Association between COVID-19 and chronic liver disease: Mechanism, diagnosis, damage, and treatment.

As the outbreak evolves, our understanding of the consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the resulting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the liver has grown. In this review, we discussed the hepatotropic nature of SARS-CoV-2 and described the distribution of receptors for SARS-CoV-2 (e.g., angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) in the vascular endothelium and cholangiocytes of the liver. Also, we proposed mechanisms for possible viral entry that mediate liver injury, such as liver fibrosis. Due to SARS-CoV-2-induced liver damage, many COVID-19 patients develop liver dysfunction, mainly characterized by moderately elevated serum aminotransferase levels. Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and viral hepatitis, are also sensitive to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We discussed the longer disease duration and higher mortality following SARS-CoV-2 infection in CLD patients. Correspondingly, relevant risk factors and possible mechanisms were proposed, including cirrhosis-related immune dysfunction and liver deco-mpensation. Finally, we discussed the potential hepatotoxicity of COVID-19-related vaccines and drugs, which influence the treatment of CLD patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, we suggested that COVID-19 vaccines in terms of immunogenicity, duration of protection, and long-term safety for CLD patients need to be further researched. The diagnosis and treatment for liver injury caused by COVID-19 were also analyzed in this review.

[Effects of quercetin in pregnant and lactation period on weight and expression of insulin-like growth factors-1 mRNA of obese female rats offspring].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of quercetin given during pregnancy and lactation period of obese rats on weight and expression of insulin-like growth factors-1 (IGF-1) mRNA of the offspring. METHODS: In the study, 8 healthy weaning female SD rats were randomly selected to feed the basal diet and as blank control group, and the others were fed with high-fat diet. When the average weight of the high-fat diet rats was 20% as many as the average weight of the control group, we believed the model succeeded. Then the female SD rats were mated and the pregnant rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, 8 rats in each. They were fed with high fat diet during pregnancy and lactation, and the obese pregnant rats were respectively irrigated with 0 mg/kg body weight (high-fat control), 50 mg/kg body weight,100 mg/kg body weight, and 200 mg/kg body weight quercetin. The blank control group was fed with basic diet throughout the experimental period. The birth weight, the weights during the development of d7, d21, d56, and d98, and the expressions of IGF-1 mRNA in livers tissue of the F1 generation were measured. RESULTS: The average birth weight of the F1 generation of high fat diet (HFD) group was significantly higher than that of the blank control group. Decreased offspring birth weight was observed with the intervention of quercetin, which effect remained to the delectation. The quercetin also reduced the expression of IGF-1 mRNA in livers of the F1 generation, and this effect remained to the adulthood. The 200 mg/kg body weight quercetin was most significantly effective. CONCLUSION: The averaged birth weight of the F1 generation of obese pregnant rats was significantly increased, and quercetin could effectively inhibit the expression of IGF-1 mRNA in livers of F1 generation to decrease cell proliferation and cell differentiation.

[Efficacy of iron saturated recombinant human lactoferrin on alleviating iron deficiency anemia in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of iron saturated recombinant human lactoferrin (Fe-rhLf) on treating iron deficiency anemia (IDA). METHODS: SD rats received iron deficient diet and deionized water during the whole experiment. After 4 weeks, the rats with hemoglobin less than 100 g/L were selected and divided into 5 groups randomly. IDA group received 100 mg/(kg×d) casein dissolved in deionized water intragastrically; FeSO4 group received 5.43 mg/(kg×d) [2.0 mg/(kg×d) iron]+100 mg/(kg×d) casein intragastrically; low dose Fe-rhLf group received 75.53 mg/(kg×d) Fe-rhLf [0.5 mg/(kg×d) iron] +75 mg/(kg×d) casein intragastrically; middle dose group received 151.06 mg/(kg×d) Fe-rhLf [1.0 mg/(kg×d) iron]+50 mg/(kg×d) casein intragastrically; high dose group received 302.11 mg/(kg×d) Fe-rhLf [2.0 mg/(kg×d) iron] intragastrically. After 30 days of intervention, the rats' blood was collected and used to do the routine blood test, serum iron and serum anti-oxidants test. The liver hepcidin and ferroportin mRNA expression was tested by real time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the animals in the IDA group, Fe-rhLf could increase weight significantly (P<0.05), hematological parameters, like hemoglobin (P<0.01) and red blood cell count (P<0.01) recovered significantly. Compared with animals in FeSO4 group, high dose Fe-rhLf could improve hemoglobin significantly (P<0.05). The liver hepcidin expression was up regulated and ferroportin down regulated. CONCLUSION: Fe-rhLf has a significant effect on treating iron deficiency anemia.