Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35835713›Full record

ArticleEBioMedicine2022

Microplastics detected in cirrhotic liver tissue.

Thomas Horvatits, Matthias Tamminga, Beibei Liu, Marcial Sebode, Antonella Carambia, Lutz Fischer, Klaus Püschel, Samuel Huber, Elke Kerstin Fischer

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in EBioMedicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 211 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
211citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
29.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

211 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 625 citations in OpenAlex.

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151 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Thomas HorvatitsI. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: t.horvatits@uke.de.
Matthias TammingaCenter for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Beibei LiuI. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Marcial SebodeI. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Antonella CarambiaI. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Lutz FischerDepartment of Transplant Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Klaus PüschelInstitute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Samuel HuberI. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Elke Kerstin FischerCenter for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: elke.fischer@uni-hamburg.de.
Universität Hamburg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe contamination of ecosystem compartments by microplastics (MPs) is an ubiquitous problem. MPs have been observed in mice tissues, and recently in human blood, stool and placenta. However, two aspects remain unclear: whether MPs accumulate in peripheral organs, specifically in the liver, and if liver cirrhosis favours this process. We aimed to examine human liver tissue samples to determine whether MPs accumulate in the liver.

methodsThis proof-of-concept case series, conducted in Germany, Europe, analyzed tissue samples of 6 patients with liver cirrhosis and 5 individuals without underlying liver disease. A total of 17 samples (11 liver, 3 kidney and 3 spleen samples) were analyzed according to the final protocol. A reliable method for detection of MP particles from 4 to 30 µm in human tissue was developed. Chemical digestion of tissue samples, staining with Nile red, subsequent fluorescent microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were performed. Morphology, size and composition of MP polymers were assessed.

findingsConsidering the limit of detection, all liver, kidney and spleen samples from patients without underlying liver disease tested negative for MPs. In contrast, MP concentrations in cirrhotic liver tissues tested positive and showed significantly higher concentrations compared to liver samples of individuals without underlying liver disease. Six different microplastic polymers ranging from 4 to 30 µm in size were detected.

interpretationThis proof-of-concept case series assessed the presence of MPs in human liver tissue and found six different MP polymers in the liver of individuals with liver cirrhosis, but not in those without underlying liver disease. Future studies are needed to evaluate whether hepatic MP accumulation represents a potential cause in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, or a consequence of cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

fundingNo funding was received for conducting this investigator driven study.

Indexed as

MicroplasticsWater Pollutants, ChemicalAnimalsEcosystemEnvironmental MonitoringHumansLiver CirrhosisMicePlasticsPolymersMicroplasticsPlasticsPolymersWater Pollutants, ChemicalHuman tissueLiver cirrhosisMicroplasticsRaman spectroscopy

Identifiers

PMID35835713
PMCPMC9386716
OpenAlexW4285013886

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.