Effects of iron overload in a rat nutritional model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background/aims: This study sought to determine whether excess hepatic iron potentiates liver injury in the methionine choline-deficient (MCD) model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: Iron-loaded rats were fed either MCD or control diets [MCD diet plus choline bitartrate (2 g/kg) and DL-methionine (3 g/kg)] for 4 and 12 weeks, after which liver pathology, hepatic iron, triglyceride, lipid peroxidation products and hydroxyproline (HYP) levels and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were evaluated.

Results: Iron supplementation in MCD animals resulted in histologic evidence of hepatic iron overload at 4 and 12 weeks and a 14-fold increase in hepatic iron concentration at 12 weeks (P < 0.

Rodent nutritional model of steatohepatitis: effects of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) and tumor necrosis factor alpha deficiency.

Background And Aims: Intestinal endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) is thought to contribute to liver injury in both alcoholic and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is an important mediator of this process and is considered central to the inflammatory response in NASH. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lipopolysaccharide on liver injury in the methionine choline deficient (MCD) nutritional model of NASH, and to determine if TNFalpha is required for the development of steatohepatitis in this model.

Fumonisin B1-induced hepatocellular and cholangiocellular tumors in male Fischer 344 rats: potentiating effects of 2-acetylaminofluorene on oval cell proliferation and neoplastic development in a discontinued feeding study.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a naturally occurring mycotoxin produced by Fusarium verticillioides. Dietary exposure to FB1 has been linked to human cancer in certain parts of the world, and treatment with FB1 causes oval cell proliferation and liver tumors in rats. To study the potential role of oval (liver progenitor) cells in the cellular pathogenesis of FB1-induced liver tumors, we gave male F344 rats prolonged treatment with FB1 for 25 weeks, followed by return to control diet until 50 weeks ('stop study').

Molecular characterization of duck hepatitis B virus isolates from South African ducks.

The objective of the study was to characterize the genome of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) isolates from South African Pekin ducks. Duck serum and liver samples were collected from two commercial duck farms from geographically distinct regions of South Africa. In total, 498 duck serum samples were tested for the presence of DHBV DNA using either sub-genomic or full-length polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays.

Rodent nutritional model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: species, strain and sex difference studies.

Background And Aim: The methionine choline-deficient (MCD) diet leads to steatohepatitis in rodents. The aim of the present study was to investigate species, strain and sex differences in this nutritional model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods: Male and female Wistar, Long-Evans and Sprague-Dawley rats, and C57/BL6 mice (n = 6 per group) were fed a MCD diet for 4 weeks.

Premalignant conditions of the pancreas.

Premalignant conditions of the pancreas include benign tumours of the pancreas, intraepithelial neoplasia arising within pancreatic ducts, and tumours of the neuroendocrine cells of the pancreas. In addition, there is a variety of rare genetic conditions that predispose to pancreatic exocrine malignancies such as Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome, familial pancreatitis, germline BRCA2 mutations, and pancreatic endocrine malignancies such as type 1 neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen's disease) and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. More controversial is the concept of chronic pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus as conditions that increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

Electrolytic ablation as an adjunct to liver resection: Safety and efficacy in patients.

Background: Electrolytic ablation is a relatively new method for the local destruction of colorectal liver metastases. Experimental work in animal models has shown this method to be safe and efficacious. However, before proceeding to clinical trials it was necessary to confirm these findings in a pilot study of five patients.