High‐dose ursodeoxycholic acid therapy for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial

Ulrich F. H. Leuschner, Birgit Lindenthal, Günter Herrmann, Joachim C. Arnold, Martin Rössle, Hans‐Jörg Cordes, Stefan Zeuzem, Jasper Hein, Thomas Berg, the NASH Study Group – 23 July 2010 – In uncontrolled clinical studies, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) had a beneficial effect on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, a large controlled trial using UDCA (13‐15 mg/kg/day) was unable to confirm these results. Accordingly, a randomized, placebo‐controlled study was initiated with a high dose of UDCA (23‐28 mg/kg/day).

Early on‐treatment prediction of response to peginterferon alfa‐2a for HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B using HBsAg and HBV DNA levels

Vincent Rijckborst, Bettina E. Hansen, Yilmaz Cakaloglu, Peter Ferenci, Fehmi Tabak, Meral Akdogan, Krzysztof Simon, Ulus S. Akarca, Robert Flisiak, Elke Verhey, Anneke J. Van Vuuren, Charles A. B. Boucher, Martijn J. ter Borg, Harry L. A. Janssen – 23 July 2010 – Peginterferon alfa‐2a results in a sustained response (SR) in a minority of patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)–negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Quantifying growth and transformation frequency of oncogene‐expressing mouse hepatocytes in vivo

Marxa L. Figueiredo, Kristin M. Wentworth, Eric P. Sandgren – 23 July 2010 – Gene changes can affect cancer cells in many ways, but changes that increase disease severity—by allowing cells to proliferate when they should be quiescent, by enhancing their rate of growth under growth permissive conditions, or by increasing the risk that they will accumulate additional carcinogenic alterations—must be identified so that strategies to counter their effects can be developed.

Early‐onset pneumonia after liver transplantation: Microbiological findings and therapeutic consequences

Emmanuel Weiss, Souhayl Dahmani, Frederic Bert, Sylvie Janny, Daniel Sommacale, Federica Dondero, Claire Francoz, Jacques Belghiti, Jean Mantz, Catherine Paugam‐Burtz – 16 July 2010 – Early‐onset hospital‐acquired pneumonia (E‐HAP) is one of the leading causes of sepsis and mortality after liver transplantation (LT). The appropriate antimicrobial therapy is crucially important for surviving sepsis in this context. The aim of this study was to analyze microbiological findings, associated factors, and optimal antibiotic regimens for E‐HAP after LT.

Survival and cost‐effectiveness analysis of competing strategies in the management of small hepatocellular carcinoma

Willscott E. Naugler, Amnon Sonnenberg – 16 July 2010 – The aim of the present study is to compare the survival rates and cost‐effectiveness of different treatment strategies for small (<2 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Markov chains are developed to model different management strategies for patients with compensated cirrhosis and small HCC. Probabilities of progression and survival and the likelihood of orthotopic liver transplantation are taken from the literature and incorporated into the models. As a starting population, 1000 patients are followed over a period of 10 years.

Inaccuracies of creatinine and creatinine‐based equations in candidates for liver transplantation with low creatinine: Impact on the model for end‐stage liver disease score

Claire Francoz, Dominique Prié, Wael AbdelRazek, Richard Moreau, Ameet Mandot, Jacques Belghiti, Dominique Valla, François Durand – 16 July 2010 – Renal function has a significant impact on early mortality in patients with cirrhosis. However, creatinine and creatinine‐based equations are inaccurate markers of renal function in cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to reassess correlations between creatinine‐based equations and measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and to investigate the impact of inaccuracies on the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score.

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