Volatomic analysis identifies compounds that can stratify non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background & Aims: Analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath, 'volatomics', provides opportunities for non-invasive biomarker discovery and novel mechanistic insights into a variety of diseases. The purpose of this pilot study was to compare breath VOCs in an initial cohort of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and healthy controls.

Methods: Breath samples were collected from 15 participants with Child-Pugh class A NAFLD cirrhosis, 14 with non-cirrhotic NAFLD, and 14 healthy volunteers.

Oxidative stress rather than triglyceride accumulation is a determinant of mitochondrial dysfunction in in vitro models of hepatic cellular steatosis.

Background/aims: There is still debate about the relationship between fat accumulation and mitochondrial function in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It is a critical question as only a small proportion of individuals with steatosis progress to steatohepatitis. In this study, we focused on defining (i) the effects of triglyceride accumulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) on mitochondrial function (ii) the contributions of triglyceride, ROS and subsequent mitochondrial impairment on the metabolism of energy substrates.

Effects of HRT on liver enzyme levels in women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Increasingly strong links are being recognized between diabetes, insulin resistance and liver fat accumulation [e.g. nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)].

Metabolic, inflammatory and haemostatic effects of a low-dose continuous combined HRT in women with type 2 diabetes: potentially safer with respect to vascular risk?

Background: Conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) containing conjugated equine oestrogen (CEE) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) increases triglyceride, C-reactive protein (CRP) and coagulation Factor VII concentrations, potentially explaining their increased coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke risk.

Objective: To assess the metabolic effects of a continuous combined HRT containing 1 mg oestradiol and 0.5 mg norethisterone or matching placebo.