Cardiotrophin‐1 is an essential factor in the natural defense of the liver against apoptosis

Juan M. Marquès, Idoia Belza, Bettina Holtmann, Diane Pennica, Jesus Prieto, Matilde Bustos – 26 February 2007 – We previously reported that exogenous cardiotrophin‐1 (CT‐1), a member of the IL‐6 family of cytokines, exerts hepatoprotective effects. Because CT‐1 is expressed in the normal liver, we hypothesized that this cytokine may constitute an endogenous defense of the liver against proapoptotic stimuli. Here, we found that CT‐1−/− mice died faster than wild‐type animals after challenge with a lethal dose of the Fas agonist Jo‐2.

SgIGSF is a novel biliary–epithelial cell adhesion molecule mediating duct/ductule development

Akihiko Ito, Yuji Nishikawa, Kazuhiro Ohnuma, Ikuyo Ohnuma, Yu‐ichiro Koma, Ayuko Sato, Katsuhiko Enomoto, Tohru Tsujimura, Hiroshi Yokozaki – 26 February 2007 – Spermatogenic immunoglobulin superfamily (SgIGSF) is an intercellular adhesion molecule of the nectin‐like family. While screening its tissue distribution, we found that it was expressed in fetal liver but not adult liver. In the present study, we examined which cells in developing and regenerating liver express SgIGSF via immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.

Sustained virological response to interferon‐α is associated with improved outcome in HCV‐related cirrhosis: A retrospective study

Savino Bruno, Tommaso Stroffolini, Massimo Colombo, Simona Bollani, Luisa Benvegnù, Giuseppe Mazzella, Antonio Ascione, Teresa Santantonio, Felice Piccinino, Pietro Andreone, Alessandra Mangia, Giovanni B. Gaeta, Marcello Persico, Stefano Fagiuoli, Piero L. Almasio, on behalf of the Italian Association of the Study of the Liver Disease (AISF) – 26 February 2007 – The effect of achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) following interferon‐α (IFNα) treatment on the clinical outcomes of patients with HCV‐related cirrhosis is unknown.

Identification of hepatocytic and bile ductular cell lineages and candidate stem cells in bipolar ductular reactions in cirrhotic human liver

Hongchao Zhou, Leslie E. Rogler, Lewis Teperman, Glyn Morgan, Charles E. Rogler – 26 February 2007 – Hepatocyte function and regeneration are severely compromised in severe liver disease, and a common sequela is cirrhosis. Structural changes caused by cirrhosis create a cellular environment conducive to the formation of ductular reactions (DRs). Ductular reactions are primarily composed of oval cells also known as “intermediate hepatobiliary cells”. We have conducted single, double, and triple staining to study lineages of oval cells present in DRs.

Isoleucine infusion during “simulated” upper gastrointestinal bleeding improves liver and muscle protein synthesis in cirrhotic patients

Steven W. M. Olde Damink, Rajiv Jalan, Nicolaas E. P. Deutz, Cornelis H. C. Dejong, Doris N. Redhead, Paula Hynd, Peter C. Hayes, Peter B. Soeters – 26 February 2007 – Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in cirrhotic patients has a high incidence of mortality and morbidity. Postbleeding catabolism has been hypothesized to be partly due to the low biological value of hemoglobin, which lacks the essential amino acid isoleucine.

Different methods of creatinine measurement significantly affect MELD scores

Evangelos Cholongitas, Laura Marelli, Andrew Kerry, Marco Senzolo, David W. Goodier, Devaki Nair, Michael Thomas, David Patch, Andrew K. Burroughs – 23 February 2007 – Bilirubin (Bil) interferes with creatinine (Cr) measurement. Different laboratory methods are used to overcome this problem. Model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) scoring incorporates Cr and is used to prioritize patients for liver transplantation. Thus, MELD scores may vary with different Cr measurements influencing patients' priority.

De novo esophageal neoplasia after liver transplantation

Sabine J. Presser, Guido Schumacher, Ruth Neuhaus, Peter Thuss‐Patience, Jens Stieler, Peter Neuhaus – 22 February 2007 – The purpose of the study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, treatment, and influence on survival of patients with de novo esophageal cancer after liver transplantation (LT). From 1988 to 2006, 1,926 patients underwent LT in our institution. A total of 9 patients (0.5%) developed a de novo esophageal cancer and 1 patient a cancer of the cardia (0.05%).

Inflammation is an important determinant of levels of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in acute liver failure

Rajeshwar P. Mookerjee, R. Neil Dalton, Nathan A. Davies, Stephen J. Hodges, Charles Turner, Roger Williams, Rajiv Jalan – 22 February 2007 – Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by rapid progressive organ failure and poor outcome. The pathophysiology of multiorgan dysfunction in ALF remains unclear but increased systemic inflammatory response is believed to be an important determining factor. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, results from proteolysis and the liver is a major site for its metabolism.

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