Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; Polyethylene Glycols ; administration & dosage ; Recombinant Proteins

Atropine (2.5 mg/kg), hexamethonium (1 mg/kg), Trasylol (1,000 u/kg), acetazolamide (100 mg/kg), cortisone (5 mg /kg) or procaine (5 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally once a day for 21 days into rats (both sexes) fed a low protein diet. The rats were fasted and sacrificed 24 hr after the last injection. Atropine and cortisone, but not the other agents, cause a significant increase in both pancreatic weight and enzymes. Serum amylase increased markedly in the cortisone group and serum GOT and GPT increased but slightly in the atropine group. Enlargement of the pancreatic acini, cellular hypertrophy and increases of zymogen granules were observed in all the groups except the procaine and normal control group. The hypertrophy of acini was more prominent in the atropine and cortisone groups. None of drugs used could induce decrease or depress the enzyme formation and weight of pancreas. This data indicates that long-term administration of these drugs, particularly atropine, cortisone or even other Ragents may induce preferential formation of pancreatic enzymes to exocrine secretions and consequently may cause enlargement of the pancreatic acini.
Acetazolamide/administration & dosage* ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Amylases/blood ; Animal ; Aprotinin/administration & dosage* ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Atropine/administration & dosage* ; Cortisone/administration & dosage* ; Female ; Hexamethonium Compounds* ; Lipase/blood ; Male ; Organ Weight ; Pancreas/drug effects* ; Pancreas/enzymology ; Procaine/administration & dosage* ; Rats ; Time Factors

Some polymers and bioactive compounds derived from Styela clava tunic (SCT) have been reported as traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation, oxidative stress and surgical wounds although there is little scientific evidence of their liver and kidney toxicity. To investigate the toxicity of ethanol extracts of SCT (EtSCT) in the liver and kidney of ICR mice, alterations in related markers including body weight, organ weight, urine composition, liver pathology and kidney pathology were analyzed following oral administration of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight/day of EtSCT for 14 days. EtSCT showed a high level of free radical scavenging activity for DPPH (93.1%) and NO (16.2%) as well as the presence of 14.8 mg/mL of flavonoids and 36.2 mg/mL of phenolics, while EtSCT treated groups did not show any significant alterations in the body and organ weight, clinical phenotypes, urine parameters or mice mortality when compared with the vehicle treated group. In addition, constant levels of serum biochemical markers including alanine phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (CRE) were maintained. Moreover, no specific histopathological features induced by most toxic compounds were observed in liver and kidney sections stained with hematoxilin and eosin. Therefore, the present results indicate that EtSCT with strong antioxidant activity cannot induce any specific toxicity in liver and kidney organs of ICR at doses of 100 mg/kg body weight/day.
Administration, Oral ; Alanine ; Alanine Transaminase ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biomarkers ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Ethanol ; Flavonoids ; Inflammation ; Kidney ; Liver ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR* ; Mortality ; Organ Size ; Oxidative Stress ; Pathology ; Phenol ; Phenotype ; Polymers ; Wounds and Injuries

The primary objective of this study was to compare thepharmacokinetics of a new anti-human immunodeficiencyvirus agent 1-(2-amino-pyridin-4-ylmethyl)-6-(3,5-dimethyl-benzoyl)-5-isopropyl-1H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione (VP-0502)with its amino acid prodrug alanine amide of VP-0502(VP-0502AL), following intravenous and oral administrationsto rats. The plasma concentrations of both analytes wereanalyzed via high-performance liquid chromatographycoupled with photodiode-array detection (HPLC-DAD).When VP-0502 was intravenously administered at 20mg/kg, the analyte appeared in low levels with an AUC of 0.3microg.h/ml, and C0 of 0.2microg/ml in plasma. However, boththe prodrug VP-0502AL and its metabolite VP-0502 appearedat comparatively higher levels following intravenousinjection of VP-0502AL at the same dose. VP-0502AL'spharmacokinetic parameters were Vd: 4.6 l/kg; AUC:3microg.h/ml; t1/2: 0.5h; C0: 6microg/ml; CLtot: 7l/h/kg; andMRT: 0.6h. Following oral administration of VP-0502(100mg/kg), it was not detectable in plasma (<50ng/ml),while after the oral administration of VP-0502AL, VP-0502 was quantitatively detected as an active metabolite forthe first 7h, with a maximum plasma concentration(Cmax) of 0.8microg/ml, and an area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of 2microg.h/ml. The oral pharmacokineticparameters of VP-0502AL were calculated to be: maximumconcentration time (tmax) 2.7h; Cmax 0.2microg/ml; eliminationhalf-life (t1/2): 0.8h; and AUC 0.5microg.h/ml. Overall thefindings indicate that VP-0502AL has a favorable pharmaco-kinetic profile as a prodrug with rapid transformationinto the active metabolite, and that the attachment of theamino acid alanine to VP-0502 is an effective approach toimprove its oral bioavailability. VP-0502AL is predictedto become a new highly bioavailable anti-AIDS drugcandidate and/or lead compound.
Administration, Oral ; Alanine/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacokinetics ; Aminopyridines/*pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Anti-HIV Agents/administration & dosage/blood/*pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Half-Life ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Prodrugs/administration & dosage/*pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uracil/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo screen out effective ingredients of Huangqi Decoction (HQD) on dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) induced liver fibrosis and its assembling actions.

METHODS(1) DMN solution (0. 5%) was peritoneally injected to rats to prepare the liver fibrosis model for 12 times, starting from the 1st day of modeling to the end of the 4th week. Uniform design method with 4-factor 8-level table was used to optimize the proportion of four ingredients from HQD, including astragaloside (AS), astragalus flavonoids (AF), glycyrrhizae acid (GA), and glycyrrhizae flavonoids (GF). Moreover, the changes of hydroxyproline (Hyp) content in the liver issue and the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum were observed as screen indices, and the method of regression analysis was used to find out an optimal combination. (2) A further study for comparing and verifying the efficacy of the obtained optimized prescription was conducted by observing the changes of fibrosis pathology, the content of Hyp in the liver tissue and serum enzyme activity after medication.

RESULTSThe optimal proportion of AS and GA was 164:48. Compared with the model group, the content of Hyp in the liver tissue and the levels of ALT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum decreased significantly, indicating the inhibiting effect of HQD and the AS/GA combination group on hepatic fibrosis formation (P<0.05). The AS/GA combination group was better than AS/GA used alone group in reducing the content of Hyp in the liver tissue and the level of ALT in serum. Furthermore, the AS/GA combination group was better than the HQD group in reducing the level of ALT in serum.

CONCLUSIONSAS and GA were effective ingredients of HQD, and the combination of AS and GA had obvious synergistic effect in reducing liver collagen deposition and decreasing serum ALT activity in DMN-induced liver fibrosis.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Dimethylnitrosamine ; adverse effects ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Hydroxyproline ; analysis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUND: Ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury is a complex phenomenon that leads to organ dysfunction and causes primary liver failure following liver transplantation. We investigated whether an intravenous administration of magnesium before reperfusion can prevent or reduce IR injury. METHODS: Fifty-nine living donor liver transplant recipients were randomly assigned to an MG group (n = 31) or an NS group (n = 28). Each group was also divided in two groups based on the preoperative magnesium levels (normal: > or = 0.70 mmol/L, low: < 0.70 mmol/L). The MG groups received 25 mg/kg of MgSO4 mixed in 100 ml normal saline intravenously before reperfusion and the NS groups received an equal volume of normal saline. The levels of lactate, pH, arterial oxygen tension, and base excess were measured to assess reperfusion injury at five specific times, which were 10 min after the beginning of anhepatic phase, and 10, 30, 60 and 120 min after reperfusion. To evaluate postoperative organ function, the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin and creatinine levels were measured at preoperative day 1, postoperative day 1 and 5. RESULTS: The blood lactate levels were significantly lower at 10, 30, 60 and 120 min after reperfusion in the MG groups compared to the NS groups. In addition, significantly higher blood lactate levels were observed in the NS group with preoperative hypomagnesemia than in MG groups. CONCLUSIONS: Magnesium administration before reperfusion of liver transplantation significantly reduces blood lactate levels. These findings suggest that magnesium treatment may have protective effects on IR injury during living donor liver transplantation.
Administration, Intravenous ; Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ischemia ; Lactic Acid ; Liver ; Liver Failure ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Magnesium ; Oxygen ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury

OBJECTIVETo study the toxicity of water extracts from the fruits of Evodia Fructus in different producing areas.

METHODCompare the toxicity of the extracts from different Evodia Fructus on mice by the methods of acute and subacute toxicity test. The mice were given the extracts for 1 d to test the maximal tolerance dose (MTD) or maximal dose and observe the acute toxic symptoms; The mice were given the extracts for 15 d and then detected the level of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and triglyceride (TG). The liver index was calculated, and the liver histological changes were investigated.

RESULTThe MTD of water extracts from the fruits of Evodia Fructus is 62, 44.8, 35.84 g x kg(-1); the MTD of Evodia Fructus is 56, 44. 8, 35.84 g x kg(-1); the maximal dose of Evodia Fructus is 60, 54, 45 g x kg(-1). The toxic symptoms of the mice which had been given the nine samples were almost consistent. Compared with the control group in subacute toxicity test, the level of serum ALT and the liver index were all increased. The liver histological were changed.

CONCLUSIONWhen water extracts from the fruits of Evodia Fructus are given to mice one or more times. It may be toxic and induce liver damage. There is no significant correlation between the toxicity and Evodia orgins, while the toxicity seems to be more closely related to the producing area.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Evodia ; chemistry ; Female ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the time-toxicity and dose-toxicity relationships caused by multiple dose of total Bupleurum saponin extracts to rats.

METHODRats were picked according to different time or dose points, and total Bupleurum saponin crude extracts were administered to rats. The death circumstance and toxicity of mice were observed, ALT and AST in serum were detected. Indice of the liver, index was calculated. And the morphological changes of liver tissue were observed under light microscope.

RESULTThe "time-toxicity" relationship study showed that ALT and AST in rats' serum began to increase after 7 days' administration, and with obvious hepatotoxicity after 15 days', then there was concurrent toxicity and death. The "dose-toxicity" relationship study showed that compared with the control group, the total Bupleurum saponin crude extracts between 51. 2 and 125.0 g x kg(-1) dose could cause the obvious hepatotoxicity to rats in 15 days' administration, which was represented by that ALT and AST in serum increased significantly with the dose increased, the ratio of liver to body increased, and under light microscope, the different doses' liver tissue of mice all had edema in different degree and fatty degeneration in liver cells, and the high-dose and long time administration group appeared to be necrosis, lobular structure unclear. The above-mentioned change gradually aggravated with dose increasing, and obviously diversity compared with distilled water control group.

CONCLUSIONWith administrated a multiple dose and long time to rats, the total Bupleurum saponins crude extracts could cause serious liver injury and even death, and there were certain time-toxicity and dose-toxicity relationships.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Bupleurum ; chemistry ; Complex Mixtures ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; chemistry ; Time Factors ; Toxicity Tests ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) combined with glucocorticoids in the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis-primary biliary cirrhosis (AIH-PBC) overlap syndrome.

METHODS19 patients with AIH-PBC overlap syndrome were divided randomly into two groups: initiate combined group and initiate UDCA-monotherapy group. Biochemical responses and pathological features before and after treatment were analyzed retrospectively with student's t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fisher's exact method.

RESULTSIn the initiate combination group, biochemical responses in terms of AIH features (ALT decline to normal, IgG is less than or equal to 16 g/L) and PBC features (ALP decline ≥ 40% or to normal) were achieved. In UDCA-monotherapy group, no statistical difference existed in biochemical responses before adding glucocorticoids, whereas the levels of ALT, AST, GLB and IgG decreased significantly when combined with glucocorticoids. No statistical difference of rates of biochemical responses eixted between the two groups, whereas variance could be seen in different pathological stages. Alleviation of inflammatory infiltration after therapy appeared in 3 patients.

CONCLUSIONCombination therapy of UDCA with glucocorticoids could be suitable for AIH-PBC overlap syndrome. Early treatment is of benefit for achieving better biochemical response and pathological improvement.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; analysis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; analysis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of emodin in young rats with intrahepatic cholestasis.

METHODSA total of 120 young Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, model, and high-, medium-, and low-dose emodin groups, with 24 rats in each group. The rats in the control and model groups were given sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution by gavage, while the other groups were given different doses of emodin solution by gavage. On the 5th day of experiment, alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT, 50 mg/kg) was applied by gavage to establish the model of intrahepatic cholestasis in all groups except the control group. At 24, 48, and 72 hours after gavage, 8 rats in each group were sacrificed. Colorimetry was used to measure the serum levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), total bile acid (TBA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in each group, and hematoxylin-eosin staining was applied to observe the morphological changes of the liver under a light microscope at different time points.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the model group had significantly increased serum levels of TBIL, DBIL, TBA, ALP, GGT, ALT, and AST at the 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour time points (P<0.01). In the model group, the serum levels of TBIL, DBIL, TBA, ALT, and AST showed varying degrees of increase at 48 hours after establishment of model, compared with the values at 24 and 72 hours (P<0.05). At 24, 48, and 72 hours, the high-, medium-, and low-dose emodin groups had varying degrees of reductions in the serum levels of TBIL and TBA compared with the model group (P<0.05); the high- and low-dose emodin groups had significantly increased serum levels of TBA compared with the medium-dose emodin group (P<0.05). The model group had the most severe pathological changes at 48 hours. Compared with the model group, the high-, medium-, and low-dose emodin groups showed certain improvement in pathological changes of the liver at each time point, and the medium-dose emodin group had better improvement compared with the high- and low-dose emodin groups.

CONCLUSIONSEmodin can effectively improve ANIT-induced intrahepatic cholestasis in young rats, and medium-dose emodin shows the best effect.

Alanine Transaminase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bilirubin ; metabolism ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Emodin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley