Effect of painting work on alcoholic liver dysfunction]

The effect of painting on alcoholic liver dysfunction was investigated. The subjects were male workers engaged in small-scale enterprises under contract to with heavy industries. Painting involved metal cleaning and painting, and the air concentrations of organic solvents were frequently high. The study population consisted of 1,157 male workers over 40 yr of age. Of them, 85 were painters engaged for a mean duration of 20.9 +/- 9.8 yr. There was no significant difference in GOT and GPT between painters who did not drink and non-painters who did not drink, but GOT and GPT were significantly higher in painters drinking several days a week than in non-painters. A past history of hepatitis affected GOT, GPT and gamma-GTP. Painting, daily alcohol consumption, drinking frequency and body mass index affected gamma-GTP. A questionnaire survey of hepatitis was also conducted in 206 male workers (age range 18-67 yr). Of them, 134 were painters (mean duration of painting, 16.8 +/- 10.4 yr). This questionnaire survey showed that 13 painters (9.6% of the painters) and two non-painters (2.6% of the non-painters) had a history of hepatitis. Of the 13 painters, five painters had a history of hepatitis C and four had a history of alcoholic hepatitis. All of these 13 painters had the habit of drinking. This study indicated that painting had little effect on the liver function in painters not drinking, but increased alcoholic liver dysfunction in painters with the drinking habit.     

Early detection and signs of hepatoangiosarcoma among vinyl chloride workers

Health examinations of 108 workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) at a Japanese chemical plant were carried out in 1979. The polymerization of vinyl chloride was started at the plant in 1949. In this study, the highest concentration of VCM in autoclaves was determined to be 250 ppm in 1961. However, the workers at the plant had been exposed to higher concentrations of VCM several times before 1960. More recent VCM exposure was considered negligible. Examinations assessed data on age, height, weight, obesity index, sake consumption, VCM exposure concentration, latent period, cumulative exposure, ICG (indocyano green test), serum bilirubin, GOT (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase), GPT (glutamic pyruvic transaminase), A1-P (alkaline phosphatase), GGT(gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase), ZTT (zinc turbidity test), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), cholesterol, TTT (thymol turbidity test), A/G (albumin globulin ratio), and thrombocytes. Variation in VCM exposure did not affect tests of pigment excretion from the liver, such as ICG; thrombocytes; and enzyme activity (such as GPT); nor bilirubin or flocculation reaction in serum.     

Predictors of the development of hypertension: ten-year follow-up study in a community]

Predictors of the development of hypertension were examined in a 10-year follow-up study of normotensive Japanese adults. Subjects (n = 265), aged 30-69 years at entry, normotensive and with no past history of antihypertensive treatment at entry, were studied in terms of the relationship of various physical, biochemical, dietary, and lifestyle data to the subsequent development of hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) more than 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) more than 90 mmHg and/or starting antihypertensive treatment) with analysis accomplished using univariate and multivariate life table methods. Univariate analyses by the generalized Wilcoxon test showed significantly higher incidence of hypertension in those subjects with SBP 120 mmHg or more (p < 0.001), DBP 75 mmHg or more (p < 0.001), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) 20 KU or more (p < 0.001), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) 15 KU or more (p < 0.001), serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) 10 IU/l or more (p < 0.001), age 50 or older (p = 0.002), body mass index 22 kg/m2 or more (p = 0.012), and serum creatinine less than 1.2 mg/dl (p = 0.020) than in the other subjects. Multivariate analysis by the Cox proportional hazards model confirmed that relatively higher SBP (p < 0.001), lower serum creatinine (p < 0.001), higher gamma-GTP (p = 0.002), and higher age (p = 0.041) were independent and significant predictors of future hypertension.     

Increase in mitochondrial GOT (m-GOT) activity after chronic alcohol consumption: clinical and experimental observations

In order to clarify the origin and the mechanism of increased serum activity of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) in chronic alcoholics, clinical and experimental investigations were carried out. Mitochondrial (m-GOT) and cytosolic GOT (c-GOT) isoenzymes were separated chromatographically by using a mini-column packed with Sephadex A50. Sixty percent of 63 alcoholics had elevated serum GOT. The m-GOT activity in alcoholics with total serum GOT activity of over 50 Karmen Units was 17.2 +/- 1.6 K.U. and the m-GOT/GOT ratio was the highest when compared to those in non-alcoholic liver diseases. In in vitro study, six hours of incubation of isolated hepatocytes from rats fed ethanol chronically resulted in an increased leakage of m-GOT into the incubation medium and also showed a tendency of a higher m-GOT/GOT ratio than that from control rats. The m-GOT activity thus released into the medium showed a highly significant inverse correlation with the viability of hepatocytes. These data suggest that m-GOT substantially contributes to an increased serum GOT often observed in chronic alcoholics.     

Hepatoprotective property of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) leaves against garlic-induced oxidative stress

Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) leaf is a darkish-green leafy vegetable popularly used in soup and in herbal preparations for the management of many diseases in Nigeria. In this study, the hepatoprotective property of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of T. occidentalis leaf (earlier confirmed to have a high level of antioxidant activity) against garlic induced-oxidative stress in rat hepatocytes was investigated. Oxidative stress was induced in Wistar strain albino rats by overdosing them with raw garlic (4%) for 14 days, and this caused a significant increase (P < .05) in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), while there was no significant change (P > .05) in serum bilirubin, albumin, globulin, and total proteins. However, intubation of some of the rats fed raw garlic with 5 mg or 10 mg/0.5 mL of T. occidentalis leaf extract (ethanolic or aqueous) caused a significant decrease (P < .05) in serum ALP, GOT, and GPT when compared with rats fed raw garlic without intubation with the T. occidentalis leaf extract. Moreover, 10 mg/0.5 mL of extract was more effective than 5 mg/0.5 mL of extract, while the aqueous extracts appeared to be more effective than the ethanolic extracts in protecting hepatocytes. It could be inferred that both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of T. occidentalis leaf have hepatoprotective properties, although the aqueous extract is more effective than the ethanolic extract, which could be attributed to the higher antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract than the ethanolic extracts of T. occidentalis leaves.     

Utility of Mahalanobis distance in evaluating the results of health examination]

A method using Mahalanobis distance (D2), the general probability distance in multivariate analysis, was studied for evaluating the results of health examination. D2 of each subject was computed by a personal computer with a BASIC program, and those whose D2 values lay out of 95% confidence interval were considered to be abnormal. In the present study, the mean value and standard deviation come from a normal range of Japanese, and the correlation coefficients between two items were obtained from blood donors in the hospital. These three parameters were necessary for calculation of D2. To examine the availability of this method, the data of a health examination on 370 new employees from 18 to 25 yr in age were analyzed with 9 items, including systolic pressure (SBP), diastolic pressure (DBP), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activity (GOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity (GPT), serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activity (GGTP), serum total cholesterol (TCHO), serum triglyceride (TG), number of erythrocytes (RBC), and concentration of hemoglobin (Hb). It was shown that the data distributions of GOT, GPT, GGTP, and TG were log normal, and those of the other items were normal. With this method, 39 persons were also judged as abnormal from 46 subjects diagnosed to be abnormal by doctors, and the remaining 7 were missed but could be classed to be normal, as six of them had only slightly high levels of GPT (33-39 IU/l) and/or GGTP (42-57 IU/l), and one had a slightly high SBP (146 mmHg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

银杏黄酮对雌性小鼠酒精性氧化损伤的保护作用

目的:研究酒精对雌性小鼠肝脏的慢性氧化损伤及银杏黄酮的干预效果。方法:昆明种雌性小鼠每天给予96mg/kgbw的银杏黄酮后,再给予乙醇3.2g/kgbw,同时设正常对照组和酒精对照组(乙醇3.2g/kgbw),连续灌胃75d后测定血清谷丙转氨酶(GPT)、谷草转氨酶(GOT)活性及血清与肝脏谷胱甘肽(GSH)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性及丙二醛(MDA)的含量。结果:小鼠摄入酒精75d后,所检测的各项指标与正常对照组相比,均有非常显著性(P<0.01)差异;经银杏黄酮干预后,与酒精对照组相比,血清ALT、AST水平显著下降,肝脏与血清GSH-Px、SOD、CAT活性与GSH水平明显提高,MDA水平明显下降。结论:银杏黄酮对雌性小鼠肝脏慢性酒精性氧化损伤具有一定的保护作用。     

Individual difference in urinary excretion of salsolinol in alcoholic patients

Urinary excretion of salsolinol (6,7-dihydroxy-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) in 30 male alcoholic patients during the withdrawal period was determined. They were divided into two groups, i.e., Group A with 14 subjects had a high level of urinary salsolinol (51.9 +/- 40.8 ng/mg creatinine) on admission to a hospital, and Group B with 16 subjects showed a low level of the substance (3.9 +/- 1.9 ng/mg creatinine). Following a sustained drinking bout, urinary salsolinol in Group A declined to a normal level within a few days. We found that the subjects in Group A showed a greater excretion of urinary dopamine and norepinephrine than those in Group B. There were no differences between the two groups in levels of blood ethanol, serum GOT, GPT and gamma-GTP.     

Difference of iron stores represented in bimodal distribution of erythrocyte values among a healthy male group

The distributions of erythrocyte values (red cell count, hemoglobin concentration, etc.) of healthy male workers working in a certain factory were studied in order to evaluate the usefulness of the variables as health indicators. In addition to the estimation of erythrocyte values, anamneses concerning chronic bleeding, smoking habit and alcohol consumption were questioned and serum Fe, Cu, TIBC, ferritin, plasma erythropoietin, and serum enzymes (GOT, GPT, gamma-GTP) were measured. Two-dimensional frequency distributions with axes for the red cell count and hemoglobin concentration, and frequency distributions of the score calculated from principal component analysis, showed bimodal patterns. Using nonlinear curve fitting methods, the distributions of principal component scores were fitted to a mixture of two different Gaussian distributions. The workers were then divided into two groups corresponding to the Gaussian distribution he belongs. Then the frequencies of the items and mean values of the variates were compared between them. There were no differences in the incidences of diseases that caused iron deficiencies, but the mean serum ferritin level was significantly lower in one group than in the other, in other words the workers belonging to the group with low serum ferritin level had smaller iron stores than the other. The mean serum erythropoietin level and the mean serum copper level were higher in that group than in the other. As a result, this analysis gives a new evaluation of the health status of a man who belongs to the so-called healthy male group.     

Changes in liver enzyme activity in the teleost Sparus aurata in response to cadmium intoxication.

Enzyme activity modulation by cadmium in the liver of the teleost fish Sparus aurata was investigated in vivo following 3 and 6 days of CdCl2 administration (2.5 mg/kg body wt). The specific activities of the mitochondrial enzymes NAD-isocitrate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase were stimulated by approximately 20% after 3 days administration and were further increased (by about 40%) after 6 days treatment. In comparison with these enzymes, the activities of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) in mitochondria were less stimulated after the two indicated intervals of treatment. Cadmium significantly reduced the activities of liver cytoplasmic GOT and GPT while a simultaneous increase occurred in the serum activities of these same enzymes. The activity of liver NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase was stimulated by 25 and 40% after 3 and 6 days cadmium intoxication, respectively. Lastly, the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in liver and catalase in both liver and blood were strongly reduced after 3 and 6 days cadmium administration. These data suggest that cadmium in fish hepatocytes alters cell membrane structure and concomitantly induces some perturbation in the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane.     

Effect of phenolic compounds on in vivo activity of transaminases in certain tissues of the fish, Notopterus notopterus

Chronic effects of phenol (P), 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), and pentachlorophenol (PCP) individually and in three combinations, viz. (PCP + DNP)/P (highly antagonistic), (DNP + P)/PCP (additive), and (P + DNP)/PCP (highly synergistic) on in vivo activity of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in brain, liver, kidney, and gills of Notopterus notopterus were studied at subacute levels (1/10, 1/15, and 1/20 of 96-hr LC50) following exposure for 15 and 30 days. Significant stimulation in activity of GOT and GPT was observed in all the tissues at different concentrations of phenolic compounds after both the time intervals. However, stimulation in activity of both GOT and GPT was maximum (140.67% in GOT, 142.68% in GPT) in liver at 1/10 concentration of the (P + DNP)/PCP combination after 30 days, but minimum in gills, in case of GOT (17.29%) at 1/20 of P after 15 days and in case of GPT (7.68%) at 1/20 of the (PCP + DNP)/P combination after 30 days. Stimulatory effect of phenolic compounds on the activity of these enzymes indicates possibly the increased conversion of amino acids into keto acids and vice versa, thus resulting in the disturbance of protein metabolism.     

维生素E对低温暴露大鼠血清GPT、GOT和LDH活性的影响

本实验观察补充维生素E的大鼠低温暴露后血清GPT、GOT和LDH活性的变化,探索维生素E对低温暴露动物的影响。将体重70～120g雄性大鼠随机分为甲、乙、丙三组,饲以基础饲料,甲组动物每两天腹腔注射维生素E5mg(5mg/ml),5次(10天)后,将甲、丙两组移入低温室(-1±1℃)连续暴露48小时,乙组作为常温对照留在室温下(20±1℃)。低温暴露结束时,立即测定三组动物血清中GPT、GOT和LDH活性。结果是:丙组动物血清中三种酶活性最高,乙组最低,甲组稍高于乙组但明显低于丙组。说明低温暴露动物补充维生素E后血清中三种酶活性稍有改善。     

TISSUE VITAMIN B, AND TRANSAMINASE ACTIVITY IN RATS

Changes in dietary intake of pyridoxol HCI by weanling rats led to large changes in tissue B, vitamers, particularly pyridoxamine. Glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) seemed more susceptible to vitamin B, depletion than glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT). In rats with a dietary B, deficiency, brain levels of B, and GPT activity seemed least affected.     

微囊藻毒素LR对SD大鼠的短期毒效应研究

目的：研究和探讨微囊藻毒素（MCLR）对动物的短期毒效应作用。方法：SD大鼠经腹腔注射不同剂量的MCLR,分别于注射的1、7d和停药后第7天（即第14天）采目力大鼠的血清和肝、肾、心等组织标本,经酶学及病理学检验,观察其损伤效应。结果：122цg/kg剂量组,注射后24h可观察到大鼠心肌细胞肌浆溶解,核变性固缩,肌原纤维局部坏死;血清中天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）和磷酸肌酸激酶（CPK）与其他组相比显著升高;肾细胞变性,血清中肌酐（BCr）和尿素氮（BUN）亦显著升高;同时肝细胞片状出血、坏死,注射剂量为50цg/kg和25цg/kg时,仍出现肝细胞重度和轻度颗粒变性。血清中丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、碱性磷酸酶（LDH）和AST显著上升。对照组大鼠的肝、肾、心等脏器均正常。结论：MCLR可引起SD大鼠肝、肾、心等脏器的短期毒效应,且随着剂量的增加,损伤效应加重。     

Effects of one-day food restriction on the metabolism and toxicity of organic solvents in rats

Studies were made with male Wistar rats on the effects of 50% food restriction on the metabolism of eight organic solvents (chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, benzene, toluene and styrene) and on the hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride inhalation at 400 ppm for 4 h. The activities of liver drug-metabolizing enzymes for these solvents were enhanced almost equally without exception by one-day food restriction, although the restriction produced no significant increase in the microsomal protein and cytochrome P-450 contents. Carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity was enhanced by the food restriction, as evidenced by a marked increase of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities in the food-restricted rats. Histological findings of the liver also supported this finding. Thus, food restriction enhances metabolism of organic solvents in the liver, and can modify toxicity of some chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride, which need metabolic activation to become cytotoxic.     

A study on the physical effects of short-time recreation activities at a hot spring resort on unhealthy middle-aged workers

A pilot study to improve unhealthy life habits of thirty middle-aged male clerical workers (45 +/- 3.58 yr.) with mild health disorders such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus and fatty liver was carried out. Under prohibition of smoking and alcohol intake, they spent five nights and six days at a hot spring resort, taking part in planned health training programs which included aerobic training, hiking in forests, hot spring baths, cooking practice and lectures about healthy life, controlled by medical, dietary and physical training staffs. To evaluate the short-term effects of these activities, body weight, blood pressure, serum lipid (total cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, total free fatty acid and phospholipid), blood sugar, uric acid, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) were examined early in the morning of the second (before) and the fifth (after) days, and then their impressions of these recreation activities were monitored by questionnaires on the sixth day. By t-tests of all before-and-after data, it was shown that mean values of body weight, systolic blood pressure, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid and gamma-GTP were improved, but fasting blood sugar, uric acid and GOT were not improved. In comparison of blood pressure levels, the hypertensive group (n = 9) showed lowering in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, though the normal group (n = 10) had slight elevation. In addition, in the hypercholesterolemic group (n = 11, greater than or equal to 220 mg/dl) mean total cholesterol values decreased, conversely in the hypocholesterolemic group (n = 6, less than 180 mg/dl) they increased. Moreover, the obese group (n = 15, obesity index greater than or equal to 120%) showed greater decreases of body weight, triglyceride and phospholipid than the non-obese group. From questionnaires, it was confirmed that through these recreation activities most participants found mental and spiritual satisfaction, in spite of heavy physical loads. The short-term recreation activities under a stressless environment seemed to maintain the function of homeostasis in the body, but further investigation is needed to examine the relation between the contents of diets and physical activities, and to follow the long-term effects on the participants.     

Effects of chicken extract on antioxidative status and liver protection under oxidative stress

Chicken extract contains carnosine and anserine, both of which possess some antioxidant abilities. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of chicken extract in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats under induced oxidative stress. Carbon tetrachloride was used as the oxidative stress inducer. Glutamic-oxalacetatic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), total antioxidant status (TAS), thiobarbituric-reactive substances (TBARS), iron content, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were determined. We concluded that under oxidative stress, the intake of chicken extract was helpful in promoting the activities of antioxidant enzymes and in protecting the liver from oxidative damage.     

Clustering of simple obesity

An attempt was made to classify persons with simple obesity from the viewpoint of health education. Subjects of the study were 1,278 male workers in a financing company who underwent health examination. At the time of health examinations, questionnaire survey concerning their life styles was carried out on all the subjects. The obese group consisted of 127 subjects whose obesity indices were over 15% and the control group consisted of 342 subjects whose obesity indices ranged from -5 to 5%. Subjects in the obese group were classified into four clusters based on cluster analysis using five life-style parameters; that is, frequency of taking breakfast, frequency of taking staple food, drinking habits, smoking habits, and frequency of exercise. The first cluster (N = 10) included inactive persons, the second cluster (N = 46) non smokers, the third cluster (N = 39) smokers and heavy drinkers, and the fourth cluster (N = 32) smokers and non-drinkers. Comparison of the four clusters of obese persons with the control group revealed the following findings: 1) All the four clusters had significantly high frequencies of abnormal values of triglyceride (TG) and fasting blood sugar (FBS). 2) The first cluster had significantly high frequencies of abnormal values of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT). 3) The second cluster had significantly high frequencies of abnormal values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, TG, FBS, uric acid, GOT, GPT and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Multiple regression analysis of the cholinesterase activity with certain physiochemical factors

Nineteen hundred sixteen agricultural workers who have been living in a rural area in central Japan were studied. Their age, blood pressure, Broca index, hemoglobin content, serum total cholesterol, and activity of serum cholinesterase and transaminase (GOT and GPT) were determined. The relation between the cholinesterase activity and certain physiochemical factors of the subjects was studied. Cholinesterase activity (ChE) is related to certain factors such as age, hemoglobin content (Hb), serum total cholesterol (TCh), transaminase activity (GPT), and Broca index (BI). A multiple regression equation exists between the cholinesterase activity and these factors: ln ChE = a (age) + b (Hb2) + c X ln GPT + d X ln TCh + e BI + f, where a, b, c, d, e, and f are constants. The estimated value of cholinesterase activity agrees with its measured activity. The partial correlation coefficients of the equation can be classified into the following three classes: (1) The partial correlation coefficients of total cholesterol and Broca index are nearly constant without distinction of sex and season. (2) The coefficient of hemoglobin content has a small seasonal and sexual difference. (3) The coefficients of age and GPT have a great seasonal and sexual difference. Using the equation, the most probable value of cholinesterase activity can be estimated. Therefore, the significant changes of its activity may be attributed to the toxic effects of insecticides or the abnormality of liver function.     

Clinical significance of urinary enzymes in diabetes mellitus

The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of urinary enzyme activity in patients with diabetes mellitus. Patients were divided into two groups: group A - 102 outpatients, group B-23 inpatients. Spot urine samples before breakfast from group A and aliquots of 24-hours urine collections at 4 degrees C from group B were used. Urinary enzyme activities (N-acetyl- beta-D-glucosaminidase: NAG, alkaline phosphatase: ALP, leucine aminopeptidase: LAP, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase: gamma-GTP) were determined by spectrophotometric assay, rate assay, Tuppy method and Orlowski method, respectively. 1) In group A, the percentage of the cases which showed higher than the normal range (NAG: 1.3-8.7, ALP: 4.2-17.7, LAP: 0-22.9 U/g. cer.) was 42.2% in NAG, 21.6% in ALP, and 8.8% in LAP. In a multiple regression analysis, the predictor variables which contributed to NAG were HbA1c, age, urinary protein and the one that contributed to ALP, LAP, gamma-GTP was urinary beta 2-microglobulin. 2) In group B, 87% of NAG was above the normal range (Mean +/- 2 SD; 4.8 +/- 3.9 U/day). There was no difference in the NAG activity between patients with and without nephropathy. The percent of high activities of ALP, LAP and gamma-GTP were 17%, 17%, 4%, respectively. Most of them were patients with nephropathy. There were correlations among ALP, LAP and gamma-GTP, though no correlation existed between NAG and the other three enzymes. These results suggested: 1) NAG reflects lysosomal dysfunction of both glomerular and proximal tubular epithelial cells which may be caused by poor glycemic control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)