No abstract available.
Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Fatty Liver/*diagnosis/enzymology/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; Metabolic Syndrome X/blood/*diagnosis/enzymology ; Reference Values ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/blood

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has recently been found to be a novel component of metabolic syndrome (MS), which is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease. The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels are suggested to affect liver fat accumulation and insulin resistance. We assessed the associations of serum ALT and GGT concentrations within the reference ranges with MS and NAFLD. METHODS: In total, 1,069 subjects enrolled at the health promotion center of Wonkwang University Hospital were divided into 4 groups according to serum ALT and GGT concentrations levels within the reference ranges. We performed biochemical tests, including liver function tests and lipid profiles, and diagnosed fatty liver by ultrasonography. Associations of ALT and GGT concentrationgrading within the reference range with fatty liver and/or MS were investigated. RESULTS: The presence of MS, its components, and the number of metabolic abnormalities [except for high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and fasting blood glucose] increased with the ALT level, while the presence of MS, its components, and the number of metabolic abnormalities (except for HDL-C) increased with the GGT level. The odds ratios for fatty liver and MS increased with the ALT level (P<0.001 and P=0.049, respectively) and the GGT level (P=0.044 and P=0.039, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Serum ALT and GGT concentrations within the reference ranges correlated with the incidence of NAFLD and MS in a dose-dependent manner. There associations need to be confirmed in large, prospective studies.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/*blood ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Fatty Liver/*diagnosis/enzymology/ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*diagnosis/enzymology ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/*blood

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver stiffness (LS) measurement by transient elastography can estimate the degrees of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. However, longitudinal data of LS after recovery of acute viral hepatitis are still lacking. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate among LS of patients at various stages of viral hepatitis and normal control. METHODS: Patients who had admitted at Korea University Ansan Hospital between January 2006 and January 2007 due to acute viral hepatitis and recovered were recruited (group A, n=22). We compared the liver biochmistry and LS of group A with those of healthy control group (group B, n=23), current acute viral hepatitis group (group C, n=49), and chronic viral hepatitis group (group D, n=66). RESULTS: Mean ALT, total bilirubin, and LS level of group A were not different from group B (p=0.318, p=0.116, p=0.125, respectively). However, group A had lower ALT, total bilirubin, and LS values compared to group C (all p<0.001), and lower ALT and LS values compared to group D (p=0.007, p<0.001). The mean total bilirubin was not significantly different from group D (p=0.117). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that liver fibrosis is a long-term sequela of chronic hepatitis, and not developed in patients who recovered from acute viral hepatitis.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Bilirubin/analysis ; Carrier State ; Chronic Disease ; Elasticity ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Female ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human/*complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver/enzymology/*ultrasonography ; Liver Cirrhosis/*ultrasonography/*virology ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is intimately related to insulin resistance and ranges from a benign course to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. NAFLD management mainly involves dietary modification and weight loss. Although no fully successful pharmacological intervention is available, alternative therapies to treat NAFLD have shown promising results. Experimental studies have shown that D-002, a mixture of beeswax alcohols with antioxidant effects, is hepatoprotective. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of D-002 in patients with NALFD. METHODS: Fifty patients with NAFLD were randomized to receive a placebo or D-002 (100 mg/day) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was a significant ultrasonography-detected reduction of liver fat infiltration versus a placebo. Secondary endpoints were decreases in the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index, insulin levels, serum liver enzymes, increases in plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) and improved clinical symptoms versus the placebo recipients. RESULTS: At randomization, all indicators were comparable in both groups. At study completion, seven (28.0%) D-002-patients, but none of the placebo recipients, exhibited a normal liver echo pattern on ultrasonography (p < 0.01). Also, D-002 significantly reduced (p < 0.01 vs. baseline and placebo) the HOMA index and insulin levels and increased the TAS, but did not affect other parameters. The proportion of D-002-patients (12/25, 48.0%) showing symptom improvement was higher (p < 0.001) than that of the placebo group (1/25, 4.0%). The treatment was safe and well tolerated. Three patients in each group withdrew from the study. CONCLUSIONS: D-002 (100 mg/day) improved ultrasonographic findings, indicators of insulin resistance, plasma TAS and clinical evolution on NAFLD patients. Further studies, however, are needed to confirm these results.
Adult ; Aged ; Antioxidants/adverse effects/isolation & purification/*therapeutic use ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Cuba ; Double-Blind Method ; Enzymes/blood ; Fatty Alcohols/adverse effects/isolation & purification/*therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver/blood/*drug therapy/ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin/blood ; Lipids/blood ; Liver/*drug effects/enzymology/ultrasonography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Waxes/*chemistry