Oxidative stress and antioxidant defence in a healthy nonagenarian population.

Results on oxidative markers during ageing are not consistent throughout the scientific literature; however, successful ageing may depend on better ability to cope with oxidative stress. A previous study of ours showed that successful ageing could actually be related to enhanced response to oxidatively modified proteins. In this study, a healthy nonagenarian population (OVER-90) was examined for various blood oxidative biomarkers and compared with a healthy population of blood donors (age range, 23-66 years).

Influence of 1-week Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy with rabeprazole, clarithromycin, and metronidazole on 13C-aminopyrine breath test.

Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is commonly prescribed in the general population. Treatment consists of drugs that are mainly metabolized by the liver cytochrome P-450 (CYP) enzymatic pool. Most H.

13C-galactose breath test and 13C-aminopyrine breath test for the study of liver function in chronic liver disease.

Background And Aims: Liver biopsy examination is the gold standard to diagnose the presence of cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of both 13 C-aminopyrine breath test ( 13 C-ABT) and 13 C-galactose breath test ( 13 C-GBT) in the noninvasive assessment of the presence of cirrhosis in patients with chronic liver disease.

Methods: We evaluated 61 patients with chronic liver disease of diverse etiologies (21 compensated cirrhosis).

Effects of the association of lansoprazole, clarithromycin and metronidazole for helicobacter Pylori eradication therapy, measured by the 13C Aminopyrine breath test.

Background: Lansoprazole (LAN) is a proton pump inhibitor drug (PPI) metabolized by the P-450 liver cytochrome (CYP-450) system. LAN is used in association with antimicrobial agents in Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication therapy. The 13C-Aminopyrine breath test (ABT) is a non-invasive tool exploring liver CYP-450 metabolic activity.

Can inclusion of serum creatinine values improve the Child-Turcotte-Pugh score and challenge the prognostic yield of the model for end-stage liver disease score in the short-term prognostic assessment of cirrhotic patients?

Background: The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is a useful tool to assess prognosis in critically ill cirrhotic patients. However, its short-term prognostic superiority over the traditional Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score has not been definitely confirmed. The creatinine serum level is an important predictor of survival in patients with liver cirrhosis.

High ascitic fluid leptin levels in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and sterile ascites: relationship with TNF-alpha levels.

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone involved in the homeostasis of body composition. An imbalance in leptin regulation has been observed in patients with liver cirrhosis. We aimed to assess serum and ascitic leptin levels in a group of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and to evaluate the relationship of these levels with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).

Relationship between thrombopoietin serum levels and liver function in patients with chronic liver disease related to hepatitis C virus infection.

Objectives: Thrombopoietin (Tpo) is an important regulator of megakaryocyte maturation and platelet production, and is mainly produced by the liver. A decrease in Tpo production is partly responsible for the thrombocytopenia observed in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Tpo serum levels and liver function in patients with CLD related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Anti malondialdehyde-adduct immunological response as a possible marker of successful aging.

Contrasting results have been obtained by various researchers about oxidative markers of aging. In this study, a healthy over-90-year-old population was examined for various plasma oxidative biomarkers and compared with a healthy population of blood donors (age range 23-66). Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), evaluated by means of the thiobarbituric acid test, was significantly higher in the over-90-year-old population, confirming the presence of increased lipoperoxidation in old age.

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with greater impairment of cytochrome P-450 liver metabolic activity in anti-HCV positive cirrhotic patients.

Helicobacter pylori gastric infection has been associated with various digestive and extradigestive diseases. In liver disease bacterial infections have been associated with impairment of cytochrome P-450 liver metabolic activity. Moreover, infection by Helicobacter spp.

Previous hepatitis B virus infection is associated with worse disease stage and occult hepatitis B virus infection has low prevalence and pathogenicity in hepatitis C virus-positive patients.

Background: Anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) frequently show markers of previous hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Moreover, they may carry occult HBV infection. These features might influence clinical and biochemical features as well as stage of disease.

Validity and clinical utility of the aspartate aminotransferase-alanine aminotransferase ratio in assessing disease severity and prognosis in patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease.

Background: The aspartate aminotransferase-alanine aminotransferase ratio (AST/ALT ratio) has been used to noninvasively assess the severity of disease in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). We previously demonstrated that progressive liver functional impairment is associated with an increase in the AST/ALT ratio.

Objectives: To evaluate the reproducibility and transportability of the AST/ALT ratio in a large cohort of patients with different degrees of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related CLD, to confirm the correlation between progressive impairment of liver function and increase in the AST/ALT ratio, to evaluate whether diagnostic accuracy of the ALT/AST ratio can be improved by using it with other biochemical variables, and to assess the 1-year prognostic capability of the AST/ALT ratio in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Influence of age on clinical presentation, therapeutic options, and prognosis in anti-HCV positive cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatitis C virus infection-related cirrhosis is a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma in anti-hepatitis C virus positive cirrhotics shows an increasing prevalence with ageing, although it is not clear whether the age of the patients can be considered a critical factor in the overall assessment of severity of disease or in the choice of therapeutic procedures and prognosis.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of older age on modality of presentation, therapeutic choices, outcome, and survival in anti-hepatitis C virus patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

The 1-year and 3-month prognostic utility of the AST/ALT ratio and model for end-stage liver disease score in patients with viral liver cirrhosis.

Objectives: The AST/ALT ratio has shown good diagnostic accuracy in patients with chronic viral liver disease. However, its prognostic utility has never been tested. Recently, the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) has been proposed as a simple and effective tool to predict survival in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Serum thrombopoietin levels are linked to liver function in untreated patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic hepatitis.

Background: Thrombocytopenia can be found in patients with chronic hepatitis related to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Both hypersplenism and decreased liver production of thrombopoietin (TPO) have been hypothesized as mechanisms responsible for thrombocytopenia.

Aims: To assess the presence of relationships among platelet count, spleen size, TPO serum levels, liver histology, and liver function in a group of patients with HCV-related chronic hepatitis.

Monitoring of liver metabolic function during interferon-alpha therapy and its relationship to treatment outcome in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Background/aims: Interferon is considered the cornerstone in the therapy of chronic hepatitis C patients. Experimental studies have shown that interferon administration may influence liver metabolic activity. However, data concerning the monitoring of liver metabolic function during a therapeutic course of interferon in chronic hepatitis C patients are scanty.