Associations between y-glutamyl transferase, metabolic abnormalities and inflammation in healthy subjects from a population-based cohort: A possible implication for oxidative stress

AIM: To examine the relationships between γ -glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine-aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) and various metabolic parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP) and an oxidative stress marker (nitrotyrosine, NT) in subjects without any metabolic abnormalities from a population-based sample.METHODS: Two hundred and five subjects with normal body mass index (BMI), glucose tolerance, and without any metabolic abnormality were studied out of 1339subjects, without known liver diseases, alcohol abuse or use of hepatotoxic drugs, who are representative of the 45-64 aged population of Asti (north-western Italy).RESULTS: In all patients metabolic parameters and hs-CRP levels linearly increase from the lowest to the highest ALT and GGT tertiles, while in subjects without metabolic abnormalities, there is a significant association between fasting glucose, uric acid, waist circumference,hs-CRP, triglyceride values, and GGT levels. In these subjects, male sex, higher hs-CRP and glucose levels are associated with GGT levels in a multiple regression model, after adjustments for multiple confounders.In the same model, median NT levels are significantly associated with the increasing GGT tertile (β = 1.06;95%CI 0.67-1.45), but not with the AST and ALT tertiles.In a multiple regression model, after adjusting for age,sex, BMI, waist, smoking, and alcohol consumption, both NT (β = 0.05; 95%CI 0.02-0.08) and hs-CRP levels (β =0.09; 95%CI 0.03-0.15) are significantly associated with fasting glycemia.CONCLUSION: GGT, an easy, universally standardized and available measurement, could represent an early marker of sub-clinical inflammation and oxidative stress in otherwise healthy individuals. Prospective studies are needed to establish if GGT could predict future diabetes in these subjects.

Can gender predict virological response to standard antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C? A retrospective study

Aim:The liver is a sexually dimorphic organ presenting gender differences in its metabolism,functions,enzyme activity,membrane lipid composition and immune response.This paper aimed to assess whether gender may predict virological response to standard antiviral therapy in subjects with chronic hepatitis C(CHC).Methods:The authors retrospectively analyzed 100 patients with genotype 1 CHC(55 men,45 women),who performed standard antiviral therapy(interferon and ribavirin for 12 months)in the period 2002-2012,evaluated with blood tests and abdominal ultrasound to compare different virological and biochemical response in both gender.Results:Rate of substained virological response(SVR)was higher,but not significant,in women than men(46.7%vs.34.5%,P=0.05);difference became significant after stratification by age(<50 and≥50 years).Specifically in the group aged under 50 years,rate of SVR was significantly higher in women than in men(66.7%vs.38.2%,P<0.05).Conclusion:Female gender may predict virological response to standard antiviral therapy in subjects with CHC aged below 50 years.Considering new potent and more expensive antiviral drugs actually available for HCV treatment,it could be useful to identify candidates firstly eligible to therapy.