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At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Serum bile acid concentrations as a liver function test in workers occupationally exposed to organic solvents.

Liver injury has long been associated with occupational exposure to a wide variety of chemicals. The controversial data existing in relation to hepatotoxicity of organic solvents might be explained as a consequence of the different exposures or it may well be that the tests used for evaluating liver function might not be sensitive enough to detect any mild changes at an early stage. To study liver function during exposure to solvent mixtures, we determined serum bile acid (SBA) concentrations as compared with conventional liver function tests in a selected group of workers (n = 30) occupationally exposed to a mixture of organic solvents (mostly toluene, xylene, acetone, n-butylacetate, n-butanol, ethylacetate) and in a reference group (n = 20). The mean levels of liver enzyme activities and bilirubin concentrations in the two groups were similar, whereas mean SBA levels increased in the exposed group (8.0 +/- 6.0 mumol/l vs 2.8 +/- 1.4 mumol/l) and the difference as compared with the controls was significant (P less than 0.01). In 73% of the exposed workers, SBA levels were higher than 5.6 mumol/l (the cut-off value) as compared with 5% of the controls. These results demonstrate the higher sensitivity in detecting liver dysfunction achieved with the SBA test as compared with conventional hepatic function tests. As increased SBA concentrations are considered to reflect an impairment of anion transport across the liver, higher SBA levels in the group of workers exposed to organic solvents might be explained as a slight and early sign of liver dysfunction. Therefore, SBA determination in biological monitoring of workers exposed to potentially hepatotoxic chemicals might be proposed.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A novel function of connexin 32: marked enhancement of liver function in a hepatoma cell line.

Connexin 32 (Cx32) is the main gap junction protein in hepatocytes and plays an important role in the regulation of signal transfer and growth control in the liver by constructing gap junction channels and gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). In this study, the human Cx32 gene was transfected into a hepatoma cell line (HepG2) that showed aberrant expression of Cx32 and was deficient in GJIC. Cx32-transfected HepG2 not only expressed a higher level of Cx32 mRNA, but also showed increased GJIC compared with HepG2 and vector-transfected HepG2. Furthermore, the liver functions of ammonia removal and albumin secretion of HepG2 were markedly enhanced with Cx32 gene transfection. It may be expected to improve the cellular functions of the hepatoma cell line by Cx32 gene transfection and serve to develop an efficacious bioartificial liver.

Albumins↗
PubMed1994

gamma-Hydroxybutyrate mediated protection of liver function after long-term hypothermic storage.

Liver function was measured after 20 hr of hypothermic preservation in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution and in modified UW (MUW) solution containing gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Rat livers were rapidly cooled by in situ portal flushing with chilled UW or MUW solution, then removed and stored at 4 degrees C. After 20 hr of storage, liver hemodynamics and function were studied during 90 min of reperfusion in an isolated perfused liver system. Three groups were investigated: livers flushed with and stored in a commercial UW solution for 20 hr (UW group) or in a modified UW solution with 500 mg/L of GHB added (MUW group), and livers flushed with UW solution and reperfused immediately thereafter (control group). Addition of GHB to the cold storage solution significantly improved liver function after 20 hr of cold storage. Livers in the MUW group produced bile at a much higher rate then those in UW group (3.47 +/- 0.34 vs. 0.87 +/- 0.29 ml/100 g liver weight/min at 60 min of reperfusion), while the control livers produced 4.60 +/- 0.40 ml bile/100 g liver weight/min. At the same time, liver blood flow at a perfusion pressure of 11 cm H2O was significantly higher in the MUW group than in the UW group (391 +/- 32 ml/min/100 g liver vs. 177 +/- 33 ml/min/100 g liver) and only slightly lower than in the control group (494 +/- 49 ml/min/100 g liver). Aspartate amino-transferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in perfusate samples taken from the venous effluent were raised during reperfusion in all groups. However, AST and ALT values were significantly lower (503 +/- 88 IU/L/100 g AST, 184 +/- 33 IU/L/100 g ALT) at 90 min of reperfusion in the MUW group than in the UW group (1567 +/- 330 IU/L/100 g for AST and 644 +/- 227 IU/L/100 g for ALT). This study clearly demonstrates that GHB greatly improves liver function and integrity after hypothermic preservation and has the potential to substantially increase the acceptable storage time of donor livers before transplantation.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1999

Surgical portosystemic shunts for treatment of portal hypertensive bleeding: outcome and effect on liver function.

BACKGROUND: Since the advent of liver transplantation and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS), the role of surgical portosystemic shunts in the treatment of portal hypertension has changed. However, we have continued to use portosystemic shunts in patients with noncirrhotic portal hypertension and in patients with Child's A cirrhosis. METHODS: We performed 48 surgical portosystemic shunt procedures between 1988 and 1998. The outcomes of these patients were evaluated to assess the efficacy of this treatment. Data from 39 of 48 patients were available for analysis. The average follow-up was 42 months. RESULTS: Liver function generally remained stable for the patients; only 2 patients had progressive liver failure and required transplant procedures. Gastrointestinal bleeding (3 patients), encephalopathy (3 patients), and shunt thrombosis (3 patients) were rare. Patient survival was 81% at 4 years, similar to survival with liver transplantation (P = .22). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical shunts remain the treatment of choice for prevention of recurrent variceal bleeding in patients with good liver function and portal hypertension.

Ammonia↗
PubMed2001

Test validity of periodic liver function tests in a population of Japanese male bank employees.

The validity (sensitivity and specificity) of annual liver function tests, determined by assaying blood levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase, was evaluated using the results of health checkups of male bank workers. The specificity of each liver function test to detect persons with fatty liver, excess alcohol users, and hepatic virus carriers, diagnosed respectively by ultrasound, detailed inquiry, and virus marker tests, was always higher than 80%, except for alanine aminotransferase in excess alcohol users (63.5%). However, the highest sensitivity to detect virus carriers was alanine aminotransferase to detect HCV antibody-positive workers, but it was only 45.5%. The highest sensitivity of the liver function tests to detect excess alcohol users in obese subjects was only 33.3%. The highest sensitivity by liver function tests to detect fatty liver was 35.7% which was inferior to that of the body mass index. These results indicate that the liver function tests mandated in the workplace periodic health checkups in Japan exhibit very low sensitivity for the detection of any of the proposed target clinical conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Quantitative liver function tests in donors and recipients of living donor liver transplantation.

The unique ability of the liver to regenerate quickly after resection makes living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) possible. This technique uses the unique ability of the liver to regenerate to full size after partial resection. However, the quality and course of this regeneration process in humans are still widely unexplored. In the present study we investigated the quantitative liver function tests galactose elimination capacity (GEC), indocyanine green half-life (ICG), and lidocaine half-life as markers for the quality of the liver regeneration in the first 3 months after LDLT. In this study, 22 consecutive living liver donors and their corresponding recipients were analyzed at baseline and at 10 and 90 days after LDLT. Six recipients lost their grafts during the study period. We compared donors and recipients at the different time points. After LDLT, GEC decreased (-42.6%) and ICG increased (+50.6%) significantly in donors. ICG and GEC remained significantly altered over 3 months in donors with an improvement between days 10 and 90 (GEC, +59.3%; ICG, -9.1%). ICG and GEC improved significantly in recipients between days 10 and 90 (ICG, -63.7%; GEC, +16.3%). The lidocaine half-life showed no significant changes. The donors had better test results and recovered faster than the recipients. In conclusion, after LDLT the parameters for liver capacity and flow remain altered in donors and recipients despite rapid volume growth.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Assessment of liver function using a novel galactose single point method.

A novel, simple, clinically useful quantitative liver function test, called the galactose single point (GSP) method, was developed by measurement of galactose blood concentration 1 h after galactose was administered (0.5 g/kg). It was quickly infused intravenously in 55 normal healthy volunteers, 73 patients with chronic hepatitis (CH), 36 with cirrhosis and 41 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with CH diagnosis were assessed by liver biopsy. Cirrhosis was diagnosed by histological examination or a chronic hepatitis history with esophageal varices or ascites, whereas HCC was diagnosed either histologically, or cytologically proved, or as implied in the 'one imagine study' being positive with AFP > 300 ng/dl. Highly significant galactose blood levels were observed between normal healthy volunteers and patients 50, 60 and 70 min after galactose was administered. Galactose elimination capacity (GEC), modified GEC (MGEC) and consecutive GSP tests were performed in 6 healthy volunteers for 2 days. 0.64-16.87% variation was observed for each subject. The significant differences (p < 0.001) in average GSP values were 247 +/- 18.1, 422 +/- 27.3, 629 +/- 42.8 and 579 +/- 43.6 micrograms/ml for normal healthy volunteers, CH, cirrhosis and HCC patients, respectively. Highly significant correlations (p < 0.001) were obtained among GSP, GEC and MGEC for all patients. Positive correlations were observed between GSP, GEC, MGEC and AST (serum aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (serum alanine aminotransferase), serum bilirubin, albumin, prothrombin time and r-globulin. According to results obtained from 202 normal healthy volunteers and patients, the GSP method may be a simple, clinically useful quantitative measurement of liver function for the determination of a patient's residual liver function, the prognosis of liver function for patients with cirrhosis, postoperational follow-up and, finally, the timing of a liver transplant.

Adult↗