Hepatitis B virus DNA levels at week 4 of lamivudine treatment predict the 5‐year ideal response

Man‐Fung Yuen, Daniel Yee‐Tak Fong, Danny Ka‐Ho Wong, John Chi‐Hang Yuen, James Fung, Ching‐Lung Lai – 28 November 2007 – The best time and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level during an early lamivudine treatment period for predicting the long‐term outcome are unknown. We aimed to determine the optimal time and HBV DNA level during an early treatment period for the prediction of the response after a 5‐year lamivudine treatment.

Acute ethanol exposure inhibits insulin signaling in the liver

Jiman He, Suzanne de la Monte, Jack R. Wands – 28 November 2007 – Chronic ethanol consumption may produce hepatic injury and impair the ability of the liver to regenerate principally through its action on insulin signaling. These effects are mediated by insulin receptor substrate‐1 (IRS‐1) via the mitogen‐activated protein kinase/extracellular signal regulated kinase (MAPK/Erk) pathway and by survival signals through phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt).

Terlipressin improves renal function in patients with cirrhosis and ascites without hepatorenal syndrome

Aleksander Krag, Søren Møller, Jens H. Henriksen, Niels‐Henrik Holstein‐Rathlou, Fin Stolze Larsen, Flemming Bendtsen – 28 November 2007 – Patients with advanced cirrhosis and ascites are characterized by circulatory dysfunction with splanchnic vasodilatation and renal vasoconstriction, which often lead to ascites. The vasoconstrictor terlipressin improves renal function in hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). The aim of this study was to evaluate if terlipressin also improves renal function in patients with ascites without HRS.

Evidence for human leukocyte antigen heterozygote advantage against hepatitis C virus infection

Peter Hraber, Carla Kuiken, Karina Yusim – 28 November 2007 – Outcomes of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) vary widely, from asymptomatic clearance to chronic infection, leading to complications that include fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. Previous studies have reported statistical associations between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) heterozygosity and favorable outcomes of infection with either hepatitis B virus (HBV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (the “heterozygote advantage”).

Arterial ammonia and clinical risk factors for encephalopathy and intracranial hypertension in acute liver failure

William Bernal, Catherine Hall, Constantine J. Karvellas, Georg Auzinger, Elizabeth Sizer, Julia Wendon – 28 November 2007 – High circulating ammonia concentrations are common in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) and are associated with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and intracranial hypertension (ICH). Other risk factors are poorly characterized. We evaluated the relation of the admission arterial ammonia concentration and other clinical variables with the development of HE and ICH.

Validation of limited sampling strategy for the estimation of mycophenolic acid exposure in Chinese adult liver transplant recipients

Chen Hao, Chen Erzheng, Mao Anwei, Yu Zhicheng, Shen Baiyong, Deng Xiaxing, Zhang Weixia, Peng Chenghong, Li Hongwei – 28 November 2007 – Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is indicated as immunosuppressive therapy in liver transplantation. The abbreviated models for the estimation of mycophenolic acid (MPA) area under the concentration‐time curve (AUC) have been established by limited sampling strategies (LSSs) in adult liver transplant recipients. In the current study, the performance of the abbreviated models to predict MPA exposure was validated in an independent group of patients.

Biliary complications and outcomes of liver transplantation from donors after cardiac death

Anurag Maheshwari, Warren Maley, Zhiping Li, Paul J. Thuluvath – 28 November 2007 – Biliary complications after liver transplantation (LT) using organs retrieved from donors after cardiac death are not well characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the severity of biliary complications and outcomes after donation after cardiac death liver transplantation (DCD‐LT). A retrospective evaluation of 20 DCD‐LTs from 1997–2006 was performed. The recipient age was 53 ± 8.7, and the donor age was 35 ± 11 years.

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