Time course of collagen peak in bile duct-ligated rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>One of the most useful experimental fibrogenesis models is the "bile duct-ligated rats". Our aim was to investigate the quantitative hepatic collagen content by two different methods during the different stages of hepatic fibrosis in bile duct-ligated rats on a weekly basis. We questioned whether the 1-wk or 4-wk bile duct-ligated model is suitable in animal fibrogenesis trials.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Of the 53 male Wistar rats, 8 (Group 0) were used as a healthy control group. Bile duct ligation (BDL) had been performed in the rest. Bile duct-ligated rates were sacrificed 7 days later in group 1 (10 rats), 14 days later in group 2 (9 rats), 21 days later in group 3(9 rats) and 28 days later in group 4 (9 rats). Eight rats underwent sham-operation (Sham). Hepatic collagen measurements as well as serum levels of liver enzymes and function tests were all analysed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The peak level of collagen was observed biochemically and histomorphometricly at the end of third week (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05). Suprisingly, collagen levels had decreased with the course of time such as at the end of fourth week (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have shown that fibrosis in bile duct-ligated rats is transient, i.e. reverses spontaneously after 3 weeks. This contrasts any situation in patients where hepatic fibrosis is progressive and irreversible as countless studies performed by many investigators in the same animal model.</p

Modulation of extracellular matrix by nutritional hepatotrophic factors in thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis in the rat

Nutritional substances associated to some hormones enhance liver regeneration when injected intraperitoneally, being denominated hepatotrophic factors (HF). Here we verified if a solution of HF (glucose, vitamins, salts, amino acids, glucagon, insulin, and triiodothyronine) can revert liver cirrhosis and how some extracellular matrices are affected. Cirrhosis was induced for 14 weeks in 45 female Wistar rats (200 mg) by intraperitoneal injections of thioacetamide (200 mg/kg). Twenty-five rats received intraperitoneal HF twice a day for 10 days (40 mL·kg-1·day-1) and 20 rats received physiological saline. Fifteen rats were used as control. The HF applied to cirrhotic rats significantly: a) reduced the relative mRNA expression of the genes: Col-&#945;1 (-53%), TIMP-1 (-31.7%), TGF-&#946;1 (-57.7%), and MMP-2 (-41.6%), whereas Plau mRNA remained unchanged; b) reduced GGT (-43.1%), ALT (-17.6%), and AST (-12.2%) serum levels; c) increased liver weight (11.3%), and reduced liver collagen (-37.1%), regenerative nodules size (-22.1%), and fibrous septum thickness. Progranulin protein (immunohistochemistry) and mRNA (in situ hybridization) were found in fibrous septa and areas of bile duct proliferation in cirrhotic livers. Concluding, HF improved the histology and serum biochemistry of liver cirrhosis, with an important reduction of interstitial collagen and increased extracelullar matrix degradation by reducing profibrotic gene expression

Racism as a determinant of health: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Despite a growing body of epidemiological evidence in recent years documenting the health impacts of racism, the cumulative evidence base has yet to be synthesized in a comprehensive meta-analysis focused specifically on racism as a determinant of health. This meta-analysis reviewed the literature focusing on the relationship between reported racism and mental and physical health outcomes. Data from 293 studies reported in 333 articles published between 1983 and 2013, and conducted predominately in the U.S., were analysed using random effects models and mean weighted effect sizes. Racism was associated with poorer mental health (negative mental health: r = -.23, 95% CI [-.24,-.21], k = 227; positive mental health: r = -.13, 95% CI [-.16,-.10], k = 113), including depression, anxiety, psychological stress and various other outcomes. Racism was also associated with poorer general health (r = -.13 (95% CI [-.18,-.09], k = 30), and poorer physical health (r = -.09, 95% CI [-.12,-.06], k = 50). Moderation effects were found for some outcomes with regard to study and exposure characteristics. Effect sizes of racism on mental health were stronger in cross-sectional compared with longitudinal data and in non-representative samples compared with representative samples. Age, sex, birthplace and education level did not moderate the effects of racism on health. Ethnicity significantly moderated the effect of racism on negative mental health and physical health: the association between racism and negative mental health was significantly stronger for Asian American and Latino(a) American participants compared with African American participants, and the association between racism and physical health was significantly stronger for Latino(a) American participants compared with African American participants.<br /

Quantification the relationship between FITA scores and EMG skill indexes in archery

Forearm electromyographic (EMG) data are assumed to be an effective method in estimating performance level in archery. The aim of the current study was to establish archery skill indexes based on EMG data. Elite (n = 7, FITA score = 1303.4 +/- 26.2), beginner (n = 6, FITA score = 1152 +/- 9.0) and non-archers (n = 10, assumed FITA score = 250 +/- 0), were involved in the study. EMG activity of Muscle flexor digitorum superficialis and Muscle extensor digitorum were quantified. Two-second periods - 1 s before and I s after the fall of the clicker - were used to obtain averaged and rectified EMG data. The averaged and rectified EMG data were filtered by averaging finite impulse response filter with 40 ms time window and then normalized with respect to maximum voluntary contraction. To estimate FITA scores from EMG data, the following skill indexes that based on mean area under some parts of processed EMG waveforms was offered for archery. These were the pre-clicker archery skill index (PreCASI), post-clicker archery skill index (PostCASI), archery skill index (ASI) and post-clicker archery skill index 2 (PostCASI2).The correlations between rank of FITA scores and natural logarithms of archery skill indexes were significant for log(PreCASI): r = -0.66, p < 0.0008; for log(PostCASI): r = -0.70, p < 0.0003; for log(ASI): r = -0.74, p < 0.0001; log(PostCASI2): r = -0.63, p < 0.002. It is concluded that EMG skill indexes may be useful for: (a) assessing shooting techniques, (b) evaluation of archers' progress and (c) selection of talented archers

In Vivo Platelet And T-Lymphocyte Activities During Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Platelets have been suggested to play a role in the inflammatory response, including defence against bacteria. The aims of this study were to determine in vivo platelet activity during the clinical course of pulmonary tuberculosis and to investigate whether or not there is a correlation between the magnitude of platelet activation and the extent of the pulmonary disease. T-lymphocyte activity was also analysed in the patients. Platelet factor-4 (PF4) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor-alpha (sIL-2R alpha) concentrations were used as markers of platelet and T-lymphocyte activation, respectively. Twenty-five patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were studied. Fifteen healthy subjects served as a control group. The levels of both sIL-2Ra (3,000+/-1948 pg.mL(-1)) and PF4 (103.1+/-6.7 IU.mL(-1)) were significantly higher in the patients with tuberculosis than in the control group (984+/-360 pg.mL(-1) and 78.2+/-23.9 IU.mL(-1), respectively) (Mann-Whitney U-test, p<0.001 for both comparisons). The plasma PF4 levels were found to be well correlated with the extent of pulmonary lesions on chest radiography (the Spearman's bivariate correlation analysis, r=0.65, p<0.001), However, sIL-2R alpha concentrations did not correlate with the extent of disease. In conclusion, it has been suggested that platelet and T-lymphocyte activation occurs during pulmonary tuberculosis. The good correlation between platelet activation and the extent of pulmonary tuberculosis might be ascribed to a pathophysiological role of platelets in pulmonary tuberculosis.WoSScopu

(E)-(2,5-Difluorobenzyl)[(2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylidene]amine

In the title molecule, C20H17F2NO, which adopts an E conformation with respect to the imine C=N double bond, the mean planes of the naphthalene ring system and the difluorophenyl ring form a dihedral angle of 85.82 (7)°. An intramolecular C - H?N hydrogen bond occurs. In the crystal, weak C - H?F hydrogen bonds link the molecules into zigzag chains along [010]. © 2013 Pekdemir et al

Predictive value of serum hyaluronic acid (HA) measurement for cirrhosis in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD)

38th Annual Meeting of the European-Association-for-the-Study-of-the-Liver -- MAR 29-APR 01, 2003 -- ISTANBUL, TURKEYWOS: 000182174500226European Assoc Study Live

Nutrition and alcoholic liver disease

Summary Mounting interest in the potential value of nutritional therapy in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has arisen as a result of the growing body of evidence implicating nutritional intervention as a key player in ameliorating ALD. This review will focus on the involvement of nutrition in the pathogenesis of ALD, with extended focus on the role of micronutrients in the intervention or prevention of ALD. Oxidative damage is a major pathway in the initiation of ALD, and as such, many micronutrients have protective roles owing to their antioxidant properties. This can be either a direct action by scavenging free radicals or an indirect one elicited by increasing the synthesis or recycling of glutathione, the main intracellular antioxidant molecule. Micronutrients should be consumed as part of an energy-sufficient (at least 1400 kcal/day), macronutrient-based diet, as ALD progresses more quickly in people who have substituted a normal diet with alcohol, as opposed to those who drink alcohol in addition to their daily diet. Discontinuing alcohol consumption will enhance recovery, although this is not always possible with alcohol-addicted patients. In conclusion, an energy-sufficient diet high in vitamins and minerals will help protect against the formation and progression of ALD. However, alcohol abstinence is the recommended course of action to aid any recovery