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Front Pharmacol 2021 29;12:599180. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a serious clinical disorder with high fatality rates. Mahuang decoction (MHD), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has multiple pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammation, anti-allergy, anti-asthma, and anti-hyperglycemia. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of MHD against ALF. Read More

Mymensingh Med J 2021 Apr;30(2):343-350

Dr Foysal Ahamed, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College (MMC), Mymensingh, Bangladesh; E-mail:

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with various types of liver disorders including elevated liver enzymes. This study was carried out to observe hepatocellular injury in type 2 Diabetes mellitus as evidenced by raised Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) among the type 2 Diabetes mellitus patients and to find out association between elevated ALT and glycaemic control. This was a descriptive cross-sectional comparative study carried out in Department of Medicine, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and Rajshahi Diabetic Association Hospital, Rajshahi, Bangladesh from July 2009 to June 2010. Read More

Liver Int 2021 Apr 7. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Columbia University Irving Medical Center Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, New York, NY, USA.

Background And Aims: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) associated acute liver injury (ALI) has been linked to poor outcomes in adults. Here we compare characteristics in children with elevated ALT (E-ALT) in two distinct manifestations of the infection, multisystem inflammatory syndrome-children (MIS-C) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients ≤ 21 years of age with positive for SARS-CoV-2 PCR. Read More

Angiology 2021 Apr 7:33197211005590. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

324508Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Ankara, Turkey.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver pathology in the developed world. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. We investigated the impact of ranolazine on liver tests in patients with NAFLD and coronary artery disease (CAD). Read More

Dis Markers 2021 23;2021:6658270. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Multidisciplinary Team for the Attention and Care of Patients with COVID-19, Hospital General de México ¨Dr. Eduardo Liceaga¨, Mexico City, Mexico.

Aim: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ranges from mild clinical phenotypes to life-threatening conditions like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). It has been suggested that early liver injury in these patients could be a risk factor for poor outcome. We aimed to identify early biochemical predictive factors related to severe disease development with intensive care requirements in patients with COVID-19. Read More

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021 05;33(5):691-694

Infectious Diseases Unit.

Background: Infection due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is typically associated with a respiratory syndrome, but gastrointestinal symptoms have been described in early reports from China. However, data from European centres are scarce.

Objectives: We aimed to characterise the gastrointestinal manifestations of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their disease course. Read More

Pediatrics 2021 Mar 30. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio;

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of alternative causes of liver disease in a cohort of youth with overweight and obesity undergoing evaluation for suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: Multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≤18 years with overweight and obesity and evidence of elevated serum aminotransferases and/or hepatic steatosis on imaging, referred for suspected NAFLD to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (2009-2017) or Yale New Haven Children's Hospital (2012-2017). Testing was performed to exclude the following: autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), Wilson disease, viral hepatitis (B and C), thyroid dysfunction, celiac disease, α-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and hemochromatosis. Read More

Case Reports Hepatol 2021 10;2021:6653266. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Universal College of Medical Sciences & Teaching Hospital, Bhairahawa, Nepal.

The liver function test (LFT) is a commonly performed test in clinical practice in order to assess well-being of the liver; however, derangement in liver enzymes, however, may not necessarily imply an underlying liver pathology. The standard liver function test measures alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin levels (total, direct, and indirect), proteins (total protein and albumin), and PT-INR (prothrombin time and international normalized ratio). In addition to common causes, liver enzyme levels can also be elevated due to extrahepatic causes, such as muscular injury can elevate transaminases levels. Read More

Vet World 2021 Feb 22;14(2):457-467. Epub 2021 Feb 22.

Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agri-Food, and Health LBEAS, Faculty of Sciences, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah USMBA Fez, Morocco.

Background And Aim: (L.) has been used in traditional North African and Indian medicine for the treatment of several diseases such as cancer, rheumatism, epilepsy, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Despite its medical benefits, few studies have examined its toxicity. Read More

J Immunol 2021 Apr 26;206(8):1858-1865. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH 43614

Dominant infiltration of neutrophils is a hallmark of many inflammatory diseases, especially in septic shock. IL-1β as one of the most early released proinflammatory cytokine in neutrophil, plays a pivotal role in the progress of sepsis. In this study, we built a high-throughput-compatible drug screen assay platform based on our newly constructed reporter C57BL/6 mice, pIL1-DsRed, expressing the DsRed gene under the control of the IL-1β promoter. Read More

Perfusion 2021 Mar 26:2676591211003874. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Northwell Health, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY, USA.

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is widely utilized to make timely decisions regarding patient care. This approach allowed us to diagnose the cause of acutely rising transaminases in a patient in severe ARDS secondary to influenza pneumonia requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO).

Case Report: A 36-year-old female presented with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure secondary to influenza A infection. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 Mar;100(12):e24884

The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent chronic liver disease characterized by excess accumulation of fat in hepatocytes. Because no drug has been approved for NAFLD treatment, this work analyzed the effects of agents resulting from 2 research hotspots, metabolic target agents, and natural plant drugs, on NAFLD with network meta-analysis.

Methods: Public databases were searched through August 14, 2020. Read More

Nat Metab 2021 03 18;3(3):394-409. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Both obesity and sarcopenia are frequently associated in ageing, and together may promote the progression of related conditions such as diabetes and frailty. However, little is known about the pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning this association. Here we show that systemic alanine metabolism is linked to glycaemic control. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 03 9;11(1):5494. Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

It is important to pay attention to the indirect effects of the social distancing implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on children and adolescent health. The aim of the present study was to explore impacts of a reduction in physical activity caused by COVID-19 outbreak in pediatric patients diagnosed with obesity. This study conducted between pre-school closing and school closing period and 90 patients aged between 6- and 18-year-old were included. Read More

J Vis Exp 2021 03 6(169). Epub 2021 Mar 6.

Digital Technology and Engineering college, Ningbo University of Finance & Economics.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in rats is a tried and proven animal model used for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative studies, including ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) of extrahepatic organs. This model requires numerous experiments and devices. The duration of anhepatic phase is closely related to the time to develop IRI after transplantation. Read More

Exp Clin Transplant 2021 Mar 17. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

From the Anesthesia Department, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Sheeben Elkom City, Egypt.

Objectives: Prolonged surgical retraction may cause atelectasis. We aimed to recruit collapsed alveoli, stepwise, monitored by lung dynamic compliance and observe effects on arterial oxygenation and systemic and graft hemodynamics. Secondarily, we observed alveolar recruitment effects on postoperative mechanical ventilation, international normalized ratio, and pulmonary complications. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 Mar;100(11):e23931

People's Hospital of Linqing City, Shandong Province, China.

Abstract: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is very commonly performed among the cardiovascular surgeries, and delayed recovery (DR) is a kind of serious complications in patients with CPB. It is necessary to assess the risk factors for DR in patients with CPB, to provide evidence into the management of CPB patients.Patients undergoing CPB in our hospital from January 2018 to March 2020 were included. Read More

Diabetes Metab J 2021 Mar 17. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Fatty liver and/or increased liver enzyme values have been reported to be associated with incident diabetes. We sought to determine whether increased visit-to-visit liver enzyme variability is associated with incident diabetes.

Methods: Study participants were recruited from the Korean Genome and Epidemiologic Study (KoGES). Read More

Am Surg 2021 Mar 12:3134821998664. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, 548305Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: Optimal use of interventional procedures and diagnostic tests for patients with suspected choledocholithiasis depends on accurate pretest risk estimation. We sought to define sensitivity/specificity of transaminases in identifying choledocholithiasis and to incorporate them into a biochemical marker composite score that could accurately predict choledocholithiasis.

Methods: All adult patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy by our Emergency Surgery Service between 2010 and 2018 were reviewed. Read More

J Infect Dev Ctries 2021 03 7;15(2):214-223. Epub 2021 Mar 7.

Department of Gastroenterology, First affiliated hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P.R.China.

Introduction: SARS-Cov-2 infection or COVID-19 is a global pandemic. In this manuscript, we investigated the primary symptoms and basic hematological presentations of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the Bangladeshi patients.

Methodology: This was a multicentre cross-sectional study done on COVID-19 patients tested positive by RT PCR in Bangladesh. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2020 20;11:549057. Epub 2020 Nov 20.

Shanghai TCM-Integrated Institute of Vascular Anomalies, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Overuse of acetaminophen (APAP) is a major cause of drug-induced liver failure at the clinics. Apigenin (API) is a natural flavonoid derived from The aim of the present study was to investigate the amelioration function of API in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity both and and investigate its potential mechanisms. Analysis results of the activities of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST), malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) demonstrated therapeutic effects of API. Read More

Am J Chin Med 2021 3;49(3):705-718. Epub 2021 Mar 3.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital Shanghai, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, P. R. China.

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the leading cause of acute liver failure (ALF) in the Western world, with limited treatment opportunities. 3,5,7,4[Formula: see text]-Tetrahydroxyflavanone (Dihydrokaempferol, DHK, Aromadendrin) is a flavonoid isolated from Chinese herbs and displays high anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities. In this study, we investigated the protective effect by DHK against APAP-induced liver injury and and the potential mechanism of action. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2021 Feb 28:1-7. Epub 2021 Feb 28.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.

Introduction: There are conflicting reports on the effect of pregnancy on liver transaminase (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) levels. In this study, we sought to investigate the trajectories of AST and ALT levels during normal pregnancy and to compare them with AST and ALT levels of matched nonpregnant controls.

Materials And Methods: Our multicenter retrospective study included 34,396 women who delivered at term at 12 primary maternity care units between January 2011 and December 2018 and 57,152 nonpregnant women younger than 45 years who received a medical checkup between 2016 and 2019. Read More

JHEP Rep 2021 Feb 24:100258. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

Department of Medicine D, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson hospital, Petah-Tikva, Israel.

Background & Aims: Abnormal liver tests are common in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, but a possible direct role of the virus in liver injury and its association with short-term outcomes are controversial. Therefore, we aimed to compare the pattern of abnormal liver tests in SARS-CoV-2 patients with those of patients infected with influenza, a non-hepatotropic respiratory virus, and their association with worse outcomes during hospitalization.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 1737 hospitalized patients (865 with influenza and 872 with SARS-Cov-2) in a tertiary medical center. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2021 Feb;9(6):1386-1393

Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule University Hospital Aachen, Aachen D-52074, Germany.

Background: In Wilson disease lack of biliary copper excretion causes hepatocellular injury by accumulation of free toxic copper. Its overspill to serum accounts for neuronal damage as second common manifestation. Therapy with copper chelators or zinc targets the removal of this free copper. Read More

World J Gastroenterol 2021 Feb;27(6):523-533

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, BronxCare Health System, Bronx, NY 10457, United States.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have an intricate bidirectional relationship. Individuals with T2DM, not only have a higher prevalence of non-alcoholic steatosis, but also carry a higher risk of progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Experts still differ in their recommendations of screening for NAFLD among patients with T2DM. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021 Feb 22. Epub 2021 Feb 22.

PRINARC. Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.

The effects of exposure to the herbicide Dicamba (DIC) on tadpoles of two amphibian species, Scinax nasicus and Elachistocleis bicolor, were assessed. Mortality and biochemical sublethal effects were evaluated using acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities and thyroid hormone (T4) levels. The LC value at 48h was 0. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 02 22;11(1):4304. Epub 2021 Feb 22.

Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan Province, China.

To determine the correlation between the clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings and the hospitalization days in Coronavirus Infectious Disease-19 (COVID-19) discharged patients. We retrospectively identified 172 discharged patients with COVID-19 pneumonia from January 10, 2020, to February 28, 2020, in Hunan province. The patients were categorized into group 1 (≤ 19 days) and group 2 (> 19 days) based on the time from symptom onset to discharge. Read More

Scand J Gastroenterol 2021 04 16;56(4):453-457. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Gastrounit, Medical Section, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing major health emergency, but its occurrence and clinical impact on patients withliver cirrhosis is unknown. Therefore, we conducted a population-based study of 2.6 million Danish citizens investigating the occurrence and impact of COVID-19 in patients with liver cirrhosis. Read More

J Med Biochem 2021 Jan;40(1):60-66

Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Facultad de Química, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Mérida, Yucatán, México.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease and is associated with various co-morbidities. Transient elastography (FibroScan®) is a non-invasive method to detect NAFLD using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). We aimed to evaluate the association of the lipid panel and aminotransferases concentrations with the presence or absence of steatosis and fibrosis. Read More