Hepatitis B virus infection combined with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Interaction and prognosis

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still one kind of the infectious diseases that seriously threaten human health. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. HBV infection complicated with NAFLD is increasingly common. This review mainly describes the interaction between HBV infection and NAFLD, the interaction between steatosis and antiviral drugs, and the prognosis of HBV infection complicated with NAFLD. Most studies suggest that HBV infection may reduce the incidence of NAFLD. NAFLD can promote the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), but whether it affects antiviral efficacy has been reported inconsistently. HBV infection combined with NAFLD can promote the progression of liver fibrosis, especially in patients with severe steatosis. The outcome of HBV infection combined with NAFLD predisposing to the progression of HCC remains controversial.

Oncostatin M is a novel biomarker for coronary artery disease - A possibility as a screening tool of silent myocardial ischemia for diabetes mellitus

Objective

Oncostatin M (OSM) is an inflammatory cytokine of the interleukin-6 family which plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Therefore, we tested our hypothesis that serum OSM levels are increased in patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD).

Methods and results

Serum OSM level was measured by sandwich technique immunoassay in 315 consecutive patients and who underwent coronary angiography at the International University of Health and Welfare Hospital from April 2019 to March 2021. A diagnosis of CAD was made in 169 patients. Serum OSM levels were significantly higher in patients with significant coronary stenosis compared to those without it. [123.0 ± 46.7 pg/mL (n = 169) vs. 98.3 ± 47.9 pg/mL (n = 146), p < 0.001]. A positive correlation was noted between serum OSM levels and severity and complexity of coronary stenosis. Importantly, the coronary revascularization significantly decreased the serum OSM levels. We furthermore detected a positive correlation between serum OSM levels and HbA1c levels. Finally, our data suggested that 120 pg/mL of serum OSM was the potential cutoff value for screening of silent myocardial ischemia related with diabetic mellitus (DM).

Conclusion

Serum OSM can be a novel biomarker for CAD and may be useful for the screening of asymptomatic CAD in patients with DM.

Comparison of the Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry reference method and CDC method for HDL and LDL cholesterol measurements using fresh sera

Objectives

In 2009, the Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry (JSCC) recommended a reference method for the measurement of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. This automated method uses cholesterol esterase-cholesterol dehydrogenase to measure cholesterol levels in fractions obtained after ultracentrifugation and dextran sulfate/magnesium chloride precipitation. In the present study, using fresh samples, we compared the LDL-C and HDL-C levels measured using this method with those measured using the traditional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-beta-quantification (BQ) method.

Design

and methods: Using both the JSCC and CDC-BQ methods, LDL-C/HDL-C levels were measured in 47 non-diseased and 126 diseased subjects, whose triglyceride levels were lower than 11.29 ​mmol/L (1000 ​mg/dL).

Results

For LDL-C, the equation of the line representing the correlation between the two methods was y ​= ​0.991x + 0.009 ​mmol/L; r ​= ​0.999; and Sy/x ​= ​0.025 ​mmol/L, where x is the mean LDL-C level measured using the CDC-BQ method. Similarly, for HDL-C, the equation of the line representing the correlation between the two methods was y ​= ​0.988x + 0.041 ​mmol/L, r ​= ​0.999, and Sy/x ​= ​0.019 ​mmol/L, where x is the mean HDL-C level measured using the CDC-BQ method.

Conclusions

The JSCC method agreed with the CDC-BQ method in cases of both non-diseased and diseased subjects, including those with dyslipidemia.

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Using both the JSCC and BQ methods, LDL-C/HDL-C levels were measured.

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The JSCC method agrees with the BQ method.

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The JSCC reference method is an accurate, simple, and automatable method.

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The JSCC method is suitable for quantitative analysis of LDL-C and HDL-C levels.

Fenugreek a multipurpose crop: Potentialities and improvements

Fenugreek is one of the oldest medicinal plants with exceptional medicinal and nutritional profile. Fenugreek seeds contain a substantial amount of fiber, phospholipids, glycolipids, oleic acid, linolenic acid, linoleic acid, choline, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, nicotinic acid, niacin, and many other functional elements. It may grow well under diverse and a wide range of conditions; it is moderately tolerant to drought and salinity, and can even be grown on marginal lands in profitable way. Owing to these characteristics and heavy metal remediation potential, fenugreek may well fit several cropping systems. In addition to its medicinal uses, it may serve as an excellent off-season fodder and animal food supplement. However, efforts should be initiated to develop strategies for improving its biomass production; genetic diversity among different accessions may be mapped, breeding and crop improvement programs may be initiated to improve the biomass and nutritional and functional elements. This review highlights the morphology, adaptability, nutritional constituents and associated functionality and medicinal significance of fenugreek; its ethno-historical uses, pharmacological assumptions have also been discussed. Researchable areas are also indicated to improve its production and adaptability.