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Liver Enzyme Activity (liver + enzyme_activity)
Selected AbstractsApoptosis and Dysregulated Ceramide Metabolism in a Murine Model of Alcohol-Enhanced Lipopolysaccharide HepatotoxicityALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2000Ion V. Deaciuc Background: The role of apoptosis in EtOH-induced liver injury has not been investigated much. Therefore, the question whether apoptosis is a contributory factor to alcoholic liver disease remains to be answered. The purpose of this study was to characterize the liver apoptotic response in a murine model of alcohol-enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS) hepatotoxicity. Methods: Mice were fed an alcohol-containing liquid diet for 49 days followed by an acute LPS challenge. The liver state was judged on the basis of histological appearance, plasma liver enzyme activity (alanine:2-oxoglutarate and aspartate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferases, as markers of hepatocytolysis), and plasma hyaluronan levels (as a marker of the sinusoidal endothelial cell scavenging function). The liver apoptotic response was assessed by DNA fragmentation (TUNEL procedure), and caspases-3 and -8 activity. To determine if ceramide played a role in the liver apoptotic response, the activity of acidic sphingomyelinase and tissue content of ceramide were also quantified. Results: Alcohol exposure induced fat accumulation and sensitized the liver to LPS injurious effects. Plasma liver enzyme activity was elevated by alcohol and this effect was potentiated by LPS. Liver apoptosis was augmented by both alcohol and LPS treatment as reflected by high frequency of positive TUNEL staining nuclei and by an increased activity of caspase-3 and -8. Acidic sphingomyelinase activity was also increased and it was associated with an elevated tissue content of ceramide. In addition, LPS also increased plasma TNF- , levels. These changes were accompanied by elevated plasma hyaluronan, reflecting an impaired sinusoidal endothelial cell scavenging function. Conclusions: These results provide a more complete description of the liver apoptotic response to both alcohol and LPS and may constitute the basis for further mechanistic studies on a possible role apoptosis may play in alcoholic liver injury. [source] Toxicity in Doberman Pinchers with Ventricular Arrhythmias Treated with Amiodarone (1996,2005)JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2009M.S. Kraus Background: Asymptomatic Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) often die suddenly owing to ventricular tachycardia that degenerates into ventricular fibrillation. A safe and effective antiarrhythmic drug treatment is needed. This will require a large, well-controlled, prospective study. Hypothesis: Amiodarone toxicity is common in Dobermans with occult DCM and ventricular tachyarrhythmias refractory to antiarrhythmia therapy. Infrequent monitoring of hepatic function is inadequate. Frequent monitoring may be useful to determine dogs in which the dosage should be decreased or the drug withdrawn. Methods: Medical records from the University of Georgia and Cornell University were searched for Doberman Pinschers diagnosed with preclinical DCM that received amiodarone for severe ventricular arrhythmias refractory to other antiarrhythmic agents. Echocardiographic data, Holter recording data, hepatic enzyme serum activity, and serum amiodarone concentrations were recorded. The presence of clinical signs of toxicity was recorded. Serum amiodarone concentrations were obtained in some dogs. Results: Reversible toxicity was identified in 10 of 22 (45%) dogs. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Adverse effects from amiodarone were common and were, in part, dosage related. Patients should be monitored for signs of toxicity and liver enzyme activity should be measured at least monthly. [source] Thrombotic Endocarditis in 10 AlpacasJOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2008A.M. Firshman Background: A description of the clinical signs and necropsy findings in 10 alpacas with thrombotic endocarditis. Animals: Clinical cases admitted to 2 veterinary referral hospitals between May 1998 and December 2006. Methods: A retrospective study was performed by searching hospital records to identify alpacas diagnosed with endocarditis. Results: Common clinical findings included sternal recumbency, tachycardia, tachypnea, and abdominal distension. Heart sounds were recorded as normal in 7 of 10 alpacas. Pleural and pericardial effusion and ascites were often present. Complete blood cell counts often suggested inflammation, and liver enzyme activity was often increased. When echocardiography was performed, a soft tissue density was imaged within the right ventricle. All alpacas died or were euthanized. Necropsy revealed mural endocarditis with right ventricular or biventricular fibrinous thrombi obliterating the ventricular lumina with no valvular involvement in 6 of 10 affected animals. Bacteria were not consistently identified as a cause for the endocarditic lesions. Eight of the 10 alpacas had evidence of hepatic fluke infestation. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Valvular and mural thrombotic endocarditis should be included in the list of differential diagnoses for hepatomegaly, abdominal distension, and other signs of right-sided congestive heart failure in alpacas. The prognosis of this disease is grave. [source] Veterinarians' preferences for anticonvulsant drugs for treating seizure disorders in dogs and catsAUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 11 2009EK Kluger Objective To identify veterinarians' approaches and concerns when managing canine and feline patients with acute and chronic seizure disorders. Design Cross-sectional survey. Method A questionnaire was distributed to veterinarians to determine how many dogs and cats they were actively treating for seizures, their anticonvulsant drug (ACD) preferences for treating acute and chronic seizure disorders and whether serum anticonvulsant concentrations and/or biochemical analytes were routinely measured. Additional questions involved the respondent's year and place of graduation and identified concerns they faced when managing patients with seizure disorders. Results Phenobarbitone was the most commonly used ACD for managing chronic seizure disorders in both dogs and cats, with 82% of respondents using a combination of phenobarbitone and potassium bromide to manage refractory seizure disorders in dogs. Most respondents (96%) felt comfortable managing seizures in dogs, but only 63% were comfortable managing affected cats. Routine monitoring of serum ACD concentrations and of liver biochemical analytes was performed routinely by 71% and 45% of respondents, respectively. Of the respondents, 86% graduated from Australian universities and of these 53% had graduated after 1985. Conclusion Veterinarians identified when to commence medication, whether regular monitoring of serum ACD concentrations and liver enzyme activity was necessary, and if the cost was justified. Veterinarians also identified the need to balance dose rates and side-effects by using combination therapy, and the importance of providing accurate information to clients about what to expect in terms of seizure control for their pet. [source] Investigation of the effects of peppermint oil and valerian on rat liver and cultured human liver cellsCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 10 2003Liem T Vo Summary 1.,The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of peppermint oil and valerian on rat liver and cultured human hepatoma cells. 2.,Rats received a single oral dose of peppermint oil (8.3,830 無/kg) or valerian (0.31,18.6 g/kg), or daily oral doses of 83 無/kg peppermint oil or 3.1 g/kg valerian for 28 days. After 24 h, rats were anaesthetized and measurements made of bile flow, liver function and in vivo sinusoidal area. Livers were then removed for histology. 3.,Bile flow was unaffected by any treatment, except acute high-dose peppermint oil (830 無/kg; 70% increase in flow). No change in liver enzyme activity was found, except for a 45% increase in alkaline phosphatase after chronic peppermint oil. No change in sinusoidal area in vivo or in histology was found following any treatment, although pretreatment with carbon tetrachloride reduced sinusoidal bed area and produced histological damage. Incubation of human hepatoma cells with 0.5 無/mL (but not 0.05 無/mL) peppermint oil or 20 mg/mL (but not 2 mg/mL) valerian resulted in increased cell death. 4.,In conclusion, the present study demonstrated in vitro toxicity of high doses of valerian and peppermint oil in cultured human hepatoma cells and, at doses 2,3 orders of magnitude greater than those recommended for human use, an increase in rat bile flow after acute peppermint oil and an increase in alkaline phosphatase after chronic peppermint oil. [source] | ||||||||||