Tezosentan, a novel endothelin receptor antagonist, markedly reduces rat hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury in three different models

Douglas G. Farmer, Fady Kaldas, Dean Anselmo, Masamichi Katori, Xiu‐Da Shen, Charles Lassman, Marian Kaldas, Martine Clozel, Ronald W. Busuttil, Jerzy Kupiec‐Weglinski – 24 November 2008 – This study investigated the effects of dual endothelin (ET) receptor blockade in rat models of liver ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI).

Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) regulates hepatic lipogenesis, microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, and the secretion of apolipoprotein B–containing lipoproteins

Wei Qiu, Lisa Federico, Mark Naples, Rita Kohen Avramoglu, Reza Meshkani, Jing Zhang, Julie Tsai, Mahmood Hussain, Kezhi Dai, Jahangir Iqbal, Christopher D. Kontos, Yasuo Horie, Akira Suzuki, Khosrow Adeli – 24 November 2008 – Hepatic apolipoprotein B (apoB) lipoprotein production is metabolically regulated via the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase cascade; however, the role of the key negative regulator of this pathway, the tumor suppressor phosphatase with tensin homology (PTEN), is unknown.

Anti‐CD81 antibodies can prevent a hepatitis C virus infection in vivo

Philip Meuleman, Joseph Hesselgesser, Matthew Paulson, Thomas Vanwolleghem, Isabelle Desombere, Hans Reiser, Geert Leroux‐Roels – 24 November 2008 – The viral life cycle of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been studied mainly using different in vitro cell culture models. Studies using pseudoviral particles (HCVpp) and more recently cell culture–derived virus (HCVcc) suggest that at least three host cell molecules are important for HCV entry in vitro: the tetraspanin CD81, the scavenger receptor class B member I, and the tight junction protein Claudin‐1.

Evidence for no relevance of anti–major histocompatibility complex class i–related chain a antibodies in liver transplantation

Mehmet Uzunel, Haxiaobieke Kasimu, Meghnad Joshi, Xupeng Ge, Jining Liu, Bo Xu, Marie Jaksch, Carl Jorns, Grzegorz Nowak, Suchitra Sumitran‐Holgersson – 24 November 2008 – The polymorphic major histocompatibility complex class I–related chain A (MICA) antigen is being increasingly recognized as a potential target molecule for immune cells during allograft rejection. Here we studied whether MICA is a target antigen for antibodies in liver transplant patients.

The potential impact of using donations after cardiac death on the liver transplantation program and waiting list in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Eleazar Chaib, Eduardo Massad – 24 November 2008 – Liver transplantation was first performed at the University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine in 1968. Since then, the patient waiting list for liver transplantation has increased at a rate of 150 new cases per month. Liver transplantation itself rose 1.84‐fold (from 160 to 295) from 1988 to 2004. However, the number of patients on the liver waiting list jumped 2.71‐fold (from 553 to 1500). Consequently, the number of deaths on the liver waiting list moved to a higher level, from 321 to 671, increasing 2.09‐fold.

Impact of immunosuppression without steroids on rejection and hepatitis C virus evolution after liver transplantation: Results of a prospective randomized study

Laura Lladó, Joan Fabregat, Jose Castellote, Emilio Ramos, Xavier Xiol, Jaume Torras, Teresa Serrano, Carme Baliellas, Joan Figueras, Agustin Garcia‐Gil, Antoni Rafecas – 24 November 2008 – The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of a steroid‐free immunosuppression on hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence. A total of 198 liver transplantation (LT) patients were randomized to receive immunosuppression with basiliximab and cyclosporine, either with prednisone (steroid [St] group) or without prednisone (no steroids [NoSt] group).

Hydroxyethyl starch–based preservation solutions enhance gene therapy vector delivery under hypothermic conditions

Scot D. Henry, Pascal van der Wegen, Herold J. Metselaar, Bob J. Scholte, Hugo W. Tilanus, Luc J. W. van der Laan – 24 November 2008 – Isolated liver perfusion offers a unique prospect for safe, effective targeting of gene therapies that can be directed against allograft rejection or recurrent diseases such as reinfection by hepatitis C virus (HCV). We aimed to examine the effect of organ preservation solutions on vector‐based gene therapy delivery under hypothermic conditions.

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