AIM: The healthy ranges for serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT) levels are less well studied. The aim of this study was to define the upper limit of normal (ULN) for serum ALT levels, and to assess factors associated ...AIM: The healthy ranges for serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT) levels are less well studied. The aim of this study was to define the upper limit of normal (ULN) for serum ALT levels, and to assess factors associated with serum ALT activity in apparently healthy blood donors. METHODS: A total of 1 939 blood donors were included.ALT measurements were performed for all cases using the same laboratory method. Healthy ranges for ALT levels werecomputed from the population at the lowest risk for liver disease. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate associations between clinical factors and ALT levels.RESULTS: Serum ALT activity was independently associated with body mass index (BMI) and male gender, but not associated with age. Association of ALT with BMI was more prominent in males than in females. Upper limit of normal for non-overweight women (BMI of less than 25) was 34 U/L,and for non-overweight men was 40 U/L.CONCLUSION: Serum ALT is strongly associated with sex and BMI. The normal range of ALT should be defined for male and female separately.展开更多
Objective： To investigate the relationship between alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels and metabolic syndrome （MS） in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD）. Methods： A total of 26527 subjects who received...Objective： To investigate the relationship between alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels and metabolic syndrome （MS） in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD）. Methods： A total of 26527 subjects who received medical health checkup in our hospital from January 2005 to July 2007 were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of fatty liver was based on ultrasound imaging. MS was defined according to the criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel III. ALT, triglyceride （TG）, high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-c）, fasting plasma glucose （FPG）, height, weight, waist circumference （WC）, systolic blood pressure （SBP） and diastolic blood pressure （DBP） were measured in each subject to analyze the relationship between MS and ALT activity Results： （1） The prevalence of NAFLD in men （30.94%） was significantly higher than that in women （15.65%）; （2） The incidence of MS in NAFLD （33.83%） was significantly greater than that in non-NAFLD （10.62%）; （3） Of the 6470 subjects with NAFLD, in the age-adjusted partial correlation analysis, there were statistically significant correlations between the ALT levels and most metabolic risk factors in each sex （P〈0.01）, except that ALT levels multiple stepwise regression analysis, SBP lost its significance, and had no correlation with HDL-c in women. Moreover, in the WC, body mass index （BMI）, age, DBP, TG and FPG were independently associated with ALT levels in both sexes （P〈0.05）. HDL-c remained significant and was independently related to ALT levels in men; （4） ALT levels were significantly higher in subjects with MS compared to those without MS （P〈0.001）. Mean ALT levels increased with the number of MS components in each sex （P〈0.05 for trend）. Conclusion： We found a strong relationship between ALT levels and MS in NAFLD and revealed that the cluster of MS components might be the predictor for ALT elevations.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the hepatic dysfunction in leptospirosis is usually mild and resolved eventually. However,sequential follow-up of liver biochemical data remained lacking..METHODS: The biochemistry data and clinical s...AIM: To evaluate the hepatic dysfunction in leptospirosis is usually mild and resolved eventually. However,sequential follow-up of liver biochemical data remained lacking..METHODS: The biochemistry data and clinical symptoms of 11 sporadic patients were collected and analyzed, focusing on the impacts of leptospirosis upon liver biochemistry tests.RESULTS: The results disclosed that of the 11 cases, 5 or 45% died. The liver biochemistry data in the beginning of the disease course were only mildly elevated.Nevertheless, late exaggerated aspartate transaminase (AST)elevations were noted in three cases who finally died when compared with the typical course. Besides, significant higher AST/alanine transaminase (ALT) ratios (AARs) of the peak levels for transaminase were also noted in the cases who eventually succumbed. The mean±SD of AARs for the survival group and dead group were 5.65±2.27 (n = 5)and 1.86±0.64 (n = 6) respectively (P= 0.006). The ratios of the cases who finally died were all more than 3.0.Conversely, the survival group's ratios were less than 3.0.CONCLUSION: Serial follow-up of transaminase might provide evidence to predict some rare evolutions in leptospirosis. If AST elevated progressively without a concomitant change of ALT, it might indicate an acute disease course with ensuing death. Additionally, AAR is another prognostic parameter for leptospirosis. Once the value was higher than 3.0, a grave prognosis is inevitable.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the association of obesity and elevated alanine aminotransferase with insulin resistance and compare these factors with metabolic syndrome. METHODS:We enrolled a total of 1308 male workers aged from...AIM:To investigate the association of obesity and elevated alanine aminotransferase with insulin resistance and compare these factors with metabolic syndrome. METHODS:We enrolled a total of 1308 male workers aged from 22 to 63 years.Data was extracted from the workers'periodic health check-ups in hospitals.All cases were from the community of northern Taiwan. This was a cross-sectional observational study from July to September in 2004.We grouped all cases into four groups,based on the quartile of homeostasis model assessment.The top fourth quartile group was defined as the group with insulin resistance.We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis for the odds ratio of the risk factors for insulin resistance. RESULTS:Compared with metabolic syndrome,the coexistence of both factors had a 4.3-fold(95%CI: 2.7-6.8)increased risk,which was more than metabolic syndrome with a 3.6-fold(95%CI:2.6-5.0)increased risk.The two factors had a synergistic effect.The synergistic index of obesity and elevated alanine aminotransferase(ALT)was 2.1(95%CI:1.01-4.3).CONCLUSION:Obesity and elevated ALT are associatedwith insulin resistance.The effects are synergistic. Coexistence of them is better than metabolic syndrome in predicting insulin resistance.展开更多
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B and C viruses are endemic in sub- Saharan African countries including Nigeria. Researchers have studied the burden of co-infection of HIV with hepatitis B and h...Background: Human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B and C viruses are endemic in sub- Saharan African countries including Nigeria. Researchers have studied the burden of co-infection of HIV with hepatitis B and hepatitis C but the risk factors and clinical presentation have not been much addressed especially in children. Methodology: This was a prospective cross sectional study that determined the prevalence, risk factors, clinical features, baseline CD4<sup>+</sup> count, CD4<sup>+</sup> percentage, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of newly diagnosed, HAART na?ve HIV co-infection among children who were managed at a Tertiary Hospital in Ilorin, Nigeria. Result: Of the 60 HIV- infected children recruited, 11.7% had HIV co-infection with HBV or HCV. Children with co-infec- tions (mean age 8.43 ± 2.37 years) were significantly older than their HIV mono-infected counterparts (mean age 5.25 ± 3.96 years) (p = 0.011). There was no significant difference between HIV monoinfection and HIV co-infection with respect to gender (p = 0.758), ethnicity (p = 0.707), religion of parents (p = 0.436), family type (p = 0.184), social class (p = 0.535), previous transfusion (p = 0.053), scarification (p = 0.612), female genital mutilation (p = 0.778), and sharing of clippers (p = 0.806). The mean BMI, immunological staging (p = 0.535), baseline ALT (p = 0.940), and mean baseline CD4<sup>+</sup> count (p = 0.928) were comparable. However, the body mass index of HIV co-infec- ted children decreased with age up till age 10 years. Conclusion: There were no risk factors, nor clinical features predictive of co-infection identified in this study. Co-infection did not negatively impact baseline, CD4<sup>+</sup> count and ALT.展开更多
文摘AIM: The healthy ranges for serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT) levels are less well studied. The aim of this study was to define the upper limit of normal (ULN) for serum ALT levels, and to assess factors associated with serum ALT activity in apparently healthy blood donors. METHODS: A total of 1 939 blood donors were included.ALT measurements were performed for all cases using the same laboratory method. Healthy ranges for ALT levels werecomputed from the population at the lowest risk for liver disease. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate associations between clinical factors and ALT levels.RESULTS: Serum ALT activity was independently associated with body mass index (BMI) and male gender, but not associated with age. Association of ALT with BMI was more prominent in males than in females. Upper limit of normal for non-overweight women (BMI of less than 25) was 34 U/L,and for non-overweight men was 40 U/L.CONCLUSION: Serum ALT is strongly associated with sex and BMI. The normal range of ALT should be defined for male and female separately.
文摘Objective： To investigate the relationship between alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels and metabolic syndrome （MS） in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD）. Methods： A total of 26527 subjects who received medical health checkup in our hospital from January 2005 to July 2007 were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of fatty liver was based on ultrasound imaging. MS was defined according to the criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel III. ALT, triglyceride （TG）, high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-c）, fasting plasma glucose （FPG）, height, weight, waist circumference （WC）, systolic blood pressure （SBP） and diastolic blood pressure （DBP） were measured in each subject to analyze the relationship between MS and ALT activity Results： （1） The prevalence of NAFLD in men （30.94%） was significantly higher than that in women （15.65%）; （2） The incidence of MS in NAFLD （33.83%） was significantly greater than that in non-NAFLD （10.62%）; （3） Of the 6470 subjects with NAFLD, in the age-adjusted partial correlation analysis, there were statistically significant correlations between the ALT levels and most metabolic risk factors in each sex （P〈0.01）, except that ALT levels multiple stepwise regression analysis, SBP lost its significance, and had no correlation with HDL-c in women. Moreover, in the WC, body mass index （BMI）, age, DBP, TG and FPG were independently associated with ALT levels in both sexes （P〈0.05）. HDL-c remained significant and was independently related to ALT levels in men; （4） ALT levels were significantly higher in subjects with MS compared to those without MS （P〈0.001）. Mean ALT levels increased with the number of MS components in each sex （P〈0.05 for trend）. Conclusion： We found a strong relationship between ALT levels and MS in NAFLD and revealed that the cluster of MS components might be the predictor for ALT elevations.
基金Supported by the Chang Gung Medical Research Project fund, No. CMRPG 33014
文摘AIM: To evaluate the hepatic dysfunction in leptospirosis is usually mild and resolved eventually. However,sequential follow-up of liver biochemical data remained lacking..METHODS: The biochemistry data and clinical symptoms of 11 sporadic patients were collected and analyzed, focusing on the impacts of leptospirosis upon liver biochemistry tests.RESULTS: The results disclosed that of the 11 cases, 5 or 45% died. The liver biochemistry data in the beginning of the disease course were only mildly elevated.Nevertheless, late exaggerated aspartate transaminase (AST)elevations were noted in three cases who finally died when compared with the typical course. Besides, significant higher AST/alanine transaminase (ALT) ratios (AARs) of the peak levels for transaminase were also noted in the cases who eventually succumbed. The mean±SD of AARs for the survival group and dead group were 5.65±2.27 (n = 5)and 1.86±0.64 (n = 6) respectively (P= 0.006). The ratios of the cases who finally died were all more than 3.0.Conversely, the survival group's ratios were less than 3.0.CONCLUSION: Serial follow-up of transaminase might provide evidence to predict some rare evolutions in leptospirosis. If AST elevated progressively without a concomitant change of ALT, it might indicate an acute disease course with ensuing death. Additionally, AAR is another prognostic parameter for leptospirosis. Once the value was higher than 3.0, a grave prognosis is inevitable.
文摘AIM:To investigate the association of obesity and elevated alanine aminotransferase with insulin resistance and compare these factors with metabolic syndrome. METHODS:We enrolled a total of 1308 male workers aged from 22 to 63 years.Data was extracted from the workers'periodic health check-ups in hospitals.All cases were from the community of northern Taiwan. This was a cross-sectional observational study from July to September in 2004.We grouped all cases into four groups,based on the quartile of homeostasis model assessment.The top fourth quartile group was defined as the group with insulin resistance.We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis for the odds ratio of the risk factors for insulin resistance. RESULTS:Compared with metabolic syndrome,the coexistence of both factors had a 4.3-fold(95%CI: 2.7-6.8)increased risk,which was more than metabolic syndrome with a 3.6-fold(95%CI:2.6-5.0)increased risk.The two factors had a synergistic effect.The synergistic index of obesity and elevated alanine aminotransferase(ALT)was 2.1(95%CI:1.01-4.3).CONCLUSION:Obesity and elevated ALT are associatedwith insulin resistance.The effects are synergistic. Coexistence of them is better than metabolic syndrome in predicting insulin resistance.
文摘Background: Human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B and C viruses are endemic in sub- Saharan African countries including Nigeria. Researchers have studied the burden of co-infection of HIV with hepatitis B and hepatitis C but the risk factors and clinical presentation have not been much addressed especially in children. Methodology: This was a prospective cross sectional study that determined the prevalence, risk factors, clinical features, baseline CD4<sup>+</sup> count, CD4<sup>+</sup> percentage, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of newly diagnosed, HAART na?ve HIV co-infection among children who were managed at a Tertiary Hospital in Ilorin, Nigeria. Result: Of the 60 HIV- infected children recruited, 11.7% had HIV co-infection with HBV or HCV. Children with co-infec- tions (mean age 8.43 ± 2.37 years) were significantly older than their HIV mono-infected counterparts (mean age 5.25 ± 3.96 years) (p = 0.011). There was no significant difference between HIV monoinfection and HIV co-infection with respect to gender (p = 0.758), ethnicity (p = 0.707), religion of parents (p = 0.436), family type (p = 0.184), social class (p = 0.535), previous transfusion (p = 0.053), scarification (p = 0.612), female genital mutilation (p = 0.778), and sharing of clippers (p = 0.806). The mean BMI, immunological staging (p = 0.535), baseline ALT (p = 0.940), and mean baseline CD4<sup>+</sup> count (p = 0.928) were comparable. However, the body mass index of HIV co-infec- ted children decreased with age up till age 10 years. Conclusion: There were no risk factors, nor clinical features predictive of co-infection identified in this study. Co-infection did not negatively impact baseline, CD4<sup>+</sup> count and ALT.
