Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Fatty Liver ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Fatty Liver ; physiopathology ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty Liver ; physiopathology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Triglycerides ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo early assess the impaired renal function in the obese children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to identify the relationship between NAFLD and impairment of renal function.

METHODSThree hundred and eighty-six obese children were enrolled and divided into NAFLD group and simple obesity group (control) according to the diagnostic criteria. Clinical biochemical parameters and early impaired renal functions were evaluated and compared. Among all patients 234 obese children aged over 10 y were subdivided into 3 groups: NAFLD combined with metabolic syndrome (NAFLD+MS) group, NAFLD group and simple obesity group (control), and the above indexes were compared among 3 groups.

RESULTSThe urinary microalbumin levels in NAFLD, NAFLD+MS (>10y) and NAFLD groups (>10y) were significantly higher than those in controls. Additionally, the positive correlations of urinary microalbumin with systolic pressure, triglyceride and 2h-postprandial blood glucose were found.

CONCLUSIONThere is early renal dysfunction in children with NAFLD and those accompanied with MS, which may be associated with hypertension and glucose-lipid metabolic disorder. The results indicate that NAFLD is not only an early sign of early impaired renal function but also an early stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in obese children.

Adolescent ; Albuminuria ; diagnosis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Fatty Liver ; complications ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Obesity ; complications ; physiopathology

Adult ; Fatty Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Liver Circulation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

Recently, obesity (BMI > or =25 kg/m2) and type II diabetes mellitus have reached epidemic proportions in Korea, and rates of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are between 10% and 25% of the general population. NAFLD in Korea is as closely associated with several components of metabolic syndrome including, obesity, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia as it is in Western countries. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia may play a role in the pathogenesis of fatty liver in patients with normal body weight as well as in patients with obesity. And, obesity induced accumulation of fat in the adipose tissue leads to an imbalance in the regulation of adipokines, such as downregulation of adiponectin and upregulation of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and ghrelin. High BMI, the AST/ALT ratio, and ALT levels could be used to distinguish NASH from simple steatosis in Korean patients. In large number of NAFLD patients who underwent a voluntary medical checkup, even a small weight reduction was associated with improvements in their hepatic steatosis grade on ultrasonography, serum aminotransferase levels, and related metabolic abnormalities. Subjects with fatty liver disease should be advised to lose weight through lifestyle modifications. Small animal and human studies of treatment with PPAR agonists and betaine have been reported in the Korean literature. It is now acknowledged that NAFLD is the most common liver disease in Korea, largely due to the considerable increase in metabolic abnormalities such as obesity and diabetes. Future studies should continue to focus both on the pathogenesis and the treatment of NAFLD in order to accumulate more of our own data.
*Fatty Liver/complications/physiopathology/therapy ; Humans ; Korea ; Metabolic Syndrome X/complications ; Risk Factors

Recently, obesity (BMI > or =25 kg/m2) and type II diabetes mellitus have reached epidemic proportions in Korea, and rates of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are between 10% and 25% of the general population. NAFLD in Korea is as closely associated with several components of metabolic syndrome including, obesity, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia as it is in Western countries. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia may play a role in the pathogenesis of fatty liver in patients with normal body weight as well as in patients with obesity. And, obesity induced accumulation of fat in the adipose tissue leads to an imbalance in the regulation of adipokines, such as downregulation of adiponectin and upregulation of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and ghrelin. High BMI, the AST/ALT ratio, and ALT levels could be used to distinguish NASH from simple steatosis in Korean patients. In large number of NAFLD patients who underwent a voluntary medical checkup, even a small weight reduction was associated with improvements in their hepatic steatosis grade on ultrasonography, serum aminotransferase levels, and related metabolic abnormalities. Subjects with fatty liver disease should be advised to lose weight through lifestyle modifications. Small animal and human studies of treatment with PPAR agonists and betaine have been reported in the Korean literature. It is now acknowledged that NAFLD is the most common liver disease in Korea, largely due to the considerable increase in metabolic abnormalities such as obesity and diabetes. Future studies should continue to focus both on the pathogenesis and the treatment of NAFLD in order to accumulate more of our own data.
*Fatty Liver/complications/physiopathology/therapy ; Humans ; Korea ; Metabolic Syndrome X/complications ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference between the acupoint embedding therapy and polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules in the clinical efficacy on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern.

METHODSThe multi-center clinical trial was adopted and 180 cases of NAFLD of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern were randomized into an embedding therapy group and a western medication group, 90 cases in each one. On the basis of general treatment such as diet control and proper physical exercise, in the embedding therapy group, the acupoint embedding therapy was applied to Ganshu (BL 18), Tai-chong (LR 3), Fenglong (ST 40), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), once every 7 days; in the western medication group, polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules (essentiale) were prescribed, 228 mg/capsule, 2 capsules each time, three times a day. In 6 months of treatment, TCM syndrome score, liver enzymology, blood lipid and abdomen B-ultrasound examination were observed and compared before and after treatment between the two groups.

RESULTS(1) For TCM syndrome score, the total score in the embedding therapy group was lower significantly than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05); (2) For liver enzymology and blood lipid, the levels of serum alanine transarninase (ALT), serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (AST), total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerol (TG) in the embedding therapy group were reduced significantly as compared with those in the western medication group (all P<0. 05); (3) For abdomen B-ultrasound examination, the fatty liver degree in the embedding therapy group was relieved significantly as compared with that in the western medication group (P< 0. 05); (4) For clinical efficacy, the total effective rate was 89. 8%o (79/88) in the embedding therapy group, higher significantly than 76. 7% (69/90) in the western medication group(P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint embedding therapy achieves the definite efficacy on NAFLD of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern, better than polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Sphingolipids, especially ceramide and S1P, are structural components of biological membranes and bioactive molecules which participate in diverse cellular activities such as cell division, differentiation, gene expression and apoptosis. Emerging evidence demonstrates the role of sphingolipids in hepatocellular death, which contributes to the progression of several liver diseases including ischaemia-reperfusion liver injury, steatohepatitis or hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, some data indicate that the accumulation of some sphingolipids contributes to the hepatic dysfunctions. Hence, understanding of sphingolipid may open up a novel therapeutic avenue to liver diseases. This review focuses on the progress in the sphingolipid metabolic pathway with a focus on hepatic diseases and drugs targeting the sphingolipid pathway.
Apoptosis ; Ceramides ; metabolism ; Fatty Liver ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Lysophospholipids ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Sphingolipids ; metabolism ; Sphingosine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDBoth non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are closely associated with many metabolic disorders. Invasive coronary angiography (CAG) is a common approach as an intervention for CAD. However, the association between angiographic severity of coronary artery and NAFLD remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between NAFLD and CAD.

METHODSTotally 542 consecutive patients who planned to undergo CAG due to a suspected CAD were enrolled. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) was performed before angiography to detect NAFLD. CAD was defined as stenosis of at least 50% in at least one major coronary artery. The severity of CAD was assessed by the number of vessels affected and the vessel score multiplied by the severity score (Gensini score). Significant stenosis was defined as 70% or greater reduction in lumen diameter. A probability value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSOf 542 patients studied, 248 (45.8%) were found to have NAFLD by abdominal CT, and 382 patients (88%) were found to have significant CAD by CAG. Age, diabetes mellitus, waist circumference, body mass index, and obesity were associated with NAFLD. According to the results of Logistic regression analysis, the presence of NAFLD independently increased the risk for CAD, as seen in CAG (odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.585 (4.617-12.461); P < 0.001). NAFLD was significantly more common in patients as CAD severity increased (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe presence of NAFLD is associated with high severity of CAD, requiring that patients with abdominal obesity be also investigated for NAFLD. Patients with NAFLD should be closely followed up for the presence and severity of CAD.

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Fatty Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease