Alanine Transaminase/metabolism ; Liver/drug effects ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features and diagnostic points of occupational acute dimethylformamide (DMF) poisoning and to explore the mechanism of occupational acute DMF poisoning.

METHODSA comprehensive analysis was performed on the clinical data of 16 cases of occupational acute DMF poisoning, including symptoms, signs, and laboratory testing results.

RESULTSThe main clinical features of occupational acute DMF poisoning were digestive system impairments, especially abdominalgia. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis was not found by gastroscopy. There was no significant correlation between the degree of abdominalgia and alanine aminotransferase level (r(s) = 0.109, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAbdominalgia is recommended to be one of the reference indices for the diagnosis and degrading of occupational acute DMF poisoning, The mechanism of DMF poisoning remains unclear but it is considered to be related to methyl isocyanate, the intermediate product of DMF metabolism.

Abdominal Pain ; chemically induced ; Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Dimethylformamide ; poisoning ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Solvents ; poisoning

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Niemann-Pick Diseases ; pathology

The halogenated anesthetics, halothane, enflurane and isoflurane undergo biotransformation in man. They produce inorganic fluoride ion as a metabolite, which is well known as the cause of methoxyflurane induced nephrotoxicity. This study was done to investigate the rapidity and extent of biotransformation of volatile anesthetics for 2 hours of operation. Thirty patients were randomly divided into halothane, enflurane and isoflurane group according to anesthetics. Blood and urine sampling was done before operation, post-induction 10 min, 20 min, 30 min, 1 hour, 1 hour 30 min and 2 hours for the measurement of inorganic fluoride ion. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were measured before and 24 hours after operation. The results were as follows ; 1) The values of blood fluoride ion in halothane and isoflurane group were decreased with time during operation and there was no change in enflurane group. 2) The values of urine fluoride ion in three groups were increased with time during operation. The rate of increase was the greatest in enflurane group. 3) There were no changes in the value of AST, ALT, BUN and creatinine. The above results suggest that the biotransformation of volatile anesthetics to inorganic fluoride ion was the greatest in enflurane, but the level was insufficent to cause renal dysfunction during 3.18 hour operation.
Alanine Transaminase ; Anesthetics* ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biotransformation* ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Enflurane ; Fluorides ; Halothane ; Humans ; Isoflurane ; Metabolism ; Methoxyflurane

BACKGROUNDAs one of the intercellular adhesion molecules, CD58 plays important roles in promotion of the adhesion between T cells and target cells, hyperplasia, activation of T cells and natural killer cells, and balance between Th1 and Th2. We studied the relationship between the levels of CD58 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and severity of HBV infection.

METHODSThe levels of CD58 mRNA in PBMCs were detected using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The percentage of CD58 positive cells was detected by flow cytometry in patients and healthy controls.

RESULTSThe levels of CD58 mRNA and the percentage of CD58 positive cells in patients infected with HBV were significantly higher than that in the control. Based on severity of HBV infection, the patients were classified into four groups. The expression of CD58 increased significantly in an order from mild chronic, moderate chronic, severe chronic to severe hepatitis groups. The levels of CD58 mRNA and the percentage of CD58 positive cells in PBMCs from patients with HBV infection were both positively correlated with serum levels of ALT and AST.

CONCLUSIONThe level of CD58 expression is related with the severity of HBV infection and the degree of liver damage.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; CD58 Antigens ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protection effects of electroacupuncture on injury of lipid peroxidation induced by liver ischemia in septic rats.

METHODSForty-eight male SD rats were subjected to sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and were randomly divided into a Sham operation group (group A), a CLP model group (group B), a CLP model plus electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) group (group C), a CLP model plus electroacupuncture at the shame acupoint (group D), a vagotomy plus CLP model group (group E) and CLP model plus electroacupuncture group after vagotomy (group F), 8 rats in each group. CLP was performed in group E and group F after the abdominal vagotomy. Bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36) points and the shame acupoint were electroacupunctured (2 mA, 2/100 Hz) for 1 hour in group C, group F and group D, respectively. The hepatic blood flow (HBF) was detected by a laser-Doppler flowmetry at 6 h after CLP. The plasma activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was also determined and specimens of liver were harvested for evaluation of malondialdehyde (MDA), xanthine oxidase (XOD) and assessment of the rate of water content.

RESULTSThe blood flow of the liver was (56.97 +/- 11.95) U in group C which was significantly lower than (80.12 +/- 19.57) U in group A but higher than (42.61 +/- 10.97) U in group B, (44.53 +/- 9.23) U in group D, (30.05 +/- 4.46) U in group E and (30.46 +/- 6.38) U in group F (all P < 0.05) 6 h after CLP. Meanwhile, the levels of MDA, XOD, ALT and the rates of water content in liver in group C were all significantly higher than those in group A, but lower than those in the other four groups (all P < 0.05). The levels of MDA, XOD, ALT and the rates of water content in liver in group E and group F were all significantly higher than those in group D (all P < 0.05), while the blood flow of the liver lower than that in group D (P < 0.05), and with no significant differences in all above measurements between group E and group F (all P > 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) can promote hepatic blood flow, inhibit lipid peroxidation and alleviate hepatic edema and dysfunction in septic rats, which might be related with the completeness of cranial nerve.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver Circulation ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Xanthine Oxidase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hepatotoxic effects of N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in the workers of a synthetic leathers factory, and the effects on liver function of covariates such as alcohol consumption and other factors.

METHODSThe workers were classified into three groups (low, high and the control) by the concentration of DMF in workplace which was determined in the past two years. A questionnaire was drawn up for relevant demographic characteristics and other factors influencing liver function. The bloods were collected for laboratory test which included parameters especially relevant to the liver (ALT AST and gamma GT).

RESULTSLow and high-exposure groups were significantly associated with elevated ALT and gamma GT, and high-exposure group was significantly associated with elevated Liver index. Modeling by stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that high concentration of DMF and BMI were associated with and elevated ALT, gamma GT and Liver index, besides DMF and BMI, the elevation of ALT was also associated with high TRIG. AST was only associated with alcohol consumption. The AST/ALT ration < 1 was present in 86.7% of the exposure workers of liver function abnormal.

CONCLUSIONDMF can cause liver function alternations even if air concentration of DMF was below PC-TWA. Besides the levels of DMF exposure, obesity (BMI) and alcohol consumption are covariates alternating liver function. Liver index can be a parameter for assessment liver function, and the AST/ALT ration < 1 may serve as markers of risk in health screening programs.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Dimethylformamide ; toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Occupational Exposure

AIMTo explore the role of ligustrazin on dynamic changes of lipid peroxidation in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HIRI) and its mechanism.

METHODSThe HIRI model was used. Twenty rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n = 10) and ligustrazin group (n = 10). The xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity,malondialdehyde (MDA) content and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activity in plasma were observed before ischemia and at ischemia 25 min, reperfusion 25 min, reperfusion 60 min and reperfusion 120 min.

RESULTSThe XO activity, SOD activity, MDA content and GPT activity of ligustrazin group, as compared with control group, showed significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) at total time points of reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONLigustrazin has notable anti-lipid peroxidation effect on HIRI, which is due to its inhibiting the generation of oxygen free radicals and its strengthening scavenging of oxygen free radicals.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Female ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Xanthine Oxidase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of insulin on oxygen-radical induced hepatic injury in severely scalded rats in early stage of severe scald.

METHODSEighty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: i. e, normal group, saline group, and insulin group, with 28 rat in each group. The rats in the latter two groups were subjected to 30% TBSA full-thickness scald on the back, and received intra-peritoneal injection of 40ml/kg isotonic saline, and subcutaneous injection of 3 IU/kg insulin, respectively. The total anti-oxygen capability (T-AOC), the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) in hepatic tissue, and serum alanine transaminase (ALT) were determined in each group at 6, 12, 24, 48 post-scald hours (PSH) with corresponding methods.

RESULTSThe hepatic T-AOC and SOD content were obviously decreased, while the ROS content were markedly increased at 6 PSH in saline group compared with that in normal group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of ICAM-1 and serum content of ALT were significantly higher than that in normal group at 12 PSH and 48 PSH (P < 0.01). At 24 PSH, the hepatic T-AOC (386 +/- 75) U/g and SOD content (210 +/- 39 ) U/g were obviously higher in insulin group than those in saline group [(124 +/- 18), (111 +/- 9) U/g, respectively, P < 0.01), but the ROS content (154 +/- 29 ) U/g was much lower than that in saline group [(351 +/- 41) U/g, respectively, P < 0.01]. At 48 PSH, the serum content of ALT and hepatic expression of ICAM-1 in insulin group exhibited obvious difference when compared with those in saline group (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, Pathological examination showed that hepatic injury was alleviated by insulin administration after scald.

CONCLUSIONInsulin administration early after severe scald exhibits protective effect on liver function by improving anti-oxygen radical ability of rat liver.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism