Tenofovir improves the outcome in patients with spontaneous reactivation of hepatitis B presenting as acute‐on‐chronic liver failure

Hitendra Garg, Shiv Kumar Sarin, Manoj Kumar, Vishal Garg, Barjesh Chander Sharma, Ashish Kumar – 14 December 2010 – Spontaneous reactivation of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is an important cause of acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF). Antiviral drugs may help reduce the high morbidity and mortality in such patients, especially in places where liver transplant is not available. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of tenofovir and to determine the predictors of mortality in patients with spontaneous reactivation of CHB with ACLF.

Overexpression of cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase promotes hepatic bile acid synthesis and secretion and maintains cholesterol homeostasis

Tiangang Li, Michelle Matozel, Shannon Boehme, Bo Kong, Lisa‐Mari Nilsson, Grace Guo, Ewa Ellis, John Y. L. Chiang – 14 December 2010 – We reported previously that mice overexpressing cytochrome P450 7a1 (Cyp7a1; Cyp7a1‐tg mice) are protected against high fat diet–induced hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and insulin resistance. Here, we investigated the underlying mechanism of bile acid signaling in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis in Cyp7a1‐tg mice. Cyp7a1‐tg mice had two‐fold higher Cyp7a1 activity and bile acid pool than did wild‐type mice.

Risk assessment of hepatitis B virus–related hepatocellular carcinoma development using liver stiffness measurement (FibroScan)

Kyu Sik Jung, Seung Up Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Young Nyun Park, Do Young Kim, Jun Yong Park, Chae Yoon Chon, Eun Hee Choi, Kwang‐Hyub Han – 14 December 2010 – Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using FibroScan accurately assesses the degree of liver fibrosis and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis C. This study investigated the usefulness of LSM as a predictor of HCC development in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Loss of transforming growth factor β adaptor protein β‐2 spectrin leads to delayed liver regeneration in mice

Arun Thenappan, Vivek Shukla, Feras J. Abdul Khalek, Ying Li, Kirti Shetty, Pu Liu, Lu Li, Randy L. Johnson, Lynt Johnson, Lopa Mishra – 14 December 2010 – Liver regeneration, following partial hepatectomy (PHx), occurs through precisely controlled and synchronized cell proliferation, in which quiescent hepatocytes undergo one to two rounds of replication, with restoration of liver mass and function. We previously demonstrated that loss of the Smad3/4 adaptor protein β‐2 spectrin (β2SP) is associated with faster entry into S phase, and hepatocellular cancer formation.

Septum transversum‐derived mesothelium gives rise to hepatic stellate cells and perivascular mesenchymal cells in developing mouse liver

Kinji Asahina, Bin Zhou, William T. Pu, Hidekazu Tsukamoto – 14 December 2010 – The septum transversum mesenchyme (STM) signals to induce hepatogenesis from the foregut endoderm. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are sinusoidal pericytes assumed to originate from the STM and participate in mesenchymal‐epithelial interaction in embryonic and adult livers. However, the developmental origin of HSCs remains elusive due to the lack of markers for STM and HSCs.

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