDI were significantly lower compared with the control group (49.0+/-9.7 vs. 74.7+/-18.4 cm/s, P<0.0001 and 10.3+/-2.0 vs. 13.8+/-1.7 cm/s, P<0.0001, respectively). On multivariate analysis the E' on TDI was the only independent parameter associated with NAFLD. In conclusion, patients with NAFLD in the absence of morbid obesity, hypertension, and diabetes have mildly altered LV geometry and early features of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Early diastolic velocity on TDI was found to be the only index that could identify the patients with NAFLD and metabolic syndrome.

Adult↗

Systemic markers of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in patients with nonalcoholic Fatty liver disease.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to examine the systemic parameters of oxidative stress and antioxidants in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and investigate the relationship between these parameters and clinical and biochemical outcomes. METHODS: Fifty-one male patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (group I), 30 age-matched and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy male subjects, and 30 age-matched male patients with chronic viral hepatitis (group II) were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Increased systemic levels of malondialdehyde and depletion of antioxidants such as coenzyme Q10, CuZn-superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity were observed in group I. Coenzyme Q10 and CuZn-superoxide dismutase correlated negatively with increasing necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis. Body fat was negatively associated with plasma coenzyme Q10 levels, while an inverse association was found between plasma catalase levels and TG. However, LDL was positively associated with plasma malondialdehyde levels. CuZn-superoxide dismutase levels were negatively associated with glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR. In addition, the levels of CuZn-superoxide dismutase correlated significantly in a negative manner with BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results concerning correlations suggest that disturbances in BMI, body fat, and lipid metabolism may contribute to altered oxidative status in NAFLD, and insulin resistance may be related to decreased antioxidants in NAFLD as well as products of lipid peroxidation. However, although our results suggest interesting correlations, this different mostly "weak" relationships must be taken with caution.

Adult↗

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy showing microbial infection in the liver.

A 24-year-old, nulliparous woman in her 30th week of pregnancy was admitted due to threatened premature delivery. Ritodrin chloride relieved the premature contraction of the uterus but jaundice and drowsiness appeared 7 weeks later. Laboratory data revealed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with intrahepatic cholestasis, and ultrasound examination showed fatty liver. The patient was diagnosed with acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP). Emergency delivery by Caesarean section was performed at 37 weeks of pregnancy and the liver function and DIC improved immediately. Liver biopsy 13 days after delivery showed nuclear swelling and cytoplasmic ballooning with mild fatty deposition. These findings were relatively compatible with acute AFLP. Higher magnification and electron microscopy revealed intracytoplasmic bacteria and fungus in the residual stage. The bacterial infection could be considered related to AFLP.

Acute Disease↗

Destruction of Kupffer cells increases survival and reduces graft injury after transplantation of fatty livers from ethanol-treated rats.

This study investigated the role of Kupffer cells on survival and graft injury in transplanted fatty livers from rats treated acutely with ethanol. Donor rats were given ethanol (5 g/kg, by mouth) 20 hours before explantation, and liver grafts were preserved in University of Wisconsin cold storage solution for 24 to 42 hours prior to implantation. Blood samples were taken from the inferior vena cava for 3 hours after implantation. During this time, serum aspartate transaminase levels increased gradually from 122 U/L to 597 U/L in control rats, while ethanol treatment elevated values to 2,278 U/L. Gadolinium chloride (20 mg/kg, given intravenously to recipients 24 hours before explantation), a selective inactivator of Kupffer cells, minimized the increase in aspartate transaminase levels significantly. After implantation of grafts cold-stored for 42 hours, survival rates were 88% in control rats but only 33% in ethanol-treated rats. Gadolinium chloride improved survival nearly to control values. Ethanol nearly doubled white blood cell adhesion, an effect also largely blocked by gadolinium chloride. Further, alpha-(4-pyridyl 1-oxid)-N-tert-butylnitrone radical adducts detected in the bile were increased twofold by ethanol treatment. This effect was also reversed by gadolinium chloride. Taken together, these data indicate that survival is poorer and graft injury is greater in fatty livers from ethanol-treated rats. Inactivation of Kupffer cells minimized graft damage, most likely by improving hepatic microcirculation and diminishing lipid peroxidation.

Analysis of Variance↗

Diagnostic value of biochemical markers (NashTest) for the prediction of non alcoholo steato hepatitis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for assessing histologic lesions of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim was to develop and validate a new biomarker of non alcoholic steato hepatitis (NASH) the NashTest (NT) in patients with NAFLD. METHODS: 160 patients with NAFLD were prospectively included in a training group, 97 were included in a multicenter validation group and 383 controls. Histological diagnoses used Kleiner et al's scoring system, with 3 classes for NASH: "Not NASH", "Borderline", "NASH"). The area under the ROC curves (AUROC), sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) were assessed. RESULTS: NT was developed using patented algorithms combining 13 parameters: age, sex, height, weight, and serum levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, alpha2macroglobulin, apolipoprotein A1, haptoglobin, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase, transaminases ALT, AST, and total bilirubin. AUROCs of NT for the diagnosis of NASH in the training and validation groups were, respectively, 0.79 (95%C I 0.69-0.86) and 0.79 (95% CI 0.67-0.87; P = 0.94); for the diagnosis of borderline NASH they were: 0.69 (95% CI 0.60-0.77) and 0.69 (95% CI 0.57-0.78; P = 0.98) and for the diagnosis of no NASH, 0.77 (95% CI 0.68-0.84) and 0.83 (95% CI 0.67-0.90; P = 0.34). When the two groups were pooled together the NashTest Sp for NASH = 94% (PPV = 66%), and Se = 33% (NPV = 81%); for borderline NASH or NASH Sp = 50% (PPV = 74%) and Se = 88% (NPV = 72%). CONCLUSION: In patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, NashTest, a simple and non-invasive biomarker reliably predicts the presence or absence of NASH.

Algorithms↗

Association between thrombotic risk factors and extent of fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases.

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of genetic and acquired prothrombotic risk factors and their association with the extent of fibrosis and fatty infiltration in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: Forty-four patients with chronic hepatitis (28 men and 16 women, with mean age of 45+/-11 and 49+/-12 years, respectively) constituted the patient population of this study. The groups were divided as follows: 15 patients with fatty liver (FL); 15 with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); 14 with chronic viral hepatitis (CH) diagnosed by histology and liver technetium scan or ultrasound; and 10 healthy individuals. Thrombophilic, coagulation factors and genetic mutations were diagnosed by standard hemostatic and molecular coagulation assays. RESULTS: Activated protein C (APC) resistance and protein S were the most prevalent thrombotic risk factors (6% and 10% in NAFLD vs 21% and 14% in CH; P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). One thrombotic risk factor was identified in 41% of patients (23% mild fibrosis, 18% severe fibrosis) and two thrombotic risk factors in 6% of patients with NAFLD and severe fibrosis. While no differences in APC ratio, lupus anticoagulant, fibrinogen, factor V Leiden, prothrombin, and MTHFR mutation were found. Protein S levels were significantly lower in NASH patients than in patients with FL alone (92+/-19 vs 106+/-2, P<0.01). Protein C levels were markedly higher in patients with NAFLD and mild or severe fibrosis as compared to the patients with CH, respectively (128+/-40 vs 96+/-14, P<0.001 or 129+/-36 vs 88+/-13, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Up to 46% of patients with NAFLD may have thrombotic risk factors, and the presence of thrombotic risk factors is correlated with the extent of hepatic fibrosis, suggesting a crucial role of the coagulation system in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis.

Adult↗

The pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and other fatty liver diseases: a four-step model including the role of lipid release and hepatic venular obstruction in the progression to cirrhosis.

Fatty liver disease involves the accumulation of triglycerides in hepatocytes, necrosis of hepatocytes, inflammation, and often fibrosis with progression to cirrhosis. The two-hit model summarizes the important early metabolic events leading to hepatocellular necrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this article, we provide evidence of lipid release from hepatocytes in posttransplant fat necrosis and in NASH and quantify vascular obliteration in a series of biopsies with NASH. Obliteration of small hepatic veins (<30 microm) in small numbers is compensated by collateral flow. Obliteration of larger hepatic veins (>30 microm) is associated with fibrotic collapse lesions that are not easily resorbed. Based on these observations, we propose a new four-step model that includes the later events that lead to cirrhosis after necrosis has occurred. This model is applicable to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic disease, postjejunoileal bypass disease, and posttransplant fat necrosis. The first step is steatosis facilitated by insulin, and the second is necrosis induced by intracellular lipid toxicity or lipid peroxidation, or both, modified by alcohol, drugs, and ischemia. The third step is release of bulk lipid from hepatocytes into the interstitium leading to direct and inflammatory injury to hepatic veins. The fourth step is venous obstruction with secondary collapse and ultimately fibrous septation and cirrhosis.

Biopsy↗

Computerized ultrasound B-scan texture analysis of experimental fatty liver disease: influence of total lipid content and fat deposit distribution.

Statistical pattern recognition procedures allow a quantitative description of ultrasound-B-scan image texture. According to well-established animal models, different types of fatty liver disease were induced in female Wistar rats. For the correlation of the computerized ultrasound image with its underlying histology a variable tissue model based on histomorphological data, texture analysis of the histological image and biochemical measurements of total lipid, water and hydroxyproline content was created. Whereas a regional arrangement of large fat deposits leads to a significant increase in the "mean grey level" (measure of image brightness) of the ultrasound-B-scan image, there is no difference in image brightness between normal liver tissue and liver steatosis for the tissue model with diffuse homogeneous fatty infiltration. It is demonstrated by multiple linear regression analysis that the "mean grey level" of the ultrasound-B-scan image depends not only on total lipid content but even more on the histomorphological fat deposit distribution.

Animals↗

The biochemistry of fatty liver and kidney syndrome. Biotin-mediated restoration of hepatic gluconeogenesis in vitro and its relationship to pyruvate carboxylase activity.

Liver slices from chicks affected by the fatty liver and kidney syndrome display an extremely low extent of hepatic gluconeogenesis which is associated with decreased activities of certain rate-limiting gluconeogenic enzymes. Pyruvate carboxylase activity is particularly severely affected, being less than 4% of control values. Incubation of affected slices in a biotin-containing nutrient medium restores both gluconeogenesis and pyruvate carboxylase actiivity (the latter to approx. 35% of the control valve). Activities of the other enzymes studied were not greatly affected by this treatment. Restoration of gluconeogenesis did not occur if biotin was excluded from the nutrient medium, nor was it prevented by protein-synthesis inhibitors. It is concluded that the syndrome involves the lack of available biotin in the liver rather than suppression of apocarboxylase synthesis.

Animals↗

Suppression of rat liver fatty acid synthesis by eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraynoic acid without a reduction in lipogenic enzymes.

In meal-fed rats supplementation of safflower oil (5 g per 100 g diet) to a fat-free basal diet resulted in the characteristic suppression of liver fatty acid synthetase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase activities, which was accompanied by a 60% decrease in the rate of hepatic fatty acid synthesis. The decline in activity of these lipogenic enzymes was completely prevented by adding 0.05% eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraynoic acid (TYA) to the safflower oil diet. Fatty acid analysis of the livers indicated that TYA significantly impaired the conversion of linoleate to arachidonate. Apparently the selective suppression of lipogenic enzymes by dietary linoleate is not caused by linoleate per se but requires its conversion to longer-chain fatty acids and/or protaglandins. In spite of high activities of fatty acid synthetase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, liver fatty acid synthesis continued to be inhibited by the safflower oil + TYA dietary regimen. This continued inhibition of lipogenesis was due to the TYA, because addition of TYA to the fat-free diet precipitated a significant decline in liver fatty acid synthesis without a drop in lipogenic enzymes. Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis by TYA could not be attributed to a decrease in liver glucose utilization based on hepatic glycogen concentration, nor was it due to a reduction in the fraction of catalytically active polymeric acetyl-CoA carboxylase based on sensitivity of the enzyme activity to avidin.

5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic Acid↗

Kinetic analysis of the malonyl coenzyme A decarboxylation and the condensation reaction of fatty acid synthesis. Application to the study of malonyl coenzyme A inactivated chicken liver fatty acid synthetase.

A kinetic analysis of the decarboxylation of malonyl-CoA and the condensation--CO2 exchange reaction of fatty acid synthesis has been carried out. The analysis supported by experimental evidence defines conditions under which the decarboxylation of malonyl-CoA quantitatively reflects the activity for the condensation reaction between enzyme-bound acyl and malonyl groups. NADP+ decreases the release of 14CO2 from radiolabeled malonyl-CoA by lowering the rates of the processes leading to the formation of triacetic acid lactone. For accurate measurements, the enzyme concentration should be less than 200 micrograms/mL, and malonyl-CoA/enzyme ratios should be 200 or less. Short reaction periods (1 min or less) and inclusion of NADP+ (100 microM) enhance the accuracy of measurements. These analyses have been used to explain the mechanism of malonyl-CoA mediated inactivation of chicken liver fatty acid synthetase and are appropriate for determining the functional condensing site of the polyfunctional polypeptide chains comprising the dimeric enzyme.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

Cholesterol-fed rabbit as a unique model of nonalcoholic, nonobese, non-insulin-resistant fatty liver disease with characteristic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: The number of patients suffering from metabolic syndrome is increasing rapidly. Metabolic syndrome causes severe pathological changes in various organs, including the liver, and its main phenotype is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD has a broad spectrum ranging from simple fatty change to severe steatohepatitis with marked fibrosis. Recently, several experimental animal models for NAFLD have been proposed. However, most were established by rather artificial conditions such as genetic alteration. In the present study, we tried to establish a unique animal model mimicking some of the physiopathological features of NAFLD using high-cholesterol-fed rabbits. METHODS: Male rabbits fed with standard rabbit food containing 1% cholesterol for 8 weeks and 12 weeks were compared to controls (six rabbits/group). The weight of food was strictly restricted to 100 g/rabbit per day. RESULTS: Body weights and fasting plasma insulin levels showed no significant differences among the groups. In contrast, characteristic fine fibrosis was extended from perivenular to pericellular areas, and microvesicular fatty change with ballooning degeneration was observed in perivenular areas in livers of the cholesterol-fed rabbits. Increase of serum cholesterol level, activation of hepatic stellate cells, and exposure to oxidative stress were also recognized. CONCLUSIONS: Cholesterol-fed rabbits share several physiopathological features of NAFLD. Because this model did not show insulin resistance or obesity, it may be useful for elucidating the mechanism of NAFLD related mainly to hyperlipidemia.

Animals↗

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Correlation with histology and viral hepatitis.

OBJECTIVE: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) involves a heterogeneous group of diseases that places some patients at risk of progression to cirrhosis. In this study, our aim was to investigate the relationships between the histopathological features of NAFLD, hepatic stellate cell activation, and capillarization to find a marker related to fibrosis, for NAFLD. METHODS: We studied liver biopsies from 62 patients with NAFLD, 21 patients with hepatitis B, and 19 patients with hepatitis C from the archives of the Department of Pathology, Gazi University Medical School, between 1997 and 2004. We performed immunoperoxidase stains for alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and CD31 to identify activated hepatic stellate cells and capillarization. We investigated the relationships between histopathological features and both alpha-SMA and CD31 expressions. RESULTS: Most NAFLD cases were in low grades and stages. We found a relationship between both necroinflammatory grade and ballooning degeneration, and fibrosis. Pure steatosis did not relate to fibrosis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that CD31 expression was significantly higher than alpha-SMA expression in all groups. We determined a correlation between the fibrotic stage and CD31 expression, but not with alpha-SMA expression. In NAFLD cases, we detected the highest staining scores of CD31 in zone 3, while the portal/septal area was the dominant zone for control groups. There was no significant zone for alpha-SMA expression. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that we can use CD31, rather than alpha-SMA, as a marker of endothelial damage and sinusoidal capillary transformation, both of which might precede fibrogenesis in chronic liver diseases, particularly in NAFLD.

Adult↗