Silybin combined with phosphatidylcholine and vitamin E in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial

The only currently recommended treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is lifestyle modification. Preliminary studies of silybin showed beneficial effects on liver function. Realsil (RA) comprises the silybin phytosome complex (silybin plus phosphatidylcholine) coformulated with vitamin E. We report on a multicenter, phase III, double-blind clinical trial to assess RA in patients with histologically documented NAFLD. Patients were randomized 1:1 to RA or placebo (P) orally twice daily for 12 months. Prespecified primary outcomes were improvement over time in clinical condition, normalization of liver enzyme plasma levels, and improvement of ultrasonographic liver steatosis, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), and quality of life. Secondary outcomes were improvement in liver histologic score and/or decrease in NAFLD score without worsening of fibrosis and plasma changes in cytokines, ferritin, and liver fibrosis markers. We treated 179 patients with NAFLD; 36 were also HCV positive. Forty-one patients were prematurely withdrawn and 138 patients analyzed per protocol (69 per group). Baseline patient characteristics were generally well balanced between groups, except for steatosis, portal infiltration, and fibrosis. Adverse events (AEs) were generally transient and included diarrhea, dysgeusia, and pruritus; no serious AEs were recorded. Patients receiving RA but not P showed significant improvements in liver enzyme plasma levels, HOMA, and liver histology. Body mass index normalized in 15% of RA patients (2.1% with P). HCV-positive patients in the RA but not the P group showed improvements in fibrogenesis markers. This is the first study to systematically assess silybin in NAFLD patients. Treatment with RA but not P for 12 months was associated with improvement in liver enzymes, insulin resistance, and liver histology, without increases in body weight. These findings warrant further investigation.     

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is a Risk Factor for the Development of Diabetic Nephropathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prevalent in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is also associated with T2DM. However, little is known about the interaction between these conditions in patients with T2DM.

Objective

To examine the association between NAFLD and DN in patients with T2DM.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients seen between January 2006 and July 2014.T2DM patients were divided into two groups based on NAFLD status (with NAFLD = group A; without = group B). The cumulative incidence of DN and chronic kidney disease (CKD) staging were compared between the two groups. Liver fat content was examined in some patients. Associations among NAFLD, other factors,and DN were analyzed by the additive interaction method.

Results

Cumulative incidence of DN in patients from group A (58.58%) was higher than in group B (37.22%) (P = 0.005). In both groups, the number of DN patients with CKD stage 1 was greater than the number of patients with stages 2–5. Increased liver fat content was associated with increased occurrence of severe and mild albuminuria and decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR). There were positive correlations between NAFLD and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), free fatty acids (FFA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), omentin-1, visceral fat area, homocysteine (HCY), and serum uric acid (UA).

Conclusion

NAFLD might be a risk factor for DN. Elevated liver fat content could be associated with higher DN burden.     

非酒精性脂肪性肝病兔肝组织硫化氢与一氧化氮的关系

目的观察非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）兔肝组织硫化氢（H2S）、一氧化氮（NO）浓度,探讨H2S、NO在NAFLD发病中的作用。方法 40只日本大耳白兔数字法随机分为重度NAFLD组（重度组）、轻度NAFLD组（轻度组）、空白对照组（对照组）。重度组给予高脂饲料160 g/（兔.d）,轻度组给予高脂饲料80 g/（兔.d）＋普通饲料80 g/（兔.d）,对照组给予普通饲料160 g/（兔.d）。均饲养13周。实验前后采集血浆标本,同步检测甘油三酯（TG）、胆固醇（TC）;肝组织匀浆检测NO、H2S浓度。肝组织HE染色,光镜观察肝脏病理学。结果⑴TC、TG：饲养前重度组、轻度组、对照组TC、TG比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,饲养后重度组TC、TG分别为（32.12±1.25）、（6.02±2.12）mmol/L,轻度组TC、TG分别为（18.34±2.10）、（4.39±1.93）mmol/L,均高于饲养前（P﹤0.01）,饲养后重度组TC、TG高于轻度组（P﹤0.01）。⑵肝组织NO：重度组（132.4±20.7μmol/g蛋白）和轻度组（95.4±19.8μmol/g蛋白）肝组织NO浓度显著高于对照组（74.9±34.7μmol/g蛋白,P﹤0.01）,重度组又显著高于轻度组（P﹤0.01）。⑶肝组织H2S浓度：与对照组比较,重度组和轻度组肝组织H2S明显下降（P﹤0.01）,重度组与轻度组比较下降更显著（P﹤0.05）。⑷肝脏病理学：重度组肝脏病理学改变呈重度NAFLD,轻度组呈轻度～中度NAFLD。结论 NO、H2S参与NAFLD的发生、发展,通过干预NO、H2S防治NAFLD可能是未来方向。     

用~（18）F-FDG观察脂肪肝患者肝脏葡萄糖摄取变化

目的：通过PET/CT检查观察脂肪肝患者肝脏及其他组织对18F脱氧葡萄糖（18F-FDG）摄入变化,探讨脂肪肝与糖脂代谢的相关性。方法：36例做PET/CT的健康和2型糖尿病男性患者,分为对照组（n=18例）;脂肪肝组（n=9例）;糖尿病脂肪肝组（n=9例）。常规测血糖、血脂及肝肾功能。PET/CT测肝脏CT值和肝脏、肾皮质,骨骼肌组织18F-FDG的最大标准摄入值（SUVmax）及平均标准摄入值（SUVmean）。结果：1.糖尿病脂肪肝组的TG显著高于单纯脂肪肝组和正常对照组,P=0.0003,0.0000。单纯脂肪肝组的TG亦显著高于正常对照组,P=0.028。2.糖尿病脂肪肝组的肝脏18F-FDG的SUVmean和SUVmax显著高于正常对照组的SUVmean和SUVmax,P=0.0054,0.0133。单纯脂肪肝组的肝脏SUVmean和SUVmax亦高于正常对照组,但比较无统计学差异。脑皮质、肾皮质和骨骼肌组织的18F-FDG的SUVmean和SUVmax三组间比较无显著性差异。3.Spearman相关性分析发现FBG与TG显著正相关（r=0.59919,P=0.0004）;FBG和TG与肝脏的CT值显著负相关（r=-0．55625,P=0．0004;r=-0．45739,P=0．0097）。结论：脂肪肝与空腹血糖和甘油三酯升高显著相关。脂肪肝及2型糖尿病脂肪肝患者肝脏对葡萄糖摄取增高。     

代谢综合征与非酒精性脂肪肝临床特征的关系

目的:探讨代谢综合征(metabolic syndrome,MS)与非酒精性脂肪肝(non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,NAFLD)临床特征之间的相关性。方法:从我院2012年1月-2014年2月健康体检资料中抽选326例经超声确诊为NAFLD的患者,作为NAFLD组,并随机抽选335例无脂肪肝患者作为对照组;观察两组患者间的临床特征,并采用Logistic回归分析MS与NAFLD临床特征之间的相关性。结果:NAFLD组患者体重指数(BMI)、血压、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、空腹血糖(FBG)、血尿酸(UA)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)、甘油三酯(TG)、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)水平显著高于对照组(P0.05):两组间低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)、总胆固醇(TC)比较无显著性(P0.05)。NAFLD组中MS、血脂及糖代谢异常、肥胖以及高血压的检出率明显高于对照组(P0.05)。经Logistic回归分析显示,NAFLD、BMI、TG、HDL-C、高血压及血糖是MS的独立危险因素。结论:NAFLD患者中存在MS的各种组分聚集特征,MS患病率明显升高,NAFLD是MS的独立危险因素之一,因此MS与NAFLD关系密切。     

A proton nuclear magnetic resonance metabonomics approach for biomarker discovery in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

This study was undertaken to discover novel biomarkers for the noninvasive early diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet was used to represent different stages of NAFLD in male C57BL/6 mice. (1)H NMR spectroscopy and principal components analysis (PCA) were used to investigate the time-related biochemical changes in mice sera induced by the MCD diet. Many serum metabolites' concentrations changed between control and MCD-fed mice. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to select the least number of metabolites to be used for the noninvasive diagnosis of various stages of NAFLD; four potential biomarkers, serum glucose, lactate, glutamate/glutamine, and taurine were selected. To verify the diagnostic accuracy of these selected metabolites, their serum concentrations were measured in healthy controls (n = 28), NAFLD patients with steatosis (n = 15), steatosis patients with necro-inflammatory disease (n = 11), and NASH patients (n = 6). On the basis of results from MCD-fed mice model, clinical tests, and previous reports, we propose using the levels of the four metabolites for diagnosing NAFLD at various stages. Furthermore, the probability of developing NAFLD at a particular stage was assessed by multinomial logistic regression (MLR) based on the clinical results of the four serum metabolites.     

一种非酒精性脂肪性肝病的超声影像人工智能辅助诊断系统开发

摘要 目的：结合人工智能方法设计针对肝脏超声影像的辅助诊断系统，辅助医生对大样本肝脏超声影像数据的标准化和高效化诊断，实现基于肝脏超声图像的非酒精性脂肪性肝病的精准诊断。方法：通过开发肝脏超声影像的识别与分类、脂肪肝分级分析和肝脏脂肪含量定量分析三个模块，建立一套非酒精性脂肪性肝病的超声影像人工智能辅助诊断系统，该系统能够自动区分输入到系统中不同采样视野的超声影像类型，并对肝脏超声图像进行数字化分析，给出待测超声图像是否呈现脂肪肝以及其肝脏脂肪含量的百分比值。结果：本研究中的超声图像识别分类模块可高通量区分出肝肾比图像和衰减率图像的两类超声影像，其分类的准确率达100%。脂肪肝分级分析模块在测试集数据的准确率达到84%，展现出可胜任辅助医生诊断的能力。基于人工肝脏脂肪含量定量方法开发的肝脏脂肪含量定量分析模块的准确率达到67.74%。结论：本研究已开发出一套基于肝脏超声影像的智能辅助诊断系统，可以辅助医生快速、简单、无创地筛选出潜在患有脂肪肝的患者，虽然现阶段实现肝脏脂肪定量分析仍有难度，但已展现出较大的临床应用潜力。     

Triglyceride Levels and Not Adipokine Concentrations Are Closely Related to Severity of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in an Obesity Surgery Cohort

Although nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is frequent in obesity, the metabolic determinants of advanced liver disease remain unclear. Adipokines reflect inflammation and insulin resistance associated with obesity and may identify advanced NAFLD. At the time of obesity surgery, 142 consecutive patients underwent liver biopsy and had their preoperative demographic and clinical data obtained. Liver histology was scored by the NAFLD activity score, and patients subdivided into four groups. Concentrations of retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP4), adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and leptin were determined ～1 week prior to surgery and results were related to liver histology. The prevalence of no NAFLD was 30%, simple steatosis 23%, borderline nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) 28%, and definitive NASH 18%. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MS) prevalence were 39 and 75%, respectively, and did not differ across the four histological groups (P = NS). Triglyceride (TG) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, strongly associated with advanced stages of NAFLD and NASH (P = 0.04). TG levels >150 mg/dl, increased the likelihood of NASH 3.4‐fold, whereas high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) levels predicted no NAFLD (P < 0.01). Concentrations of TNF‐α, leptin, and RBP4 did not differ among histological groups and thus did not identify NASH; however, there was a trend for adiponectin to be lower in NASH vs. no NAFLD (P = 0.061). In summary, both TG and ALT levels assist in identification of NASH in an obesity surgery cohort. These findings underscore the importance of fatty acid delivery mechanisms to NASH development in severely obese individuals.     

Characteristics of fecal microbiota in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients

This study was designed to investigate the gut microbiota of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The inclusive and exclusive criteria for NAFLD patients and healthy subjects were formulated, and detailed clinical data were collected. The genomic DNA of stool samples were extracted for 16S rDNA sequencing, and the amplified V4-region was sequenced on the Illumina Miseq platform. Metastats analysis was performed to identify the differential taxa between the groups. Redundancy analysis was used to evaluate the association between gut microbial structure and clinical variables. Thirty NAFLD patients and 37 healthy controls were involved. The 16S rDNA sequencing showed that there was a dramatic variability of the fecal microbiota among all the individuals. Metastats analysis identified eight families and 12 genera with significant differences between the two groups. When some clinical parameters, such as waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), were enrolled in Redundancy analysis, the distribution of the two group of samples was obviously changed. The compositional shifts in fecal bacterial communities of NAFLD patients from the healthy controls were mainly at family or genus levels. According to our Redundancy analysis, insulin resistance and obesity might be closely related to both NAFLD phenotype and intestinal microecology.     

Frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in overweight/obese children and adults: Clinical,sonographic picture and biochemical assessment

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition defined by significant lipid accumulation (5–10%) in hepatic tissue in the absence of significant chronic alcohol consumption. We aim to detect frequency of fatty liver among overweight/obese adults and children and associated clinical; anthropological measures; biochemical; genetic and imaging studies. Eighty three consecutive adults and 72 children included in the study. All patients underwent clinical measurements of height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference. Biochemical investigations were done to all subjects including liver function tests; lipid profile; fasting blood glucose; insulin resistance (IR); high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP); adiponectin and genotyping of adiponectin genes. Abdominal ultrasonography was done to search for fatty liver; to measure subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and visceral fat thickness (VFT). Fatty liver was detected in 47 (65.3%) children and in 52 (62.7%) adults. Correlation analysis in both groups revealed that enlarged liver was highly positively correlated to age; BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP); waist circumference; hip circumference, subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and Visceral fat thickness (VFT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT). In addition in adults to fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), IR and hs-CRP. Homozygous T adiponectin genotype at position +276 was significantly increased among children with enlarged liver size and hs-CRP. NAFLD affects a substantial portion of adults and children; it is associated with the metabolic syndrome.     

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease severity and metabolic complications in obese children: impact of omega-3 fatty acids

Although n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) revealed promising therapeutic results in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is considered as the most prevalent cause of chronic hepatic disease, inconsistencies are calling for further confirmatory trials to demonstrate therapeutic efficacy and safety. The study, registered as NCT02201160 on www.clinicaltrials.gov, was designed to compare two groups of NAFLD with a different severity, and to evaluate the efficacy of n-3 PUFA supplementation. Twenty young male participants of French Canadian origin with NAFLD were enrolled and classified into moderate (mNAFLD) and severe (sNAFLD) fatty liver groups, according to transaminase levels, ultrasonography, NAFLD Activity Score and Fatty Liver Index (FLI). The sNAFLD patients were assigned to consume 2 g of n-3 PUFA for 6 months. sNAFLD patients displayed higher insulinemia, insulin resistance (IR), oxidative stress (OxS), systolic blood pressure and the risk lipid indicators of cardiovascular diseases. Supplementation of n-3 PUFA for 6 months resulted in a significant increase in concentrations of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in red blood cells along with an attenuation of hepatic steatosis as reflected by the reduction of the FLI, ALT and ALT/AST ratio. Moreover, the n-3 PUFA improved the lipid profile and carotid intima-media thickness, while reducing metabolic and OxS markers as well as raising adiponectin. In conclusion, NAFLD severity was essentially related to IR. Treatment with n-3 PUFA has an evidently beneficial effect on liver steatosis and related metabolic abnormalities. Furthermore, the cross association of omega-3 index with cardiometabolic markers may serve as a predictor for cardiovascular risk disorders in NAFLD.     

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: one entity,multiple impacts on liver health

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is very prevalent and now considered the most common cause of chronic liver disease. Staging the severity of liver damage is very important because the prognosis of NAFLD is highly variable. The long-term prognosis of patients with NAFLD remains incompletely elucidated. Even though the annual fibrosis progression rate is significantly higher in patients with nonalcoholic hepatitis (NASH), both types of NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) can lead to fibrosis. The risk for progressive liver damage and poor outcomes is assessed by staging the severity of liver injury and liver fibrosis. Algorithms (scores) that incorporate various standard clinical and laboratory parameters alongside imaging-based approaches that assess liver stiffness are helpful in predicting advanced fibrosis.     

不同亚型脂联素与非酒精性脂肪性肝病的关系

目的:探究总脂联素(total adiponectin,total APN)和高分子量脂联素(high-molecular-weight adiponectin,HMW APN)与非酒精性脂肪性肝病(Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease,NAFLD)的关系。方法:连续纳入50名男性健康男性及50名非酒精性脂肪性肝病男性患者,收集患者临床资料及其他临床生化数据,通过ELISA法检测总脂联素、支链氨基酸及可溶性晚期糖基化终末产物含量,Western blot法测定高分子量、中分子量和低分子量脂联素水平,进一步分析其相关性。结果:与对照组的健康受试者相比,NAFLD患者的总脂联素和三种不同形式的脂联素水平均显著降低。在NAFLD患者中,总脂联素与身高(R=-0.270, P=0.032)和羧甲基赖氨酸(R=-0.259, P=0.040)显著负相关;高分子量脂联素与空腹血糖(R=0.350, P=0.016)显著正相关,与丙氨酸氨基转移酶(R=-0.321, P=0.029)和天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(R=-0.295, P=0.045)显著负相关。结论:总脂联素和三种不同形式的脂联素水平均与NAFLD呈显著负相关。     

Serum Fucosylated Haptoglobin as a Novel Diagnostic Biomarker for Predicting Hepatocyte Ballooning and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing medical problem around the world. NAFLD patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) can develop cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The ability to distinguish NASH from simple steatosis would be of great clinical significance. Ballooning hepatocytes are characteristic of typical pathological NASH; here, the polarized secretion of proteins is disrupted due to destruction of the cytoskeleton. We previously reported that fucosylated glycoproteins are secreted into bile, but not into sera in normal liver. Therefore, we hypothesized that the fucosylation-based sorting machinery would be disrupted in ballooning hepatocytes, and serum fucosylated glycoproteins would increase in NASH patients. To confirm our hypothesis, we evaluated serum fucosylated haptoglobin (Fuc-Hpt) levels in biopsy-proven NAFLD patients (n = 126) using a lectin-antibody ELISA kit. Fuc-Hpt levels were significantly increased in NASH patients compared with non-NASH (NAFLD patients without NASH) patients. Interestingly, Fuc-Hpt levels showed a significant stepwise increase with increasing hepatocyte ballooning scores. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that Fuc-Hpt levels were independent and significant determinants of the presence of ballooning hepatocytes. Moreover, Fuc-Hpt levels were useful in monitoring liver fibrosis staging. Next, to investigate the significance of serum Fuc-Hpt in a larger population, we measured Fuc-Hpt levels in ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD subjects (n = 870) who received a medical health checkup. To evaluate NAFLD disease severity, we used the FIB-4 index (based on age, serum AST and ALT levels, and platelet counts). Fuc-Hpt levels increased stepwise with increasing FIB-4 index.

Conclusion

Measurement of serum Fuc-Hpt levels can distinguish NASH from non-NASH patients, and predict the presence of ballooning hepatocytes in NAFLD patients with sufficient accuracy. These results support the potential usefulness of measuring Fuc-Hpt levels in clinical practice.     

酪酸梭菌活菌胶囊辅助治疗对非酒精性脂肪肝病患者氧化应激损伤的保护作用

目的 探讨酪酸梭菌活菌胶囊辅助治疗对非酒精性脂肪肝病(nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,NAFLD)患者氧化应激损伤的保护作用。 方法 选取2017年1月至2019年3月我院内科门诊就诊的NAFLD患者76例,随机分为观察组和对照组,各38例。两组患者均给予饮食调整、纠正不良生活习惯和适当运动锻炼。对照组患者给予多烯磷脂酰胆碱胶囊456 mg/次,3次/d,口服。观察组患者在对照组基础上加用酪酸梭菌活菌胶囊0.6 g/次,2次/d,温水口服。两组患者连用8周。检测两组患者治疗前后肝功能指标[丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、γ 谷氨酰转肽酶(γ GT)]及氧化应激指标[氧化低密度脂蛋白(ox LDL)、过氧化脂质(LPO)、丙二醛(MDA)]水平的变化。 结果 治疗8周后,两组患者血清ALT、ALP和γ GT水平较治疗前明显下降,且观察组下降幅度大于比对照组(均P结论 酪酸梭菌活菌胶囊辅助治疗NAFLD患者能降低血清ox LDL、LPO和MDA水平,抑制氧化应激反应亢进,保护肝功能。     

健康查体人群非酒精性脂肪肝发病的相关危险因素分析

目的:探讨非酒精性单纯性脂肪肝以及由其演变的脂肪性肝炎各指标的差异,并分析非酒精性脂肪肝病(Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease,NAFLD)的相关影响因素,为NAFLD防治提供依据。方法:入选病例分为正常组(A组,n=189)、单纯性脂肪肝组(B组,n=162)、脂肪肝伴肝功能改变组(C组,n=23),分析其体检结果及生活方式等影响因素,应用单因素及Logistic回归分析进行统计学处理。结果:C组大多数各项指标均比B组有所升高,其中体质量指数(BMI)、丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、尿素氮(BUN)、空腹胰岛素(FIns)、餐后2小时胰岛素(2h PIns)差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。在B组和C组中ALT、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、甘油三酯(TG)、Fins、2hPIns、腰臀比(WHR)与A组比较均有显著差异(P0.05);男性NAFLD的发病率比女性高,差异有统计学意义(x2=6.86,P0.05)。有高脂血症组单纯性脂肪肝发病率高于没有高脂血症组,差异有统计学意义(x2=26.11,P0.05)。有高血压病史的NAFLD发病率比无高血压病史的高,差异显著(x2=7.39,P0.05);Logistic回归分析显示,BMI、TC、HbA1c、有高血压病史是NAFLD的危险因素。结论:NAFLD与代谢综合征密切相关,NAFLD中伴肝功异常组存在更明显的胰岛素抵抗、血脂紊乱现象,更易于患慢性肾脏疾病。     

Simultaneous quantification of hepatic MRI-PDFF and R2* in a rabbit model with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Quantification of hepatic fat and iron content is important for early detection and monitoring of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) patients. This study evaluated quantification efficiency of hepatic proton density fat fraction(PDFF) by MRI using NAFLD rabbits. R2* was also measured to investigate whether it correlates with fat levels in NAFLD. NAFLD rabbit model was successfully established by high fat and cholesterol diet. Rabbits underwent MRI examination for fat and iron analyses,compared with liver histological findings. MR examinations were performed on a 3.0 T MR system using multi-echo 3 D gradient recalled echo(GRE) sequence. MRI-PDFF showed significant differences between different steatosis grades with medians of3.72%(normal), 5.43%(mild), 9.11%(moderate) and 11.17%(severe), whereas this was not observed in R2*. Close correlation between MRI-PDFF and histological steatosis was observed(r=0.78, P=0.000). Hepatic iron deposit was not found in any rabbits. There was no correlation between R2* and either liver MRI-PDFF or histological steatosis. MR measuring MRI-PDFF and R2* simultaneously provides promising quantification of steatosis and iron. Rabbit NAFLD model confirmed accuracy of MRI-PDFF for liver fat quantification. R2* measurement and relationship between fat and iron of NAFLD liver need further experimental investigation.     

Serum adipocyte-specific fatty acid-binding protein is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in apparently healthy subjects

Adipocyte-specific fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) is a cytoplasmic protein that is expressed in adipocytes and is closely associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and Type 2 diabetes. We investigated the relationship between A-FABP as a surrogate marker of metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in apparently healthy subjects. We assessed clinical and biochemical metabolic parameters and measured serum levels of A-FABP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in 494 subjects who were divided into two groups according to the presence of NAFLD by abdominal ultrasonography. All parameters associated with metabolic syndrome were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD (P<.001). A-FABP showed positive correlation with TNF-α, homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and metabolic syndrome (P<.001) when adjusted for age and sex. The odds ratio for the risk of NAFLD in the highest tertile of A-FABP compared with the lowest tertile was 7.36 (CI 3.80-14.27, P<.001) after adjustment for age and sex; 4.52 (CI 2.22-9.20, P<.001) after adjustment for age, sex, HOMA-IR and metabolic syndrome and 2.86 (CI 1.11-7.35, P<.05) after further adjustment for all metabolic parameters including TNF-α. The serum level of A-FABP was independently associated with NAFLD and showed significant correlation with TNF-α, HOMA-IR, and metabolic syndrome.     

血清学指标检验在脂肪肝患者临床诊断中的应用价值研究

目的:探讨血清学指标检验在脂肪肝患者临床诊断中的应用价值。方法:收集2013年3月-2014年3月于我院接受治疗的脂肪肝患者42例,作为观察组;选取同一时间我院体检科健康查体者42例,作为对照组。比较两组血清学指标检验结果,并分析其在脂肪肝临床诊断中的价值。结果:观察组患者丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)水平明显高于对照组健康查体者,两组比较差异均具有统计学意义(t=11.42、13.17,P0.05);观察组患者血清甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)水平明显高于对照组健康查体者,两组比较差异均具有统计学意义(t=7.35、8.02,P0.05)。结论:血清ALT、AST、TG、TC指标在脂肪肝患者临床诊断中存在重要的临床应用价值,可作为临床监测脂肪肝的重要方法,值得推广。