Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is of concern to the pharmaceutical industry, and reliable preclinical screens are required. Previously, we established an in vitro bile acid-dependent hepatotoxicity assay that mimics cholestatic DILI in vivo. Here, we confirmed that this assay can predict cholestatic DILI in clinical situations by comparing in vitro cytotoxicity data with in vivo risk. For 38 ...

Mice infected with mouse hepatitis virus A59 (MHV-A59), an enveloped, positive-strand RNA Coronavirus, induce hepatitis, thymus involution, IgG2a-restricted hypergammaglobulinaemia, transaminase release and autoantibodies (autoAb) to liver and kidney fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH). Since Toll-like receptors (TLR) play a central role in innate immunity, we explored the effects of TLR3, 7 an...

Studies were made on the effects of in vivo administration of anti-CD4 mAb, anti-CD8 mAb, or a combination of both mAbs on multiplication of bacteria, the levels of serum transaminases, and mortality in mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes. Results showed that in sublethal infection, CD8+ cells enhanced the peak of bacterial multiplication and liver cell necrosis, and CD4+ cells suppressed...

Liver biopsies from 86 patients with serologically established acute hepatitis A were evaluated for quantitative and qualitative light microscopic features together with biopsies from 78 patients with acute hepatitis type B and 76 patients with acute hepatitis type non-A, non-B. Hepatitis A was characterised by more pronounced portal inflammation than hepatitis non-A, non-B (p less than 0.01) b...

The present trial aimed to investigate the effects of pioglitazone on the serum level of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a marker of endothelial function, and some indices of inflammation and glucose and lipid metabolism in nondiabetic metabolic syndrome patients. 104 eligible participants (57% female; age between 20 and 70) were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial and were ...

Silymarin from the milk thistle herb (Silybum marianum) is used by many patients with chronic viral hepatitis, but its efficacy remains unknown. We performed a systematic review of silymarin for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B and C. An exhaustive search strategy identified 148 papers that studied silymarin compounds in liver disease. Of these, four trials included patients with hepa...

Liver stiffness was measured by transient elastography (FibroScan) in 228 consecutive patients with chronic viral hepatitis, with (115) or without cirrhosis (113), to study its correlations with serum transaminases [alanine aminotransferase (ALT)], fibrosis stage and surrogate noninvasive markers of fibrosis (APRI, FORNS, FibroTest and hyaluronic acid). The dynamic profiles of serum transaminas...

In bile duct-ligated (BDL) rats, large cholangiocytes proliferate by activation of cAMP-dependent signaling. Melatonin, which is secreted from pineal gland as well as extrapineal tissues, regulates cell mitosis by interacting with melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) modulating cAMP and clock genes. In the liver, melatonin suppresses oxidative damage and ameliorates fibrosis. No information exists...

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a clinical problem that leads to cellular damage and organ dysfunction mediated mainly via production of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokines. Vinpocetine has long been used in cerebrovascular disorders. This study aimed to explore the protective effect of vinpocetine in IR injury to the liver. Ischemia was induced in rats by clamping th...