Leptin induces phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies by hepatic stellate cells via a Rho guanosine triphosphatase–dependent mechanism

Joy X. Jiang, Kenichiro Mikami, Vijay H. Shah, Natalie J. Torok – 28 October 2008 – Leptin, a profibrogenic cytokine, plays an important role in the development of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis. Leptin also regulates immune responses, including macrophage phagocytic activity. Stellate cells are key elements in liver fibrogenesis, and previously we have demonstrated that phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies by stellate cells is profibrogenic.

Prediction of clinical outcomes in primary biliary cirrhosis by serum enhanced liver fibrosis assay

Marlyn J. Mayo, Julie Parkes, Beverley Adams‐Huet, Burton Combes, A. S. Mills, Rodney S. Markin, Raphael Rubin, Donald Wheeler, Melissa Contos, A. B. West, Sandra Saldana, Yonas Getachew, Robert Butsch, Velimir Luketic, Marion Peters, Adrian Di Bisceglie, Nathan Bass, John Lake, Thomas Boyer, Enrique Martinez, James Boyer, Guadalupe Garcia‐Tsao, David Barnes, William M. Rosenberg – 28 October 2008 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is sometimes diagnosed based on a positive antimitochondrial antibody in the appropriate clinical setting without a liver biopsy.

Farnesoid X receptor antagonizes nuclear factor κB in hepatic inflammatory response

Yan‐Dong Wang, Wei‐Dong Chen, Meihua Wang, Donna Yu, Barry M. Forman, Wendong Huang – 28 October 2008 – The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor that plays key roles in hepatoprotection by maintaining the homeostasis of liver metabolism. FXR null mice display strong hepatic inflammation and develop spontaneous liver tumors. In this report, we demonstrate that FXR is a negative modulator of nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB)–mediated hepatic inflammation.

A 20‐year single‐center experience with acute liver failure during pregnancy: Is the prognosis really worse?

Vikram Bhatia, Amit Singhal, Subrat Kumar Panda, Subrat Kumar Acharya – 28 October 2008 – Pregnant patients with acute liver failure (ALF) are believed to have a worse outcome than nonpregnant women and men with ALF. However objective data supporting this supposition are scant. Therefore, the current study compared the outcome, complications, and causes of ALF among pregnant women and girls with age‐matched nonpregnant women and girls and men and boys with ALF.

Performance parameters of the diagnostic scoring systems for autoimmune hepatitis

Albert J. Czaja – 28 October 2008 – The diagnostic criteria for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) have been codified by an international panel, and a revision of the original scoring system based on 12 clinical components has been promulgated. A simplified scoring system has been proposed recently that is based on four clinical components. The goals of this study were to compare the performance parameters of the revised original and the simplified scoring systems and to determine the prowess of each as a diagnostic instrument.

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