Is Roux‐en‐Y choledochojejunostomy an independent risk factor for nonanastomotic biliary strictures after liver transplantation?

Harm Hoekstra, Carlijn I. Buis, Robert C. Verdonk, Christian S. van der Hilst, Eric J. van der Jagt, Elizabeth B. Haagsma, Robert J. Porte – 29 July 2009 – Biliary reconstruction using Roux‐en‐Y choledochojejunostomy has been suggested as a risk factor for the development of nonanastomotic biliary strictures (NAS) after liver transplantation. Roux‐en‐Y reconstruction, however, is preferentially used in patients transplanted for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and the disease itself is also associated with a higher incidence of NAS.

Liver transplantation at the extremes of the body mass index

André A. S. Dick, Austin L. Spitzer, Catherine F. Seifert, Alysun Deckert, Robert L. Carithers, Jorge D. Reyes, James D. Perkins – 29 July 2009 – Controversies exist regarding the morbidity and mortality of patients undergoing liver transplantation at the extremes of the body mass index (BMI). A review of the United Network for Organ Sharing database from 1987 through 2007 revealed 73,538 adult liver transplants.

Polo‐like kinase 1 inhibition suppresses hepatitis B virus X protein‐induced transformation in an in vitro model of liver cancer progression

Leo L. Studach, Lova Rakotomalala, Wen‐Horng Wang, Ronald L. Hullinger, Stefano Cairo, Marie‐Annick Buendia, Ourania M. Andrisani – 29 July 2009 – Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is linked to development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HBV X protein (pX) is implicated in HCC pathogenesis acting as a weak oncogene or a cofactor in hepatocarcinogenesis. pX induces DNA re‐replication, DNA damage, and partial polyploidy in a poorly differentiated, immortalized hepatocyte cell line.

Interleukin‐27 displays interferon‐γ–like functions in human hepatoma cells and hepatocytes

Herdis Bender, Monique Y. Wiesinger, Carolin Nordhoff, Caroline Schoenherr, Claude Haan, Stephan Ludwig, Ralf Weiskirchen, Nobuyuki Kato, Peter C. Heinrich, Serge Haan – 29 July 2009 – Interleukin‐27 (IL‐27) is a cytokine belonging to the IL‐6/IL‐12 cytokine family. It is secreted by antigen‐presenting cells, strongly acts on T cells, and also stimulates innate immune cells. In most studies, the effects of IL‐27 on T cells were investigated; however, not much is known about possible effects of IL‐27 on other cell types.

Proteomics analysis of mitochondrial proteins reveals overexpression of a mitochondrial protein chaperon, prohibitin, in cells expressing hepatitis C virus core protein

Takeya Tsutsumi, Mami Matsuda, Hideki Aizaki, Kyoji Moriya, Hideyuki Miyoshi, Hajime Fujie, Yoshizumi Shintani, Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Tatsuo Miyamura, Tetsuro Suzuki, Kazuhiko Koike – 29 July 2009 – The hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein is involved in viral pathogenesis such as oxidative stress induction and lipid metabolism disturbance, and is primarily located in the cytoplasm and endoplasmic reticulum in association with lipid droplets as well as in the mitochondria.

Impaired liver regeneration in mice lacking glycine N‐methyltransferase

Marta Varela‐Rey, David Fernández‐Ramos, Nuria Martínez‐López, Nieves Embade, Laura Gómez‐Santos, Naiara Beraza, Mercedes Vázquez‐Chantada, Juan Rodríguez, Zigmund Luka, Conrad Wagner, Shelly C. Lu, M. Luz Martínez‐Chantar, José M. Mato – 29 July 2009 – Hepatic S‐adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is maintained constant by the action of methionine adenosyltransferase I/III (MATI/III), which converts methionine into SAMe and glycine N‐methyltransferase (GNMT), which eliminates excess SAMe to avoid aberrant methylation reactions.

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