Browsing by Subject "Steatohepatitis"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    An innovative methodology for the automated morphometric and quantitative estimation of liver steatosis
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2009) Liquori, Giuseppa Esterina; Calamita, Giuseppe; Cascella, Davide; Mastrodonato, Maria; Portincasa, Piero; Ferri, Domenico
    The management of liver steatosis, due to its potential evolution towards severe diseases, requires accurate diagnosis. Fatty infiltration in liver diseases is commonly assessed histologically by semi-quantitative methods, which can be subjective. Automated computerized procedures using commercial software for image analysis have also been recently employed. The aim of the study was to develop an innovative automated computerized procedure to accurately evaluate both the morphometry and degree of lipid accumulation in liver. Fatty infiltration was assessed in paraffin- and resinembedded samples of steatotic livers from rats undergoing 0, 3, 7, 14, and 30-day choline-deficient diet, and from liver biopsy of a morbidly obese patient undergoing bariatric surgery. Specific software was developed, which works with a morphological operator, in addition to a chromatic one to select lipid droplets. The choline-deficient diet induced steatosis with a gradual shift from micro- to macro-vesicular. In paraffin sections, the macrovesicles-to-microvesicles ratio and the degree of steatosis, when using only the chromatic operator, produced overestimates. Results were consistent in both rat and human samples. An improvement of topographic, morphometric and quantitative estimation of fatty liver infiltration is obtained with our software, working with a morphological operator and using semi-thin sections from resin-embedded samples. This innovative procedure may be applied to human liver samples, offering promising diagnostic and prognostic perspectives.
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    Effect of atorvastatin and diet on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score in hyperlipidemic chickens
    (Elsevier, 2009-10-22) Martin Castillo, Antonia; Adánez Martínez, María de Gracia; Sánchez Polo, Maria Teresa; García Pérez, Bartolomé; Ayala, Ignacio; Castells Mora, María Teresa; Medicina
    Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is part of the spectrum of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which includes from simple steatosis and steatohepatitis, to the most severe cirrhosis and carcinoma, which develops in the absence of excessive alcohol intake. NAFLD is the most common liver disorder in affluent societies. There is no proven treatment for NAFLD/NASH. One of the most frequent adverse effects of statins is an increase in hepatic aminotransferases. Studies that evaluate if the benefits of statins overcome the risks in NASH are lacking. The present study was conceived to explore the effect of both atorvastatin and diet on regression of steatohepatitis, using a chicken experimental model induced by a hyperlipidemic diet (HD). Plasma lipid levels, liver enzymes and hepatic histopathology, as well as image analysis were performed to determine changes in liver lipid deposits and inflammatory infiltration. Features of steatosis, cell-ballooning, and inflammation were scored to obtain the NAFLD activity score (NAS). A severe level of steatosis was found in animals fed on HD. Atorvastatin treated groups showed smaller size of lipid deposits and a lower level of inflammation than non-treated groups. Atorvastatin therapy induced a significant reduction of hepatocellular damage, even though in the animals which continuously received a hyperlipidemic diet. The combination of atorvastatin therapy and a standard diet produced the lowest decrease of NAS. Our results show that atorvastatin therapy not only decreased plasmatic levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, but also induced a reduction of liver steatosis, inflammation and hepatocellular damage, without increasing plasmatic amynotransferase levels.
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    Lipidomic analysis reveals alterations in hepatic FA profile associated with MASLD stage in patients with obesity
    (Oxford University Press, 2024-01-13) Núñez-Sánchez, María Ángeles; Martínez-Sánchez, María Antonia; Martínez-Montoro, José Ignacio; Balaguer-Román, Andrés; Murcia-García, Elena; Fernández Ruiz, Virginia Esperanza; Ferrer Gómez, Mercedes; Martínez Cáceres, Carlos Manuel; Sledzinski, Tomasz; Frutos Bernal, María Dolores; Hernández-Morante, Juan José; Fernández-García, José Carlos; Queipo-Ortuño, María Isabel; Ruiz Alcaraz, Antonio José; Mika, Adriana; Ramos-Molina, Bruno; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología; Facultad de Biología
    Context. Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by the intracellular lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. Excess caloric intake and high-fat diets are considered to significantly contribute to MASLD development. Objective. To evaluate the hepatic and serum fatty acid (FA) composition in patients with different stages of MASLD, and their relationship with FA dietary intake and MASLD-related risk factors. Methods. This was a case–control study in patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery at a university hospital between January 2020 and December 2021. Participants were distributed in 3 groups: no MASLD (n = 26), steatotic liver disease (n = 33), and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (n = 32). Hepatic and serum FA levels were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Nutritional status was evaluated using validated food frequency questionnaires. The hepatic expression of genes involved in FA metabolism was analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results. The hepatic, but not serum, FA profiles were significantly altered in patients with MASLD compared with those without MASLD. No differences were observed in FA intake between the groups. Levels of C16:0, C18:1, and the C18:1/C18:0 ratio were higher, while C18:0 levels and C18:0/C16:0 ratio were lower in patients with MASLD, being significantly different between the 3 groups. Hepatic FA levels and ratios correlated with histopathological diagnosis and other MASLD-related parameters. The expression of genes involved in the FA metabolism was upregulated in patients with MASLD. Conclusion. Alterations in hepatic FA levels in MASLD patients were due to enhancement of de novo lipogenesis in the liver.