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Background Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most severe type of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and one of the most common chronic liver diseases, leading to the increased risk of liver failure, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Trans-anethole was reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic activities. However, its role in NASH remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to explore the effect of Trans-anethole on NASH. Methods Eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed on a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 8 weeks to induce NASH in mice, and on the meanwhile, mice were also orally administrated with or without 100 mg/kg Trans-anethole daily to evaluate the effect of Trans-anethole on NASH. Results Trans-anethole dose-dependently ameliorated liver injury in MCD diet-fed mice, then the most effective dose of Trans-anethole 100 mg/kg was chosen. Trans-anethole significantly attenuated hepatic steatosis, inflammation and hepatic fibrosis in MCD diet-induced NASH mice. Moreover, Trans-anethole reduced hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion Trans-anethole effectively ameliorated NASH in MCD diet-fed mice, which suggested that Trans-anethole might serve as a therapeutic strategy for NASH.

BACKGROUND: The present article analyses the association between socioeconomic status (includes education, occupation, income and marriage) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD) risk factors (age, gender, obesity, quantity and duration of alcohol intake, alcoholic beverages, drinking patterns) in Taishan area of Shandong province, to provide scientific basis for the prevention of alcoholic liver disease for the people who mostly need it in north China.METHODS: Across-sectional survey of over 18--year-old inhabitants in Shandong Province in 2011 used multistage, randomized clustered sampling to identify 8186 subjects; 7295 (89.12%) of them were interviewed. Questionnaires, designed by co-working of epidemiologists and hepatologists, included demographic characteristics, current medication use, medical history and health-relevant behaviors, i.e. alcohol consumption, dietary habits and physical activities. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical tests and abdominal ultrasonography were carried out. The sample was determined by Chi-square test, covariance analysis and logistic regression analysis.RESULTS: Because of the small number of female drinkers, alcoholic liver disease prevalence of female was obviously lower than that of male, the very study of the male drinkers is more meaningful and can be represent the whole drinkers group to some extent. Among the four socio-economic status (SES) indicators the marriage status seemed to be the most influential factor. People (men or women) without spouse had higher risk of alcoholic liver disease risk factors than those who had spouse. The risk of people who have different occupation is different. The higher education was associated with risk of ALD.CONCLUSION: Marriage status seemed to be the most important measure of the socioeconomic indicators in relation to the alcoholic liver disease risk factors in the study of population. There is obvious relation between occupation status and alcoholic liver disease risk factors in men. The lower occupation had higher alcoholic liver disease risk factors. People with higher income and education had higher levels of drinking risk factors and lower level of obesity risk factors.

Background Alcohol consumption has substantially increased in China during the last 3 decades. Socioeconomic status (SES) most likely influences the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in Chinese people who excessively consume alcohol. At the present time, however, little information is available in this field. The objectives of this study were to investigate the population-based prevalence of ALD and to identify the correlation of socioeconomics with the development of ALD. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 8,186 individuals who resided in Shandong Province and were over 18 years old in 2011 using a randomized multistage clustered sampling approach. Among these subjects, 7,295 (89.12%) were interviewed. Questionnaires covered demographic characteristic, medical history, current medication, and health-relevant behavior, particularly alcohol consumption, dietary habit, and physical activity. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical tests, and abdominal ultrasonography were also performed. Results Among the 7,295 subjects, 624 (8.55%) were diagnosed with ALD. The prevalence rate was significantly higher in males than in females (15.76% in males vs. 1.42% in females, p