Resveratrol attenuates high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by maintaining gut barrier integrity and inhibiting gut inflammation through regulation of the endocannabinoid system

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Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of aloe vera in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND Aloe vera exerts several biological activities, such as, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. It was recently shown to reduce insulin resistance and triglyceride level. We hypothesized that aloe vera would have beneficial effects in alleviating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH) in rats.AIM To examine the therapeutic effects of aloe vera in NASH rats.METHODS All rats were randomly divided into 3 groups(n = 6 in each group). Rats in the control group were fed ad libitum with a standard diet for 8 wk. Rats in the NASH group were fed ad libitum with a high-fat high-fructose diet(HFHFD) for 8 wk. Rats in the aloe vera group were fed ad libitum with a HFHFD and aloe vera in dimethylsulfoxide(50 mg/kg) by gavage daily for 8 wk. Liver samples were collected at the end of the treatment period.RESULTS Hepatic malondialdehyde(MDA) levels increased significantly in the NASH group as compared with the control group(377 ± 77 nmol/mg vs 129 ± 51 nmol/mg protein, respectively, P 0.001). Glutathione(GSH) levels were significantly lower in the NASH group than the control group(9 ± 2 nmol/mg vs 24 ± 8 nmol/mg protein, respectively, P = 0.001). The expression of interleukin-18(IL-18), nuclear factor-kappa β, and caspase-3 increased, while peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma decreased in the NASH group compared with the controls. Following aloe vera administration, MDA levels decreased(199 ± 35 nmol/mg protein) and GSH increased(18 ± 4 nmol/mg protein) markedly. Steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, lobular inflammation and increased hepatocyte apoptosis were observed in the NASH group. Aloe vera treatment attenuated these changes in liver histology.CONCLUSION Aloe vera attenuated oxidative stress, hepatic inflammation and hepatocyte apoptosis, thus improving liver pathology in rats with NASH.     

De Novo Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Following Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly recognized clinico-pathologic entity typically associated with obesity, type II diabetes and hyperlipidemia. It has been noted to recur after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). We report four patients who developed de novo NAFLD within 3 months of OLT without the typical predisposing factors of diabetes mellitus or obesity. Three of the four patients underwent OLT for hepatitis C-related cirrhosis, and the other for alcoholic cirrhosis. Examination of the liver explants revealed no evidence of steatosis. No surreptitious alcohol use or a drug-induced process could be identified in these patients. Treatment of recurrent hepatitis C infection in one patient with interferon and ribavirin led to sustained suppression of the viral RNA to undetectable levels, but no improvement in histology or liver enzymes. All four patients had histologic evidence of preservation injury on the initial post-OLT biopsies, but the significance of this finding in relationship to the development of NAFLD is unknown. NAFLD can develop without any of the known predisposing conditions after transplantation, and this raises further questions about the pathogenesis of this condition .     

Hepatocellular carcinoma arising in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

The incidence and significance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has not been previously evaluated in detail. We recently experienced a case of NASH with multicentric HCC in a female patient. At the age of 58 years, the patient was diagnosed with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, treated by insulin therapy. The patient did not drink alcohol. She was negative for all serological markers of hepatitis B and C virus infection. Because of liver dysfunction, a needle biopsy was performed at the age of 62 years, and pathological findings, such as fatty change, Mallory's body, nuclear glycogen and pericellular fibrosis, suggested a diagnosis of NASH. Subsequently, four nodules were detected in the liver by imaging. Liver biopsies were performed from each nodule. One nodule was pathologically diagnosed as a pseudolymphoma, while three other nodules were moderately differentiated HCC (10 years after the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), well-differentiated HCC (11 years later) and dysplastic nodule (11 years later), suggesting multicentric occurrence of HCC. This case suggests that HCC could be a late complication of NASH.     

人体测量指标预测肥胖儿童非酒精性脂肪肝的研究

目的 研究人体测量指标对儿童肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪肝的预测作用,探讨不同指标筛查非酒精性脂肪肝的切点值。方法 选取自2018年6月—2019年12月在西安交通大学第二附属医院小儿内分泌门诊就诊的94例肥胖儿童为研究对象,进一步分为肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪肝组与肥胖不伴非酒精性脂肪肝组,52例正常儿童为对照组。测量身高(H)、体重(W)、腰围(WC)、臀围(HC)和血甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C);行肝脏B超的检查。计算体质指数(BMI)、腰臀比(WHR)、腰高比(WHtR)、腹部体积指数(AVI)、脂质蓄积指数(LAP)和内脏脂肪指数(VAI)等指标。通过绘制人体测量指标的受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)评估人体测量指标与肥胖儿童非酒精性脂肪肝的相关性,并比较各项人体测量指标的曲线下面积(AUC)确定切点值。结果 肥胖组BMI、WC、WHR、WHtR、AVI、LAP、VAI及TG均高于对照组(t=23.090、21.068、12.547、22.855、17.578、8.159、5.394、6.183,P＜0.001)。肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪肝组BMI、WC、AVI、LAP、VAI均高于肥胖不伴非酒精性脂肪肝组(t=2.180、2.389、2.362、3.643、2.839,P＜0.05)。人体测量指标的ROC曲线下面积按从大到小的顺序依次为 LAP、VAI、 WC、 AVI、 BMI。对肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪肝的联合诊断指标进行筛查效能分析结果显示,LAP+AVI 曲线下面积为0.706(95%CI:0.595~0.817,P＜0.001);AVI+VAI 曲线下面积为0.685(95%CI:0.570~0.800,P＜0.01);BMI+WC 曲线下面积为0.652(95%CI:0.537~0.768,P＜0.05)。联合指标的ROC曲线下面积从大到小为LAP+AVI、AVI+VAI、BMI+WC。结论 LAP联合AVI对儿童肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪肝具有较好的筛查作用。     

Matcha Green Tea Alleviates Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice by Regulating Lipid Metabolism and Inflammatory Responses

Lately, matcha green tea has gained popularity as a beverage and food additive. It has proved to be effective in preventing obesity and related metabolic syndromes. However, the underlying mechanisms of its control effects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are complicated and remain elusive. In the present study, we performed an in vivo experiment using male C57BL/6 mice fed with a high-fat diet and simultaneously treated with matcha for six weeks. Serum biochemical parameters, histological changes, lipid accumulation, inflammatory cytokines, and relevant indicators were examined. Dietary supplementation of matcha effectively prevented excessive accumulation of visceral and hepatic lipid, elevated blood glucose, dyslipidemia, abnormal liver function, and steatosis hepatitis. RNA sequencing analyses of differentially expressed genes in liver samples indicated that matcha treatment decreased the activity of lipid droplet-associated proteins and increased the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, suggesting improved metabolic capacity and liver function. The current study provided evidence for new dietary strategies based on matcha supplementation to ameliorate lipotoxicity-induced obesity and NALFD.