Bone marrow transplantation demonstrates medullar origin of CD34+ fibrocytes and ameliorates hepatic fibrosis in Abcb4−/− mice

Martin Roderfeld, Timo Rath, Robert Voswinckel, Christian Dierkes, Hartmut Dietrich, Daniel Zahner, Jürgen Graf, Elke Roeb – 23 December 2009 – Bone marrow (BM)‐derived stem cells and CD34+ fibrocytes are associated with fibrogenesis in several organs. In an Abcb4−/− mouse model for sclerosing cholangitis alpha‐smooth muscle actin‐positive (α‐SMA+) myofibroblasts are thought to play a pivotal role in hepatic fibrogenesis.

Randomized controlled trial testing the effects of weight loss on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Kittichai Promrat, David E. Kleiner, Heather M. Niemeier, Elizabeth Jackvony, Marie Kearns, Jack R. Wands, Joseph L. Fava, Rena R. Wing – 23 December 2009 – Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic progressive liver disease that is strongly associated with obesity. Currently, there is no approved therapy for NASH. Weight reduction is typically recommended, but efficacy data are lacking.

Liver stiffness identifies two different patterns of fibrosis progression in patients with hepatitis C virus recurrence after liver transplantation

José A. Carrión, Ferran Torres, Gonzalo Crespo, Rosa Miquel, Juan‐Carlos García‐Valdecasas, Miquel Navasa, Xavier Forns – 23 December 2009 – Significant liver fibrosis (F ≥ 2) and portal hypertension (hepatic venous pressure gradient [HVPG] ≥ 6 mmHg) at 1 year after liver transplantation (LT) identify patients with severe hepatitis C recurrence. We evaluated whether repeated liver stiffness measurements (LSM) following LT can discriminate between slow and rapid “fibrosers” (fibrosis stage F2‐F4 at 1 year after LT).

Liver injury in acute fatty liver of pregnancy: Possible link to placental mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress

Sathish Kumar Natarajan, Kavitha R. Thangaraj, C. E. Eapen, Anup Ramachandran, Ashis Mukhopadhya, Mathews Mathai, Lakshmi Seshadri, Abraham Peedikayil, Banumathi Ramakrishna, Kunnissery A. Balasubramanian – 23 December 2009 – Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare disorder which is fatal if not recognized and treated early. Delivery of the feto‐placental unit results in dramatic improvement in maternal liver function, suggesting a role for the placenta.

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