Receptor for activated C kinase 1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth by enhancing mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase 7 activity

Yuanyuan Guo, Wendie Wang, Jing Wang, Jiannan Feng, Qingyang Wang, Jianfeng Jin, Ming Lv, Xinying Li, Yan Li, Yuanfang Ma, Beifen Shen, Jiyan Zhang – 17 August 2012 – c‐Jun N‐terminal protein kinase (JNK) is a member of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) superfamily. The activation of JNK is mediated by sequential protein phosphorylation through a MAPK module, namely, MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K or MEKK) → MAPK kinase (MAP2K or MKK) → MAPK.

Differentiated umbilical cord matrix stem cells as a new in vitro model to study early events during hepatitis B virus infection

Massimiliano Paganelli, Kai Dallmeier, Omar Nyabi, Isabelle Scheers, Benoît Kabamba, Johan Neyts, Patrick Goubau, Mustapha Najimi, Etienne M. Sokal – 17 August 2012 – The role of cell differentiation state on hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication has been well demonstrated, whereas how it determines cell susceptibility to HBV entry is far less understood. We previously showed that umbilical cord matrix stem cells (UCMSC) can be differentiated towards hepatocyte‐like cells in vitro.

Monitoring bile acid transport in single living cells using a genetically encoded Förster resonance energy transfer sensor

Lieke M. van der Velden, Misha V. Golynskiy, Ingrid T. G. W. Bijsmans, Saskia W. C. van Mil, Leo W. J. Klomp, Maarten Merkx, Stan F.J. van de Graaf – 17 August 2012 – Bile acids are pivotal for the absorption of dietary lipids and vitamins and function as important signaling molecules in metabolism. Here, we describe a genetically encoded fluorescent bile acid sensor (BAS) that allows for spatiotemporal monitoring of bile acid transport in single living cells.

MicroRNA‐140 acts as a liver tumor suppressor by controlling NF‐κB activity by directly targeting DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) expression

Akemi Takata, Motoyuki Otsuka, Takeshi Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kishikawa, Yohko Hikiba, Shuntaro Obi, Tadashi Goto, Young Jun Kang, Shin Maeda, Haruhiko Yoshida, Masao Omata, Hiroshi Asahara, Kazuhiko Koike – 17 August 2012 – MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that regulate the expression of specific target genes. While deregulated miRNA expression levels have been detected in many tumors, whether miRNA functional impairment is also involved in carcinogenesis remains unknown.

Sex bias occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in Poly7 molecular subclass is associated with EGFR

Vincent W. Keng, Daniela Sia, Aaron L. Sarver, Barbara R. Tschida, Danhua Fan, Clara Alsinet, Manel Solé, Wai L. Lee, Timothy P. Kuka, Branden S. Moriarity, Augusto Villanueva, Adam J. Dupuy, Jesse D. Riordan, Jason B. Bell, Kevin A. T.Silverstein, Josep M. Llovet, David A. Largaespada – 16 August 2012 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest solid cancers and is the third leading cause of cancer‐related death. There is a universal estimated male/female ratio of 2.5, but the reason for this is not well understood.

Exception point applications for 15 points: An unintended consequence of the Share 15 policy

Therese Bittermann, George Makar, David Goldberg – 16 August 2012 – In 2005, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) adopted the Share 15 policy to improve organ allocation by facilitating transplantation for local and regional patients with Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores of 15 or higher. There has been concern that the lack of standardization in the use of exception points is potentially diminishing the benefits of this policy.

Genetic and functional identification of the likely causative variant for cholesterol gallstone disease at the ABCG5/8 lithogenic locus

Oliver von Kampen, Stephan Buch, Michael Nothnagel, Lorena Azocar, Hector Molina, Mario Brosch, Wiebke Erhart, Witigo von Schönfels, Jan Egberts, Marcus Seeger, Alexander Arlt, Tobias Balschun, Andre Franke, Markus M. Lerch, Julia Mayerle, Wolfgang Kratzer, Bernhard O.

Determination of reliability criteria for liver stiffness evaluation by transient elastography

Jérôme Boursier, Jean‐Pierre Zarski, Victor de Ledinghen, Marie‐Christine Rousselet, Nathalie Sturm, Brigitte Lebail, Isabelle Fouchard‐Hubert, Yves Gallois, Frédéric Oberti, Sandrine Bertrais, Paul Calès, the Multicentric Group from ANRS/HC/EP23 FIBROSTAR Studies – 16 August 2012 – Liver stiffness evaluation (LSE) is usually considered as reliable when it fulfills all the following criteria: ≥10 valid measurements, ≥60% success rate, and interquartile range / median ratio (IQR/M) ≤0.30. However, such reliable LSE have never been shown to be more accurate than unreliable LSE.

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