Evaluation of clinical safety and tolerance of a Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 supplement capsule: A randomized control trial

A significant number of human clinical trials have reported no adverse effects associated with consumption of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri). In the present study, the clinical safety and toxicology of oral ingestion of supplement capsules containing L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 was investigated. A randomized group of 131 subjects received a dose of 2.9 × 10⁹ CFU L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 capsules (n = 67) or placebo capsules (n = 64) twice daily for 9 weeks. Clinical chemistry and hematological parameters of safety were analyzed. The frequency, duration and intensity of adverse events (AE)s and clinical significance of safety parameters were recorded for both groups. No clinically significant differences between the probiotic capsule and placebo capsule treated groups were detected in either the blood clinical chemistry or hematology results. The frequency and intensity of AEs was similar in the two groups. These results demonstrate that administration of a twice daily dose of 2.9 × 10⁹ CFU was safe and well tolerated in the population evaluated over 9 weeks.     

l-Theanine prevents alcoholic liver injury through enhancing the antioxidant capability of hepatocytes

l-Theanine is a unique amino acid in green tea. We here evaluated the protective effects of l-theanine on ethanol-induced liver injury in vitro and in vivo. Our results revealed that l-theanine significantly protected hepatocytes against ethanol-induced cell cytotoxicity which displayed by decrease of viability and increase of LDH and AST. Furthermore, the experiments of DAPI staining, pro-caspase3 level and PARP cleavage determination indicated that l-theanine inhibited ethanol-induced L02 cell apoptosis. Mechanically, l-theanine inhibited loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and prevented cytochrome c release from mitochondria in ethanol-treated L02 cells. l-Theanine also prevented ethanol-triggered ROS and MDA generation in L02 cells. l-Theanine restored the antioxidant capability of hepatocytes including GSH content and SOD activity which were reduced by ethanol. In vivo experiments showed that l-theanine significantly inhibited ethanol-stimulated the increase of ALT, AST, TG and MDA in mice. Histopathological examination demonstrated that l-theanine pretreated to mice apparently diminished ethanol-induced fat droplets. In accordance with the in vitro study, l-theanine significantly inhibited ethanol-induced reduction of mouse antioxidant capability which included the activities of SOD, CAT and GR, and level of GSH. These results indicated that l-theanine prevented ethanol-induced liver injury through enhancing hepatocyte antioxidant abilities.     

Pheochromocytoma presenting with severe abdominal pain and abnormal liver enzymes

Pheochromocytoma can present with right hypochondrial pain, elevated liver enzymes, and a misleading appearance on ultrasound scan mimicking hepatic mass due to the proximity of adrenal masses to the liver.     

珠海市2008年健康体检中脂肪肝与相关生化检测关系探讨

目的了解脂肪肝发生和总胆固醇（TCH）、甘油三酯（TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-CH）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-CH）、谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）、谷氨酰氨基转移酶（GGT）及血尿酸（UA）之间的关系,为诊断脂肪肝提供检验依据。方法随机抽取2008年来本院体检的10000例健康人群,对其血脂、血糖、肝功能的结果及脂肪肝发生率进行统计分析。结果脂肪肝发生率为14．9％,脂肪肝患者的甘油三脂、胆固醇、血糖及肝功能酶（ALT、GGT）及尿酸均高于健康人群,两者之间差异有显著性意义。结论血肝功能、血脂、血糖及血尿酸的检测,对脂肪肝的早发现、早诊断、早治疗以及疗效观察、预后判断上有重要的临床意义。     

Safety and healing efficacy of Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) seed oil on burn wounds in rats

The present investigation was undertaken to determine the safety and efficacy of supercritical CO₂-extracted Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Sea buckthorn) (SBT) seed oil on burn wound model. SBT seed oil was co-administered by two routes at a dose of 2.5 ml/kg body weight (p.o.) and 200 μl (topical) for 7 days on experimental burn wounds in rats. The SBT seed oil augmented the wound healing process as indicated by significant increase in wound contraction, hydroxyproline, hexosamine, DNA and total protein contents in comparison to control and reference control treated with silver sulfadiazine (SS) ointment. Histopathological findings further confirmed the healing potential of SBT seed oil. SBT seed oil treatment up-regulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and 9), collagen type-III and VEGF in granulation tissue. It was observed that SBT seed oil also possesses antioxidant properties as evidenced by significant increase in reduced glutathione (GSH) level and reduced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in wound granulation tissue. In acute and sub-acute oral toxicity studies, no adverse effects were observed in any of the groups administered with SBT seed oil. These results suggest that the supercritical CO₂-extracted Sea buckthorn seed oil possesses significant wound healing activity and have no associated toxicity or side effects.     

Propolis alleviates aluminium-induced lipid peroxidation and biochemical parameters in male rats

Aluminium is present in many manufactured foods and medicines and is also added to drinking water during purification purposes. Therefore, the present experiment was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of propolis in alleviating the toxicity of aluminium chloride (AlCl₃) on biochemical parameters, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation of male Wistar Albino rats. Animals were assigned to 1 of 4 groups: control; 34 mg AlCl₃/kg bw; 50 mg propolis/kg bw; AlCl₃ (34 mg/kg bw) plus propolis (50 mg/kg bw), respectively. Rats were orally administered their respective doses daily for 70 days. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was increased, and the activities of glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were decreased in liver, kidney and brain of rats treated with AlCl₃. While, TBARS was decreased and the antioxidant enzymes were increased in rats treated with propolis alone. Plasma transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, total lipid, cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-c were increased, while total protein, albumin and high HDL-c were decreased due to AlCl₃ administration. The presence of propolis with AlCl₃ alleviated its toxic effects in rats treated with AlCl₃. It can be concluded that propolis has beneficial influences and could be able to antagonize AlCl₃ toxicity.     

l-Arginine enhances the triglyceride-lowering effect of simvastatin in patients with elevated plasma triglycerides

We recently noticed a possible triglyceride-lowering effect during dietary supplementation with l-arginine. The major limitation of prior studies on l-arginine, however, was that triglyceride levels were not the primary end point, and patients were not necessarily hypertriglyceridemic. Therefore, we conducted a 2-arm, randomized, double-blind study in 33 hypertriglyceridemic patients to investigate the hypothesis that oral l-arginine may lower serum triglyceride levels in hypertriglyceridemic patients on and off statins. The study consisted of a 6-week run-in phase, 6 weeks of treatment with l-arginine (n = 22, 1.5 g bid) or placebo (n = 11), and a 6-week extension period where simvastatin (20 mg qd) was added. All patients received dietary advice during each study visit. Routine and lipid laboratory parameters were determined in the local routine clinical laboratory. Treatment with l-arginine alone had no effects on serum lipids compared to placebo. The combination of l-arginine with simvastatin led to a significantly stronger reduction in triglycerides compared to placebo plus simvastatin (−140.5 ± 149.2 mg/dL vs −56.1 ± 85.0 mg/dL; P = .048). In addition, we found simvastatin-induced increases in aspartate transaminase and fibrinogen to be attenuated by l-arginine as compared to placebo. We conclude from our data that l-arginine enhances the effects of simvastatin on lipid metabolism, but it has no triglyceride-lowering effects when given alone.     

Patterns of liver profile disturbance in patients with COVID-19

Fever and cough are the most common clinical symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but complications (such as pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, and multiorgan failure) can occur in people with additional comorbidities. COVID-19 may be a new cause of liver disease, as liver profile disturbance is one of the most common findings among patients. The molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon, however, is still unknown. In this paper, we review the most current research on the patterns of change in liver profile among patients with COVID-19, the possible explanation for these findings, and the relation to pre-existing liver disease in these patients.