Hepatitis B virus hepatotropism is mediated by specific receptor recognition in the liver and not restricted to susceptible hosts

Alexa Schieck, Andreas Schulze, Caroline Gähler, Thomas Müller, Uwe Haberkorn, Alexander Alexandrov, Stephan Urban, Walter Mier – 4 January 2013 – The human hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes acute and chronic infections in humans and chimpanzees. HBV infects its hosts at minimal inoculation doses and replicates exclusively in hepatocytes. The viral determinants for the pronounced species specificity and the high efficacy to address hepatocytes in vivo are unknown.

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Gitte Dam, Susanne Keiding, Ole L. Munk, Peter Ott, Hendrik Vilstrup, Lasse K. Bak, Helle S. Waagepetersen, Arne Schousboe, Michael S⊘rensen – 27 December 2012

Brahma‐related gene 1 bridges epigenetic regulation of proinflammatory cytokine production to steatohepatitis in mice

Wenfang Tian, Huihui Xu, Fei Fang, Qi Chen, Yong Xu, Aiguo Shen – 26 December 2012 – Chronic inflammation, inflicted by the spillover of proinflammatory mediators, links metabolic dysfunction to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The epigenetic maneuverings that underscore accelerated synthesis of proinflammatory mediators in response to nutritional inputs are not clearly defined.

Complete tumor encapsulation on magnetic resonance imaging: A potentially useful imaging biomarker for better survival in solitary large hepatocellular carcinoma

David S. Lu, Surachate Siripongsakun, Jeong Kyong Lee, Sindy H. Wei, Phillip M. Cheng, Saman Sabounchi, Jong Seok Lee, Steven Raman, Myron J. Tong, Ronald W. Busuttil, James Sayre – 24 December 2012 – The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of complete tumor encapsulation as visualized on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with a solitary large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond the Milan criteria for liver transplantation (LT).

In utero transplanted human hepatocytes allow postnatal engraftment of human hepatocytes in pigs

James E. Fisher, Joseph B. Lillegard, Travis J. Mckenzie, Brian R. Rodysill, Peter J. Wettstein, Scott L. Nyberg – 24 December 2012 – In utero cell transplantation (IUCT) can lead to the postnatal engraftment of human cells in the xenogeneic recipient. Most reports of IUCT have involved hematopoietic stem cells. It is unknown whether human hepatocytes used for IUCT in fetal pigs will lead to the engraftment of these same cells in the postnatal environment.

Assessing the drinking status of liver transplant patients with alcoholic liver disease

John P. Allen, Friedrich M. Wurst, Natasha Thon, Raye Z. Litten – 24 December 2012 – The accurate assessment of drinking by patients with alcoholic liver disease is important both before and after liver transplantation. Unfortunately, self‐reports by these individuals often underestimate their actual alcohol consumption. Several recently developed biochemical measures can provide additional information on a patient's use of alcohol.

Polymorphisms of the core, NS3, and NS5A proteins of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b associate With development of hepatocellular carcinoma

Ahmed El‐Shamy, Michiko Shindo, Ikuo Shoji, Lin Deng, Tadao Okuno, Hak Hotta – 24 December 2012 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common sequelae of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. It remains controversial, however, whether HCV itself plays a direct role in the development of HCC. Although HCV core, NS3, and NS5A proteins were reported to display tumorigenic activities in cell culture and experimental animal systems, their clinical impact on HCC development in humans is still unclear.

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