A novel “patient‐like” model of cholangiocarcinoma progression based on bile duct inoculation of tumorigenic rat cholangiocyte cell lines

Alphonse E. Sirica, Zichen Zhang, Guan‐Hua Lai, Toru Asano, Xue‐Ning Shen, Deanna J. Ward, Arvind Mahatme, Jennifer L. DeWitt – 14 December 2007 – Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma typically presents in an advanced stage in which treatment options are limited. In an effort to recapitulate key biological and clinical features of the progressive disease, we established a novel rat model based on bile duct inoculation of rat cholangiocyte cell lines in different stages of tumor progression.

Increased oxidative stress in cirrhotic rat livers: A potential mechanism contributing to reduced nitric oxide bioavailability

Jorge Gracia‐Sancho, Bàrbara Laviña, Aina Rodríguez‐Vilarrupla, Héctor García‐Calderó, Mercedes Fernández, Jaume Bosch, Joan‐Carles García‐Pagán – 10 December 2007 – In cirrhotic livers, decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is a major factor increasing intrahepatic vascular tone. In several vascular disorders, an increase in superoxide (O2−) has been shown to contribute to reduced NO bioavailability through its reaction with NO to form peroxynitrite. This study was aimed to test the hypothesis that, in cirrhotic livers, increased O2−, by reacting with NO, reduces NO bioavailability.

Distinct hepatitis C virus core and F protein quasispecies in tumoral and nontumoral hepatocytes isolated via microdissection

Rodolphe Sobesky, Cyrille Feray, François Rimlinger, Nicolas Derian, Alexandre Dos Santos, Anne‐Marie Roque‐Afonso, Didier Samuel, Christian Bréchot, Valérie Thiers – 28 November 2007 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genetic variability may be involved in liver carcinogenesis. We investigated HCV core and corresponding putative F protein genetic variability in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhotic nodules. Hepatocyte clusters from 7 patients with HCC and HCV1b‐related cirrhosis were isolated via microdissection of HCC tissues and 2 nontumoral cirrhotic nodules.

Effect of body mass index on the survival benefit of liver transplantation

Shawn J. Pelletier, Douglas E. Schaubel, Guanghui Wei, Michael J. Englesbe, Jeffrey D. Punch, Robert A. Wolfe, Friedrich K. Port, Robert M. Merion – 28 November 2007 – Obese patients are at higher risk for morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation (LT) than nonobese recipients. However, there are no reports assessing the survival benefit of LT according to recipient body mass index (BMI).

Ischemia‐reperfusion of small liver remnant promotes liver tumor growth and metastases—Activation of cell invasion and migration pathways

Kwan Man, Kevin T. Ng, Chung Mau Lo, Joanna W. Ho, Bai Shun Sun, Chris K. Sun, Terence K. Lee, Ronnie T. P. Poon, Sheung Tat Fan – 28 November 2007 – Elucidating the mechanism of liver tumor growth and metastasis after hepatic ischemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury of a small liver remnant will lay the foundation for the development of therapeutic strategies to target small liver remnant injury, and will reduce the likelihood of tumor recurrence after major hepatectomy or liver transplantation for liver cancer patients.

Classification and prognosis of intrahepatic biliary stricture after liver transplantation

Hae Won Lee, Kyung‐Suk Suh, Woo Young Shin, Eung‐Ho Cho, Nam‐Joon Yi, Jeong Min Lee, Joon Koo Han, Kuhn Uk Lee – 28 November 2007 – Intrahepatic biliary stricture (IHBS) after liver transplantation (LT) may develop in patients with hepatic artery thrombosis, chronic rejection, or ABO incompatibility, as well as in patients with prolonged warm ischemia in non‐heart‐beating donor (NHBD) LT. However, the clinical course and methods of management have not been well defined for IHBSs to date.

Intravenous interferon during the anhepatic phase of liver retransplantation and prevention of recurrence of cholestatic hepatitis C virus

Paul Y. Kwo, Romil Saxena, Oscar W. Cummings, A. Joseph Tector – 28 November 2007 – Cholestatic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection post orthotopic liver transplantation is associated with a poor prognosis. We describe 2 patients who received interferon and ribavirin for cholestatic HCV infection with clearance of HCV RNA from the serum. Both developed signs of graft failure necessitating repeat orthotopic liver transplantation, and at surgery, interferon was administered during the anhepatic phase to prevent graft reinfection.

A randomized controlled trial of late conversion from calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)‐based to sirolimus‐based immunosuppression in liver transplant recipients with impaired renal function

Christopher J.E. Watson, Alexander E.S. Gimson, Graeme J. Alexander, Michael E.D. Allison, Paul Gibbs, Jane C. Smith, Christopher R. Palmer, J. Andrew Bradley – 28 November 2007 – Renal impairment is common in patients after liver transplantation and is attributable in large part to the use of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)‐based immunosuppression. We sought to determine whether conversion to sirolimus‐based immunosuppression was associated with improved renal function.

High‐density lipoprotein administration attenuates liver proinflammatory response, restores liver endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity, and lowers portal pressure in cirrhotic rats

Dominique Thabut, Khalid A. Tazi, Dominique Bonnefont‐Rousselot, Maria Aller, Olivier Farges, Marie‐Christine Guimont, Zera Tellier, Cecile Guichard, Eric Ogier‐Denis, Thierry Poynard, Richard Moreau, Didier Lebrec – 28 November 2007 – In patients with cirrhosis, endotoxic shock is a major complication of portal hypertension, which is related partly to intrahepatic endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) down‐regulation.

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