701
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Nagaoki Y, Hyogo H, Aikata H, Tanaka M, Naeshiro N, Nakahara T, Honda Y, Miyaki D, Kawaoka T, Takaki S, Hiramatsu A, Waki K, Imamura M, Kawakami Y, Takahashi S, Chayama K. Recent trend of clinical features in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatol Res 2012; 42:368-75. [PMID: 22151896 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2011.00929.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
AIM In this study, we evaluated the clinical characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because the etiology of HCC has been changing recently. METHODS Consecutive 1374 HCC patients at our institution from 1995 to 2009 were enrolled and clinical characteristics were investigated. RESULTS Seventeen percent and 67% of HCC were related to hepatitis B virus (HBV-HCC) and hepatitis C virus (HCV-HCC), respectively. Fifteen percent of that was negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCVAb) (NBNC-HCC). HCV-HCC tended to decrease and NBNC-HCC tended to increase in recent years. Patients with NBNC-HCC and HCV-HCC were significantly older than those with HBV-HCC. The complication rates of diabetes mellitus (DM), heavy alcohol consumption, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia in NBNC-HCC were significantly higher than those in other groups. Furthermore, the platelet counts and body mass index in NBNC-HCC were significantly higher than those of other groups. Among 209 NBNC-HCC patients, 58 patients underwent hepatic resection in which 29%, 36%, and 35% of those were based on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), heavy alcohol consumption, and unknown etiology, respectively. DM was prevalent especially in NASH and heavy alcohol consumption. Cirrhosis was detected in 65%, 81%, and 15% in NASH-HCC, heavy alcohol consumption-HCC, and unknown etiology, respectively. CONCLUSIONS NBNC-HCC has gradually been increasing in recent years. The present study elucidated that the presence of NASH and metabolic syndrome were important risk factors for NBNC-HCC and suggests that these patients should receive surveillance for HCC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Nagaoki
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Applied Biomedicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Hiroshima University, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan
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702
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Taniai M, Hashimoto E, Tokushige K, Kodama K, Kogiso T, Torii N, Shiratori K. Roles of gender, obesity, and lifestyle-related diseases in alcoholic liver disease: Obesity does not influence the severity of alcoholic liver disease. Hepatol Res 2012; 42:359-67. [PMID: 22150916 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2011.00935.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIM To elucidate gender differences and the influence of obesity and/or metabolic syndrome-related fatty liver on alcoholic liver disease (ALD), we analyzed characteristic features of ALD. METHODS We investigated 266 ALD patients (224 males and 42 females) without hepatocellular carcinoma stratified by gender and the presence of cirrhosis. Male and female patients matched for age and total ethanol intake were also analyzed. A diagnosis of ALD was based on alcohol intake (>70 g daily for more than 5 years), clinical features, and exclusion of other liver diseases. The prevalence of obesity, lifestyle-related diseases, and psychological disorders were assessed. RESULTS The prevalence of psychological disorders showed a significant gender difference among all ALD patients (12% in males versus 43% in females, P < 0.001), as well as in patients matched for age and total ethanol intake. There were 156 cirrhotic patients. Absence of dyslipidemia, presence of diabetes, and high total ethanol intake were selected as independent predictors of cirrhosis in males by multivariate analysis after excluding laboratory data of liver function tests. The prevalence of obesity was significantly lower in cirrhotic male patients than in non-cirrhotic male patients (34% vs. 20%, P = 0.023). Among females, there were no significant predictors of cirrhosis on multivariate analysis after eliminating liver function tests. The prevalence of obesity and diabetes was similar in non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic female patients. The prevalence of psychological disorders was 47% in cirrhotic females with ALD. CONCLUSIONS Obesity was not common in cirrhotic ALD. Psychological disorders seem to be important for female ALD.
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703
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A lipid to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease - the dawn of 'lipo-rehabilitation'? J Hepatol 2012; 56:987-9. [PMID: 22015962 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2011.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2011] [Revised: 10/12/2011] [Accepted: 10/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear hormone receptors regulate diverse metabolic pathways and the orphan nuclear receptor LRH-1 (also known as NR5A2) regulates bile acid biosynthesis. Structural studies have identified phospholipids as potential LRH-1 ligands, but their functional relevance is unclear. Here we show that an unusual phosphatidylcholine species with two saturated 12 carbon fatty acid acyl sidechains (dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (DLPC)) is an LRH-1 agonist ligand in vitro. DLPC treatment induces bile acid biosynthetic enzymes in mouse liver, increases bile acid levels, and lowers hepatictriglycerides and serum glucose. DLPC treatment also decreases hepatic steatosis and improves glucose homeostasis in two mouse models of insulin resistance. Both the antidiabetic and lipotropic effects are lost in liver-specific Lrh-1 knockouts. These findings identify an LRH-1 dependent phosphatidylcholine signalling pathway that regulates bile acid metabolism and glucose homeostasis.
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704
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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: multimodal treatment options for a pathogenetically multiple-hit disease. J Clin Gastroenterol 2012; 46:272-84. [PMID: 22395062 DOI: 10.1097/mcg.0b013e31824587e0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a significant public health problem. Besides the liver, NAFLD is also associated with increased cardiovascular and overall morbidity and mortality. NAFLD warrants intensive research, because no treatment has been established as yet. This may be partly attributed to the fact that the majority of the relative clinical trials have a monotherapeutic direction. However, the multifactorial pathogenesis of NAFLD may probably direct clinical trials to a combined therapeutic approach. The aim of this review is to provide a description of the multifactorial pathogenesis of NAFLD and type II diabetes mellitus-NAFLD interplay, and to summarize the therapeutic trials focusing on the combined NAFLD treatment, providing a link between the multiple-hit pathogenesis and the multimodal treatment of NAFLD patients. A diabetes-like therapeutic approach for NAFLD is finally proposed.
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705
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Pietu F, Guillaud O, Walter T, Vallin M, Hervieu V, Scoazec JY, Dumortier J. Ursodeoxycholic acid with vitamin E in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: long-term results. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2012; 36:146-55. [PMID: 22154224 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2011.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2011] [Revised: 10/05/2011] [Accepted: 10/19/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The combination of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and vitamin E is a therapeutic option for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) but randomized controlled studies have produced inconsistent results. The objective of this study was to report the long-term tolerability and efficacy of this combination in our ten-year single center experience. METHODS The study group included 101 adult patients with persistent elevation of serum aminotransferases (AST and ALT) and/or γ glutamyl-transferase (GGT), in whom a histological diagnosis of NASH was made from January 1998 to January 2009, and who were treated with a combination of UDCA with vitamin E. RESULTS Median body mass index (30 kg/m(2)) remained unchanged during the study. UDCA and vitamin E were well tolerated (5% withdrawal for side effects). Mean serum AST, ALT and GGT levels (expressed as times of Upper Normal Limit) diminished significantly (1.39 ± 0.74 to 0.78 ± 0.34 for AST, 1.72 ± 0.92 to 0.91 ± 0.69 for AST and 3.25 ± 2.85 to 1.30 ± 1.30 for GGT). AST, ALT and GGT reached normal range in 80%, 70% and 65% of the patients, respectively. From the ten patients who had a second liver biopsy during follow-up, NAS score improved in seven, and worsened in one. CONCLUSIONS The combination of UDCA with vitamin E significantly improves liver function tests in long-term and is very well tolerated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Pietu
- Hospices civils de Lyon pavillon H, hôpital Édouard- Herriot, fédération des spécialités digestives, 69437 Lyon cedex 03, France
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706
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Sasso M, Tengher-Barna I, Ziol M, Miette V, Fournier C, Sandrin L, Poupon R, Cardoso AC, Marcellin P, Douvin C, de Ledinghen V, Trinchet JC, Beaugrand M. Novel controlled attenuation parameter for noninvasive assessment of steatosis using Fibroscan(®): validation in chronic hepatitis C. J Viral Hepat 2012; 19:244-53. [PMID: 22404722 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2011.01534.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A novel controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) has been developed for Fibroscan(®) to assess liver steatosis, simultaneously with liver stiffness measurement (LSM). We assessed CAP diagnostic accuracy in a large cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus. A total of 615 patients with CHC, who underwent both Fibroscan(®) and liver biopsy, were analysed. Fibrosis was graded using METAVIR score. Steatosis was categorized by visual assessment as S(0) : steatosis in <10% of hepatocytes, S(1) : 11-33%, S(2) : 34-66% and S(3) : 67-100%. Performances of CAP and liver stiffness were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and cross-validated using the bootstrap method. The Obuchowski measure was used to assess overall accuracy of CAP and to differentiate between steatosis grades. In multivariate analysis, CAP was related to steatosis (P < 10(-15) ) independently of fibrosis stage (which was related to LSM). The areas under ROC curves using CAP to detect steatosis were 0.80 (95% CI, 0.75-0.84) for S ≥ S(1) , 0.86 (0.81-0.92) for S ≥ S(2) and 0.88 (0.73-1) S = S(3) . CAP exhibited a good ability to differentiate steatosis grades (Obuchowski measure = 0.92). Performance of LSM for fibrosis assessment confirmed results from previous studies. CAP is a novel tool to assess the degree of steatosis and both fibrosis and steatosis can be evaluated noninvasively during the same procedure using Fibroscan(®) , in patients with CHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sasso
- R&D Department, Echosens, Paris, France.
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707
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Kopec KL, Burns D. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a review of the spectrum of disease, diagnosis, and therapy. Nutr Clin Pract 2012; 26:565-76. [PMID: 21947639 DOI: 10.1177/0884533611419668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, there is an epidemic of obesity and overweight, with two-thirds of Americans affected. A strong association exists between excessive body weight and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common etiology of abnormal liver function tests. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a spectrum of liver disease, from a "bland" fatty infiltration to chronic hepatitis (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH), that can result in cirrhosis and organ failure. With the increasing prevalence of obesity in the world, the proportion of people affected by NAFLD is only expected to be parallel. Although primarily noted in obese individuals, NAFLD has also been associated with a number of surgical procedures, metabolic conditions, and medications. NASH is commonly underdiagnosed as most affected patients are symptom free, and routine screening is not performed. Noninvasive diagnostic testing is not sensitive in diagnosis or staging the severity of disease. Fatty infiltration and oxidative injury to the hepatocytes are believed to be the major factors behind the progression of disease from simple fatty infiltration of the liver to chronic hepatitis. Understanding the inflammatory pathways involved in NASH is a subject of extensive research. Currently, few proven treatment options exist, and controlled weight reduction is the only safe modality recommended for treatment of NASH.
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708
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Bhatia LS, Curzen NP, Calder PC, Byrne CD. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a new and important cardiovascular risk factor? Eur Heart J 2012; 33:1190-200. [PMID: 22408036 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehr453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects up to a third of the population worldwide and may confer increased cardiometabolic risk with consequent adverse cardiovascular outcomes independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and the metabolic syndrome. It is characterized almost universally by insulin resistance and is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a marker of pathological ectopic fat accumulation combined with a low-grade chronic inflammatory state. This results in several deleterious pathophysiological processes including abnormal glucose, fatty acid and lipoprotein metabolism, increased oxidative stress, deranged adipokine profile, hypercoaguability, endothelial dysfunction, and accelerated progression of atherosclerosis. This ultimately leads to a dysfunctional cardiometabolic phenotype with cardiovascular mortality representing the main mode of premature death in NAFLD. This review is aimed at introducing NAFLD to the clinical cardiologist by discussing in-depth the evidence to date linking NAFLD with cardiovascular disease, reviewing the likely mechanisms underlying this association, as well as summarizing from a cardiologist's perspective, current and potential future treatment options for this increasingly prevalent disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokpal S Bhatia
- National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Unit, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK.
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709
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Mukhopadhya I, Hansen R, El-Omar EM, Hold GL. IBD-what role do Proteobacteria play? Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2012. [PMID: 22349170 DOI: 10.1038/nrgastro] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal microbiota has come to the fore in the search for the causes of IBD. This shift has largely been driven by the finding of genetic polymorphisms involved in gastrointestinal innate immunity (particularly polymorphisms in NOD2 and genes involved in autophagy) and alterations in the composition of the microbiota that might result in inflammation (so-called dysbiosis). Microbial diversity studies have continually demonstrated an expansion of the Proteobacteria phylum in patients with IBD. Individual Proteobacteria, in particular (adherent-invasive) Escherichia coli, Campylobacter concisus and enterohepatic Helicobacter, have all been associated with the pathogenesis of IBD. In this Review, we comprehensively describe the various associations of Proteobacteria and IBD. We also examine the importance of pattern recognition in the extracellular innate immune response of the host with particular reference to Proteobacteria, and postulate that Proteobacteria with adherent and invasive properties might exploit host defenses, drive proinflammatory change, alter the intestinal microbiota in favor of dysbiosis and ultimately lead to the development of IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrani Mukhopadhya
- Gastrointestinal Research Group, Division of Applied Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
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710
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Machado MV, Ferreira DMS, Castro RE, Silvestre AR, Evangelista T, Coutinho J, Carepa F, Costa A, Rodrigues CMP, Cortez-Pinto H. Liver and muscle in morbid obesity: the interplay of fatty liver and insulin resistance. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31738. [PMID: 22359625 PMCID: PMC3281005 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2011] [Accepted: 01/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be seen as a manifestation of overnutrition. The muscle is a central player in the adaptation to energy overload, and there is an association between fatty-muscle and -liver. We aimed to correlate muscle morphology, mitochondrial function and insulin signaling with NAFLD severity in morbid obese patients. METHODS Liver and deltoid muscle biopsies were collected during bariatric surgery in NAFLD patients. NAFLD Activity Score and Younossi's classification for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were applied to liver histology. Muscle evaluation included morphology studies, respiratory chain complex I to IV enzyme assays, and analysis of the insulin signaling cascade. A healthy lean control group was included for muscle morphology and mitochondrial function analyses. RESULTS Fifty one NAFLD patients were included of whom 43% had NASH. Intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) were associated with the presence of NASH (OR 12.5, p<0.001), progressive hepatic inflammation (p = 0.029) and fibrosis severity (p = 0.010). There was a trend to an association between IMCL and decreased Akt phosphorylation (p = 0.059), despite no association with insulin resistance. In turn, hepatic steatosis (p = 0.015) and inflammation (p = 0.013) were associated with decreased Akt phosphoryation. Citrate synthase activity was lower in obese patients (p = 0.047) whereas complex I (p = 0.040) and III (p = 0.036) activities were higher, compared with controls. Finally, in obese patients, complex I activity increased with progressive steatosis (p = 0.049) and with a trend with fibrosis severity (p = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS In morbid obese patients, presence of IMCL associates with NASH and advanced fibrosis. Muscle mitochondrial dysfunction does not appear to be a major driving force contributing to muscle fat accumulation, insulin resistance or liver disease. Importantly, insulin resistance in muscle might occur at a late point in the insulin signaling cascade and be associated with IMCL and NAFLD severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Verdelho Machado
- Departamento de Gastrenterologia, Unidade de Nutrição e Metabolismo, Hospital Santa Maria, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, IMM, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Duarte M. S. Ferreira
- Research Institute for Medicines and Pharmaceutical Sciences (iMed.UL), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rui E. Castro
- Research Institute for Medicines and Pharmaceutical Sciences (iMed.UL), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | | | - João Coutinho
- Departamento de Cirurgia, Hospital Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Fátima Carepa
- Departamento de Cirurgia, Hospital Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adília Costa
- Departamento de Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines and Pharmaceutical Sciences (iMed.UL), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Helena Cortez-Pinto
- Departamento de Gastrenterologia, Unidade de Nutrição e Metabolismo, Hospital Santa Maria, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, IMM, Lisbon, Portugal
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711
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Chen JM, Tian SX, Wang B, Wang YX, Huang K. Combined Chinese herbs and behavioral intervention for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an analysis of 90 cases. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2012; 20:336-340. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v20.i4.336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of combined Chinese herbs and behavioral intervention on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
METHODS: One hundred and twenty NAFLD patients were randomized into treatment group (n = 90) and control group (n = 30). Both groups underwent behavioral intervention and treatment with oral ZhiBiTai. Chinese herbal therapy was added in the treatment group. The treatment group was further divided into three subgroups and treated with five basic prescriptions. The improvement in clinical symptoms and amelioration of hepatic changes were determined, and total curative effect was evaluated 12 weeks after treatment.
RESULTS: A significant amelioration of hepatic changes was noted in the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.01), which was more significant than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The total symptom score in the treatment group decreased after treatment (P < 0.05) and was lower than that in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05). The response rate was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (73.70% vs 66%, P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: Chinese herbs plus behavioral intervention can effectively improve fatty infiltration of the liver and relieve symptoms in NAFLD patients.
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712
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From nonalcoholic fatty liver to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis in HIV-infected patients. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2012; 25:10-6. [DOI: 10.1097/qco.0b013e32834ef599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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713
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Koller T, Kollerova J, Hlavaty T, Huorka M, Payer J. Cholelithiasis and markers of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with metabolic risk factors. Scand J Gastroenterol 2012; 47:197-203. [PMID: 22182015 DOI: 10.3109/00365521.2011.643481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Cholelithiasis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) share the same risk factors. The aim of our study was to explore the relationship between these two conditions and to identify independent predictors of both diseases in a cohort of patients with metabolic risk factors. Consecutive patients with metabolic risk factors referred to the outpatient clinic during a one-year period were included. Cholelithiasis was defined by the presence of gallstones on abdominal ultrasound examination at inclusion or previously performed cholecystectomy. NAFLD was defined by the presence of at least one surrogate marker such as elevated alanine aminotransferase and/or gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and/or ultrasound signs of fatty liver. Other common liver diseases were thoroughly excluded. The prevalence of cholelithiasis among patients with and without NAFLD was determined and clinical and laboratory parameters were identified as predictors of NAFLD by multivariate logistic regression. In total, 482 consecutive patients were included: mean age 61 years; 61% were women; 52% of patients had more than 2 metabolic risk factors (obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, or low HDL cholesterol). NAFLD and cholelithiasis were present in 41% and 34% of all patients, respectively. Significantly higher prevalence of cholelithiasis was found among patients with NAFLD compared with patients without NAFLD (47% vs. 26%, respectively; p < 0.0001). In multivariate logistic regression model, type 2 diabetes (odds ratio (OR) = 1.99), BMI above 25 kg/m(2) (OR = 1.78), and cholelithiasis (OR = 1.77) were identified as independent predictors of NAFLD. Fifty six percent of patients with cholelithiasis had NAFLD compared with 33% of patients without cholelithiasis (p < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression identified age above 50 years (OR = 3.46), NAFLD (OR = 1.92), triglycerides above 1.7 mmol/l (OR = 1.91), BMI above 25 kg/m(2) (OR = 1.84), and total cholesterol concentration (OR = 0.711) as independent predictors of cholelithiasis. In conclusion, patients with metabolic risk factors and cholelithiasis suffer significantly more often from NAFLD compared with the reference group. Cholelithiasis represents an independent risk factor of NAFLD in addition to metabolic risk factors and could be regarded as an additional risk factor of liver damage in patients with NAFLD. Furthermore, NAFLD is an independent risk factor for cholelithiasis and might represent a pathogenetic link between the metabolic syndrome and cholelithiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Koller
- 5th Internal Medicine Department, Comenius University Medical School, University Hospital Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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714
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Machado MV, Gonçalves S, Carepa F, Coutinho J, Costa A, Cortez-Pinto H. Impaired renal function in morbid obese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Liver Int 2012; 32:241-8. [PMID: 22098270 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02623.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2011] [Accepted: 07/17/2011] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Obesity is a common risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). NAFLD and CKD have been associated in many epidemiological studies. We hypothesize that more severe liver disease, namely nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is related with further renal impairment. We aimed to evaluate if changes in renal function were present in morbid obese patients with NAFLD. METHODS Prospective and consecutive recruitment of morbid obese patients with biopsy proven NAFLD obtained during bariatric surgery. Renal function was evaluated with CKD-Epidemiology Collaboration estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Plasmatic adiponectin, leptin and active ghrelin concentrations were determined. RESULTS One hundred and forty-eight patients were included of whom 25% had NASH and 75% simple steatosis. NASH patients were older, with higher body mass index and had more frequently metabolic syndrome and lower eGFR (97 ± 22 vs 106 ± 16 ml/min/1.73(2), P = 0.035). NASH conferred an odds ratio (OR) 3.0 (1.3-7.0) for eGFR < 90 and OR 9.7 (1.0-96.4) for eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73(2). eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73(2) associated with aspartate aminotransferase [OR 2.9 (1.1-7.6)] and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase elevation [OR 3.0 (1.3-7.2)], NASH [OR 3.0 (1.3-7.0)], any lobular inflammatory activity [OR 3.0 (1.3-7.0)] and severe fibrosis [OR 3.4 (1.1-10.8)]. Neither eGFR nor liver histology was associated with adipokines levels. CONCLUSIONS In morbid obese patients, NASH, particularly lobular inflammation and advanced fibrosis, associates with mild decreases in eGFR, suggesting a common inflammatory link between liver and renal lesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana V Machado
- Departamento de Gastrenterologia, Unidade de Nutrição e Metabolismo, Hospital Santa Maria, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, IMM, Lisboa, Portugal
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715
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Sasso M, Miette V, Sandrin L, Beaugrand M. The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP): a novel tool for the non-invasive evaluation of steatosis using Fibroscan. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2012; 36:13-20. [PMID: 21920839 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2011.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2011] [Revised: 07/28/2011] [Accepted: 08/01/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Steatosis is a reversible and benign condition. However, in a few cases, steatosis is associated with inflammation and hepatocyte changes, and is then defined as steato-hepatitis. Steatosis can also be a co-factor in many chronic liver diseases that can lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Although an important parameter, until now, evaluation of steatosis by non-invasive methods has remained challenging. In this paper, we report on the use of a novel non-invasive methodology called a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). This is based on signals acquired by the Fibroscan, which was developed to specifically assess liver steatosis concomitant to liver stiffness measurements (LSM). CAP's performance from published articles and communications is also reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sasso
- R&D Department, Echosens, 153, avenue d'Italie, 75013 Paris, France.
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716
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Molloy JW, Calcagno CJ, Williams CD, Jones FJ, Torres DM, Harrison SA. Association of coffee and caffeine consumption with fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and degree of hepatic fibrosis. Hepatology 2012; 55:429-36. [PMID: 21987293 DOI: 10.1002/hep.24731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 09/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Coffee caffeine consumption (CC) is associated with reduced hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis C. The association of CC with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been established. The aim of this study was to correlate CC with the prevalence and severity of NAFLD. Patients involved in a previously published NAFLD prevalence study, as well as additional NASH patients identified in the Brooke Army Medical Center Hepatology clinic, were queried about their caffeine intake. A validated questionnaire for CC was utilized to assess for a relationship between caffeine and four groups: ultrasound negative (controls), bland steatosis/not-NASH, NASH stage 0-1, and NASH stage 2-4. A total of 306 patients responded to the CC questionnaire. Average milligrams of total caffeine/coffee CC per day in controls, bland steatosis/not-NASH, NASH stage 0-1, and NASH stage 2-4 were 307/228, 229/160, 351/255, and 252/152, respectively. When comparing patients with bland steatosis/not-NASH to those with NASH stage 0-1, there was a significant difference in CC between the two groups (P = 0.005). Additionally, when comparing patients with NASH stage 0-1 to those with NASH stage 2-4, there was a significant difference in coffee CC (P = 0.016). Spearman's rank correlation analysis further supported a negative relationship between coffee CC and hepatic fibrosis (r = -0.215; P = 0.035). CONCLUSION Coffee CC is associated with a significant reduction in risk of fibrosis among NASH patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey W Molloy
- Divison of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, TX, USA
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717
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718
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Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to the accumulation of hepatic steatosis not due to excess alcohol consumption. The prevalence of NAFLD is up to 30% in developed countries and nearly 10% in developing nations, making NAFLD the most common liver condition in the world. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is related to insulin resistance and, thus, it is frequently found in individuals who have central obesity or diabetes. Insulin resistance and excess adiposity are associated with increased lipid influx into the liver and increased de novo hepatic lipogenesis, promoting hepatic triglyceride accumulation. Defects in lipid utilization via mitochondrial oxidation and lipid export may also contribute to hepatic lipid build-up. Adipocytokine alterations, lipotoxicity from saturated fatty acids and fructose have been all been implicated in causing hepatocyte injury in NAFLD through pathways involving oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Clinically, NAFLD is commonly asymptomatic and frequently detected incidentally by blood liver function tests or imaging performed for other reasons. Subjects with NAFLD have a higher mortality rate than the general population and are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the future. Histologically, NAFLD occurs as a spectrum from mild hepatic steatosis only, to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) characterized by hepatocellular injury and inflammation, to cirrhosis. A diagnosis of NASH with associated fibrosis heralds a more significant prognosis as it is more likely to progressive to cirrhosis with complications of hepatic failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, the diagnosis of NASH requires a liver biopsy, however, serum based markers of hepatocyte apoptosis such as cytokeratin-18 fragments offer promise as accurate non-invasive diagnostic tests. Treatment of NAFLD revolves around addressing concomitant metabolic risk factors and improving insulin resistance through weight loss measures and exercise. Insulin sensitizing agents such as pioglitazone and anti-oxidant agents such as vitamin E show some promise in improving liver histology in patients with NASH, however, the long-term benefit of these medications has not been demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briohny W Smith
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Unit, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia
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Mahady SE, Webster AC, Walker S, Sanyal A, George J. The role of thiazolidinediones in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis - a systematic review and meta analysis. J Hepatol 2011; 55:1383-90. [PMID: 21703200 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2011.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2010] [Revised: 01/30/2011] [Accepted: 03/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has no approved pharmacological therapy. Insulin sensitisers such as thiazolidinediones ameliorate insulin resistance and are a potential therapeutic option. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of thiazolidinediones on histological and biochemical variables in NASH. METHODS Two reviewers searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central, international meeting abstracts, reference lists, and contacted experts. Inclusion criteria were randomized trials of people with NASH receiving thiazolidinediones, compared with placebo or other treatments. Methodological quality was assessed in domains suggested by the Cochrane Collaboration. The primary outcome was histological improvement (fibrosis, steatosis, inflammation, hepatocellular ballooning, and NAS score). Secondary outcomes included change in alanine transaminase, insulin resistance, body mass index, weight, and adverse events. Meta-analysis used random effects with dichotomous outcomes as relative risk (RR) and continuous outcomes as mean difference (MD), both with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS Of seven randomized trials (n=489) with histological outcomes, four were placebo controlled (n=355). Methodological quality was variable although better for placebo controlled studies. Treated participants showed improvement in fibrosis (RR 1.38, CI 1.01-1.89), steatosis (RR 2.03, CI 1.57-2.62), inflammation (RR 1.71, CI 1.32-2.21), and hepatocellular ballooning (RR 1.62, CI 1.15-2.28). Treatment increased weight by an average of 4.4 kg (CI 2.6-5.2 kg). Adverse event reporting was inconsistent and only one trial assessed quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Thiazolidinediones modestly improve histological variables including fibrosis and hepatocellular ballooning, but at the cost of significant weight gain. Trials of longer duration and reporting of patient oriented outcomes would be informative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne E Mahady
- Storr Liver Unit, Westmead Hospital, Wentworthville, New South Wales 2145, Australia.
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720
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Bohte AE, Koot BGP, van der Baan-Slootweg OH, van Werven JR, Bipat S, Nederveen AJ, Jansen PLM, Benninga MA, Stoker J. US cannot be used to predict the presence or severity of hepatic steatosis in severely obese adolescents. Radiology 2011; 262:327-34. [PMID: 22106358 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.11111094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography (US) for the assessment of hepatic steatosis in severely obese adolescents, with proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy as the reference standard, and to provide insight on the influence of prevalence on predictive values by calculating positive and negative posttest probabilities. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study was institutional review board approved. All participants, and/or their legal representatives, gave written informed consent. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for the overall presence of steatosis and for the presence of substantial (moderate to severe) steatosis. Positive and negative posttest probabilities were calculated and plotted against prevalence. RESULTS A total of 104 children (47 male, 57 female) were prospectively included. Mean age was 14.5 years (range, 8.3-18.9 years) and mean age-adjusted standard deviation body mass index (BMI) score (BMI z score) was 3.3 (range, 2.6-4.1). The overall prevalence of hepatic steatosis was 46.2% (48 of 104). Sensitivity of US was 85.4% (41 of 48), specificity was 55.4% (31 of 56), PPV was 62.1% (41 of 66), and NPV was 81.6% (31 of 38). The prevalence of substantial steatosis was 15.4% (16 of 104), with US sensitivity of 75.0% (12 of 16) and specificity of 87.5% (77 of 88). PPV was 52.2% (12 of 23) and NPV was 95.1% (77 of 81). Plotting of posttest probabilities against prevalence for both disease degrees demonstrated how disease prevalence influences US accuracy. CONCLUSION Positive US results in severely obese adolescents cannot be used to accurately predict the presence and severity of hepatic steatosis, and additional imaging is required. Negative US results exclude the presence of substantial steatosis with acceptable accuracy. Steatosis prevalence differs among specific populations, strongly influencing posttest probabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneloes E Bohte
- Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, the Netherlands.
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Moscatiello S, Di Luzio R, Sasdelli AS, Marchesini G. Managing the combination of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2011; 12:2657-72. [PMID: 22043839 DOI: 10.1517/14656566.2011.629188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are part of the same metabolic defect, both having insulin resistance as the main pathogenic mechanism and sharing similar outcomes (i.e., cardiovascular and liver-related mortality). The prevalence of NAFLD is expected to rise, owing to the increasing worldwide prevalence of obesity and MetS; therefore, the identification of factors responsible for disease progression is essential to devise therapeutic strategies. AREAS COVERED The available and potential future treatments for NAFLD in combination with MetS are reviewed in this paper, following an extensive literature search and personal experience. EXPERT OPINION All NAFLD patients should be evaluated for their metabolic, cardiovascular and liver-related risk. Weight loss through lifestyle intervention remains the most comprehensive and safe treatment of NAFLD and associated MetS; however, > 50% of patients fail to achieve target weight loss. Pharmacologic treatment seems to be important for these patients and for NAFLD cases with more advanced liver disease. It temporarily reverses metabolic alterations, but liver disease progresses after the treatment is stopped. Although current treatments are unsatisfactory, new drugs have been proposed and a few innovative compounds are in the pipeline of pharmaceutical companies. Before pharmacologic treatment can be routinely recommended for NAFLD, long-term randomized trials are needed, along with assessments of the safety and benefits of drugs on proper histological outcomes or validated surrogate markers. The intensive control of individual features of MetS remains mandatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Moscatiello
- University of Bologna, Alma Mater Studiorum, Unit of Metabolic Diseases & Clinical Dietetics, Policlinico S. Orsola, Via Massarenti, 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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722
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Sebastiani G, Castera L, Halfon P, Pol S, Mangia A, Di Marco V, Pirisi M, Voiculescu M, Bourliere M, Alberti A. The impact of liver disease aetiology and the stages of hepatic fibrosis on the performance of non-invasive fibrosis biomarkers: an international study of 2411 cases. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 34:1202-16. [PMID: 21981787 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04861.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Performance of non-invasive fibrosis biomarkers may be influenced by aetiology of chronic liver disease (CLD) and the stages of hepatic fibrosis, but large-scale studies are pending. AIM To investigate the effect of aetiogy and stages of hepatic fibrosis on the performance of fibrosis biomarkers. METHODS A total of 2411 patients with compensated CLD (HCV=75.1%, HBV=10.5%, NASH=7.9%, HIV/HCV=6.5%) were consecutively enrolled in 9 centres. APRI, Forns'index, Lok index, AST-to-ALT ratio, Fib-4, platelets and Fibrotest-Fibrosure were tested against liver biopsy, considered the gold standard. The effect of the stages of hepatic fibrosis to diagnose significant fibrosis and cirrhosis (≥F2 and F4 respectively) was investigated through difference between advanced and non-advanced fibrosis stages (DANA). Performance was expressed as observed area under the ROC curve (ObAUROC) and AUROC adjusted for DANA (AdjAUROC). RESULTS Performance of APRI and Fibrotest-Fibrosure was higher than other biomarkers. In all aetiologies, AdjAUROC was higher than ObAUROC. APRI showed its best performance in HCV monoinfected cases, with an AdjAUROC of 0.77 and 0.83 for ≥F2 and F4 respectively. In HBV and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients, its performance was poor (AdjAUROC <0.70). Performance of Fibrotest-Fibrosure was good in all aetiologies for both ≥F2 and F4 (AdjAUROC >0.73), except for ≥F2 in NASH (AdjAUROC = 0.64). Performance of all biomarkers was reduced in HCV cases with normal ALT. CONCLUSIONS Aetiology is a major factor influencing the performance of liver fibrosis biomarkers. Even after correction for DANA, APRI and Fibrotest-Fibrosure exhibit the best performance. However, liver biopsy is not replaceable, especially to diagnose ≥F2 and in HCV carriers with normal ALT.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Sebastiani
- VIMM-Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
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723
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Kechagias S, Zanjani S, Gjellan S, Leinhard OD, Kihlberg J, Smedby O, Johansson L, Kullberg J, Ahlström H, Lindström T, Nystrom FH. Effects of moderate red wine consumption on liver fat and blood lipids: a prospective randomized study. Ann Med 2011; 43:545-54. [PMID: 21599573 DOI: 10.3109/07853890.2011.588246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There have been no human prospective randomized studies of the amount of alcohol that can induce hepatic steatosis. METHODS Thirty-two healthy women and twelve healthy men (34 ± 9 years of age) were randomized to consume 150 ml of red wine/day for women (16 g ethanol/day) or double that amount for men (33 g ethanol/day), or to alcohol abstention for 90 days. Participants underwent proton-nuclear magnetic-resonance spectroscopy for measurement of hepatic triglyceride content (HTGC). Blood samples for assessment of cardiovascular risk were drawn before and after the intervention. RESULTS After exclusion of three subjects with steatosis at baseline a trend towards increased HTGC was apparent for red wine (before median: 1.1%, range 0.2-3.9%, after median: 1.1%, range 0.5-5.2 %, P = 0.059) a difference that was statistically significant compared with abstainers (p = 0.02). However, no subject developed hepatic steatosis. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol was lowered by red wine (-0.3 mmol/l, SE -0.1, 95% CI -0.6 to -0.04). CONCLUSIONS Moderate consumption of red wine during three months increased HTGC in subjects without steatosis at baseline. However, since not a single participant developed steatosis we suggest that the threshold of alcohol consumption to define nonalcoholic fatty liver disease should not be lower than the amount in our study.
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Diagnosis and evaluation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES RESEARCH 2011; 2012:145754. [PMID: 22110476 PMCID: PMC3205741 DOI: 10.1155/2012/145754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2011] [Accepted: 08/31/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of elevated liver function tests results, after the commonly investigated causes have been excluded, and frequently coexists with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) because the conditions have common risk factors. As both T2DM and NAFLD are related to adverse outcomes of the other, diagnosis and valuation of fatty liver is an important part of the management of diabetes. Although noninvasive methods, such as biomarkers, panel markers, and imaging, may support a diagnostic evaluation of NAFLD patients, accurate histopathological findings cannot be achieved without a liver biopsy. As it is important to know whether steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis are present for the management of NAFLD, liver biopsy remains the gold standard for NAFLD diagnosis and evaluation. Therefore, new investigations of the pathogenesis of NAFLD are necessary to develop useful biomarkers that could provide a reliable noninvasive alternative to liver biopsy.
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726
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Hepatocellular carcinoma in Japanese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, and chronic liver disease of unknown etiology: report of the nationwide survey. J Gastroenterol 2011; 46:1230-7. [PMID: 21748549 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-011-0431-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2011] [Accepted: 05/31/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To clarify the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Japanese patients with non-viral liver disease, we performed a nationwide survey. The influence of obesity, lifestyle-related diseases, and alcohol consumption was focused on. METHODS A nationwide survey of 14,530 HCC patients was conducted in 2009. Clinical features were studied for HCC patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD-HCC; n = 292), alcoholic liver disease (ALC-HCC; n = 991), and chronic liver disease of unknown etiology (unknown HCC; n = 614). The unknown HCC was divided into two subgroups, a no alcohol intake group and a modest alcohol intake group. RESULTS ALC-HCC accounted for 7.2% of all HCC, followed by unknown HCC (5.1%) and NAFLD-HCC (2.0%). The characteristics of these three groups were clearly different (median age was 72 years for NAFLD-HCC, 68 years for ALC-HCC, and 73 years for unknown HCC, p < 0.01; female gender was 38, 4, and 37%, respectively, p < 0.01). Obesity and lifestyle-related diseases were significantly more frequent in NAFLD-HCC than in ALC-HCC and unknown HCC. The no alcohol intake subgroup of unknown HCC showed female predominance (58%) and was older, without a high prevalence of obesity and lifestyle-related diseases. In contrast, the modest alcohol intake subgroup showed the same trends regarding gender, body mass index, prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases, and liver function as the ALC-HCC group. CONCLUSIONS The clinical features of ALC-HCC, NAFLD-HCC, and unknown HCC were clearly different. Modest intake of alcohol might have a more significant role in hepatic carcinogenesis than is presently thought.
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Abstract
The rationale for specific pharmacologic therapy in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is determined by the potential for disease progression and the difficulties, in many patients, of successfully implementing diet and lifestyle changes over the long term. Owing to their ability to correct insulin resistance, insulin-sensitizing agents are attractive candidates for the treatment of NASH. In this review we provide an insight into the mechanism of action, therapeutic efficacy and safety issues regarding the use of glitazones in NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Pais
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Ioana Moraru
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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728
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Zelber-Sagi S, Ratziu V, Oren R. Nutrition and physical activity in NAFLD: an overview of the epidemiological evidence. World J Gastroenterol 2011; 17:3377-89. [PMID: 21876630 PMCID: PMC3160564 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i29.3377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2010] [Revised: 02/15/2011] [Accepted: 02/22/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been recognized as a major health burden. The high prevalence of NAFLD is probably due to the contemporary epidemics of obesity, unhealthy dietary pattern, and sedentary lifestyle. The efficacy and safety profile of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of NAFLD remains uncertain and obesity is strongly associated with hepatic steatosis; therefore, the first line of treatment is lifestyle modification. The usual management of NAFLD includes gradual weight reduction and increased physical activity (PA) leading to an improvement in serum liver enzymes, reduced hepatic fatty infiltration, and, in some cases, a reduced degree of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Nutrition has been demonstrated to be associated with NAFLD and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in both animals and humans, and thus serves as a major route of prevention and treatment. However, most human studies are observational and retrospective, allowing limited inference about causal associations. Large prospective studies and clinical trials are now needed to establish a causal relationship. Based on available data, patients should optimally achieve a 5%-10% weight reduction. Setting realistic goals is essential for long-term successful lifestyle modification and more effort must be devoted to informing NAFLD patients of the health benefits of even a modest weight reduction. Furthermore, all NAFLD patients, whether obese or of normal weight, should be informed that a healthy diet has benefits beyond weight reduction. They should be advised to reduce saturated/trans fat and increase polyunsaturated fat, with special emphasize on omega-3 fatty acids. They should reduce added sugar to its minimum, try to avoid soft drinks containing sugar, including fruit juices that contain a lot of fructose, and increase their fiber intake. For the heavy meat eaters, especially those of red and processed meats, less meat and increased fish intake should be recommended. Minimizing fast food intake will also help maintain a healthy diet. PA should be integrated into behavioral therapy in NAFLD, as even small gains in PA and fitness may have significant health benefits. Potentially therapeutic dietary supplements are vitamin E and vitamin D, but both warrant further research. Unbalanced nutrition is not only strongly associated with NAFLD, but is also a risk factor that a large portion of the population is exposed to. Therefore, it is important to identify dietary patterns that will serve as modifiable risk factors for the prevention of NAFLD and its complications.
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729
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Anstee QM, Daly AK, Day CP. Genetic modifiers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2011; 1812:1557-66. [PMID: 21840395 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2011.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2011] [Revised: 07/28/2011] [Accepted: 07/29/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now recognised as the most common cause of liver dysfunction worldwide. However, whilst the majority of individuals who exhibit features of the metabolic syndrome including obesity and insulin resistance will develop steatosis, only a minority progress to steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Subtle inter-patient genetic variations and environment interact to determine disease phenotype and influence progression. A decade after the sequencing of the human genome, the comprehensive study of genomic variation offers new insights into the modifier genes, pathogenic mechanisms and is beginning to suggest novel therapeutic targets. We review the current status of the field with particular focus on advances from recent genome-wide association studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin M Anstee
- Liver Research Group, Instiutte of Cellular Medicine, Teh Medical School, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcaltle-upon-Type, NE2 4HHK, UK
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730
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Dogru T, Genc H, Ercin CN, Tapan S. Non-invasive prediction of fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. J Hepatol 2011; 55:498-9; author reply 499-500. [PMID: 21236308 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2010.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2010] [Accepted: 12/19/2010] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
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Welzel TM, Graubard BI, Zeuzem S, El-Serag HB, Davila JA, McGlynn KA. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of primary liver cancer in the United States: a study in the SEER-Medicare database. Hepatology 2011; 54:463-71. [PMID: 21538440 PMCID: PMC4141525 DOI: 10.1002/hep.24397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 402] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2010] [Accepted: 04/16/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) have increased in the United States. Metabolic syndrome is recognized as a risk factor for HCC and a postulated one for ICC. The magnitude of risk, however, has not been investigated on a population level in the United States. We therefore examined the association between metabolic syndrome and the development of these cancers. All persons diagnosed with HCC and ICC between 1993 and 2005 were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. For comparison, a 5% sample of individuals residing in the same regions as the SEER registries of the cases was selected. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome as defined by the U.S. National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, and other risk factors for HCC (hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, alcoholic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, biliary cirrhosis, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease) and ICC (biliary cirrhosis, cholangitis, cholelithiasis, choledochal cysts, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease) were compared among persons who developed cancer and those who did not. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The inclusion criteria were met by 3649 HCC cases, 743 ICC cases, and 195,953 comparison persons. Metabolic syndrome was significantly more common among persons who developed HCC (37.1%) and ICC (29.7%) than the comparison group (17.1%, P<0.0001). In adjusted multiple logistic regression analyses, metabolic syndrome remained significantly associated with increased risk of HCC (odds ratio=2.13; 95% confidence interval=1.96-2.31, P<0.0001) and ICC (odds ratio=1.56; 95% confidence interval=1.32-1.83, P<0.0001). CONCLUSION Metabolic syndrome is a significant risk factor for development of HCC and ICC in the general U.S. population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania M. Welzel
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA,Klinikum der J.W. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Medizinische Klinik 1, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Barry I. Graubard
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stefan Zeuzem
- Klinikum der J.W. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Medizinische Klinik 1, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Hashem B. El-Serag
- Sections of Health Services Research and Gastroenterology, Michael E. Debakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Jessica A. Davila
- Sections of Health Services Research and Gastroenterology, Michael E. Debakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Katherine A. McGlynn
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA
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732
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Taskinen MR, Adiels M, Westerbacka J, Söderlund S, Kahri J, Lundbom N, Lundbom J, Hakkarainen A, Olofsson SO, Orho-Melander M, Borén J. Dual metabolic defects are required to produce hypertriglyceridemia in obese subjects. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2011; 31:2144-50. [PMID: 21778423 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.111.224808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death. However, not all obese subjects develop the metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanisms that induce dyslipidemia in obese subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS Stable isotope tracers were used to elucidate the pathophysiology of the dyslipidemia in hypertriglyceridemic (n=14) and normotriglyceridemic (n=14) obese men (with comparable body mass index and visceral fat volume) and in normotriglyceridemic nonobese men (n=10). Liver fat was determined using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and subcutaneous abdominal and visceral fat were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Serum triglycerides in obese subjects were increased by the combination of increased secretion and severely impaired clearance of triglyceride-rich very-low-density lipoprotein(1) particles. Furthermore, increased liver and subcutaneous abdominal fat were linked to increased secretion of very-low-density lipoprotein 1 particles, whereas increased plasma levels of apolipoprotein C-III were associated with impaired clearance in obese hypertriglyceridemic subjects. CONCLUSIONS Dual metabolic defects are required to produce hypertriglyceridemia in obese subjects with similar levels of visceral adiposity. The results emphasize the clinical importance of assessing hypertriglyceridemic waist in obese subjects to identify subjects at high cardiometabolic risk.
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733
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Marchesini G, Moscatiello S, Agostini F, Villanova N, Festi D. Treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with focus on emerging drugs. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2011; 16:121-36. [PMID: 21352073 DOI: 10.1517/14728214.2011.531700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. The economic and social cost of disease is very high and there is a need for effective treatments. AREAS COVERED The available and potential future treatments for NAFLD are reviewed. EXPERT OPINION Weight loss remains the cornerstone of treatment of hepatic steatosis, but difficult to pursue. A pragmatic approach relies on generic recommendations for weight loss and physical activity in the whole population and limiting interventions to subject at risk of disease progression, but the type of preferred treatment remains a matter of debate. The large number and mechanistic diversity of drugs that have so far been investigated bear testimony to the lack of a specific, effective agent. Insulin resistance remains the pivotal alteration responsible for liver disease and its progression and insulin sensitizers are regarded as the treatment of choice. Several ongoing studies are testing the effectiveness of new approaches on histological outcomes and new metabolic pathways are under scrutiny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Marchesini
- University of Bologna, Unit of Metabolic Diseases & Clinical Dietetics, 9, Via Massarenti, I-40138 Bologna, Italy.
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734
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Ratziu V, Pienar L. Pharmacological therapy for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: How efficient are thiazolidinediones? Hepatol Res 2011; 41:687-95. [PMID: 21711428 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2011.00825.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although diet and lifestyle changes are the first-line therapy in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), few patients are able to successfully implement these measures over the long run while others have an advanced disease requiring specific pharmacological therapy. Because insulin resistance is the underlying condition favoring the occurrence of NASH, insulin sensitizers have been tested in this condition although available trials are heterogenous in terms of choice of the drug, dosage, length of therapy and patient profile. Overall, thiazolidinediones reduce aminotransferase levels and induce a strong anti-steatogenic response. Most studies have shown an improvement in inflammation and liver cell injury while none have convincingly demonstrated an effect on fibrosis regression. The optimal duration of therapy is unknown as prolonged therapy does not seem to induce additional histological benefit. Although some tolerance issues and safety concerns, in particular cardiovascular, have been raised, thiazolidinediones are the class of drugs with the largest body of evidence in the treatment of NASH so far and can be successfully used in some patients with this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Ratziu
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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735
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Sanyal AJ, Brunt EM, Kleiner DE, Kowdley KV, Chalasani N, Lavine JE, Ratziu V, McCullough A. Endpoints and clinical trial design for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatology 2011; 54:344-53. [PMID: 21520200 PMCID: PMC4014460 DOI: 10.1002/hep.24376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 551] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a common cause of chronic liver disease in the general population. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the aggressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is associated with an increased risk of liver-related mortality and cardiovascular disease. At present, a liver biopsy is the only generally acceptable method for the diagnosis of NASH and assessment of its progression toward cirrhosis. Although several treatments have shown evidence of efficacy in clinical trials of varying design, there are no approved treatments for NASH, and published trials are often too divergent to allow meaningful comparisons. There is thus a lack of established noninvasive, point-of-care diagnostics and approved treatment on one hand and a substantial population burden of disease on the other. These provide the rationale for developing consensus on key endpoints and clinical trial design for NASH. CONCLUSION This article summarizes the consensus arrived at a meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases on the key endpoints and specific trial design issues that are germane for development of diagnostic biomarkers and treatment trials for NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun J Sanyal
- Department of Gastroenterology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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736
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Della Corte C, Alisi A, Iorio R, Alterio A, Nobili V. Expert opinion on current therapies for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2011; 12:1901-11. [PMID: 21639814 DOI: 10.1517/14656566.2011.587123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly becoming one of most common liver diseases in industrialized countries owing to the increasing prevalence of obesity and being overweight. Until now, loss of weight and physical activity have represented the cornerstone of treatment, but they are very difficult to achieve and to maintain. Therefore, new treatments based on pathogenetic mechanisms leading to NAFLD are under evaluation to establish an effective pharmacological therapy for this disorder. AREAS COVERED An overview of current therapeutic interventions to treat NAFLD is given. This review provides evidence of the efficacy of natural and pharmacological agents used so far in the treatment of both adult and pediatric NAFLD, on the basis of clinical trials published in the last 10 years. EXPERT OPINION In the last 10 years, many pharmacological agents on the basis of the pathogenetic mechanism of NAFLD have been attempted, but so far guidelines for the management of NAFLD are lacking. We believe that the advance in the understanding of pathogenesis and factors involved in the progression of the disease may disclose the way to defining new, solid, therapeutic strategies. A multidisciplinary approach considering the risk factors and comorbidities of fatty liver will represent in the future a successful therapeutic strategy for NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Della Corte
- Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Liver Research Unit, IRCCS, Piazzale S. Onofrio 4, Rome, Italy
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737
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Day CP. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a massive problem. CLINICAL MEDICINE (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2011. [PMID: 21526706 DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.11-2-1761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P Day
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University.
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738
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Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) frequently coexist as they share the pathogenic abnormalities of excess adiposity and insulin resistance. Although type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is due to a relative lack of insulin, an increased prevalence of obesity and insulin resistance in this population means that NAFLD also commonly coexists with this condition. Both T2DM and NAFLD are associated with adverse outcomes of the other; T2DM is a risk factor for progressive liver disease and liver-related death in patients with NAFLD, whereas NAFLD may be a marker of cardiovascular risk and mortality in individuals with T2DM. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-a histological subtype of NAFLD characterized by hepatocyte injury and inflammation-is present in approximately 10% of patients with T2DM and is associated with an increased risk for the development of cirrhosis and liver-related death. Current treatment strategies aim to improve insulin resistance via weight loss and exercise, improve insulin sensitivity by the use of insulin-sensitizing agents (for example, pioglitazone) and reduce oxidative stress by the use of antioxidants, such as vitamin E. Pioglitazone and vitamin E supplementation show the most promise in improving hepatic steatosis and inflammation but have not yet been demonstrated to improve fibrosis, and concern remains regarding the toxicity of long-term use of both of these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briohny W Smith
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Unit, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
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739
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Leite NC, Villela-Nogueira CA, Pannain VLN, Bottino AC, Rezende GFM, Cardoso CRL, Salles GF. Histopathological stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetes: prevalences and correlated factors. Liver Int 2011; 31:700-6. [PMID: 21457442 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02482.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, data regarding the prevalence and correlates of its histopathological stages are scarce. The aim was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of the more severe histopathological features of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and advanced fibrosis, in T2DM. METHODS From 125 patients with ultrasonographic evidence of NAFLD, 98 patients underwent liver biopsies, which were examined by two independent pathologists regarding the presence of NASH and graded according to the NASH Clinical Research Network scoring system. Agreement between pathologists was assessed by weighted κ coefficients and independent correlates of NASH and advanced fibrosis (grade ≥ 2) by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS Ninety-two (94%) patients presented histological NAFLD. Interobserver agreement was substantial to excellent for NASH diagnosis (κ=0.82) and steatosis grading (κ=0.76), and moderate for the NAFLD activity score (κ=0.58) and fibrosis grading (κ=0.52). The prevalence of NASH was 78%, and its independent correlates were hypertriglyceridaemia (P=0.034), high alanine aminotranferase level (P=0.044) and low serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P=0.079). The prevalence of advanced fibrosis ranged from 34% in the best scenario (lowest fibrosis score) to 60% in the worst scenario (highest score). Its independent correlates were a high serum γ-glutamyl transferase (P=0.002), older age (P=0.022) and male gender (P=0.064). No diabetes-related clinical characteristic was associated with NASH or advanced liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of the severe features of NAFLD is high in T2DM patients. Liver biopsy shall be considered in all diabetic patients with ultrasonographic evidence of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie C Leite
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School and University Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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740
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Lackner C. Hepatocellular ballooning in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: the pathologist's perspective. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011; 5:223-31. [PMID: 21476917 DOI: 10.1586/egh.11.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important complication of the metabolic syndrome. The increasing prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is paralleled by an increasing prevalence of NAFLD, which has become one of the most common chronic liver diseases. NAFLD comprises a morphological spectrum ranging from nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), characterized by accumulation of fat in hepatocytes, to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The key histological features of NASH accepted by most pathologists include steatosis, hepatocellular ballooning and lobular inflammation, whereas, like in other chronic liver diseases, the presence of fibrosis is not considered a requirement for the diagnosis. The diagnosis of NASH and the distinction from NAFL carries important prognostic and therapeutic implications because NASH, in contrast to NAFL, is associated with an increased risk of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular ballooning is a key feature required for the diagnosis of NASH and a component of currently used histological grading and staging systems of NAFLD. However, it represents an ill-defined form of liver cell injury associated with cell swelling and rounding of the cytoplasm, the detection of which is prone to intra- as well as inter-observer variation. Some of the factors that may contribute to ballooning are the rearrangement of the intermediate filament cytoskeleton, accumulation of small-droplet fat in the cytoplasm and dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum. The rearrangement of the intermediate filament cytoskeleton can be demonstrated by the loss of keratin 8/18 immunostaining of the cytoplasm, and may thus be evaluated in the future as a marker for the more objective detection of hepatocellular ballooning in NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Lackner
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 25, A-8010 Graz, Austria.
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741
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Lonardo A, Bellentani S, Ratziu V, Loria P. Insulin resistance in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: necessary but not sufficient - death of a dogma from analysis of therapeutic studies? Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011; 5:279-89. [PMID: 21476922 DOI: 10.1586/egh.11.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Studies on pathogenesis tend to blame insulin resistance as the chief pathogenic agent in the development and progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this article, studies reporting histological changes induced by pharmacological therapy and nonpharmacological interventions in NASH are critically reviewed, assuming that analysis of morphological findings can provide further insight into the pathogenesis of NASH. PubMed database analysis provided 16 studies describing light microscopy in adults and three in children; ultrastructural analysis was conducted through electron microscopy in two human and four animal studies. Analysis of the data disclosed methodological issues, such as variable histological criteria, limited series, failure to stratify enrolled patients for their risk of progression and very few electron microscopy studies. Moreover, no particularly convincing 'proof-of-concept' study that might assist in understanding the pathogenesis of NASH was found. It is noteworthy that insulin sensitizers fail to treat NASH in all cases, do not reverse or even worsen mitochondrial abnormalities in NASH and, conversely, histological improvement of disease, at least in some patients, is observed with agents acting through mechanisms other than insulin sensitization, such as vitamin E. The finding that correction of insulin resistance may not be sufficient to successfully treat NASH in the majority of patients seems to conflict with studies on pathogenesis. This might imply that NASH is the shared end result of varying pathogenic mechanisms concurring to determine liver damage to a variable extent in the individual patients. If this hypothesis is true, we should try to tailor treatment to each subject.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amedeo Lonardo
- Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Azienda USL di Modena, Modena, Italy.
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742
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Miller MH, Ferguson MAJ, Dillon JF. Systematic review of performance of non-invasive biomarkers in the evaluation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Liver Int 2011; 31:461-73. [PMID: 21382157 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02451.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
This systematic review evaluates the many studies carried out to discover and evaluate non-invasive markers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Many different strategies and methods have been used in this task, from the discovery of new markers by global 'shotgun' studies to hypothesis-driven approaches, to the development of algorithm tests based on routinely available clinical and biochemical parameters. We examined the various different approaches, summarising the findings in an attempt to give an overview of the field of non-invasive markers in NAFLD, encompassing markers of steatosis, necro-inflammation and fibrosis. The body of literature surrounding this topic is complex and varied, encompassing not only different methodologies but also different patient characteristics, different disease definitions, as well as different end points. This reflects the heterogeneity of NAFLD, which, however, introduces considerably difficulty when trying to draw a conclusion between studies. We have divided this review into three main chapters based on the characteristics of the studies. The Genomics/Proteomics chapter reviews studies using a non-hypothesis-driven approach to biomarker discovery. Thereafter, we evaluate studies of association - studies that target-specific markers, comparing levels between disease and control groups. Finally, we examine the algorithm tests - mathematical systems developed on the basis of previously described markers and assessed, usually, by receiver operator curve analysis. While radiological examination and investigations offer important diagnostic information, such studies are not discussed in this review - the body of literature surrounding blood and anthropological markers is complex and varied, demanding close attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H Miller
- Biomedical Research Institute, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK.
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743
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Machado MV, Cortez-Pinto H. Cell death and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: where is ballooning relevant? Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011; 5:213-22. [PMID: 21476916 DOI: 10.1586/egh.11.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of liver disease in the Western world. Progression to more aggressive forms of liver injury, such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis, occurs in less than a third of affected subjects. Human data and both in vivo and in vitro models demonstrate that cell death, particularly apoptosis, is increased in NAFLD and NASH patients, suggesting that it is crucial in disease progression. Indeed, fatty acids - more specifically, saturated fatty acids - strongly induce hepatocyte apoptosis. In addition, hepatic steatosis renders hepatocytes more susceptible to apoptotic injury. Ballooned hepatocytes and Mallory-Denk bodies are important hallmarks of NASH and correlate with disease progression. There are complex correlations between ballooning, Mallory-Denk bodies and apoptosis through keratin metabolism and depletion, as well as through the endoplasmic reticulum stress response. Whether apoptosis may promote hepatocellular ballooning, or vice versa, will be discussed in this article.
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744
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Lonardo A, Loria P, Argo C, Caldwell S. Perspectives on cellular dysfunction in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: a case of 'multiorganelle failure'? Proceedings of a virtual workshop on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011; 5:135-9. [PMID: 21476906 DOI: 10.1586/egh.11.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amedeo Lonardo
- Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Azienda USL di Modena, Modena, Italy.
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745
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P Day
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University.
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746
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747
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Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the USA and many other parts of the world. Its prevalence continues to rise; currently affecting about one in four adults and 10% of children in the USA. NAFLD represents a wide spectrum of conditions ranging from fatty liver, which in general follows a benign, no-progressive clinical course, to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a more serious form of NAFLD that may progress to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. Currently, the diagnosis of NASH requires an invasive liver biopsy with drawbacks of sampling and interpretation error. Clinical risk factors for NASH include diabetes and the metabolic syndrome; however, these are not sufficiently predictive of the condition by themselves. Routine liver enzyme levels are not reliable; however, novel plasma hepatocyte cell death markers either alone or in combination with clinical risk factors are potential non-invasive diagnostic tools for the future. This review provides a concise overview of the role non-invasive diagnostic tools for the differentiation of fatty liver from NASH as well as for the determination of presence and extent of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon A Adams
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Unit, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
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748
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Abstract
In 1980, Ludwig and colleagues described a series of patients with liver histology characterized by the accumulation of fat and the presence of hepatic necroinflammation in the absence of a history of excessive alcohol consumption. They coined the term nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which today is regarded as one of the most common causes of liver disease in affluent countries. NASH is a subset of a larger spectrum of diseases termed fatty liver disease (including alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; AFLD and NAFLD, respectively). NAFLD and NASH are linked to visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes, and are increasing due to the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. In this context, research has been undertaken using animals to model human steatosis and NAFLD to NASH disease progression. This Review discusses the prevalent dietary and inflammation-based genetic animal models described in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Hebbard
- Storr Liver Unit, Westmead Millennium Institute and Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Darcy Road, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
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749
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Ratziu V, Caldwell S, Neuschwander-Tetri BA. Therapeutic trials in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: insulin sensitizers and related methodological issues. Hepatology 2010; 52:2206-15. [PMID: 21105109 DOI: 10.1002/hep.24042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Insulin sensitizers are attractive candidate therapies for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis mainly because of the strong association between this disease and insulin resistance. This review provides a critical overview of the mechanisms of action, clinical trial results, and safety issues of metformin and glitazones in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. It also highlights methodological challenges for trial design and proposes endpoints for future proof of principle, registrational, and postmarketing trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Ratziu
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, INSERM UMRS 893 Paris, France.
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750
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Yki-Järvinen H. Nutritional modulation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and insulin resistance: human data. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2010; 13:709-14. [PMID: 20842026 DOI: 10.1097/mco.0b013e32833f4b34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Concomitant with the obesity epidemic, a fatty liver due to nonalcoholic causes has become the most common liver disorder. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) covers a range from benign steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which in turn may progress to cirrhosis. NAFLD predicts, independent of obesity, the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes and can progress to cirrhosis. This review focuses on studies in humans addressing effects of dietary changes in NAFLD. RECENT FINDINGS Cross-sectionally, increased intake of fructose and simple sugars characterizes patients with NAFLD compared with weight-matched controls. Increased fructose intake is also associated with hepatic insulin resistance and fibrosis severity in NASH. Intake of saturated fat may also be increased in NAFLD. Dietary intervention studies have shown that liver volume and fat content changes significantly within a few days in response to caloric restriction or excess despite no or small changes in body weight. Weight loss by bariatric surgery decreases liver fat and inflammation but effects on fibrosis are uncertain. Hepatic insulin sensitivity generally changes in parallel with changes in liver fat content in NAFLD. Human data are limited regarding effects of isocaloric changes in diet composition on liver fat content. SUMMARY Maintenance of normal body weight and avoidance of intake of excess lipogenic simple sugars would seem beneficial for prevention of NAFLD and its metabolic consequences.
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