Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of hydrogenrich water alleviate ethanol-induced fatty liver in mice

AIM To investigate the effects of hydrogen-rich water(HRW) treatment on prevention of ethanol(Et OH)-induced early fatty liver in mice.METHODS In vitro reduction of hydrogen peroxide by HRW was determined with a chemiluminescence system. Female mice were randomly divided into five groups: control,Et OH,Et OH + silymarin,Et OH + HRW and Et OH + silymarin + HRW. Each group was fed a Lieber-De Carli liquid diet containing Et OH or isocaloric maltose dextrin(control diet). Silymarin was used as a positive control to compare HRW efficacy against chronic Et OH-induced hepatotoxicity. HRW was freshly prepared and given at a dosage of 1.2 m L/mouse trice daily. Blood and liver tissue were collected after chronic-binge liquid-diet feeding for 12 wk.RESULTS The in vitro study showed that HRW directly scavenged hydrogen peroxide. The in vivo study showed that HRW increased expression of acyl ghrelin,which was correlated with food intake. HRW treatment significantly reduced Et OH-induced increases in serum alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,triglycerol and total cholesterol levels,hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammatory cytokines,including tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and interleukin(IL)-6. HRW attenuated malondialdehyde level,restored glutathione depletion and increased superoxide dismutase,glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in the liver. Moreover,HRW reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels but increased IL-10 and IL-22 levels.CONCLUSION HRW protects against chronic Et OH-induced liver injury,possibly by inducing acyl ghrelin to suppress the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 and induce IL-10 and IL-22,thus activating antioxidant enzymes against oxidative stress.

Fecal calprotectin correlated with endoscopic remission for Asian inflammatory bowel disease patients

AIM: To evaluate the correlation between fecal calprotectin(f C), C-reactive protein(CRP), and endoscopic disease score in Asian inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) patients.METHODS: Stool samples were collected and assessed for calprotectin levels by Quantum Blue Calprotectin High Range Rapid test. Crohn's disease endoscopic index of severity(CDEIS) and ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity(UCEIS) were used for endoscopic lesion scoring. RESULTS: A total of 88 IBD patients [36 patients with Crohn's disease(CD) and 52 with ulcerative colitis(UC)] were enrolled. For CD patients, f C correlated with CDEIS(r = 0.465, P = 0.005) and CRP(r = 0.528, P = 0.001). f C levels in UC patients correlated with UCEIS(r = 0.696, P < 0.0001) and CRP(r = 0.529, P = 0.0005). Calprotectin could predict endoscopic remission(CDEIS < 6) with 50% sensitivity and 100% specificity(AUC: 0.74) in CD patients when using 918 μg/g as the cutoff. When using 191 μg/g as the cut-off in UC patients, calprotectin could be used for predicting endoscopic remission(UCEIS < 3) with 88% sensitivity and 75% specificity(AUC: 0.87). CONCLUSION: f C correlated with both CDEIS and UCEIS. f C could be used as a predictor of endoscopic remission for Asian IBD patients.