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Distinctive pattern of Bergmann glial pathology in human hepatic encephalopathy
Kril JJ, Flowers D, Butterworth RF.. Molecular and chemical neuropathology, 1997-08-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Alzheimer type II astrocytosis is the pathological hallmark of hepatic encephalopathy. These astrocytes undergo a characteristic morphological change and, in addition, lose immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). However, a previous study in the portacaval shunted rat, a model of hepatic encephalopathy, revealed increased rather than decreased GFAP immunoreactivity in Bergmann glia, a specialized group of cerebellar astrocytes. In the present study, sections of cerebellar vermis from 15 cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy and varying degrees of Alzheimer type II astrocytosis were stained using antisera to GFAP. The Bergmann glial cells did not show altered GFAP immunoreactivity compared to controls. In addition, the degree of GFAP immunoreactivity was not correlated with the degree of Alzheimer type II change nor related to the aetiology of the liver disease. These results suggest a differential response of Bergmann glia in human hepatic encephalopathy.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Kril, J. J., Flowers, D., & Butterworth, R. F. (1997). Distinctive pattern of Bergmann glial pathology in human hepatic encephalopathy. Molecular and chemical neuropathology. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02815130
Vancouver
Kril JJ, Flowers D, Butterworth RF. Distinctive pattern of Bergmann glial pathology in human hepatic encephalopathy. Molecular and chemical neuropathology. 1997. doi:10.1007/bf02815130. PMID: 9336769.
BibTeX
@article{kril1997-9336769,
author = {Kril, J. J. and Flowers, D. and Butterworth, R. F.},
title = {{Distinctive pattern of Bergmann glial pathology in human hepatic encephalopathy}},
journal = {Molecular and chemical neuropathology},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1007/bf02815130},
pmid = {9336769},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02815130}
}
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Key findings
- However, a previous study in the portacaval shunted rat, a model of hepatic encephalopathy, revealed increased rather than decreased GFAP immunoreactivity in Bergmann glia, a specialized group of cerebellar astrocytes.
- The Bergmann glial cells did not show altered GFAP immunoreactivity compared to controls.
- These results suggest a differential response of Bergmann glia in human hepatic encephalopathy.
Why it matters
In cerebellar tissue from 15 patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy, Bergmann glial cells did not show altered GFAP immunoreactivity compared with controls. This concerns a liver-related brain condition and does not address treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 31/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Molecular and chemical neuropathology) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Molecular and Chemical Neuropathology: journal h-index 56 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1997 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 21 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 31 year(s) since 1997 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Roger F. Butterworth: h-index 81 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Sydney: institution h-index 1,466 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9336769) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 31 / 100 | — |
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