Stefan Zeuzem, Jürgen M. Schmidt, Jung‐hun Lee, Michael von Wagner, Gerlinde Teuber, W. Kurt Roth – 30 December 2003 – Treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C with recombinant interferon alfa (rIFN‐α) can cause a decrease of serum transaminases and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. Recent trials evaluating combination therapy of IFN‐α and ribavirin suggested a potential synergistic effect.
Yoshinari Atarashi, Satoshi Yasumura, Shuji Nambu, Yukimatsu Yoshio, Jun Murakami, Terumi Takahara, Kiyohiro Higuchi, Akiharu Watanabe, Keizo Miyata, Masanari Kato – 30 December 2003 – Although treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has recently improved, most patients still relapse and die from this disease. The development of new therapeutic and preventive strategies for HCC is, therefore, required. A novel mutant protein (mutein) of human tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF‐α mutein F4614,1SSSRGDSD··· 29V ··· 155L) was developed to decrease several adverse effects of TNF‐α.
Arun J. Sanyal, Melissa J. Contos, Dorn Yager, Ya‐nan Zhu, Amy Willey, Martin F. Graham – 30 December 2003 – The clinical utility of transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunts (TIPS) is frequently complicated by the ingrowth of tissue into the stent lumen, causing stent stenosis. These studies were undertaken to define the cellular and matrix components of the pseudointima, define the phenotype and function of the mesenchymal cells in the pseudointima and maintain them in culture, and to study the differences between stenotic and nonstenosed stents. A total of 35 stents were evaluated.
Susanne Keiding – 30 December 2003
Marchelle I. Allen, Manon Deslauriers, C. Webster Andrews, Graham A. Tipples, Kathie‐Anne Walters, David L. Tyrrell, Nathaniel Brown, Lamivudine Clinical Investigation Group, Lynn D. Condreay – 30 December 2003 – Cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma occur as long‐term complications of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Antiviral therapy is potentially a successful approach for the treatment of patients with HBV infection, which includes the nucleoside analog, lamivudine [(‐)2′‐deoxy‐3′‐thiacytidine, 3TC].
Vito L. Burgio, Giorgio Ballardini, Marco Artini, Marcello Caratozzolo, Francesco B. Bianchi, Massimo Levrero – 30 December 2003 – In this paper we show that in viral hepatitis most Kupffer cells (KCs) are activated and express high levels of CD80, CD40, and class‐II MHC molecules, thus acquiring the phenotype of professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). Activated KCs display a close contact with CD4+ T lymphocytes and form KCs‐T lymphocyte clusters.
Jinshan Shen, Jadine A. Moy, Mitchell D. Green, F. Peter Guengerich, Jeffrey Baron – 30 December 2003 – Although intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells are targets for certain hepatotoxic chemicals, including some procarcinogens, their ability to monooxygenate, and thereby bioactivate and inactivate xenobiotics, remains to be established. Thus, the present study was undertaken to immunohistochemically determine if cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1/1A2 is present and can be induced within these non‐ parenchymal liver cells.
Kichiko Koike, Hiromi Ishibashi, Masahiko Koike – 30 December 2003 – Analysis of the primary structure of the lipoyl domain of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (PDC‐E2) component of the porcine pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) reveals a high degree of homology with M2 antigen and human PDC‐E2. The porcine PDC‐E2 and the dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase (OGDC‐E2) component of the porcine 2‐oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (OGDC) were identified as mitochondrial autoantigen with sera from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).
Masaru Enomoto, Shuhei Nishiguchi, Katsuhiko Fukuda, Tetsuo Kuroki, Motoharu Tanaka, Shuzo Otani, Masayuki Ogami, Takeyuki Monna – 30 December 2003 – GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV‐C/HGV) infection seems to be common among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We studied retrospectively the proportions of patients with GBV‐C/HGV RNA and antibodies to the GBV‐C/HGV second envelope protein (anti‐E2) among 149 subjects with chronic hepatitis C who had received interferon alfa.
Masaki Kaibori, A‐H. Kwon, Michio Oda, Yasuo Kamiyama, Naomi Kitamura, Tadayoshi Okumura – 30 December 2003 – We have reported that infusion of recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (rhHGF) stimulates liver regeneration after hepatectomy in cirrhotic rats and increases the level of serum lipids and secretion of very‐low density lipoprotein (VLDL). Studies were now performed to determine whether rhHGF directly influences lipid synthesis and its secretion in cultured rat hepatocytes. Isolated cells were cultured in the presence or absence of rhHGF (20 ng/mL) for 2 days.