Combined GM‐CSF and IL‐12 gene therapy synergistically suppresses the growth of orthotopic liver tumors

Chun‐Jung Chang, Yi‐Hsiang Chen, Kai‐Wen Huang, Hao‐Wei Cheng, Suit‐Fong Chan, Kuo‐Feng Tai, Lih‐Hwa Hwang – 26 February 2007 – Immunotherapy is often effective only for small tumor burdens and, in many cases, is restricted to subcutaneous tumors. Here, we investigated the antitumor effects of combination therapy with GM‐CSF and IL‐12 on orthotopic liver tumors with intermediate or large tumor volumes, or on chemically‐induced multifocal liver tumors in animals.

The effects of HCV infection and management on health‐related quality of life

Zobair Younossi, Jillian Kallman, John Kincaid – 26 February 2007 – Infection with HCV leads to an array of symptoms that compromise health‐related quality of life (HRQL). Chronic hepatitis C is treated primarily with pegylated interferon (peg‐IFN) and an inosine 5′ monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor, ribavirin (RBV), with the goal of achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR). SVR reduces the rate of hepatic fibrosis and other disease‐related complications and, in turn, increases HRQL.

Revelation of simple and complex liver acini after portal transplantation of pancreatic islets or thyroid follicles in rats

Frank Dombrowski, Matthias Evert – 26 February 2007 – The microarchitecture of the liver is still not completely understood although various concepts of structural liver organization have been proposed. Among them, Rappaport's liver acinus stands out as one of the most accepted models. The correctness of this model, however, has also been doubted, and its applicability is hampered by the fact that the outlines of the liver acinus are disguised and nobody was ever able to give visual evidence by “unmasking” a simple liver acinus from the surrounding liver tissue.

Immunosuppression reactivates viral replication long after resolution of woodchuck hepatitis virus infection

Stephan Menne, Paul J. Cote, Scott D. Butler, Ilia A. Toshkov, John L. Gerin, Bud C. Tennant – 26 February 2007 – Resolution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is characterized by coordinated humoral and cellular immune responses. Immunity is durable over decades, protecting the host from reinfection and potential activation of residual HBV. Woodchucks infected at birth with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) cleared viremia and developed antibodies to surface antigen (anti‐WHs).

Hepatic abnormalities in patients with chronic granulomatous disease

Nadeem Hussain, Jordan J. Feld, David E. Kleiner, Jay H. Hoofnagle, Reyes Garcia‐Eulate, Sushil Ahlawat, Deloris E. Koziel, Victoria Anderson, Dianne Hilligoss, Peter Choyke, John I. Gallin, T. Jake Liang, Harry L. Malech, Steven M. Holland, Theo Heller – 26 February 2007 – Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by repeated bacterial and fungal infections. Aside from a high incidence of liver abscess, little is known about hepatic involvement in CGD. The aim of this study was to describe the spectrum of liver abnormalities seen in CGD.

Sertraline as a first‐line treatment for cholestatic pruritus

Marlyn J. Mayo, Iorna Handem, Sandra Saldana, Heidi Jacobe, Yonas Getachew, A. John Rush – 26 February 2007 – Pruritus is frequently the most debilitating symptom of cholestatic liver diseases. Moreover, existing therapies are often ineffective. Recent small, retrospective case series reports suggest that serotonin reuptake inhibitors can improve pruritus. This study was undertaken to establish the dose of sertraline and to evaluate its efficacy for cholestatic pruritus.

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