Liver tumorigenicity promoted by microRNA‐221 in a mouse transgenic model

Elisa Callegari, Bahaeldin K. Elamin, Ferdinando Giannone, Maddalena Milazzo, Giuseppe Altavilla, Francesca Fornari, Luciano Giacomelli, Lucilla D'Abundo, Manuela Ferracin, Cristian Bassi, Barbara Zagatti, Fabio Corrà, Elena Miotto, Laura Lupini, Luigi Bolondi, Laura Gramantieri, Carlo M. Croce, Silvia Sabbioni, Massimo Negrini – 2 April 2012 – MicroRNA‐221 (miR‐221) is one of the most frequently and consistently up‐regulated microRNAs (miRNAs) in human cancer. It has been hypothesized that miR‐221 may act as a tumor promoter.

Hepatitis B virus X protein stabilizes amplified in breast cancer 1 protein and cooperates with it to promote human hepatocellular carcinoma cell invasiveness

Yonghong Liu, Zhangwei Tong, Ting Li, Qiang Chen, Luting Zhuo, Wengang Li, Ray‐Chang Wu, Chundong Yu – 2 April 2012 – Chronic infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is closely associated with the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV X protein (HBx) plays a key role in the progression of HCC. We recently found that amplified in breast cancer 1 (AIB1) protein is overexpressed in 68% of human HCC specimens and promotes HCC progression by enhancing cell proliferation and invasiveness.

Hepatic vein arrival time as assessed by contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography is useful for the assessment of portal hypertension in compensated cirrhosis

Moon Young Kim, Ki Tae Suk, Soon Koo Baik, Hyoun A. Kim, Young Ju Kim, Seung Hwan Cha, Hwa Ryun Kwak, Mee Yon Cho, Hong Jun Park, Hyo Keun Jeon, So Yeon Park, Bo Ra Kim, Jin Heon Hong, Ki Won Jo, Jae Woo Kim, Hyun Soo Kim, Sang Ok Kwon, Sei Jin Chang, Gwang Ho Baik, Dong Joon Kim – 2 April 2012 – The measurement of the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) for the estimation of portal hypertension (PH) in cirrhosis has some limitations, including its invasiveness.

Interleukin‐22 induces hepatic stellate cell senescence and restricts liver fibrosis in mice

Xiaoni Kong, Dechun Feng, Hua Wang, Feng Hong, Adeline Bertola, Fu‐Sheng Wang, Bin Gao – 2 April 2012 – Interleukin (IL)‐22 is known to play a key role in promoting antimicrobial immunity, inflammation, and tissue repair at barrier surfaces by binding to the receptors, IL‐10R2 and IL‐22R1. IL‐22R1 is generally thought to be expressed exclusively in epithelial cells. In this study, we identified high levels of IL‐10R2 and IL‐22R1 expression on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the predominant cell type involved in liver fibrogenesis in response to liver damage.

Serum autotaxin is increased in pruritus of cholestasis, but not of other origin, and responds to therapeutic interventions

Andreas E. Kremer, Remco van Dijk, Pamela Leckie, Frank G. Schaap, Edith M.M. Kuiper, Thomas Mettang, Katrin S. Reiners, Ulrike Raap, Henk R. van Buuren, Karel J. van Erpecum, Nathan A. Davies, Christian Rust, Andreas Engert, Rajiv Jalan, Ronald P.J. Oude Elferink, Ulrich Beuers – 2 April 2012 – Pruritus is a seriously disabling symptom accompanying many cholestatic liver disorders. Recent experimental evidence implicated the lysophospholipase, autotaxin (ATX), and its product, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), as potential mediators of cholestatic pruritus.

Vaniprevir with pegylated interferon alpha‐2a and ribavirin in treatment‐naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C: A randomized phase II study

Michael P. Manns, Edward Gane, Maribel Rodriguez‐Torres, Albrecht Stoehr, Chau‐Ting Yeh, Patrick Marcellin, Richard T. Wiedmann, Peggy M. Hwang, Luzelena Caro, Richard J.O. Barnard, Andrew W. Lee, for the MK‐7009 Protocol 007 Study Group – 2 April 2012 – Vaniprevir (MK‐7009) is a macrocyclic hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 3/4A protease inhibitor. The aim of the present phase II study was to examine virologic response rates with vaniprevir in combination with pegylated interferon alpha‐2a (Peg‐IFN‐α‐2a) plus ribavirin (RBV).

Smoking increases recurrent viral hepatitis after liver transplantation

Mamatha Bhat, Marc Deschenes, Xianming Tan, Myriam Martel, Venkataramana Bhat, Philip Wong, Peter Metrakos, Peter Ghali – 30 March 2012 – Smoking is a common behavior among transplant candidates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of smoking on a range of complications after liver transplantation. We reviewed data about patient demographics and various complications after liver transplantation that were recorded in the McGill University Health Centre liver transplant database over a 14‐year period. χ2 and multivariate analyses were performed.

Prevalence and clinical outcomes of the 46/1 haplotype, Janus kinase 2 mutations, and ten‐eleven translocation 2 mutations in budd‐chiari syndrome and their impact on thrombotic complications post Liver Transplantation

Rachel H. Westbrook, Nicholas C. Lea, Azim M. Mohamedali, Alexander E. Smith, David W. Orr, Lara N. Roberts, Nigel D. Heaton, Julia A. Wendon, John G. O'Grady, Michael A. Heneghan, Ghulam J. Mufti – 30 March 2012 – Latent myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) can be identified by Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) mutations in patients with idiopathic Budd‐Chiari syndrome (BCS). The incidence and clinical outcomes of JAK2 mutations, novel ten‐eleven translocation 2 (TET2) mutations, and the 46/1 haplotype in BCS are unknown for liver transplantation (LT).

Higher dietary fructose is associated with impaired hepatic adenosine triphosphate homeostasis in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes

Manal F. Abdelmalek, Mariana Lazo, Alena Horska, Susanne Bonekamp, Edward W. Lipkin, Ashok Balasubramanyam, John P. Bantle, Richard J. Johnson, Anna Mae Diehl, Jeanne M. Clark, and the Fatty Liver Subgroup of the Look AHEAD Research Group – 29 March 2012 – Fructose consumption predicts increased hepatic fibrosis in those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Because of its ability to lower hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, habitual fructose consumption could result in more hepatic ATP depletion and impaired ATP recovery.

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