Role of transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of methionine adenosyltransferases in liver cancer progression

Maddalena Frau, Maria L. Tomasi, Maria M. Simile, Maria I. Demartis, Fabiana Salis, Gavinella Latte, Diego F. Calvisi, Maria A. Seddaiu, Lucia Daino, Claudio F. Feo, Stefania Brozzetti, Giuliana Solinas, Satoshi Yamashita, Toshikazu Ushijima, Francesco Feo, Rosa M. Pascale – 9 February 2012 – Down‐regulation of the liver‐specific MAT1A gene, encoding S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthesizing isozymes MATI/III, and up‐regulation of widely expressed MAT2A, encoding MATII isozyme, known as MAT1A:MAT2A switch, occurs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Resource implications of expanding the use of donation after circulatory determination of death in liver transplantation

Robert Hayden Broomhead, Sanjiv Patel, Bimbi Fernando, James O'Beirne, Susan Mallett – 8 February 2012 – In the United Kingdom, liver transplantation using donation after circulatory determination of death (DCDD) organs has increased steadily over the last few years and now accounts for 20% of UK transplant activity. The procurement of DCDD livers is actively promoted as a means of increasing the donor pool and bridging the evolving disparity between the wait‐list length and the number of transplants performed.

Treatment with sildenafil and treprostinil allows successful liver transplantation of patients with moderate to severe portopulmonary hypertension

Trina J. Hollatz, Alexandru Musat, Susanne Westphal, Catherine Decker, Anthony M. D'Alessandro, Jon Keevil, Li Zhanhai, James R. Runo – 8 February 2012 – Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) refers to pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with portal hypertension with or without evidence of an underlying liver disease. Despite the potential for curing PoPH with liver transplantation, the presence of moderate or severe PoPH is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and is, therefore, a contraindication to transplantation.

Immunoprophylaxis against and prevention of recurrent viral hepatitis after liver transplantation

Marie A. Laryea, Kymberly D. Watt – 8 February 2012 – The reinfection of the hepatic allograft with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus can have important sequelae that result in poor long‐term patient and graft survival. Although a response to treatment with antiviral medications can improve these outcomes, not all patients tolerate these medications or experience viral eradication. Avoiding reinfection of the graft is the most effective means of improving the long‐term outcomes for these patient populations.

Presence of precore and core promoter mutants limits the probability of response to peginterferon in hepatitis B e antigen‐positive chronic hepatitis B

Milan J. Sonneveld, Vincent Rijckborst, Stefan Zeuzem, E. Jenny Heathcote, Krzysztof Simon, Hakan Senturk, Suzan D. Pas, Bettina E. Hansen, Harry L.A. Janssen – 6 February 2012 – Peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) treatment of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) results in HBeAg loss in 30% of patients, but clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from serum is less often achieved.

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