Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Int J Vitam Nutr Res 2019 Apr 24:1-10. Epub 2019 Apr 24.

6 Associate professor of Radiology, Faculty of paramedical, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

In an attempt to investigate new strategies aimed at reducing risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and chicory seed (Cichorium intybus L.) supplementation was evaluated in these patients. Read More

Am J Transplant 2019 Apr 24. Epub 2019 Apr 24.

University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) often resolves after pregnancy delivery but can progress to acute liver failure necessitating liver transplantation. We performed a retrospective review of the national Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) data to identify all women in the United States undergoing liver transplantation (LT) for acute liver failure (ALF) from AFLP from 1991 to 2015, and compared to outcomes in women of childbearing age undergoing transplant for ALF from acetaminophen and ALF from other etiologies. Women with AFLP were likely to be on life support at time of LT and had high rates of renal dysfunction (median Cr 2. Read More

J Cell Physiol 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Laboratory of Biochemistry, Division of Basic Sciences, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece.

Long-term exposure to excess dietary fat leads to obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The purpose of the present study was to identify global changes in liver gene expression and circulating miRNAs in a humanized mouse model of diet-induced MetS. Male apoE3L. Read More

Hepatology 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.

The growing burden of liver fibrosis and lack of effective antifibrotic therapies highlight the need for identification of novel pathways and complementary model systems of hepatic fibrosis. A rare, monogenic disorder in which children with mutations in mannose phosphate isomerase (MPI) develop liver fibrosis led us to explore the overlooked function of MPI and mannose metabolism in liver development and adult liver diseases. Herein, analyses of transcriptomic data from three human liver cohorts demonstrate that MPI gene expression is downregulated proportionate to fibrosis in chronic liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatitis B virus. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1981:273-289

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Cholestasis is a condition that impairs bile flow, resulting in retention of bile fluid in the liver. It may cause significant morbidity and mortality due to pruritus, malnutrition, and complications from portal hypertension secondary to biliary cirrhosis. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a valuable model organism for studying cholestasis that complements with the in vitro systems and rodent models. Read More

Obes Surg 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgical Sciences and Research, Saifee Hospital, 15/17 Maharshi Karve Marg, Opera House, Mumbai, 400004, India.

Background: The prevalence of NAFLD increases in obese diabetics. Accurate diagnosis of NAFLD requires invasive liver biopsies, which is costly, and time consuming and labor intensive. Currently, there is a lack of non-invasive diagnostic methods to identify those with NASH, in obese Indians. Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2019 21;2019:9417498. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Laboratory of Experimental Physiology (LeFisio), Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, Av. dos Portugueses, 1966-Cidade Universitária Dom Delgado, São Luís, MA 65080-805, Brazil.

is used worldwide for the treatment of metabolic syndrome-associated outcomes. Previously, we described the antihypertriglyceridemic effect of the hydroethanolic extract of leaf (HESc) in monosodium L-glutamate- (MSG-) induced obese rats. This study sought to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the antihypertriglyceridemic effect of HESc in MSG-obese rats. Read More

Pharm Pract (Granada) 2019 Jan-Mar;17(1):1350. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Departments of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut. Storrs, CT (United States).

Background: Turmeric and its curcumin extract have been evaluated in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a common ailment that can lead to irreparable liver damage.

Objective: To identify the evidence supporting the use of turmeric or curcumin therapy in NAFLD.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central from the earliest possible date to 12/17/18 including terms for turmeric, curcumin, and NAFLD. Read More

J Lipid Res 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Virginia Commonwealth University, United States;

How plasma membrane (PM) cholesterol is controlled is poorly understood. Ablation of the gene encoding the ER stress steroidogenic acute regulatory-related lipid transfer domain 5 (StarD5) leads to a decrease in PM cholesterol content, a decrease in cholesterol efflux, and an increase in intracellular neutral lipid accumulation in macrophages, the major cell type that expresses StarD5. ER stress increases StarD5 expression in mouse hepatocytes, which results in an increase in accessible PM cholesterol in wild type but not in StarD5-/- hepatocytes. Read More

Surg Obes Relat Dis 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background: Obesity is a known risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, among individuals undergoing bariatric surgery, the prevalence and risk factors for NAFLD, as well as distinct phenotypes of steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and fibrosis remain incompletely understood.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for steatosis, NASH, and fibrosis in individuals undergoing routine bariatric surgery. Read More

Foods 2019 Apr 16;8(4). Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 35, HR-21000 Split, Croatia.

In this study, the effect of a four-stage chemical refining process (degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization) on the quality parameters, fatty acid composition and volatile compounds of crude oils produced from processing by-products of farmed fish species (tuna, seabass and gilthead seabream) was evaluated. The quality of the oils was compared to commercially available cod liver oil on the basis of free fatty acid, peroxide value, -anisidine, total oxidation (TOTOX), thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), oxidative stability at 80, 100 and 120 °C, tocopherol content, and volatile components, while the fatty acid profile and the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were used as an indicator of the nutritional values of fish oils. Quality parameters of the studied oils and oil oxidative stability were enhanced with refining and were within the limits recommended for fish oils without the loss of PUFAs. Read More

Nutrients 2019 Apr 14;11(4). Epub 2019 Apr 14.

Abbott Nutrition R&D, Abbott Laboratories, 18004 Granada, Spain.

High-fat (HF) and rapid digestive (RD) carbohydrate diets during pregnancy promote excessive adipogenesis in offspring. This effect can be corrected by diets with similar glycemic loads, but low rates of carbohydrate digestion. However, the effects of these diets on metabolic programming in the livers of offspring, and the liver metabolism contributions to adipogenesis, remain to be addressed. Read More

Metab Syndr Relat Disord 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

1 First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.

Nonalcoholic fatty pancreas and liver disease (NAFPD and NAFLD) and pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) are often associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our aim was to evaluate the incidence rate of NAFLD and NAFPD, PAT size, and the effect of metformin treatment on NAFLD, NAFPD, and PAT in new-onset T2DM (NODM). Seventeen patients with NODM and 10 subjects used as a control group were involved in the study. Read More

Hepatology 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

NAFLD Research Center, Department of Medicine, La Jolla, California.

Aramchol, an oral stearoyl-coenzyme-A-desaturase-1 (SCD1) inhibitor, has been shown to reduce hepatic-fat content in patients with primary nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease (NAFLD), however, its effect in patients with HIV-associated NAFLD is unknown. The ARRIVE trial was a double-blind, randomized, investigator-initiated, placebo-controlled trial to test the efficacy of 12 weeks of treatment with aramchol versus placebo in HIV-associated NAFLD. Fifty patients with HIV-associated NAFLD, defined by MRI-proton-density-fat-fraction (PDFF) ≥5%, were randomized to receive either aramchol 600 mg daily (n=25) or placebo (n=25) for 12 weeks. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2019 Apr 23;25:2293-3004. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND The occurrence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely related to type 2 diabetes, especially in patients with insulin resistance. The purpose of this research was to elucidate the major genes and transcriptional regulation of insulin resistance in the progression of NAFLD. MATERIAL AND METHODS We downloaded the gene expression matrix of GSE89632 from Gene Expression Omnibus. Read More

Endocr Pract 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Both authors have no conflicts of interest for this manuscript and contributed equally to its writing.

Objective: To determine whether fatty kidney disease deserves be designated as a distinct clinical entity similar to fatty liver disease.

Methods: Analysis and interpretation of the literature in a novel conceptual framework.

Results: The kidney contributes to hyperglycemia, hypertension, inflammatory cytokines, and thus to diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Read More

JCI Insight 2019 Apr 23;5. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent, and potentially morbid, disease that affects one-third of the U.S. population. Read More

Klin Lab Diagn 2019 ;64(3):132-139

Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, 119334, Moscow, Russia.

Physicochemical differences between О3 oxidation parameters for palmitic and oleic fatty acids (FA) during phylogenesis (evolution) are fundamental for а) production of palmitoleic monounsaturated fatty (MFA), b) formation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase as a FA transporter to mitochondria, and c) in vivo production of oleic MFA under humoral regulatory effect of insulin. In the strive for the best kinetic parameters of biological organisms without a possibility of modifying physicochemical and biochemical reactions in the mitochondrial matrix, the mitochondria can be provided with a substrate that increases energy production efficiency and the amount of ATP. Physicochemical parameters of oleic MFA has become the standard of an oxidation substrate for in vivo energy production; this MFA was synthesized in organisms for millions of years. Read More

Am J Chin Med 2019 Apr 23:1-17. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

* Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai Zhangjiang Hitech Park, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.

Alcohol liver disease is a major public health problem associated with lifestyle. Our recent study demonstrated that the roots of saponins (PNS) exert hepatoprotective effects against alcohol consumption. Considering that the leaves of saponins (LPNS) have similar chemical ingredients with PNS, increased attention should be given to the hepatoprotective effects of LPNS. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Department of Medical Sciences, Rheumatology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Aim: To assess predictors of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation in methotrexate (MTX) treated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and to describe the monitoring of liver enzymes, including handling and outcome of elevated ALT.

Methods: All RA patients starting MTX in January, 2005 to April, 2013 at a rheumatology clinic, (Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden) were identified from electronic medical records. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from medical records, supplemented by telephone interviews. Read More

J Eval Clin Pract 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.

Rationale, Aims, And Objectives: The aim of this observational study is to identify factors by which some pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) were undetectable at transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS), using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as reference standard.

Methods: The database for 781 consecutive subjects who underwent a health checkup including fat computed tomography and upper abdominal MRI as option was searched. The presence of fatty liver and fatty pancreas was diagnosed by TAUS, and atrophic pancreas was determined by reevaluating the image of the pancreas in the chest computed tomography for screening. Read More

Data Brief 2019 Jun 30;24:103884. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos (ICTA), Córdoba, Argentina.

Dietary supplementation with thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol) has been proposed as a strategy to improve modern intensive poultry production. Moreover, its antioxidant properties and potential beneficial influence on lipid metabolism have fostered current research focusing on enhancing nutritional quality of meat and egg products. In general, studies have focused on the overall effects of dietary supplementation once the supplementation protocol has finished and using only one potential dose, without actually measuring bioactive compounds' concentration in the diet supplied or target tissues. Read More

Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) 2019 18;2019:2013674. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Ultrasound, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.

Supersonic shear imaging (SSI) is a relatively new technique to measure the elasticity of target tissues based on the shear wave propagation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of SSI in discriminating nonfibrotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from the less severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), NASH with fibrosis, and the normal liver, as well as the relationship between various NAFLD pathologic or biochemical findings and SSI liver elasticity. Rabbits with NAFLD of different degrees were subjected to SSI for liver elasticity measurement. Read More

Case Rep Gastroenterol 2019 Jan-Apr;13(1):125-133. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Background: Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been considered to have a role in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression. However, there is still lack of studies regarding this phenomenon.

Aim: To find the difference in the proportion of gut microbiota in NAFLD patients based on the stages of liver fibrosis. Read More

Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y) 2019 Feb;15(2):83-89

Dr Terrence Wong is a resident physician in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Alameda Health System-Highland Hospital in Oakland, California.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects 75 to 100 million adults in the United States and is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, fueled by the rising epidemic of obesity and metabolic syndrome. NAFLD is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome; thus, accurately assessing and managing comorbid metabolic syndrome components is paramount. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a subset of NAFLD that includes a more progressive and advanced form of the disease, with a greater risk of fibrosis progression. Read More

World J Gastroenterol 2019 Apr;25(14):1741-1752

Department of Endocrinology, Key Laboratory of Endocrinology of National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, The Translational Medicine Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.

Background: Patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disease have the feature of central obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, and there is increased prevalence of liver dysfunction consistent with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in this population. The causes of hypopituitarism in the reported studies varied and combined pituitary hormone deficiency including central diabetes insipidus is much common in this population. This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed to analyze the clinical characteristics and related factors with NAFLD and cirrhosis in Chinese adult hypopituitary/panhypopituitary patients. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Department of Endocrinology, Gansu Provincial People's Hospital, 204 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou City, 730000, Gansu Province, China; Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Gansu Province, 204 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou City, 730000, Gansu Province, China. Electronic address:

Objective: The main purpose of this study is to explore the role of integrin αvβ5 in hepatic sinusoidal capillarization under high glucose/ox-LDL conditions.

Methods: Establish rat model of diabetic fatty liver disease. LSECs were extracted from tissue obtained from rats of control group, cultured and treated with media containing glucose (25 mM, 24 h)/ox-LDL (100 μg/ml, 24 h) in different inhibitors. Read More

Gene Expr 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Institute of Model Animals of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease and a major cause of related complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD progresses through the stages of simple steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis and HCC. However, NAFLD usually cannot be diagnosed in a timely manner, which is largely attributed to the asymptomatic features of NAFLD patients and the lack of an effective and accurate noninvasive screening approach. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Apr 20;20(8). Epub 2019 Apr 20.

Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Catania, Catania 95100, Italy.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) represents the leading cause of liver disease in developed countries but its diffusion is currently also emerging in Asian countries, in South America and in other developing countries. It is progressively becoming one of the main diseases responsible for hepatic insufficiency, hepatocarcinoma and the need for orthotopic liver transplantation. NAFLD is linked with metabolic syndrome in a close and bidirectional relationship. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States. Electronic address:

PLoS One 2019 22;14(4):e0214144. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.

Castration is an important means of improving the beef quality via increasing fat deposition. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying the fat deposition after castration. Here, the intramuscular fat (IMF) content of the steer group was shown to be much higher than the bull group. Read More

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 Jun;31(6):703-715

Department of Medicine, Orange Park Medical Center, Orange Park, Florida, USA.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex and multifactorial. There is growing evidence that altered gut microbiota plays a key role in NAFLD progression. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Qingdao Haici Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China.

Obesity is a major contributor to the development of steatohepatitis and fibrosis from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hypoxia aggravates progression of NAFLD. In mice on high-fat diet (HFD), hepatic steatosis leads to liver tissue hypoxia, evidenced by accumulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1-alpha (HIF-1α), which is a central regulator of the global response to hypoxia. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(16):e14939

Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou.

To investigate metabolic differences between simple obese children and those comorbid with fatty liver disease.Obese children hospitalized in our center from 2014 to 2016 were included and divided into simple obese group and obese with fatty liver group by ultrasound-based diagnosis of fatty liver. Epidemiology data and serum biochemical studies were recorded. Read More

AIDS 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

: Elevation of liver transaminases is common in patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Although this is usually an incidental finding during regular work-up, HIV-infected patients with transaminases elevations require additional visits for laboratory studies and clinical assessments, and often undergo interruptions and changes in antiretroviral therapy (ART). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is present primarily in the liver, thus being a surrogate marker of hepatocellular injury. Read More

Prev Nutr Food Sci 2019 Mar 31;24(1):32-40. Epub 2019 Mar 31.

Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease, however the exact cause of NAFLD remains unknown. Methionine, an essential amino acid, is the first limiting amino acid of soy protein, and its deficiency is suggested to cause hepatocyte damage and NAFLD. The objective of this study is to examine the changes in NAFLD susceptibility with soy protein consumption and deterioration due to prohibitin 1 (PHB1) deficiency, an important protein in hepatic mitochondrial function. Read More

J Res Med Sci 2019 25;24:21. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Food and Beverages Safety Research Center, Urmia, Iran.

Background: Weight loss is the cornerstone of NAFLD management, but weight maintenance is difficult. Some studies have suggested that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) might have beneficial effects in NAFLD. We aim to compare the effects of a low-energy diet with n-3 PUFA supplementation on liver enzymes, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk factors in NAFLD. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019 May 6;1865(5):912-919. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Wallenberg Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, S-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address:

The gut microbiota affects host physiology and has evolved as an important contributor to health and disease. Gut and liver are closely connected and communicate via the portal vein and the biliary system so the liver is constantly exposed to gut-derived bacterial products and metabolites. The intestinal barrier is important for maintaining physical and functional separation between microbes in the gut and the interior of the host and disruption of the barrier function can lead to bacterial translocation and increased leakage of bacterial metabolites. Read More

Antioxid Redox Signal 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Chungbuk National University, College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center , College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Cheongwon-gun,Chungbuk, Republic of Korea, 361-951. , Osong-eup, Korea (the Republic of) , 361-951 ;

Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) accompanies by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which has been suggested in several studies to link with mitochondrial function. However, the mechanistic role of ROS-mediated regulation of mitochondrial function in NAFLD has not been elucidated. Since peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) is an only member of the antioxidant PRDX family that translocates to damaged mitochondria, we investigated the PRDX6-mediated anti-steatotic mechanism using genetic modified mice and cells. Read More

Lipids 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

University of Namur, Institute of Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE), Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000, Namur, Belgium.

The main objective of this study was to determine the best vegetable oils (VO) for nutrition of African catfish by assessing the effects of a complete replacement of fish oil (FO) by different VO sources on its growth performance, fatty acid composition, and elongase-desaturase gene expression levels. Fish (16.2 g of initial body weight) were fed with five experimental isonitrogenous, isolipidic, and isoenergetic diets in which FO was totally replaced by cottonseed oil (CO), palm oil (PO), desert date oil (DO), or Shea butter (SB). Read More

J Nutr 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

Background: The potential for dietary microalgae to enrich eggs of laying hens with ω-3 (n-3) fatty acids, and the mechanisms involved, are unclear.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effects and molecular regulation of a defatted Nannochloropsis oceanica microalgae (DNOM) biomass on the enrichment of the eggs and tissues of laying hens with ω-3 fatty acids.

Methods: Fifty Shaver-White Leghorn hens (46 wk of age, body weight: 1. Read More

J Nutr 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Department of Food Science and Technology.

Background: Pinto beans contain multiple active agents such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and saponins, and have been shown to lower cholesterol, but the mechanisms involved in this effect have not been explored.

Objective: This study was to investigate the changes in cholesterol metabolism in response to whole pinto beans (wPB) and their hulls (hPB) supplemented into a diet rich in saturated fat and the molecular mechanisms potentially responsible for these effects in hamsters.

Methods: Forty-four 9-wk-old male Golden Syrian hamsters were randomly assigned to 4 diet groups (n = 11), including a 5% (wt:wt) fat diet [normal-fat diet (NF)], a 15% (wt:wt) fat diet [diet rich in saturated fat (HSF), saturated fatty acids accounted for 70% of total fatty acids], or HSF supplemented with 5% (wt:wt) wPB or 0. Read More

Hepatology 2019 Apr 21. Epub 2019 Apr 21.

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is believed to be ~70% and that of advanced fibrosis ~20%. Given the magnitude of the problem, there is a real sense of urgency to identify the best pharmacological approach for to treat both diabetes and NASH in this population. Vitamin E is recommended for patients with biopsy-proven NASH without diabetes but did not have similar efficacy in a recent proof-of-concept RCT in patients with T2DM. Read More

Phytomedicine 2018 Dec 10;59:152782. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Northwest University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an 710069, China; Biomedicine Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province, College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease. Swertia bimaculata (Sieb. et Zucc. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2019 Apr 18;72:330-338. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital Of Bengbu Medical College, Hongye Road, Bengbu 233000, China. Electronic address:

Liver fibrosis is a continuous wound-healing process, which is due to excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) caused by activated Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSCs). Geniposide (GP) is a naturally occurring iridoid glucoside and is extracted from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. GP has long been speculated to play a vital role in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and fatty liver. Read More

Mol Genet Metab 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Dietmar-Hopp Metabolic Center, University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Metabolism, Children's Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Inherited metabolic diseases account for about one third of pediatric patients with hepatomegaly, acute liver failure, cirrhosis or cholestasis. Specifically for pediatric acute liver failure, they account for 10-15% of cases, with a mortality of 22-65%. The percentage of acute liver failure caused by an inherited metabolic disease in children <2-3 years of age is even higher, ranging from a third to half of all cases. Read More

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2019 Apr 9;69:104-111. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.

Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) is a major bioactive metabolite in the widely used industrial plasticizer diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) that has been found to be toxic to the liver. The aim of this study is to determine whether MEHP exposure can change the expression of fatty acid metabolism-related genes in HepG2 cells, which might be related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The results revealed that exposure to MEHP promoted lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. Read More

Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer World Wide Research, Development, and Medical, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Electronic address:

The prevalence and diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is on the rise worldwide and currently has no FDA-approved pharmacotherapy. The increase in disease burden of NAFLD and a more severe form of this progressive liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), largely mirrors the increase in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and reflects the hepatic manifestation of an altered metabolic state. Indeed, metabolic syndrome, defined as a constellation of obesity, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and hypertension, is the major risk factor predisposing the NAFLD and NASH. Read More

Biochem Pharmacol 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11459, Saudi Arabia.

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS) has been implicated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); the most common cause of chronic liver diseases. There is accumulating evidence that altered TLR4 and Sphingosine kinase 1(SphK1)/sphingosine1phosphate (S1P) signaling pathways are key players in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Cross talk of the sphingosine signaling pathway, toll-4 (TLR4) receptors ,and angiotensin II was reported in various tissues. Read More

Physiol Rep 2019 Apr;7(8):e14043

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Adropin is a liver- and brain-secreted peptide hormone with striking effects on fuel metabolism regulation in a number of tissues. Previous studies demonstrated that adropin secretion is decreased in obese mice subjected to a long-term high-fat diet (HFD), and that whole-body loss of adropin expression resulted in systemic insulin resistance. Treatment of obese mice with adropin improves glucose tolerance, which has been linked to increased glucose oxidation and inhibition of fatty acid utilization in isolated skeletal muscle homogenates. Read More