Synergism between smoking and alcohol consumption with respect to serum gamma‐glutamyltransferase

Lutz Philipp Breitling, Elke Raum, Heiko Müller, Dietrich Rothenbacher, Hermann Brenner – 24 February 2009 – There is increasing evidence that serum levels of the liver enzyme gamma‐glutamyltransferase (γ‐GT) are an important predictor of incidence and mortality of various diseases. Apart from alcohol consumption, body mass index and smoking have been found to be associated with serum levels, but little is known about potential interactions of these factors.

p75 neurotrophin receptor signaling regulates hepatic myofibroblast proliferation and apoptosis in recovery from rodent liver fibrosis

Timothy J. Kendall, Selina Hennedige, Rebecca L. Aucott, Stephen N. Hartland, Madeleine A. Vernon, R. Christopher Benyon, John P. Iredale – 24 February 2009 – Hepatic myofibroblast apoptosis is critical to resolution of liver fibrosis. We show that human hepatic myofibroblasts co‐express p75NTR (p75 neurotrophin receptor) and sortilin, thus facilitating differential responses to mature and pro nerve growth factor (proNGF). Although mature NGF is proapoptotic, proNGF protects human hepatic myofibroblasts from apoptosis.

Clinical, virologic, histologic, and biochemical outcomes after successful HCV therapy: A 5‐year follow‐up of 150 patients

Sarah L. George, Bruce R. Bacon, Elizabeth M. Brunt, Kusal L. Mihindukulasuriya, Joyce Hoffmann, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie – 24 February 2009 – One hundred fifty patients with sustained virologic response (SVR) after treatment of chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in a long‐term clinical follow‐up study; patients were followed for 5 years for liver‐related outcomes and evidence of biochemical or virologic relapse. Patients with stage 2 or greater fibrosis on pretreatment biopsy were invited to undergo a long‐term follow‐up biopsy after their fourth year of follow‐up.

Reassessing selection criteria prior to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma utilizing the scientific registry of transplant recipients database

Christian Toso, Sonal Asthana, David L. Bigam, A. M. James Shapiro, Norman M. Kneteman – 24 February 2009 – The current model of liver graft allocation in place in the United States favors transplantation of patients with small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) within the Milan criteria (a single tumor up to 5 cm in diameter or up to three lesions, none larger than 3 cm). Although several reports have suggested that these criteria could be extended, there is currently no agreement on new selection tools.

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