TRANSAMINASES are among the enzyme requiring pyridoxal-5 phosphate as a co-factor (1). Tn the course of studies on the presence of the apoenzyme of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) in the serum, it was found that the malic dehydrogenase preparations, which are used in the Karmen (2) transaminase assay system, had variable amounts of apotransaminase. The studies reported below present the...

Chronic hepatitis was diagnosed on liver biopsy of 76 patients; 52 (68%)had HBsAg. Of the 52 patients with HBsAg, 23% had HBsAg shown by immunofluorescence on the liver, while it could not be detected with radioimmunoassay on the serum; 77% had HBsAg detectable in liver and in serum, and none had HBsAg in serum only. HBsAg was detected more frequently in chronic aggressive hepatitis and active ...

H epatotoxicity is an often reported side effect of azathioprine treatment, which requires monitoring of serum transaminases and c-glutamyltransferase (cGT), especially during the first 6 months of treatment. This case report, however, illustrates that side effects of azathioprine can also occur after a longer period of treatment. We report a case of sinusoidal dilatation as a rare side effect ...

Ethanol extract of leaves and flavonoid (isolated from leaves extract) from Tephrosia purpurea were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in rats by inducing hepatotoxicity with carbon tetrachloride. These fractions were administered orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day. Serum level of transaminases, alkaline phosphate, and total bilirubin were used as biochemical markers of hepatotoxicity. Hist...

An alcoholic extract of the leaves of Premna tomentosa Willd at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in albino rats. The extract caused reduction in the weight of spleen, thymus and adrenals. It reduced cotton pellet granuloma by 32.21%. The serum biochemical parameters showed reduction in protein, acid phosphatase and transaminases. The activity of P...

An apparent epidemic cluster of toxic liver disease was reexamined among workers exposed to the solvent dimethylformamide. A demographically similar but unexposed group from a preemployment population was used for comparison. Analysis, after data transformation of the liver transaminases, revealed significant differences between the two populations with respect to the serum glutamic pyruvic tra...

OBJECTIVE To assess the utility of erythrocyte methotrexate-polyglutamate (MTX-PG) concentrations in determining the safety and efficacy of MTX in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS 79 MTX-naïve patients with RA were enrolled in this prospective 76-week cohort study. MTX was initiated, and a predefined dose-escalation protocol was followed. Erythrocyte MTX-PG concentrations were...