[The role of interleukin-6 and nitric oxide in pathogenesis of portal hypertension and decompensation of liver cirrhosis].

The study included 49 patients (29 men and 20 women) aged 23-65 years with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 12 (7 men and 5 women) with chronic hepatitis (CH). Etiological factors of LC were hepatitis B and C viruses (in 22 and 16 patients respectively) and alcohol (n=11). Patients with LC showed high levels of blood nitrates and their impaired urinary excretion.

[Cell immunity and hepatocyte apoptosis in chronic cholestatic hepatitis].

The aim of the study was to evaluate activity and accumulation of natural T-killers (NK-cells, CD16+) and lymphocytes with apoptosis marker (CD95+) in peripheral blood and hepatic tissue of patients with chronic viral hepatitis, in connection with presence or absence of cholestasis. The subjects were 14 patients suffering from chronic hepatitis (CH) without cholestasis, and 16--with CH and cholestasis, aged 18 to 56 years. The study revealed significant elevation of the number of NK-cells in hepatic tissue of CH patients with cholestasis, not only vs.

[Some parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis].

The pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has not been fully studied yet. At the same time, some key points of its forming are already clear. In this regard, the authors studied disturbances of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with NASH.

[Efficacy of combined administration of ursodeoxycholic acid and hepthral in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis].

The efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) combined with s-adenosylmethionine (SAMe, heptral) and UDCA alone was studied in the treatment of 19 patients (age 36-57 years) with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). UDCA was given in a dose 10 mg/kg/day, heptral--in a dose 800-1600 mg/day. It was found that UDCA + SAMe treatment results in earlier and longer remission.

[Efficacy of combined use of ursodeoxycholic acid and heptral in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis].

The efficacy of UDCA (10 mg/kg/day) in combination with SAMe (heptral, 800-1600 mg/day) vs UDCA alone was evaluated in the treatment of 19 patients (age 36-57) with primary biliary cirrhosis. It was found that the combination UDCA + SAMe promoted earlier and steadier disease remission. Normalization of biochemical parameters of cholestase (serum bilirubin, cholesterol, total bile acids, alkaline phosphatase, 5-nucleotidase and jamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) was recorded in 33%, and a significant reduction--in the rest patients.