New lights on the pathogenic mechanisms of liver cirrhosis with ascitesSeptember 24, 2008The pathogenic mechanisms implicated in the failure of intestinal barrier in cirrhosis have not been fully elucidated as yet and remains to be investigated. A research article to be published on 28 June 20008, in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. The research team led by Dr. Shin and Dr. Lee investigated whether intestinal macromolecular permeability is altered in patients liver cirrhosis and its relationship with the serum TNF-α level and nitric oxide (NO) metabolite level in urine to clarify the role of intestinal macromolecular permeability, the serum TNF-α level and nitrite level in urine to the development of liver cirrhosis with ascites. The results suggest that increased intestinal macromolecular permeability and NO are probably of importance in the pathophysiology and progression of liver cirrhosis with ascites, and furthermore, increased intestinal permeability may be a contributory factor in the development of encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis. In this study, there were no concomitant infections and a significantly higher TNF-α level in cirrhotic patients without ascites than healthy control subjects or patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) with ascites was seen; thus, there was a tendency for a negative correlation between the TNF-α level and Child-Pugh class in the advanced stage of LC. In advanced cirrhosis, hepatic damage and inflammation are reduced due to a decreased liver reserve and marked fibrosis, and consequently, ALT levels decrease. Additionally, diminished amounts of cytokine-producing cells such as hepatocytes and Kupffer cells may lead to a decrease of TNF-α production. In the current study, intestinal permeability index (%) and urinary nitrite excretion were significantly higher in patients with LC with ascites as compared to patients with LC without ascites or healthy control subjects, with a significant correlation. World Journal of Gastroenterology |
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| Related Cirrhosis Current Events and Cirrhosis News Articles Toward explaining why hepatitis B hits men harder than women Scientists in China are reporting discovery of unusual liver proteins, found only in males, that may help explain the long-standing mystery of why the hepatitis B virus (HBV) sexually discriminates -- hitting men harder than women. Unexplained liver hemorrhage after metastasis radiofrequency ablation Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in the world. Approximately one in four of these patients have metastases at diagnosis, liver being the most common site involved. The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine may also be detrimental for health The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine is not always beneficial for human health, it may even be harmful according to a work done by the University of Granada and University of León. Scientists have demonstrated that transplantation of human mononuclear cells isolated from umbilical cord blood exerted a deleterious effect in rats with liver cirrhosis. Alcohol Tolerance Switch Found in Fruit Flies Researchers at North Carolina State University have found a genetic "switch" in fruit flies that plays an important role in making flies more tolerant to alcohol. UCSD researchers pave the way for effective liver treatments A combination of bioengineering and medical research at the University of California, San Diego has led to a new discovery that could pave the way for more effective treatments for liver disease. Discovery could improve hepatitis C treatment Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers are part of an international team that has discovered a genetic variation that could identify those people infected with hepatitis C who are most likely to benefit from current treatments. What are the risk factors for rebleeding after negative angiography? Acute non-variceal gastrointestinal bleeding accounts for approximately 20% of emergency room visits and 5% of admissions. HBV genotype B/B3 and C/C1 are the major genotypes in Indonesia? Previous studies revealed that HBV genotypes as well as mutations in the core promoter, precore or HBx gene have been shown to have an association with the clinical outcome of liver disease, however, this is still controversial. Is endotoxin receptor CD14 rs2569190/C-159T gene correlated with chronic hepatitis C? It is still unknown why the natural history of chronic disease caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV), which currently infects 3% of the world's population, varies from mild in some patients to rapidly progressing in others. Hepatitis C virus channels efforts into cell survival Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that allows the hepatitis C virus (HCV) to remain in the body for decades. More Cirrhosis Current Events and Cirrhosis News Articles |
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