Positive cardiac inotropic effect of albumin infusion in rodents with cirrhosis and ascites: molecular mechanisms

Alessia Bortoluzzi, Giulio Ceolotto, Elisabetta Gola, Antonietta Sticca, Sergio Bova, Filippo Morando, Salvatore Piano, Silvano Fasolato, Silvia Rosi, Angelo Gatta, Paolo Angeli – 22 August 2012 – The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect and molecular mechanism of albumin infusion on cardiac contractility in experimental cirrhosis with ascites. Cardiac contractility was recorded ex vivo in rats with cirrhosis and ascites and in control rats after the injection in the caudal vein of albumin, saline, or hydroxyethyl starch (HES).

Anticholestatic effects of bezafibrate in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis treated with ursodeoxycholic acid

Akira Honda, Tadashi Ikegami, Makoto Nakamuta, Teruo Miyazaki, Junichi Iwamoto, Takeshi Hirayama, Yoshifumi Saito, Hajime Takikawa, Michio Imawari, Yasushi Matsuzaki – 22 August 2012 – Bezafibrate is a widely used hypolipidemic agent and is known as a ligand of the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs). Recently this agent has come to be recognized as a potential anticholestatic medicine for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) that does not respond sufficiently to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) monotherapy.

Overexpression of forkhead box C1 promotes tumor metastasis and indicates poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Limin Xia, Wenjie Huang, Dean Tian, Hongwu Zhu, Xingshun Qi, Zheng Chen, Yongguo Zhang, Hao Hu, Daiming Fan, Yongzhan Nie, Kaichun Wu – 22 August 2012 – Recurrence and metastasis remain the most common causes of lethal outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection. Thus, it is critical to discover the mechanisms underlying HCC metastasis. Forkhead box C1 (FoxC1), a member of the Fox family of transcription factors, induces epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promotes epithelial cell migration.

Hepatitis C virus NS4B protein targets STING and abrogates RIG‐I–mediated type I interferon‐dependent innate immunity

Sayuri Nitta, Naoya Sakamoto, Mina Nakagawa, Sei Kakinuma, Kako Mishima, Akiko Kusano‐Kitazume, Kei Kiyohashi, Miyako Murakawa, Yuki Nishimura‐Sakurai, Seishin Azuma, Megumi Tasaka‐Fujita, Yasuhiro Asahina, Mitsutoshi Yoneyama, Takashi Fujita, Mamoru Watanabe – 22 August 2012 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection blocks cellular interferon (IFN)‐mediated antiviral signaling through cleavage of Cardif by HCV‐NS3/4A serine protease.

Yttrium‐90 radioembolization for intermediate‐advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A phase 2 study

Vincenzo Mazzaferro, Carlo Sposito, Sherrie Bhoori, Raffaele Romito, Carlo Chiesa, Carlo Morosi, Marco Maccauro, Alfonso Marchianò, Marco Bongini, Rodolfo Lanocita, Enrico Civelli, Emilio Bombardieri, Tiziana Camerini, Carlo Spreafico – 22 August 2012 – Yttrium‐90 radioembolization (Y90RE) is a novel approach to radiation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), never tested in phase 2 studies. Fifty‐two patients with intermediate (n.17) to advanced (n.35) HCC were prospectively recruited to assess, as the primary endpoint, efficacy of Y90RE on time‐to‐progression (TTP).

Deficiency of G‐protein‐coupled bile acid receptor Gpbar1 (TGR5) enhances chemically induced liver carcinogenesis

Wei‐Dong Chen, Donna Yu, Barry M. Forman, Wendong Huang, Yan‐Dong Wang – 22 August 2012 – Gpbar1 (TGR5), a membrane‐bound bile acid receptor, is well known for its roles in regulation of energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism. TGR5 activation also inhibits nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB)‐mediated inflammation. Here we show that TGR5 deficiency enhances chemically induced liver carcinogenesis, and that TGR5 is a negative regulator of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling.

Activated tumor‐infiltrating CD4+ regulatory T cells restrain antitumor immunity in patients with primary or metastatic liver cancer

Alexander Pedroza‐Gonzalez, Cornelis Verhoef, Jan N. M. Ijzermans, Maikel P. Peppelenbosch, Jaap Kwekkeboom, Joanne Verheij, Harry L. A. Janssen, Dave Sprengers – 22 August 2012 – The mechanisms that enable liver cancer to escape elimination by the immune system remain unclear, but their elucidation may provide novel therapeutic interventions.

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