Background HCV infection induces hepatic and extra-hepatic damage that includes kidney and neurocognitive dysfunction. Tryptophan (Trp) is catabolized into immunosuppressive kynurenine (Kyn) by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophan 2,3 dioxegenase (TDO). Increased Trp catabolism measured by Kyn/Trp ratio has been associated with neurocognitive impairment and immune dysfunction in HIV...

A seventy-three year-old patient with prostate cancer underwent radical prostatectomy, followed by total androgen brocking therapy using flutamide and LH-RH agonist. As Hepatic dysfunction (GPT = 3.045 IU/l) was noticed by periodic blood analysis, flutamide was stopped and he was hospitalized immediately without any subjective symptoms. Ten days after the admission, he developed massive bleedin...

Objective(s): Iron is an essential element for living organisms. Iron overload can have detrimental effects on health. This study pertains to the protective role of berberine against ferrous sulfate-induced hepatic and renal functional disorders and histological damages in rats.Materials and Methods: The rats were divided into four groups (n=7): Sham, Ber (10 mg/kg/day for 14 days, by gavage), ...

A case of hepatic abscess and subsequent septicemia caused by Clostridium bifermentans is described. The abscess manifested itself on the third day after blunt trauma to the torso. The patient had nausea, vomiting, fever, evidence of hepatic dysfunction, and subphrenic gas. This case illustrates the association of hepatic abscess and blunt trauma to the torso.

The pharmacokinetic profile of atracurium was studied in normal patients and in patients with renal failure, renal-hepatic failure, or hepatic disease. Its short elimination half-life was not significantly altered by renal failure, but in patients with severe liver disease elimination of its metabolites was prolonged, necessitating care during long-term i.v. infusions in patients with hepatic d...

Background: Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/RI) is a multifactorial pathophysiologic process which can lead to liver damage and dysfunction. This study examined the protective effect of dexamethasone on the gene expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) and on the liver tissue damage during warm hepatic I/R. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 mal...

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) has been implicated in the hepatic microvascular dysfunction elicited by gut ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Although the effects of chronic ethanol (EtOH) consumption on the liver are well known, it remains unclear whether this condition renders the hepatic microcirculation more vulnerable to the deleterious effects of gut and/or hepatic I/R. The objectiv...