PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Zifroni

Publications and source records attributed to A Zifroni.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Increased risk of type 2 diabetes in noncirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection without evidence of cirrhosis have an increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) and to evaluate possible risk factors for diabetes in this group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of 45 consecutive eligible patients with HCV infection and no clinical, scintigraphic, or histological evidence of cirrhosis, and a control group of 90 subjects without liver disease matched by age, sex, and body mass index and similar in their origin distribution. Eighty-eight patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with no evidence of cirrhosis were also evaluated. The diagnosis of diabetes was based on the 1997 American Diabetes Association criteria. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (33%) with HCV infection were found to have type 2 diabetes compared with 5.6% in the control group without liver disease (P < .001) and 12% in the group with HBV infection (P = .004). Comparison of the patients with and without diabetes revealed that positive family history of diabetes, HCV 1b genotype, and a more severe liver histology were significantly associated with DM. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic HCV infection have an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes, and this prevalence is independent of cirrhosis. The pathogenesis is intriguing, appears to be unique to HCV, and requires further study.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Giant cavernous hemangioma of the liver].

Hemangioma, the most common benign tumor of the liver, is found in 2% of all autopsies. Giant cavernous hemangiomas are those larger than 4 cm, and the only ones of clinical importance. During 1991-95 we saw 69 patients with cavernous hemangiomas of the liver ranging from 2 to 25 cm in diameter. In 62% (30 women and 13 men) they ranged from 4 to 15 cm (mean 6.3). Only 11 patients, in whom the hemangioma was symptomatic, were referred for surgery. The others were either asymptomatic or their symptoms were considered mild, and they were only followed. 4 refused surgery, but in 7 the hemangioma (ranging from 4.8 to 15.0 cm, mean 10.2) was removed; 1 required 4 units of blood. There was no mortality; complications consisted of single cases of slipped tie requiring reoperation for intraabdominal bleeding, a bile leak treated by percutaneous drainage, and delayed wound healing. After 6 months all patients were symptom-free. Our data are consistent with the present trend to operate only when a giant, cavernous hemangioma of the liver produces symptoms.

Female↗
PubMed1994

Unbound ligand drives hepatocyte taurocholate and BSP uptake at physiological albumin concentration.

We have recently shown (D. Sorrentino, R.B. Robinson, C.-L. Kiang, and P.D. Berk. J. Clin. Invest. 84: 1325-1333, 1989) that, in a variety of isolated cell types, the uptake of oleate at physiological albumin concentrations is consistent with traditional pharmacokinetic theory (i.e., driven by unbound ligand). Lower albumin concentrations were associated with a deviant uptake pattern for which alternative theories have been proposed. Whether other classes of organic anions exhibit similar behavior is unknown. Therefore, we examined the effect of albumin on uptake of two widely studied organic anions, sulfobromophthalein (BSP) and taurocholate. Initial uptake velocity of [35S]BSP and [3H]taurocholate by isolated hepatocytes was studied employing a fixed albumin concentration and ligand-to-albumin molar ratios from 0.01:1 to 2:1 for taurocholate and 0.031:1 to 0.75:1 for BSP. In other experiments, albumin and ligand were altered in parallel, keeping their molar ratio constant. Unbound taurocholate concentrations were measured directly by equilibrium dialysis; unbound BSP concentrations were calculated from published data (K.J. Baker and S.E. Bradley. J. Clin. Invest. 45: 281-287, 1966). At 600 microM albumin, uptake of both ligands was a function of the unbound ligand concentration. At low ligand-to-albumin molar ratios and consequent unbound ligand concentrations this relationship was linear; over the entire range of unbound ligand concentrations studied, both ligands exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with definable maximal velocity and Michaelis constant values. At low albumin concentrations, the relationships between uptake and unbound ligand were unchanged for taurocholate; however, BSP exhibited altered kinetics similar to those observed with oleate. Nontraditional uptake kinetics at low albumin concentrations appear to correlate with very high affinity for albumin.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Sexual function and testosterone levels in men with nonalcoholic liver disease.

The effects of nonalcoholic liver disease on sexual desire, arousal, activity, orgasmic function and satisfaction and serum testosterone levels were studied in 75 men with nonalcoholic liver disease. Each man was interviewed about his sexual behavior and problems and was asked to comment on whether he felt liver disease affected his sexual function. The average age of the patients was 49 yr, and a wide variety of liver diseases was represented. Child-Pugh grading was A in 51 patients, B in 18 and C in 6; the mean duration of liver disease was 8 yr. Sexual desire, arousal and activity of patients with grade A disease were within the ranges observed in studies of healthy men of comparable age. Diminished sexual desire was reported by 2% of grade A patients and 35% of grade B and C patients (p less than 0.005). Arousal problems were noted by 16% of grade A patients, 60% of grade B patients and 67% of C patients (p less than 0.005). Loss of erection and inability to regain erection were noted by 7%, 40% and 67% of grade A, B and C patients, respectively (p less than 0.01). Premature and retarded ejaculation were more frequent in patients classed in Child-Pugh grades B and C. Frequency of coitus and orgasm were significantly higher in grade A patients than in grade B and C patients. Total and free testosterone levels were (in nanograms per milliliter) A, 677/1.78; B, 416/1.06; and C, 178/0.43 (p less than 0.002). We concluded that Child-Pugh grade A nonalcoholic liver disease in men does not affect sexual desire, function or performance. Men with disease grades B and C have significant sexual dysfunction and significant reduction of both total and free testosterone levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Long-term follow-up of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis on colchicine therapy.

We followed up a group of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis who participated in a 4-yr prospective, double-blind controlled trial of colchicine therapy for 4 additional years. All were placed on open label colchicine (0.6 mg twice daily) after the trial was concluded. Of the original group of 28 patients treated with colchicine, 8 died and 5 received transplants (3 of the 5 died). Of the original placebo control group eight patients died and six received transplants (1 of the 6 died). Surviving patients on long-term colchicine therapy (mean period = 8.1 yr, range = 5.3 to 9.1) showed reduction of mean serum alkaline phosphatase from 5.1 times the upper limit of normal values to 1.9 times (p less than 0.01). Mean ALT fell from 1.8 to 1.2 times the upper limit of normal (p = 0.05), and mean serum total bilirubin remained stable (1.6 mg/dl vs. 1.5 mg/dl). Major complications of cirrhosis developed in four patients in the colchicine group and five patients in the original control group. The only side effect of colchicine was diarrhea, which was noted in three patients. The diarrhea resolved with reduction in the dose of colchicine. Colchicine is a safe and inexpensive drug for the long-term treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis. The biochemical parameters of disease activity (alkaline phosphatase and ALT) remain improved after long-term follow-up, and bilirubin values remain stable. However, complications of cirrhosis, deaths and transplantations were not prevented. The clinical usefulness of colchicine in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis seems to be limited.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1984

Sulfasalazine hepatotoxicity.

Hepatotoxicity has been recently described as a rare complication of sulfasalazine therapy. Two patients with hepatic damage after sulfasalazine treatment are reported. Liver biopsy performed in one patient revealed granulomatous hepatitis. On rechallenge with 5 aminosalicylic acid enema the second patient developed a hypersensitivity reaction without hepatic involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Prostanoid synthesis by cultured intestinal epithelial and mononuclear cells in inflammatory bowel disease.

Intestinal epithelial and mononuclear cells were isolated from normal colonic mucosa and from intestinal mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease patients. Prostanoid synthesis by primary cultures of intestinal mononuclear cells were four to six fold higher than its synthesis by primary cultures of epithelial cells. Prostaglandin E2, prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 synthesis by cultured mononuclear cells isolated from inflamed ileal mucosa of four Crohn's disease patients: 5.6 +/- 1.2; 3.2 +/- 1.9 and 2.4 +/- 1.4 (mean +/- SE) ng/1 X 10(6) cells were significantly higher than their respective synthesis by cultured mononuclear cells isolated from uninflamed ileal mucosa isolated from the same patients: 0.8 +/- 0.1; 0.3 +/- 0.1 and 0.2 +/- 0.03 ng/1 X 10(6) cells or from normal colonic mucosa: 1.5 +/- 0.3; 0.3 +/- 0.1 and 0.5 +/- 0.1 (N = 12) ng/1 X 10(6) cells. Prostanoid synthesis by primary cultures of intestinal mononuclear cells isolated from colonic mucosa of five ulcerative colitis patients was enhanced but not significantly different from its synthesis by cells isolated from normal subjects. These results suggest that the enhanced intestinal prostanoid synthesis in active Crohn's disease is derived from stimulated local mononuclear cells and may have an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1983

Prostanoid synthesis by cultured gastric and duodenal mucosa: Possible role in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer.

Cultured duodenal mucosa obtained from normal subjects synthesized and secreted significantly less prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) than cultured gastric mucosa obtained from the same subjects. Accumulation of PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and TXB2--the stable metabolites of prostacyclin I2 and thromboxane A2, respectively--by cultured gastric mucosa obtained from 21 untreated patients with active duodenal ulcer was significantly lower than their respective accumulation by cultured gastric mucosa obtained from 14 normal subjects. Accumulation of all three prostanoids by cultured duodenal mucosa obtained from patients with active duodenal ulcer and from normal subjects was not significantly different. PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and TXB2 accumulation was five to six times higher than their respective content in fresh tissue before culture and was inhibited by flufenamic acid. These results suggest that a decrease in endogenous gastric prostanoid synthesis may have a role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗