Intestinal barrier function, critical for maintaining optimal gut health, is achieved primarily through mucins and tight junction proteins (i.e., zonula occludens-1 and occludin). An aberrant expression of these proteins results in increased paracellular permeability, leading to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Furthermore, enhanced expression of the inflammasome’s nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 3 (cryopyrin), and Toll-like receptor 4 are also associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. To understand the role of probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, and Streptococcus thermophilus) in rats on a high-fat, high-fructose diet with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, the expression of occludin, cryopyrin, and Toll-like receptor 4 was evaluated. A comparison of the results between the control, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis group, and probiotic-treated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis groups showed (a) a lack of any significant difference in occluding expression (P = 0.724) and (b) a significant reduction in serum Toll-like receptor 4 (P = 0.012) and cryopyrin (P = 0.025) by probiotics. Furthermore, only one rat developed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in the probiotic group, compared to six rats in the non-probiotic group. In conclusion, there were hepatoprotective effects of probiotic administration on high-fat, high-fructose diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in Sprague-Dawley rats.

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Background Obesity in children is becoming a global epidemic.Non􀀷alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalentand potentially serious complication of childhood obesity. Theearly identification of fibrosis is important in children v.ith NAFLDin order to prevent the development of liver disease in adulthood.One non􀀷invasive procedure to predict liver fibrosis is the aspartateaminotransferase (AST)􀀷platelet ratio index (APRI).Objective The purpose of our study was to assess a correlationbetween APRI and body mass index (BMI) in obese childrenwith fatty liver.Methods A cross􀀷sectional study was conducted from August toSeptember 2007. Subjects were obese children from one juniorhigh school in Semarang. Complete blood count, transaminaseenzyme measurement, and abdominal ultrasound (USG) wereperformed on each subject. Only subjects with bright liver onUSG underwent APRI analysis. Spearman's correlation was usedfor statistical analysis.Results Of 3 7 obese children, 19 children had bright liver on USG.Their mean APRI was 0.16 (SD 0.119). Only one obese subject(1137) with bright liver had an APRI > 0.5. APRI was significantlycorrelated to alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels (r = 0.62),but not significantly correlated to weight and BMI.Conclusion There was no correlation between APRI and BMI.Only lout of 37 obese children with fatty liver had APRI levelsindicating the presence of liver fibrosis. [Paediatr Indones.2012;52:181-4].