Evaluation of Clinical and Inflammatory Markers of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Postmenopausal Women with Metabolic Syndrome

Background: The aim of this study was to assess clinical and inflammatory markers in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 180 Brazilian women (age >= 45 years and amenorrhea >= 12 months). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed by the presence of at least three of the following indicators: Waist circumference (WC) > 88 cm, triglycerides (TGs) >= 150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) < 50 mg/dL; blood pressure >= 130/85 mmHg; and glucose >= 100 mg/dL. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. Participants were divided into three groups: Metabolic syndrome alone (n = 53); metabolic syndrome + NAFLD (n = 67); or absence of metabolic syndrome or NAFLD (control, n = 60). Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical variables were quantified. The inflammatory profile included adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Data were submitted to statistical analysis using a Tukey test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-squared, Pearson correlation, and logistic regression (odds ratio, OR).Results: Women with metabolic syndrome + NAFLD, abdominal obesity, high glucose, and insulin resistance by HOMA-IR were compared to women with metabolic syndrome alone and controls (P < 0.05). High values of IL-6 and TNF-alpha and low values of adiponectin were observed among women with metabolic syndrome alone or metabolic syndrome + NAFLD when compared to controls (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, the variables considered as risk of NAFLD development were: High systolic blood pressure (SBP) [(OR 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-1.04]; large WC (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.13); insulin resistance (OR 3.81, 95% CI 2.01-7.13); and metabolic syndrome (OR 8.68, 95% CI 3.3-24.1). Adiponectin levels reduced NAFLD risk (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.96).Conclusion: In postmenopausal women, metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance were risk markers for the development of NAFLD, whereas higher adiponectin values indicated a protection marker.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its associated risk factors in Brazilian postmenopausal women

Objective To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in postmenopausal women.Methods A cross-sectional study was carried involving 188 women (age >= 45 years and amenorrhea >= 12 months) attending the outpatient unit in south-eastern Brazil. Exclusion criteria were liver disease (hepatitis B and C, cholestatic disease, liver insufficiency), use of drugs that affect liver metabolism; alcoholics; AIDS or cancer history; and morbid obesity. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. Clinical, anthropometric (body mass index, waist circumference) and biochemical variables were measured.Results Of the 188 women, 73 (38.8%) had NAFLD. Blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose were significantly higher in NAFLD patients when compared with women without NAFLD (control group) (p < 0.05). HOMA-IR values indicated insulin resistance only in the NAFLD group (6.1 +/- 4.6 vs. 2.4 +/- 1.4 in control group, p < 0.05). Metabolic syndrome was detected in 93.1% of the women affected by NAFLD, and 46.1% of the control group (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, adjusted for age and weight, the variables considered at risk for the development of NAFLD, were: high waist circumference (odds ratio (OR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.13), insulin resistance (OR 3.81, 95% CI 2.01-7.13), and presence of metabolic syndrome (OR 8.68, 95% CI 3.3-24.1).Conclusion NAFLD showed a high prevalence among postmenopausal women. The presence of metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity and IR were indicators of risk for the development of NAFLD.

Rutin ameliorates glycemic index, lipid profile and enzymatic activities in serum, heart and liver tissues of rats fed with a combination of hypercaloric diet and chronic ethanol consumption

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ultrasound analysis of a canine patient with renal disease and chronic liver disease undergoing treatment with intravenous stem cells

With the improvement in quality of life of animals, it is increasingly frequent clinical care of elderly patients, which present renal disorders, including chronic renal failure. Recent studies report the use of stem cells to treat renal failure, which would improve the levels of urea and creatinine, and in renal ultrasound evaluation. With the present work, the idea is to report a case of ultrasonographic evaluation in a patient with chronic renal failure, liver disease and splenic nodule, which underwent stem cell therapy, where there was an improvement in the sonographic evaluation of part of the liver.

Platinosomíase em felinos domésticos: um diferencial para obstrução biliar

The platinosomiase is a disease the hepatobiliary system of domestic felines being caused by trematode Platynosomum fastosum. The life cycle of the parasite includes the presence of three intermediate hosts (snails, terrestrial isopodes, lizards or frogs). The cat is considered definitive host of the parasite and acquires the infection eating a vertebrate intermediate host containing metacercariae. The adult parasites generally inhabit the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts of cats. The severity of clinical manifestations depends mainly on the number of flukes in the biliary tract. Many animals are asymptomatic or exhibit nonspecific clinical manifestations such as anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhea. In large infestations can occur biliary obstruction resulting in jaundice, cirrhosis, hepatitis cholangiohepatitis and even death. The definitive diagnosis is accomplished through by the detection of fluke eggs in feces or through laparotomy and liver biopsy. Treatment should be based on the use of anthelmintic for the elimination of the parasite and supportive therapy for the animal. Prevention is difficult due to predatory nature of the cat. The control can be accomplished through periodic fecal examinations

Consultas de enfermagem com pacientes em tratamento para hepatite C

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a worldwide problem of public health and who estimates 2.5% to 4.9% of infection by this virus among the population. This means that there are 3.9 to 7.6 million people at risk of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer. In Brazil, 20% to 58% of patients with chronic liver disease have antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV). To characterize the profile of patients undergoing treatment for hepatitis C in the Ambulatory General HC-FMB/UNESP, identify aspects of the disease and the phases of nursing process addressed during consultation. Transverse and descriptive study involving 38 patients undergoing treatment for Hepatitis C in Ambulatory General Area (Viral Hepatitis) in the period from July to September 2010. The population consisted of 38 patients, most of the males with completed higher education level, Catholic, married and aged predominantly between 41 and 60 years. Among the drugs used, we find the use of antihypertensive, antidepressant / anxiolytic and antidiabetic / hypoglycemic. With respect to specific medications used to treat hepatitis C, we found the use mainly of alfapeguinterferona 2b + ribavirin. The drugs used were complementary erythropoietin and filgastrim. There was a predominance of fibrosis 2 (F2) and genotype 1 (G1). Regarding the means of contamination, it was stressed blood transfusion and injection drug use. The most frequent drug reactions were decreased appetite, weight loss and discouragement. : The Nursing Process is considered a valuable tool in caring for patients with hepatitis C, because it works as identifying aspects of lifestyle, needs and potential of these patients and allows the deployment of humanized care strategies aimed at reduction of health hazards and improving the quality of life of these patients

Caffeine inhibits hepatitis C virus replication in vitro

Abstract Hepatitis C is considered the major cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Conventional treatment is not effective against some hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes; therefore, new treatments are needed. Coffee and, more recently, caffeine, have been found to have a beneficial effect in several disorders of the liver, including those manifesting abnormal liver biochemistry, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Caffeine acts directly by delaying fibrosis, thereby improving the function of liver cellular pathways and interfering with pathways used by the HCV replication cycle. In the current study, the direct relationship between caffeine and viral replication was evaluated. The Huh-7.5 cell line was used for transient infections with FL-J6/JFH-50 C19Rluc2AUbi and to establish a cell line stably expressing SGR-Feo JFH- 1. Caffeine efficiently inhibited HCV replication in a dosedependent manner at non-cytotoxic concentrations and demonstrated an IC50 value of 0.7263 mM after 48 h of incubation. These data demonstrate that caffeine may be an important new agent for anti-HCV therapies due to its efficient inhibition of HCV replication at non-toxic concentrations.

Alloxan-Induced Diabetes Causes Morphological and Ultrastructural Changes in Rat Liver that Resemble the Natural History of Chronic Fatty Liver Disease in Humans

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Oxidative stress markers in blood and liver from diabetic dams and their offsprings

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Epidemiological profile of hepatitis C virus infection in patients from west region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious public health problem and is the leading cause of liver transplantation due to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In Brazil, it is estimated that there are approximately 2 to 3 million HCV chronic carriers. Few data regarding HCV infection are available in West region of Minas Gerais State. Due to the absence of an effective vaccine against this important human pathogen and the high costs of antiviral treatment, it is important to conduct epidemiological studies with the purpose of carry out the planning and implementation of measures to prevent hepatitis C in different populations. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological aspects of HCV patients from West region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Sociodemographic data and risk factors for HCV infection were determined from 74 HCV patients from Uberlandia city (Minas Gerais State). Reactive anti-HCV sera samples were submitted to HCV RNA and genotype detection. Most of individuals were male (63.5%) with mean age of 51 years and presenting low socioeconomic status. HCV genotype was determined among 40 samples and the frequencies were: genotype 2 (45%), 1 (37.5%) and 3 (17.5%). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was common among male and low socioeconomic status individuals.

Global liver gene expression differences in Nelore steers with divergent residual feed intake phenotypes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of fipronil on energy metabolism in the perfused rat liver

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Morphology and Histochemistry of the Liver of Carnivorous Fish Hemisorubim platyrhynchos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)