The effect of 4-(3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-6,10,14-hexadecatrienoyl)morpholine (E-0712), a new synthetic compound, on liver injury induced by two hepatotoxins in rats was studied. Oral doses of E-0712 four times at 0, 6, 12 and 18 hr significantly attenuated elevated SGPT values and prolonged prothrombin time (PT) at 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hr in rats with a single s.c. dose of D-galactosamine in which SGPT values and PT reached the peak within 48 hr. In cases in which a dose of carbon tetrachloride (i.p.) produced peak SGPT values and PT within 36 hr attenuation occurred likewise at 24, 36 and 60 hr. In the control and E-0712-treated rats dosed with D-galactosamine or carbon tetrachloride, SGPT values were positively correlated with PT at 24 hr. In addition, morphological degrees of acidophilic body formation or centrizonal necrosis were significantly reduced by E-0712. These results suggest that E-0712 protects against liver injury, particularly hepatocellular necrosis, induced by D-galactosamine and carbon tetrachloride in rats.
A 65-year-old male visited our hospital because of fever and difficulty in walking. He was suffering from left-sided hypochondrial pain for a month. Laboratory tests performed on admission revealed a white blood cell count of 1700/μl and C-reactive protein level of 9.51mg/dl, which were suggestive of severe inflammation. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a subphrenic abscess around the spleen, which we considered to be caused by gastric penetration into the gastrosplenic ligament. Upper esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a gastric ulcer together with a fistula that connected to the left subphrenic abscess. We thus performed endoscopic transgastric drainage through the fistula. Antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor were administered, and drainage was continued. The patient's clinical and inflammatory symptoms subsequently improved. We thus consider that endoscopic transgastric drainage is an appropriate treatment option for subphrenic abscesses.
ABSTRACT— Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to enhance albumin production as well as stimulate DNA synthesis in hepatocytes. The mode of action of HGF in exerting both effects is to be elucidated. We previously observed that hepatocyte proliferation occurred in normal rats given recombinant human HGF (rhHGF) intravenously. When rats received rhHGF similarly, serum albumin levels were significantly increased compared to controls. In primary culture of rat hepatocytes, albumin concentration in culture medium was significantly increased by rhHGF added at 24 h of culture compared to controls, increasing with time of culture. This effect of rhHGF was dose‐related. When actinomycin D was added to the medium, the albumin concentration was reduced in a dose‐related manner, but its enhancement by rhHGF was maintained. Albumin mRNA levels were not increased by rhHGF. When rhHGF was added similarly to the medium, immunocytochemically positive hepatocytes for 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation appeared 30 h later. Of these labeled hepatocytes, 12.5% were concomitantly stained for albumin. In contrast, albumin‐positive hepatocytes were seen in 77% of BrdU‐non‐labeled hepatocytes ( p <0.01). We conclude that HGF may enhance albumin production through post‐transcriptional regulation in non‐proliferating hepatocytes, but not in proliferating hepatocytes.
Because hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transcatheter arterial embolization often regains its size, routine follow-up is necessary. The usefulness of pulsed Doppler ultrasound for detection of this type of recurrence was compared with ultrasonography and computed tomography in 21 such hepatocellular carcinomas. Of 15 hepatocellular carcinomas diagnosed by angiography as showing recurrence, four were detected with ultrasonography and five were detected with computed tomography. Doppler signals were obtained in the peripheral portions corresponding to tumor vessels or stains on angiograms in 14 of these 15 hepatocellular carcinomas, but they were undetectable in six hepatocellular carcinomas with no recurrence. All signals disappeared after transcatheter arterial embolization. One false-negative hepatocellular carcinoma with pulsed Doppler ultrasound showed faint tumor stains on angiograms; these were also negative on ultrasonography and computed tomography. Pulsed Doppler ultrasound may be superior to ultrasonography and computed tomography as a routine procedure to detect the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transcatheter arterial embolization. (Hepatology 1991;13:434-437.)
Hepatocyte contribution to hepatic collagen production in vivo was estimated in rats, based on the fact that ornithine is used for protein synthesis in the liver as arginine after conversion by way of the urea cycle only by hepatocytes. From rats given a mixture of [14C] ornithine and [3H]arginine, hepatic collagen and serum albumin were obtained. The hepatocyte contribution was calculated from the 14C and 3H in arginine purified from collagen and albumin by high performance liquid chromatography. The contribution was less than 10% of total collagen production in normal and early fibrotic livers induced by a single dose of carbon tetrachloride or dimethylnitrosamine. We conclude that hepatocytes may play a minor role in collagen production in normal and early fibrotic rat livers.
