Increased orocecal transit time in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Intestinal bacterial overgrowth (IBO) has been suggested to play a pathogenic role in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Delayed intestinal transit may contribute to IBO development. Ten nondiabetic patients with NAFLD and abnormal liver enzymes were recruited.

Bile acids increase response and expression of human myometrial oxytocin receptor.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that during intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy bile acids activate the myometrial oxytocin receptor pathway.

Study Design: Myometrial sensitivity to oxytocin and oxytocin-receptor messenger RNA and protein level was investigated. The ability of cholic acid to mediate such changes was evaluated.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: an intriguing pregnancy-specific disorder.

Objective: To review animal and human data available regarding the etiology, maternal and fetal impact, and treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

Methods: Pertinent studies on human and animal models of ICP were selected through a MEDLINE database search, focusing on etiology and clinical impact of the disease. Analytic and descriptive studies were included, and the data were analyzed looking for crude numbers.