Novel role for epidermal growth factor‐like domain 7 in metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma

Fan Wu, Lian‐Yue Yang, Yun‐Feng Li, Di‐Peng Ou, Dong‐Ping Chen, Chun Fan – 20 November 2009 – Epidermal growth factor‐like domain 7 (Egfl7) is a recently identified secreted protein that is believed to be primarily expressed in endothelial cells (ECs). Although its expression was reported elevated during tumorigenesis, whether and how Egfl7 contributes to human malignancies remains unknown. In the present study overexpression of Egfl7 was found predominantly in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in HCC tissues and closely correlated with poor prognosis of HCC.

Severe sepsis in cirrhosis

Thierry Gustot, François Durand, Didier Lebrec, Jean‐Louis Vincent, Richard Moreau – 20 November 2009 – Sepsis is physiologically viewed as a proinflammatory and procoagulant response to invading pathogens. There are three recognized stages in the inflammatory response with progressively increased risk of end‐organ failure and death: sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. Patients with cirrhosis are prone to develop sepsis, sepsis‐induced organ failure, and death.

Ghrelin attenuates hepatocellular injury and liver fibrogenesis in rodents and influences fibrosis progression in humans

Montserrat Moreno, Javier F. Chaves, Pau Sancho‐Bru, Fernando Ramalho, Leandra N. Ramalho, Maria L. Mansego, Carmen Ivorra, Marlene Dominguez, Laura Conde, Cristina Millán, Montserrat Marí, Jordi Colmenero, Juan J. Lozano, Pedro Jares, Josep Vidal, Xavier Forns, Vicente Arroyo, Juan Caballería, Pere Ginès, Ramón Bataller – 9 November 2009 – There are no effective antifibrotic therapies for patients with liver diseases. We performed an experimental and translational study to investigate whether ghrelin, an orexigenic hormone with pleiotropic properties, modulates liver fibrogenesis.

Pitfalls of liver stiffness measurement: A 5‐year prospective study of 13,369 examinations

Laurent Castéra, Juliette Foucher, Pierre‐Henri Bernard, Françoise Carvalho, Daniele Allaix, Wassil Merrouche, Patrice Couzigou, Victor de Lédinghen – 9 November 2009 – Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) based on transient elastography (TE, FibroScan) is gaining in popularity for noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis. However, LSM has limitations, which have not yet been thoroughly evaluated. We prospectively investigated the frequency and determinants of LSM failure and unreliable results over a 5‐year period, based on 13,369 examinations (134,239 shots).

Reduction of advanced liver fibrosis by short‐term targeted delivery of an angiotensin receptor blocker to hepatic stellate cells in rats

Montserrat Moreno, Teresa Gonzalo, Robbert J. Kok, Pau Sancho‐Bru, Marike van Beuge, Josine Swart, Jai Prakash, Kai Temming, Constantino Fondevila, Leonie Beljaars, Marie Lacombe, Paul van der Hoeven, Vicente Arroyo, Klaas Poelstra, David A. Brenner, Pere Ginès, Ramón Bataller – 9 November 2009 – There is no effective therapy for advanced liver fibrosis. Angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor blockers attenuate liver fibrogenesis, yet their efficacy in reversing advanced fibrosis is unknown.

Short‐term therapy with peroxisome proliferation‐activator receptor‐α agonist Wy‐14,643 protects murine fatty liver against ischemia–reperfusion injury

Narci C. Teoh, Jacqueline Williams, Jennifer Hartley, Jun Yu, Robert S. McCuskey, Geoffrey C. Farrell – 9 November 2009 – Steatosis increases operative morbidity/mortality from ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI); few pharmacological approaches have been protective.

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