Liver steatosis assessment: Correlations among pathology,radiology, clinical data and automated image analysis software

Quantitating hepatic steatosis is important in many liver diseases and liver transplantation. Since steatosis estimation by pathologists has inherent intra- and inter-observer variability, we compared and contrasted computerized techniques with magnetic resonance imaging measurements, pathologist visual scoring, and clinical parameters. Computerized methods applied to whole slide images included a commercial positive pixel count algorithm and a custom algorithm programmed at our institution. For all liver samples (n = 59), including pediatric, adult, frozen section, and permanent specimens, statistically significant correlations were observed between pathology, radiology, and each image analysis modality (r = 0.75–0.97, p < 0.0001), with the strongest correlations in the pediatric cohort. Statistically significant relationships were observed between each method and with body mass index (r = 0.37–0.56, p from <0.0001 to <0.05) and with albumin (r = 0.55–0.64, p < 0.05) but not with alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase. Although pathologist assessments correlated (r = 0.64–0.86, 0.92–0.97, and 0.78–0.91 for microvesicular, macrovesicular, and overall steatosis, respectively), the absolute values of hepatic steatosis visual assessment were susceptible to intra- and inter-observer variability, particularly for microvesicular steatosis. Image analysis, pathologist assessments, radiology measurements, and several clinical parameters all showed correlations in this study, providing evidence for the utility of each method in different clinical and research settings.     

Aspartate aminotransferase-immunoglobulin complexes in patients with chronic liver disease

AIM: To determine the complex of AST and immunoglobulin and to investigate its clinical significance in patients with liver disease. METHODS: The complex of AST and immunoglobulin was determined by encounter immunoelectrophoresis and its clinical significance was investigated in 128 patients with liver disease. RESULTS: AST was bound to immunoglobulin of anti-immunoglobulin A (IgA) class, but any binding to anti-immunoglobulin G and anti-immunoglobulin M classes was not observed. Although the incidence of AST-immunoglobulin complex was 41.8% in chronic hepatitis (CH), the incidences in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were 62.2 and 90.0%, respectively. In alcoholic liver disease with high level of serum IgA, the incidence of the complex was 66.7%, which was higher than that in CH. The ratio of binding to lambda-chain of IgA was higher than that to kappa-chain of IgA. The serum level of IgA and the ratio of AST/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly higher in patients with AST-IgA complex than in those without complex. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that AST-IgA complex in patients with progressive liver diseases and alcoholic liver injury can lead to elevation of the ratio of AST/ALT.     

Preoperative predictors of choledocholithiasis in patients presenting with acute calculous cholecystitis

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Associations of vitamin D status and metabolic dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype in apparently healthy adults

Background

Recent studies have shown that Vitamin D deficiency is very common globally. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with lipid metabolism. A relationship between vitamin D levels and waist circumference (WC) has been observed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D status and metabolic dyslipidemia and the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype.

AST-120, an oral adsorbent, delays the initiation of dialysis in patients with chronic kidney diseases

The effects of an oral adsorbent, AST-120, in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients was evaluated by the 24-month dialysis-free rate and 50% dialysis-free period. This study retrospectively analyzed 193 patients admitted to the Osaka Medical College Hospital between January 1994 and December 2001 because of CKD and who later started dialysis. The propensity score on multiple factors was used to match two groups of patients (AST-120 group, n = 78; non-AST-120 group, n = 78). Then, the proportion of patients remaining dialysis-free and the 50% dialysis-free period during the 24 months after starting treatment with or without AST-120 were analyzed. The impact of AST-120 on the risk of dialysis initiation was also determined by multivariate analysis. There were no significant differences in the clinical background and laboratory values after matching the two groups using the propensity score. The 50% dialysis-free period was significantly prolonged in the AST-120 group compared to the non-AST-120 group for all patients analyzed, as well as for the subgroup with diabetic or non-diabetic renal disease. When AST-120 treatment was started at a serum creatinine level below 3 mg/dL, the dialysis-free period was longer than 24 months in the AST-120 group, compared with 16.2 months in the non-AST-120 group. The 24-month dialysis-free rate was higher in the AST-120 group in every patient category. The risk of dialysis initiation was increased 3.48-fold in patients who were not administered AST-120. These results show that AST-120 delays the initiation of dialysis in CKD patients. Thus, AST-120 is an effective supplementary therapy to prevent the initiation of dialysis in CKD patients.     

IL28B single nucleotide polymorphisms in the treatment of hepatitis C

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic variations near the IL28B gene which are strongly associated with spontaneous and treatment-induced clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Protective IL28B variations are strongly associated with on-treatment viral kinetics and approximately 2-fold increased sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in HCV genotype 1 and 4 patients. In HCV genotype 1 patients, IL28B variations were shown to be the strongest pre-treatment predictor of virologic response. In the treatment of HCV genotype 2 and 3 infected patients, IL28B variations play only a minor role. Preliminary data indicate that IL28B variations are also associated with treatment outcome of regimens, including directly acting antiviral (DAA) agents, though their impact seems to be attenuated compared to standard treatment. Here, we review these important findings and discuss possible implications for clinical decision making in the treatment of HCV infection.     

湛江师范学院2010级新生血清AST、ALT及AST/ALT的检测结果分析

目的 通过对湛江师范学院2010级新生血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)及AST/ALT进行检测,在健康新生中筛查肝功能异常及无症状慢性乙型肝炎.方法 采用日立7020全自动生化仪测定2010级新生血清中AST、ALT及AST/ALT的变化,并对AST、ALT异常的新生进行乙型肝炎两对半的检测.结果 检测出血清ALT和AST异常者42例,占0.80%.无症状慢性乙型肝炎56例,占1.06%.血清ALT和AST升高者,男生高于女生,差异有统计学意义(χ2=9.50,P＜0.01);AST/ALT升高者,男生高于女生,差异也有统计学意义(χ2=6.63,P＜0.01);慢性乙型肝炎男生高于女生,差异有统计学意义(χ2=10.67,P＜0.01),3项结果差异均有统计学意义.结论 在新生体检中进行血清AST、ALT及AST/ALT检测,并对肝功能异常者进行乙型肝炎两对半检测,有利于肝功能异常及无症状慢性乙型肝炎的早期发现和诊治.男生血清AST和ALT、AST/ALT、慢性乙型肝炎异常者高于女生,应引起足够重视.