The response of liver lipid peroxidative and antioxidant defense systems of protein undernourished rats to liver regeneration

The response of liver lipid peroxidative and antioxidant defense system of protein undernourished rats to liver regeneration induced by partial hepatectomy was examined in rats. Animals were divided into four groups; A,B,C and D of four animals each. Animals in group A were maintained on 16% casein diet while those in groups B, C and D were placed on low-protein diet (5% casein) for fourteen weeks and fed ad libitum. 72 hours before sacrifice, partial hepatectomy was carried out on animals in group D while animals in group C were sham-operated. The results show that protein undernutrition induced an increase in lipid peroxidation but reduced catalase activity, glutathione level and superoxide dismutase activity when compared with well-nourished rats. Liver regeneration however, resulted in significant increases in lipid peroxidation and catalase activity but significant reductions in glutathione level and superoxide dismutase activity in protein undernutrition rats when compared with their sham-operated counterparts. These results suggest that liver regeneration induced by partial hepatectomy exacerbates lipid peroxidation in protein undernutrition rats and that Catalase plays a major role in the mopping up of reactive oxygen species generated following liver regeneration in partially hepatectomised protein undernutrition rats.     

Isolation and characterization of mitochondria from goat hearts

Cardiac mitochondria provide energy for the contraction/relaxation cycle. The aim of our study was to isolate and characterize mitochondria from Caprine hearts under control and in-vitro induced ischemia. A decrease in activities of all the enzymes was observed in the ischemic models. Further characterization of proteins was done by SDS-PAGE and BN-PAGE. Lipids have been characterized by analyzing the phospholipids by HPTLC and fatty acids by GLC in both groups. Our results indicated that injury occurs early in the course of ischemia and progresses during ischemia. TBARS and carbonyl content have also been measured. The in-vitro effects of fatty acids have been studied on the enzymes and complexes of mitochondria.     

Ultra-Cut biopsy guided by ultrasonography for liver lesions: experience of 392 clinical cases

We conducted a retrospective study of the accuracy of liver biopsies in 392 patients with liver lesions. Postbiopsy diagnosis was 297 cases of primary liver cancers, 79 cases of secondary malignant tumors, 2 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 10 cases of focal nodular hyperplasia, 2 cases of chronic inflammation, 1 tuberculosis case and 1 schistosomiasis case. Biopsy provided histological diagnosis in 100% of cases, sensibility and specificity of Ultra-Cut biopsy was 98.95% and 100% for the diagnosis of malignancy respectively; positive predictive value, 100%; negative predictive value, 71.43%; and accuracy, 98.98%. We identified no major procedure related complications despite the presence of thrombocytopenia in 37.5% of cases. Pain was the only reported adverse effect of liver biopsy (10.97%), and 11 patients required analgesics. We concluded that Ultra-Cut liver biopsy was a safe and effective technique, and was invaluable in the investigation and management of patients with liver lesions.     

Hepatoprotective effect of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hygrophila spinosa</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cassia occidentalis</Emphasis> on carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in experimental rats

The present study was undertaken to analyze the levels of some known antioxidant (both enzymic and non enzymic) activities in the rootsof Hygrophila spinosa andCassia occidentalis also to find out the hepatoprotective effect of the same in carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in albino rats. The roots were found to be rich in antioxidants. Liver damage in rats were induced by carbon tetrachloride. To find out the hepatoprotective activity, the aqueous extract of the plant root samples were administrated to rats for 15 days. The serum marker enzymes Aspartate transaminase, Alanine transaminase and Gama Glutamyl were measured in experimental animals. The increased enzyme levels after liver damage with carbon tetrachloride were nearing to normal value when treated with aqueous extract of the root samples. Histopathological observation also proved the hepatoprotectivity of the root samples.     

Gene expression and apoptosis response in hepatocellular carcinoma cells induced by biocompatible polymer/magnetic nanoparticles containing 5-fluorouracil

BackgroundSuper-paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) contain a chemotherapeutic drug and are regarded as a promising technique for improving targeted delivery into cancer cells.ResultsIn this study, the fabrication of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was investigated with loaded Dextran (DEX-SPION) using the co-precipitation technique and conjugated by folate (FA). These nanoparticles (NPs) were employed as carriers and anticancer compounds against liver cancer cells in vitro. Structural, magnetic, morphological characterization, size, and drug loading activities of the obtained FA-DEX-5-FU-SPION NPs were checked using FTIR, VSM, FESEM, TEM, DLS, and zeta potential techniques. The cellular toxicity effect of FA-DEX-5-FU-SPION NPs was evaluated using the MTT test on liver cancer (SNU-423) and healthy cells (LO2). Furthermore, the apoptosis measurement and the expression levels of NF-1, Her-2/neu, c-Raf-1, and Wnt-1 genes were evaluated post-treatment using flow cytometry and RT-PCR, respectively. The obtained NPs were spherical with a suitable dispersity without noticeable aggregation. The size of the NPs, polydispersity, and zeta were 74 ± 13 nm, 0.080 and −45 mV, respectively. The results of the encapsulation efficiency of the nano-compound showed highly colloidal stability and proper drug maintenance. The results indicated that FA-DEX-5-FU-SPION demonstrated a sustained release profile of 5-FU in both phosphate and citrate buffer solutions separately, with higher cytotoxicity against SNU-423 cells than against other cells types. These findings suggest that FA-DEX-SPION NPs exert synergistic effects for targeting intracellular delivery of 5-FU, apoptosis induction, and gene expression stimulation.ConclusionsThe findings proved that FA-DEX-5-FU-SPION presented remarkable antitumor properties; no adverse subsequences were revealed against normal cells.How to cite: Mahdia SA, Kadhimb AA, Albukhaty S, et al. Gene expression and apoptosis response in hepatocellular carcinoma cells induced by biocompatible polymer/magnetic nanoparticles containing 5-fluorouracil. Electron J Biotechnol 2021;52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2021.04.001     

A novel way of liver preservation improves rat liver viability upon reperfusion

Background/aim： Currently, the liver is cold-preserved at 0-4 ℃ for experimental and clinical purposes. Here, we investigated whether milder hypothermia during the initial phase of the preservation period was beneficial for liver viability upon reperfusion. Methods： In the first set of experiments, rat livers were preserved either conventionally in clinically used histidine-trypthopan-ketoglutarate （HTK） solution （Group A： 45 min and Group B： 24 h） or by slow cooling HTK solution （from 13 ℃ to 3 ℃） during the initial 45 min of preservation （Group C： 24 h）. In the second set of experiments, additional groups of livers were evaluated： Group BB-preservation according to Group B and Group CC-preservation according to Group C. Further, some livers were preserved at 13 ℃ for 24 h. Livers were then reperfused using a blood-free perfusion model. Results： Bile production was approximately 2-fold greater in Group C compared to Group B. Alanine transaminase （ALT） and aspartate transaminase （AST） release into perfusate were 2-3-fold higher in Group B compared to Group C. No significant differences were found in ALT and AST release between Group C and Group A. Livers in Group CC compared to Group BB exhibited significantly lower portal resistance, greater oxygen consumption and bromosulfophthalein excretion into bile and lower lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） release into perfusate. Histological evaluation of tissue sections in Group BB showed parenchymal dystrophy of hepatocytes, while dystrophy ofhepatocytes was absent in Group CC. Livers preserved at 13 ℃ for 24 h exhibited severe ischemic injury Conclusion： These results suggest that the conventional way of liver preservation is not suitable at least for rat livers and that slow cooling of HTK solution during the initial phase of cold storage can improve liver viability during reperfusion.     

Science Letters： Vascular architecture： is it a helpful histopathological biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma？

Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） remains one of the major public health problems throughout the world. Although originally associated with tumorigenic processes, liver angiogenesis has also been observed in the context of different liver inflammatory, fibrotic, and ischemic conditions. Here we investigate the fractal dimension as a quantitator of non-Euclidean two-dimensional vascular geometry in a series of paired specimens of primary HCC and surrounding non-tumoral tissue, and discuss why this parameter might provide additional information regarding cancer behavior. The application of fractal geometry to the measurement of liver vascularity and the availability of a computer-aided quantitative method can eliminate errors in visual interpretation, and make it possible to obtain closer-to-reality numerals that are compulsory for any measurement process.     

纳米酶：结合天然酶和人工催化的力量

纳米酶代表了一类新型人工酶和生物催化剂,打破了无机与有机生命的界限。它既有纳米材料的理化特性,也有独特的类酶催化活性。同时,这些理化特性有可能会调控催化活性,使得纳米酶跟天然酶、传统的模拟酶和化学催化剂区别开来。纳米酶有比较好的稳定性、耐高温、低温、耐酸碱、活性可调且多功能,目前受到了广泛关注,在生物医药、环境治理、绿色农业、新能源等领域展现出巨大的应用前景,并初步形成了相应的学科框架。为了更好地推动纳米酶的发展,拓展对纳米酶的认识,文章回顾了纳米酶发现,分析凝练了纳米酶的学科特点及其结构,综述了纳米酶的应用,并展望了未来的发展趋势。     

运动对肝脏的影响(综述)

本文综合阐述了运动对肝脏功能和形态结构的影响,运动对肝脏功能的影响主要表现在对肝脏中各种酶的功用的影响,同时肝细胞的形态结构也会因运动发生相应的变化,亦可致使肝功能发生异常甚至发生病变。