Molecular imaging of hepatic stellate cell activity by visualization of hepatic integrin αvβ3 expression with SPECT in rat

Feng Li, Zhengji Song, Qinghua Li, Jian Wu, Jiyao Wang, Cao Xie, Chuantao Tu, Jian Wang, Xiaowei Huang, Weiyue Lu – 26 May 2011 – The key factors in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis are the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which express integrin αvβ3 after activation. This study aimed to explore the potential of 99mTc‐labeled cyclic arginine‐glycine‐aspartic acid pentapeptide (cRGD) as a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) radiotracer to image hepatic integrin αvβ3 expression to reflect HSC activity in fibrotic livers.

Human hepatic cancer stem cells are characterized by common stemness traits and diverse oncogenic pathways

Jens U. Marquardt, Chiara Raggi, Jesper B. Andersen, Daekwan Seo, Itzhak Avital, David Geller, Yun‐Han Lee, Mitsuteru Kitade, Agnes Holczbauer, Matthew C. Gillen, Elizabeth A. Conner, Valentina M. Factor, Snorri S. Thorgeirsson – 26 May 2011 – Epigenetic mechanisms play critical roles in stem cell biology by maintaining pluripotency of stem cells and promoting differentiation of more mature derivatives.

Elimination of hepatocellular carcinoma and acute hepatitis B in children 25 years after a hepatitis B newborn and catch‐up immunization program

Brian J. McMahon, Lisa R. Bulkow, Rosalyn J. Singleton, James Williams, Mary Snowball, Chriss Homan, Alan J. Parkinson – 26 May 2011 – Alaska Native people experience the highest rates of acute and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States. We examined the effect of a universal newborn immunization with hepatitis B vaccine and mass population screening immunization program initiated in 1984 on rates of HBV and HCC in children 25 years later.

Nuclear expression of S100A4 calcium‐binding protein increases cholangiocarcinoma invasiveness and metastasization

Luca Fabris, Massimiliano Cadamuro, Lidia Moserle, James Dziura, Xiangyu Cong, Luisa Sambado, Giorgia Nardo, Aurelio Sonzogni, Michele Colledan, Alberto Furlanetto, Nicolò Bassi, Marco Massani, Umberto Cillo, Claudia Mescoli, Stefano Indraccolo, Massimo Rugge, Lajos Okolicsanyi, Mario Strazzabosco – 26 May 2011 – Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) carries a severe prognosis because of its strong invasiveness and early metastasization. In several patients, otherwise eligible for surgical resection, micrometastasis are already present at the time of surgery.

Liver transplantation for acute intermittent porphyria is complicated by a high rate of hepatic artery thrombosis

Joanna K. Dowman, Bridget K. Gunson, Darius F. Mirza, Simon R. Bramhall, Mike N. Badminton, Philip N. Newsome, on behalf of the UK Liver Selection and Allocation Working Party – 26 May 2011 – Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an autosomal‐dominant condition resulting from a partial deficiency of the ubiquitously expressed enzyme porphobilinogen deaminase. Although its clinical expression is highly variable, a minority of patients suffer recurrent life‐threatening neurovisceral attacks despite optimal medical therapy.

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