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Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an obesity-associated health problem that causes other liver diseases for the patient. Four anthropometric indices: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were analyzed as NAFLD predictors in the present study. Methods: From the total number of individuals who referred to the PERSIAN Guilan Cohort study (PGCS) located in the north of Iran during the period of study, a total of 960 people were enrolled in the present study. NAFLD was diagnosed using through an abdominal ultrasound exam. Height, weight, WC, BMI, WHR and WHtR were later calculated. Chi-square, ANOVA and logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the risk factors. Results: Out of the 960 individuals who were enrolled in the study, 597 (62.2%) were male and 363 (37.8%) were female (with an average age of 47.21 ± 7.29 years). There was a significant relationship between weight and NAFLD (P<0.001). There was also a significant relationship between BMI (OR= 8.41; 95% CI = 5.59-12.75), WC (OR= 2.67; 95% CI = 2.05-3.48), WHR (OR= 3.84; 95% CI = 2.26-6.52), WHtR (OR= 28.53; 95% CI = 6.94-117.31) and NAFLD (P<0.001). The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that WHtR, BMI and WC were effective predictors for the risk of NAFLD while WHtR played a more important role in the prediction of NAFLD. Conclusion: Anthropometric indices, especially WHtR, as a simple screening tool, seem to be an important criterion for the detection of NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As Methotrexate (MTX) may induce liver side effects or damage, evaluating the liver of the consumers of this drug by a noninvasive method, such as FibroScan, may be effective. Objectives: The present study aimed at evaluating the progression of liver fibrosis and steatosis using the transient elastography (FibroScan) technique in patients, who are treated with MTX. Methods: Onehundredandone patients,whowere treated withMTXbecause of different rheumatologic diagnosis and/or dermatologic disease, were included in the study. Liver stiffness was measured using FibroScan. Hepatic fibrosis was identified by converting the FibroScan results measured in kPa to the Metavir scale. Also, F0-F4 and steatosis were graded. Results: The assessment of steatosis using FibroScan showed mild, moderate, and severe stenosis in 15.8%, 13.9%, and 26.7%, respectively. With regards to grading of hepatic fibrosis, 67.0% were graded as F0 to F1, 7.0% as F2, 7.0% as F2 to F3, 2.0% as F3, 11.0% as F3 to F4, and 6.0% as F4. A significant association was found between body mass index, waist circumferences, and fibrosis. The association between the severity of hepatic fibrosis and indices of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and serum albumin was significant. No relationship was revealed between the severity of hepatic fibrosis and MTX dosage as well as duration of MTX use. Conclusions: The authors found significant associations between hepatic steatosis and anthropometric parameters, level of albumin, drug dosage higher than 10 mg, and cumulative dosage of MTX. The severity of hepatic fibrosis and steatosis induced by MTX was mainly affected by the patients' obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing problem and the commonest cause of chronic liver disease throughout the world. Given the strong association between NAFLD and insulin resistance and obesity, as well as the central role of ghrelin in these metabolic disorders, we explored whether ghrelin (GHRL) and ghrelin receptor (GHSR) gene polymorphisms were associated with susceptibility to NAFLD. Methods: In this case-control retrospective study which was conducted between April 2010 and July 2013, GHRL (rs696217 or Leu72Met) and GHSR (rs2922126) gene polymorphisms were genotyped in 153 cases with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 157 controls using the polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results: The GHRL rs696217 "GT+TT" genotype or "GT" genotype compared with the "GG" genotype occurred less frequently in the patients with NAFLD than the controls and the differences remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors such as age and body mass index (p=0.018; OR=0.35, 95%CI: 0.14-0.84 and p=0.046; OR=0.40, 95%CI: 0.16-0.98, respectively). Furthermore, the GHRL rs696217 'T' allele compared with 'G' allele was significantly underrepresented in the cases (p=0.007; OR=0.33, 95%CI: 0.15-0.76). Nevertheless, no significant difference was found for GHSR rs2922126 gene polymorphism. Conclusions: Our findings suggested, for the first time, that the GHRL rs696217 or Leu72Met "GT+TT" genotype and "GT" genotype compared with "GG" genotype, as well as the "T" or Met72 allele compared with "G" or Leu72 allele had a protective effect for NAFLD susceptibility. However, other studies are required to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]