title: Usefulness of real-time elastography strain ratio in the assessment of bile duct ligation-induced liver injury and the hepatoprotective effect of chitosan: an experimental animal study.
abstract: The purpose of the study described here was to evaluate the usefulness of the elastographic strain ratio in the assessment of liver changes in an experimental animal setting and the hepatoprotective effects of chitosan. Ultrasonography and Strain Ratio calculation were performed before and after bile duct ligation (BDL) in three groups of Wistar albino rats (n = 10 animals per group): (i) rats subjected to bile duct ligation only; (ii) rats subjected to bile duct ligation and administered chitosan for 14 d; (iii) rats subjected to bile duct ligation and administered chitosan for 7 d. The results were compared with the laboratory data and pathologic findings. Strain ratios revealed an increase in liver stiffness after bile duct ligation (p < 0.05), except in the group with chitosan administered for 7 d, and agreed with laboratory and pathology data. In conclusion, strain ratio can be used as an experimental research instrument in the assessment of liver response to injury. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting on the usefulness of the sonoelastographic liver-to-kidney strain ratio in assessing the effects of experimentally induced liver lesions.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu", Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dudea
authors.affiliation: Physiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu", Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Electronic address: simonaclichici@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clichici
authors.affiliation: Physiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu", Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Diana Elena
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Olteanu
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Universitatea deŞtiinţe Agricole şi Medicină Veterinară (USAMV), Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Andras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: Physiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu", Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cucoş
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu", Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dudea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000601:surgery; D048271:Chitosan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003199:Computer Systems; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008026:Ligation; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Chitosan; Extrahepatic cholestasis; Liver injury; Rats; Sonoelastography