5 Thus, the term “keratin-18 Selleck Maraviroc (K-18)” is now more appropriate than “cytokeratin-18 (CK-18)” for all manuscripts. K-18 and keratin-8 (K-8) are the only cytoplasmic intermediate filaments of hepatocytes but are not hepatocyte-specific, because they are also expressed in most simple epithelial cells including bile duct cells.7 K-18 fragment serum levels, which are increasingly used as a biomarker of hepatocyte apoptosis, are

also not liver-specific, because these levels may be elevated in patients with epithelial tumors.8 Moreover, this marker is not specific for NASH, because it is increased in several liver diseases with ongoing necroinflammation and fibrosis, such as chronic hepatitis C or B.9, 10 The specificity issues are substantially

limited if the test is used in patients with probable NAFLD. However, even in such patients followed in specialized centers, its diagnostic accuracy does not seem to be excellent. In the study by Feldstein et al.,1 the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve for NASH diagnosis was 0.83 (not excellent) with sensitivity and specificity values of 75% and 81% or 65% and 92% for cutoff values of 246 or 292 U/L, respectively. In 58 adult patients with NAFLD studied in our center, K-18 fragment levels offered an AUROC curve of 0.87 and sensitivity and specificity values of 60% and 93%, respectively, for a cutoff of 250 U/L (G. V. Papatheodoridis, unpublished data). Similar findings for variable Selleckchem CHIR 99021 cutoff Avelestat (AZD9668) values were previously reported by others with the best results

reported in the first relevant study.2, 3 Thus, measurement of K-18 fragment levels will probably be helpful in the noninvasive diagnosis of NAFLD, particularly in cases with rather high levels. The specificity issues should be restricted by ensuring the NAFLD diagnosis, but a decision may not be easy in a large proportion of NAFLD cases with K-18 values of <300 U/L, and particularly <200 U/L. Dina G. Tiniakos*, George V. Papatheodoridis†, * Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, University of Athens, Greece, † 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece. "
“Background and Aims:  Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is characterized by significant oxidative stress, which induces characteristic changes in the antioxidant system and organ injury leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of dihydrolipoyl histidinate zinc complex (DHLHZn) on oxidative damage after severe hepatic I/R injury. Methods:  Thirty male Wistar rats were subjected to 45 min of hepatic ischemia by clamping of the hepatic artery and portal vein, followed by a 6-h reperfusion period.