Project description:Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are serious health problems worldwide. These two diseases have similar pathological spectra, ranging from simple hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although most subjects with excessive alcohol or food intake experience simple hepatic steatosis, a small percentage of individuals will develop progressive liver disease. Notably, both ALD and NAFLD are frequently accompanied by extrahepatic complications, including cardiovascular disease and malignancy. The survival of patients with ALD and NAFLD depends on various disease-associated conditions. This review delineates the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with ALD and NAFLD by comparing their epidemiology, the factors associated with disease susceptibility and progression, and the predictors and characteristics of outcomes. A comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and outcomes of ALD and NAFLD is imperative in the management of these chronic liver diseases.
Project description:PURPOSE: Altered redox status has been implicated in pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) as well as in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study was planned to find the relative role of redox status in these two diseases. METHODS: A total of 44 patients with ALD and 32 patients with NAFLD and 25 apparently healthy controls were included in the study. Redox status was estimated by measuring oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation products as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)) and antioxidant status (ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and vitamin C). RESULTS: TBARS level was raised significantly in both ALD (3.5 (2.3-9.4) vs. 1.8 (0.5-4.1) nmol/ml; P = 0.0001) and NAFLD (5.1 (1-10.2) vs. 1.82 (0.51-4.1) nmol/ml; P = 0.0001) as compared with controls, but was not different between ALD and NAFLD. SOD was significantly higher in ALD as compared to NAFLD (2.4 (1.3-7.8) vs. 0.68 (0.05-19.1) U/ml; P = 0.0001) and controls (1.12 (0.01-3.5) U/ml; P = 0.001). FRAP was lower in ALD as compared with NAFLD (345.4 (56-615.9) vs. 434.1 (197.6-733.3) mumol of Fe(+2) liberated; P = 0.001) but similar to that of controls (340.9 (141.5-697.5) mumol of Fe(+2) liberated). CONCLUSIONS: ALD patients have a higher degree of redox imbalance as compared with NAFLD patients.
Project description:BackgroundSteatotic liver disease (SLD) encompasses metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD) at extremes as well as an overlap group termed MASLD with increased alcohol intake (MetALD). The Alcoholic Liver Disease/Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Index (ANI) was proposed to differentiate ALD from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We analysed the performance of the ANI in differentiating within the SLD spectrum.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study at a tertiary care center, 202 adults (>18 years) who were prospectively diagnosed with SLD defined by magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction >6.4% were enrolled. Alcohol consumption (AC) was recorded according to thresholds for significant AC: 140-350 g/week (or 20-50 g/day) for females and 210-420 g/week (or 30-60 g/day) for males. The ANI was calculated, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was generated.ResultsOf 202 patients (47 years [interquartile range, IQR, 38 to 55], 23.75% females, 77% obese, 42.1% with diabetes, 38.1% hypertensive, 28.7% statin use), 40.5% were ever-alcohol consumers; 120 (59%), 50 (24.7%), and 32 (15.8%) were MASLD (ANI, -3.7 [IQR, -7 to -1.6]; MetALD, - 1.45 [IQR, -2.4 to 0.28]; and AALD, 0.71 [IQR, -1.3 to 4.8], respectively; P<0.05 for all). The AUROC of the ANI for MASLD and AALD was 0.79 (IQR, 0.72 to 0.84; cut-off <-3.5) and 0.80 (IQR, 0.74 to 0.86; cut-off >-1.49), respectively. The ANI outperformed aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase (AST/ALT) ratio (AUROC=0.75 [IQR, 0.69 to 0.81]) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) (AUROC=0.74 [IQR, 0.67 to 0.80]). Addition of GGT did not improve model performance (AUCdiff=0.004; P=0.33).ConclusionAC is common in MASLD. The ANI distinguishes MASLD and AALD, with individual cut-offs within the intermediate zone indicating MetALD. ANI also outperforms AST/ALT ratio or GGT.
Project description:ObjectiveManagement of coagulopathy in chronic liver disease (CLD) poses a challenge for critical care physicians. Prothrombinex®-VF is a low-volume product with rapid onset of action. Evidence for its efficacy and safety in CLD is limited and cases of acute intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis (AICF) and/or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) have been reported. Our objective was to evaluate the role of Prothrombinex®-VF in reversal of coagulopathy and the incidence AICF/DIC, thromboembolic events and mortality.MethodsThis was a retrospective, multi-centre study of Prothrombinex®-VF use in CLD across 11 hospitals over a 2-year period, excluding those on therapeutic anticoagulation. Patients were subclassified into acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF), acute decompensation (ADC) and compensated cirrhosis. Reversal of coagulopathy was defined as international normalised ratio (INR) <1.5× upper limit normal (ULN), prothrombin time <1.5× ULN, activated partial thromboplastin time <1.5× ULN and fibrinogen >1 g/L. Markers of AICF/DIC were recorded.ResultsThirty CLD patients were included, and the median model for end-stage liver disease score was 23.5. Acute bleeding was the most common indication for Prothrombinex®-VF (60%). All had baseline coagulopathy and the majority did not achieve reversal. Key indicators of AICF/DIC were mainly observed in those with ACLF; bleeding from mucosa or lines (53%), worsening hypofibrinogenaemia (60%), worsening thrombocytopaenia (60%). The ADC and compensated cirrhosis groups were relatively unaffected. Incidence of venous thromboembolism was 6%. Overall mortality was 43% and 70% in ACLF.ConclusionProthrombinex®-VF did not lead to meaningful reversal of coagulopathy and should be used with caution in CLD. Patients with ACLF were more likely to develop AICF/DIC following Prothrombinex®-VF, although the association is uncertain. Further studies are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Prothrombinex®-VF use in CLD.
Project description:Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting 7-10 million people worldwide. Currently, there is no treatment available to prevent or delay PD progression, partially due to the limited understanding of the pathological events which lead to the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra in the brain, which is known to be the cause of PD symptoms. The current available treatments aim at compensating dopamine (DA) deficiency in the brain using its precursor levodopa, dopaminergic agonists and some indirect dopaminergic agents. The immune system is emerging as a critical player in PD. Therefore, immune-based approaches have recently been proposed to be used as potential antiparkinsonian agents. It has been well-known that dopaminergic pathways play a significant role in regulating immune responses in the brain. Although dopaminergic agents are the primary antiparkinsonian treatments, their immune regulatory effect has yet to be fully understood. The present review summarises the current available evidence of the immune regulatory effects of DA and its mimics and discusses dopaminergic agents as antiparkinsonian drugs. Based on the current understanding of their involvement in the regulation of neuroinflammation in PD, we propose that targeting immune pathways involved in PD pathology could offer a better treatment outcome for PD patients.
Project description:In the United States, chronic viral hepatitis B and C (CHB and CHC), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) are the main causes of liver deaths attributable to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis. Our aim was to assess the changes in the rates of mortality and years of potential life lost (YLL) for HCC and cirrhosis due to different liver diseases. We used multiple-cause mortality data (2007-2017) from the National Center for Health Statistics. Annual percentage change (APC) in age-standardized death rate per 100,000 (ASDR) and age-standardized years of life lost per 100,000 (ASYLLR) were calculated. In the United States in 2017, there were 2,797,265 deaths with 73,424 liver deaths, contributing to 1,467,742 of YLL. Of the liver deaths, HCC was noted in 12,169 (16.6%) and cirrhosis in 60,111 (82.0%). CHC was responsible for 50.4% of HCC deaths; NAFLD, 35.4%; HBV, 6.0%; ALD, 5.4%; and others, 2.8%. NAFLD was responsible for 48.9% of cirrhosis deaths; ALD, 34.7%; CHC, 12.3%; CHB, 0.9%; and others, 3.2%. Between 2007 and 2017, the increase in ASDR for HCC due to ALD and NAFLD accelerated after 2014 (APC, 11.38% and 6.55%, respectively) whereas CHC stabilized (APC, 0.63%; P = 0.272) after 2011. The increase in ASYLLR of HCC escalated after 2014 for ALD and NAFLD (APC, 12.12% and 6.15%, respectively) and leveled out for CHC after 2012 (APC, -1.05%; P = 0.056). Furthermore, the highest annual increase in ASDR and ASYLLR for cirrhosis was due to ALD (APC, 3.24% and 3.34%, respectively) followed by NAFLD (APC, 1.23% and 0.49%, respectively). Conclusion: Over the past decade, ASDR and ASYLLR due to ALD and NAFLD have been increasing in the United States. The rising burden of HCC and cirrhosis are primarily driven by NAFLD and ALD.
Project description:Background and aimsAlcoholic liver disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have become common chronic liver diseases. Recent evidence has shown the value of transient elastography (TE) in the context of ALD/NAFLD. The aim of this study is to investigate the accuracy of TE for diagnosing steatosis and fibrosis in ALD/NAFLD patients.MethodsWe retrieved relevant English studies from the databases of PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library through March 31st 2019. We included studies regarding the diagnosis or staging of steatosis or fibrosis by using controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) or liver stiffness measurement (LSM) measured by TE in patients with ALD or NAFLD. The reference standard of all included studies was liver biopsy. A random-effects model was applied. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA.ResultsA total of 62 articles were included and analyzed in our meta-analysis. In patients with ALD/NAFLD, the pooled results revealed that the sensitivity and specificity of CAP were 0.84, 0.83, and 0.78 and 0.83, 0.71, and 0.62 for steatosis grades ≥ S1, ≥S2, and =S3, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of LSM for identifying fibrosis grades ≥ F1, ≥F2, ≥F3, and =F4 were 0.77, 0.77, 0.83, and 0.91 and 0.80, 0.82, 0.84, and 0.86, respectively.ConclusionIn patients with ALD/NAFLD, CAP was feasible for identifying and screening steatosis, and LSM was accurate for diagnosing fibrosis, especially severe fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Project description:The abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver is often related either to metabolic risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome in the absence of alcohol consumption (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD) or to chronic alcohol consumption (alcoholic fatty liver disease, AFLD). Clinical and histological studies suggest that NAFLD and AFLD share pathogenic mechanisms. Nevertheless, current data are still inconclusive as to whether the underlying biological process and disease pathways of NAFLD and AFLD are alike. Our primary aim was to integrate omics and physiological data to answer the question of whether NAFLD and AFLD share molecular processes that lead to disease development. We also explored the extent to which insulin resistance (IR) is a distinctive feature of NAFLD. To answer these questions, we used systems biology approaches, such as gene enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction networks, and gene prioritization, based on multi-level data extracted by computational data mining. We observed that the leading disease pathways associated with NAFLD did not significantly differ from those of AFLD. However, systems biology revealed the importance of each molecular process behind each of the two diseases, and dissected distinctive molecular NAFLD and AFLD-signatures. Comparative co-analysis of NAFLD and AFLD clarified the participation of NAFLD, but not AFLD, in cardiovascular disease, and showed that insulin signaling is impaired in fatty liver regardless of the noxa, but the putative regulatory mechanisms associated with NAFLD seem to encompass a complex network of genes and proteins, plausible of epigenetic modifications. Gene prioritization showed a cancer-related functional map that suggests that the fatty transformation of the liver tissue is regardless of the cause, an emerging mechanism of ubiquitous oncogenic activation. In conclusion, similar underlying disease mechanisms lead to NAFLD and AFLD, but specific ones depict a particular disease signature that has a different impact on the systemic context.
Project description:ContextNonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the major chronic liver disease in the pediatric population. NAFLD includes a broad spectrum of abnormalities (inflammation, fibrosis and cirrhosis), ranging from accumulation of fat (also known as steatosis) towards non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The development of NAFLD in children is significantly increased.Evidence acquisitionA literature search of electronic databases was undertaken for the major studies published from 1998 to today. The databases searched were: PubMed, EMBASE, Orphanet, Midline and Cochrane Library. We used the key words: "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, children, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and fatty liver".ResultsNAFLD/NASH is probably promoted by "multiple parallel hits": environmental and genetic factors, systemic immunological disorders (oxidative stress, persistent-low grade of inflammation) as well as obesity and metabolic alterations (insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome). However its exact cause still underdiagnosed and unknown.ConclusionsPediatric NAFLD/NASH is emerging problem. Longitudinal follow-up studies, unfortunately still insufficient, are needed to better understand the natural history and outcome of NAFLD in children. This review focuses on the current knowledge regarding the epidemiology, pathogenesis, environmental, genetic and metabolic factors of disease. The review also highlights the importance of studying the underlying mechanisms of pediatric NAFLD and the need for complete and personalized approach in the management of NAFLD/NASH.