BACKGROUND & AIMS Pruritus is a common and disabling symptom in cholestatic disorders. However, its causes remain unknown. We hypothesized that potential pruritogens accumulate in the circulation of cholestatic patients and activate sensory neurons. METHODS Cytosolic free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) was measured in neuronal cell lines by ratiometric fluorometry upon exposure to serum samples from p...

Optic nerve hypoplasia with hypopituitarism and intact septum pellucidum is a variant of septo-optic dysplasia or deMorsier's syndrome.' Although neonatal jaundice has been seen with this syndrome, the association with severe prolonged cholestatic jaundice has not been emphasised. We describe three patients who presented with cholestatic jaundice and were found to have optic nerve hypoplasia an...

5alpha-Cyprinol sulfate was isolated from bile of the Asiatic carp, Cyprinus carpio. 5alpha-Cyprinol sulfate was surface active and formed micelles; its critical micellization concentration (CMC) in 0.15 M Na+ using the maximum bubble pressure device was 1.5 mM; by dye solubilization, its CMC was approximately 4 mM. At concentrations >1 mM, 5alpha-cyprinol sulfate solubilized monooleylglycerol ...

In the setting of transplantation and chronic hepatitis B viral infection there is a unique histological feature termed cholestatic fibrosing hepatitis. The use of nucleoside analogues in the treatment of this condition has been successful. We describe a case of cholestatic fibrosing hepatitis, which occurred after intense immunosuppression for graft versus host disease in a patient with bone m...

Decreased cardiac responsiveness to adrenergic stimulation has been observed in cholestatic liver disease, but the cause remains unclear. Previous reports have suggested that nitric oxide overproduction might have a role in cholestasis-induced bradycardia via inhibition of L-type calcium channels. In the present study, the digoxin has been used to increase cardiac Ca2+ transient in male Sprague...

Background and Objective: A great body of evidences suggested a marked elevation of endogenous opioid levels in plasma of animals with acute cholestasis. Endogenous opioids are implicated in the pathophysiology of cholestasis. Also, many studies have shown that endogenous opioids modulate memory processes. To clarify possible role of endogenous opioid receptors in information processing in acut...

Recent progress in basic research has enhanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of normal bile secretion and their alterations in cholestasis. Genetic transporter variants contribute to an entire spectrum of cholestatic liver diseases and can cause hereditary cholestatic syndromes or determine susceptibility and disease progression in acquired cholestatic disorders. Cholestasis is ...