Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver
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Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients frequently describe sleep problems. The cause remains unclear and treatment is challenging. Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a common sleep disorder. In this study, we systematically screened PBC patients for the presence of RLS. ⋯ Restless leg syndrome symptoms are common and underdiagnosed in PBC patients. RLS represents a potential therapy for PBC patients with daytime sleepiness, fatigue and unpleasant lower limb symptoms and this is worthy of further studies in larger cohorts.
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Comparative Study
Mechanisms and functional consequences of liver failure substantially differ between endotoxaemia and faecal peritonitis in rats.
Many of the concepts describing molecular mechanisms of sepsis-induced liver failure are derived from endotoxin models. However, the biological significance of such models is questionable as the complexity of clinical sepsis and associated organ failure is only partially replicated. ⋯ Polymicrobial sepsis produces profound hepatocellular dysfunction in the absence of traditional cytokine-mediated mechanisms of cellular injury. This questions the central role of cytokines and the ensuing oxidative stress as key molecular events in mediating liver dysfunction.
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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of disease from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, to fibrosis and cirrhosis. The paediatric NAFLD fibrosis index (PNFI) and transient elastography (TE) are potential noninvasive markers for fibrosis. To prospectively evaluate the performance of PNFI and TE in assessing clinically significant fibrosis in children with biopsy-proven NAFLD. ⋯ In children with NAFLD, the combination of PNFI and TE can be used to accurately assess the presence of clinically significant liver fibrosis. This will help to identify patients who should undergo liver biopsy because the confirmation of advanced fibrosis would lead to closer follow-up and screening for cirrhosis-related complications.