The natural history of hepatitis C cirrhosis after liver transplantation

Roberto J. Firpi, Virginia Clark, Consuelo Soldevila‐Pico, Giuseppe Morelli, Roniel Cabrera, Cynthia Levy, Victor I. Machicao, Chen Chaoru, David R. Nelson – 28 August 2009 – Hepatitis C after liver transplantation leads to graft cirrhosis in up to 30% of patients within 5 years, but limited data exist regarding the clinical course of cirrhosis after transplantation. The aims of this study were to report the natural history of hepatitis C cirrhosis after liver transplantation and to identify risk factors for decompensation and survival.

Morphine‐ and glucagon‐augmented magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to evaluate living liver donors

Yuan Heng Mo, Po Chin Liang, Ming Chih Ho, Po Huang Lee, Fu Shan Jaw, Steven Shinn‐Forng Peng – 28 August 2009 – The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the combined use of intravenous morphine and intramuscular glucagon in improving magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) image quality in donors for living‐related liver transplantation. Sixteen healthy donor candidates underwent an MRCP study.

Fenofibrate differentially regulates plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 gene expression via adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase–dependent induction of orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner

Dipanjan Chanda, Chul Ho Lee, Yong‐Hoon Kim, Jung‐Ran Noh, Don‐Kyu Kim, Ji‐Hoon Park, Jung Hwan Hwang, Mi‐Ran Lee, Kyeong‐Hoon Jeong, In‐Kyu Lee, Gi Ryang Kweon, Minho Shong, Goo‐Taeg Oh, John Y. L. Chiang, Hueng‐Sik Choi – 27 August 2009 – Plasminogen activator inhibitor type I (PAI‐1) is a marker of the fibrinolytic system and serves as a possible predictor for hepatic metabolic syndromes. Fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α (PPARα) agonist, is a drug used for treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Influence of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the P1 promoter of the furin gene on transcription activity and hepatitis B virus infection

Rui Xiang Lei, Hong Shi, Xiao Mou Peng, Yin Hong Zhu, Jie Cheng, Gui Hua Chen – 27 August 2009 – Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) is a viral strategy of immune response evasion associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistence. Spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion is usually accompanied by liver disease remission. Unfortunately, this goal is difficult to achieve and requires expensive and time‐consuming treatment. Furin, a proprotein convertase, is involved in HBeAg maturation and is therefore a potential therapeutic target or indicator for predicting disease progression and antiviral response.

Large liver cell change in hepatitis B virus–related liver cirrhosis

Haeryoung Kim, Bong‐Kyeong Oh, Massimo Roncalli, Chanil Park, So‐Mi Yoon, Jeong Eun Yoo, Young Nyun Park – 27 August 2009 – Large liver cell change (LLCC) refers to microscopic lesions often found in various chronic liver diseases; however, its nature is still controversial. Thirty‐four formalin‐fixed and 19 fresh frozen hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related cirrhosis samples were examined for the presence of LLCC, small liver cell change (SLCC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

A phase III study of the safety and efficacy of viramidine versus ribavirin in treatment‐naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C: ViSER1 results

Yves Benhamou, Nezam H. Afdhal, David R. Nelson, Mitchell L. Shiffman, Deanine G. Halliman, Jamie Heise, Eric Chun, Paul J. Pockros – 27 August 2009 – Pegylated interferon (peg‐IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) are effective in eradicating the hepatitis C virus in more than half of patients. However, anemia arising from RBV‐induced hemolysis can prompt dose reductions and lower sustained virologic response (SVR) rates.

Porcine liver sinusoidal endothelial cells contribute significantly to intrahepatic ammonia metabolism

Geir I. Nedredal, Kjetil Elvevold, Lars M. Ytrebø, Ole‐Martin Fuskevåg, Ingvild Pettersen, Peter A. G. McCourt, Kjell Bertheussen, Bård Smedsrød, Arthur Revhaug – 27 August 2009 – Ammonia metabolism in the liver has been largely credited to hepatocytes (HCs). We have shown that liver nonparenchymal cells that include liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) produce ammonia.

Sites and mechanisms of insulin resistance in nonobese, nondiabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C

Ester Vanni, Maria Lorena Abate, Elena Gentilcore, Ingrid Hickman, Roberto Gambino, Maurizio Cassader, Antonina Smedile, Ele Ferrannini, Mario Rizzetto, Giulio Marchesini, Amalia Gastaldelli, Elisabetta Bugianesi – 27 August 2009 – Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has been associated with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, but the extent of impairment in insulin action, the target pathways involved, and the role of the virus per se have not been defined.

Randomized controlled trial of carvedilol versus variceal band ligation for the prevention of the first variceal bleed

Dhiraj Tripathi, James W. Ferguson, Narendra Kochar, Joanna A. Leithead, George Therapondos, Norma C. Mcavoy, Adrian J. Stanley, Ewan H. Forrest, William S. Hislop, Peter R. Mills, Peter C. Hayes – 27 August 2009 – Current therapy for preventing the first variceal bleed includes beta‐blocker and variceal band ligation (VBL). VBL has lower bleeding rates, with no differences in survival, whereas beta‐blocker therapy can be limited by side effects.

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