Background/Aim: The interactions between the gut and liver have been described in the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The aim of this study was to develop an experimental nutritional model of NASH simulating metabolic changes occurring in humans. Materials and Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into two groups: controls (standard diet) and intervention (high-fat and choline-deficient diet) for 16 weeks, each experimental group with 10 animals. Biochemical analysis, hepatic lipid content, microRNAs, inflammatory, gut permeability markers and gut microbiota were measured. Results: Animals in the intervention group showed significantly higher delta Lee index (p=0.017), abdominal circumference (p< 0.001), abdominal adipose tissue (p< 0.001) and fresh liver weight (p< 0.001), as well as higher serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (p=0.010), glucose (p=0.013), total cholesterol (p=0.033), LDL cholesterol (p=0.011), and triglycerides (p=0.011), and lower HDL cholesterol (p=0.006) compared to the control group. Higher TLR4 (p=0.041), TLR9 (p=0.033), MyD88 (p=0.001), Casp1 (p< 0.001), NLPR3 (p=0.019), liver inflammation index interleukin (IL)-1β/IL10 (p< 0.001), IL6/IL10 (p=0.002) and TNFα/IL10 (p=0.001) were observed in the intervention group, and also lower permeability markers Ocln (p=0.003) and F11r (p=0.041). Gene expression of miR-122 increased (p=0.041) and miR-145 (p=0.010) decreased in the intervention group. Liver steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis, along with collagen fiber deposition increment (p< 0.001), were seen in the intervention group. Regarding gut microbiota, Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index and number of operational taxonomic units were significantly different (p< 0.001) between the groups. Composition of the gut microbiota showed a significant correlation with histopathological score of NAFLD (r=0.694) and index IL-1β/IL-10 (r=0.522). Conclusion: This experimental model mimicking human NASH demonstrated gut and liver interaction, with gut microbiota and intestinal permeability changes occurring in parallel with systemic and liver inflammation, miRNAs regulation and liver tissue damage.

To evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to ethanol in the liver and the expression of inflammatory genes in zebrafish. Zebrafish (n = 104), wild type, adult, male and female, were divided into two groups: Control and ethanol (0.05 v/v). The ethanol was directly added into water; tanks water were changed every two days and the ethanol replaced. The animals were fed twice a day with fish food until satiety. After two and four weeks of trial, livers were dissected, histological analysis (hematoxilin-eosin and Oil Red staining) and gene expression assessment of adiponectin, adiponectin receptor 2 (adipor2), sirtuin-1 (sirt-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (tnf-a), interleukin-1b (il-1b) and interleukin-10 (il-10) were performed. Ultrastructural evaluations were conducted at fourth week. Exposing zebrafish to 0.5% ethanol developed intense liver steatosis after four weeks, as demonstrated by oil red staining. In ethanol-treated animals, the main ultrastructural changes were related to cytoplasmic lipid particles and droplets, increased number of rough endoplasmic reticulum cisterns and glycogen particles. Between two and four weeks, hepatic mRNA expression of il-1b, sirt-1 and adipor2 were upregulated, indicating that ethanol triggered signaling molecules which are key elements in both hepatic inflammatory and protective responses. Adiponectin was not detected in the liver of animals exposed and not exposed to ethanol, and il-10 did not show significant difference. Data suggest that inflammatory signaling and ultrastructural alterations play a significant role during hepatic steatosis in zebrafish chronically exposed to ethanol.

Some evidence suggests an association between gut dysbiosis and cirrhosis progression. The authors investigated Gut Microbiome (GM) influence on 90-day mortality and hospitalization/rehospitalization rates in cirrhotic patients. Compensated/decompensated outpatients and decompensated inpatients were prospectively included and compared to healthy controls. Clinical, laboratory, GM, and two ratios between phyla were evaluated. Patients were followed up for 90 days for hospitalization/rehospitalization and mortality. 165 individuals were included (50 compensated, 49 decompensated outpatients; 36 decompensated inpatients; 30 healthy), 48.5 % female, mean age was 61, main cirrhosis etiology was hepatitis C (27.3 %), and mostly Child-Pugh (CP) B patients, median MELD of 13. As liver disease progressed, microbiota diversity decreased between the groups (p = 0.05; p < 0.004). There were 9 deaths and 22 hospitalizations or rehospitalizations. GM composition had correlation with norfloxacin (p = 0.36, p = 0.04), encephalopathy (p = 0.31, p = 0.01), lactulose (p = 0.26, p = 0.01), 90-day mortality (p = 0.22, p = 0.04), CP (p = 0.17, p = 0.01), previous 6-month antibiotic use (p = 0.16, p = 0.01), MELD (p = 0.145, p = 0.01), ALBI (p = 0.1, p = 0.04) and 90-day hospitalization/rehospitalization (p = 0.08, p = 0.03). Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) and Firmicutes/Proteobacteria (F/P) ratios were progressively lower and more significant and had an association with 90-day mortality (p < 0.001). Three MELD set-points (≥ 15, 18 and 20) were significantly associated with both ratios, with similar accuracies. GM dysbiosis was associated with higher CP, MELD, 90-day mortality and hospitalization/rehospitalization. F/B and F/P ratios were associated with 90-day mortality.

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria which infects half the world population and is an important cause of gastric cancer. The eradication therapy is not always effective because resistance to antimicrobials may occur. The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility profile of H. pylori to amoxicillin, clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin in the population of Southern Brazil.

Background: Biliary atresia (BA) includes a sclerosing cholangiopathy whose nature is not fully deciphered. Aiming to evaluate the role of an arteriopathy as an etiologic factor in BA, we investigated hypoxia and the correlated angiogenic response in livers from affected patients.Methods: Gene expression of the molecular axis: hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)1a, HIF2a and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA)/VEGFR1, VEGFR2. Liver biopsy specimens collected at exploratory laparotomy of age‐matched patients with isolated, cytomegalovirus IgM‐negative BA (n = 32) and intrahepatic cholestasis (IHC, n = 9) were evaluated.Results: We observed higher HIF1a and HIF2a expression in BA than in IHC. Paradoxically, VEGFR2, the main target of VEGFA‐induced angiogenesis, was underexpressed in BA, and VEGFA was decreased in most BA patients. Patients with the highest expression of HIFs and the lowest VEGFA and VEGFR2 were essentially the same, indicating hypoxia without the necessary angiogenesis. This group included most BA patients and, except for HIF2a, they were older and presented increased bilirubin serum levels. In the highest HIF2a/lowest VEGFR2 subsets, gene expression of the cytokeratin 19, marker of cholangiocyte phenotype, was decreased.Conclusion: This study suggests that hypoxia‐ischemia is present in the livers of patients with BA, progresses over time and leads to a decreased cholangiocyte mass.