Glucocorticoids increase interleukin‐6–dependent gene induction by interfering with the expression of the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 feedback inhibitor

Anna Dittrich, Christina Khouri, Sara Dutton Sackett, Christian Ehlting, Oliver Böhmer, Ute Albrecht, Johannes G. Bode, Christian Trautwein, Fred Schaper – 2 September 2011 – Glucocorticoids are known to be potent regulators of inflammation and have been used pharmacologically against inflammatory, immune, and lymphoproliferative diseases for more than 50 years. Due to their possible and well‐documented side effects, it is crucial to understand the molecular mechanisms and targets of glucocorticoid action in detail.

Regression of established hepatocellular carcinoma is induced by chemoimmunotherapy in an orthotopic murine model

Diego M. Avella, Guangfu Li, Todd D. Schell, Dai Liu, Samuel Shao‐Min Zhang, Xi Lou, Arthur Berg, Eric T. Kimchi, Hephzibah Rani S. Tagaram, Qing Yang, Serene Shereef, Luis S. Garcia, Mark Kester, Harriet C. Isom, C. Bart Rountree, Kevin F. Staveley‐O'Carroll – 2 September 2011 – The high rate of mortality and frequent incidence of recurrence associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) reveal the need for new therapeutic approaches.

Cost‐effectiveness of hepatitis C virus antiviral treatment for injection drug user populations

Natasha K. Martin, Peter Vickerman, Alec Miners, Graham R. Foster, Sharon J. Hutchinson, David J. Goldberg, Matthew Hickman – 2 September 2011 – Injecting drug use is the main risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission in most developed countries. HCV antiviral treatment (peginterferon‐α + ribavirin) has been shown to be cost‐effective for patients with no reinfection risk. We examined the cost‐effectiveness of providing antiviral treatment for injecting drug users (IDUs) as compared with treating ex/non‐IDUs or no treatment.

Persistent elevation of hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitors in cholangiopathies affects liver fibrosis and differentiation

Hsiang‐Po Huang, Mei‐Hwei Chang, Yi‐Tzu Chen, Hong‐Yuan Hsu, Cheng‐Lun Chiang, Tai‐Shan Cheng, Yao‐Ming Wu, Mu Zon Wu, Yu‐Chen Hsu, Chih‐Che Shen, Chun‐Nan Lee, Ya‐Hui Chuang, Chia‐Lun Hong, Yung‐Ming Jeng, Pin‐Hsun Chen, Huey‐Ling Chen, Ming‐Shyue Lee – 2 September 2011 – Alteration of cell surface proteolysis has been proposed to play a role in liver fibrosis, a grave complication of biliary atresia (BA). In this study we investigated the roles of hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor (HAI)‐1 and ‐2 in the progression of BA.

MicroRNA‐194 is a target of transcription factor 1 (Tcf1, HNF1α) in adult liver and controls expression of frizzled‐6

Jan Krützfeldt, Nora Rösch, Jean Hausser, Muthiah Manoharan, Mihaela Zavolan, Markus Stoffel – 1 September 2011 – Transcription factor 1 (Tcf1; hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α [HNF1α]) is critical for hepatocyte development and function. Whether Tcf1 also regulates hepatic microRNAs (miRNAs) has not been investigated yet. Here we analyzed Tcf1‐dependent miRNA expression in adult mice in which this transcription factor had been genetically deleted (Tcf1−/−) using miRNA microarray analysis. The miR‐192/‐194 cluster was markedly down‐regulated in liver of Tcf1−/− mice.

Effects of the liver volume and donor steatosis on errors in the estimated standard liver volume

Rohan Chaminda Siriwardana, See Ching Chan, Kenneth Siu Ho Chok, Chung Mau Lo, Sheung Tat Fan – 30 August 2011 – An accurate assessment of donor and recipient liver volumes is essential in living donor liver transplantation. Many liver donors are affected by mild to moderate steatosis, and steatotic livers are known to have larger volumes. This study analyzes errors in liver volume estimation by commonly used formulas and the effects of donor steatosis on these errors. Three hundred twenty‐five Asian donors who underwent right lobe donor hepatectomy were the subjects of this study.

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