Introducing T.H.E. corner
Hugo Vargas – 29 October 2007
Antimitochondrial antibodies in acute liver failure: Implications for primary biliary cirrhosis
Patrick S. C. Leung, Lorenzo Rossaro, Paul A. Davis, Ogyi Park, Atsushi Tanaka, Kentaro Kikuchi, Hiroshi Miyakawa, Gary L. Norman, William Lee, M.
Keratins let liver live: Mutations predispose to liver disease and crosslinking generates Mallory‐Denk bodies
Nam‐On Ku, Pavel Strnad, Bi‐Hui Zhong, Guo‐Zhong Tao, M. Bishr Omary – 29 October 2007 – Keratin polypeptides 8 and 18 (K8/K18) are the cytoskeletal intermediate filament proteins of hepatocytes while K8/K18/K19 are the keratins of hepatobiliary ductal cells. Hepatocyte K8/K18 are highly abundant and behave as stress proteins with injury‐inducible expression.
Human skin fibroblasts: From mesodermal to hepatocyte‐like differentiation
Philippe A. Lysy, Françoise Smets, Catherine Sibille, Mustapha Najimi, Etienne M. Sokal – 29 October 2007 – The phenotypic homology of fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been recently described. Our study investigated the in vitro potential of human skin fibroblasts to differentiate into mesodermal (osteocyte and adipocyte) and endodermal (hepatocyte) cell lineages by comparison with human bone marrow (hBM) MSCs. The endodermal potential of fibroblasts was then explored in vivo in a mouse model of liver injury.
Mechanisms of protection by the betaine‐homocysteine methyltransferase/betaine system in HepG2 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes
Cheng Ji, Masao Shinohara, John Kuhlenkamp, Christine Chan, Neil Kaplowitz – 29 October 2007 – Betaine‐homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) regulates homocysteine levels in the liver. We previously reported that the alteration of BHMT is associated with alcoholic liver steatosis and injury. In this study, we tested whether BHMT protects hepatocytes from homocysteine‐induced injury and lipid accumulation. Both BHMT transfectants of HepG2 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes with suppressed BHMT were generated.
TRAILs and tribulation
Harmeet Malhi – 29 October 2007
Good science behind hepatitis C virus antiviral drug development: Necessary but not sufficient
S. Chris Pappas – 29 October 2007
Pretransplant albumin dialysis in erythropoietic protoporphyria: A costly detour
Staffan Wahlin, Pauline Harper – 29 October 2007
Pharmacokinetics of mycophenolate mofetil in stable pediatric liver transplant recipients receiving mycophenolate mofetil and cyclosporine
Steven J. Lobritto, Philip Rosenthal, Rene Bouw, Mimi Leung, Paul Snell, Richard D. Mamelok – 29 October 2007 – There are few pharmacokinetic data for mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) when used in combination with cyclosporine (CsA) in pediatric liver transplant recipients.
Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair after liver transplantation
Kristin Mekeel, David Mulligan, Kunam Sudhakar Reddy, Adyr Moss, Kristi Harold – 29 October 2007 – Incisional hernias occur in up to 17% of patients after liver transplantation. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is associated with fewer wound complications and a decreased incidence of recurrence when compared to open hernia repair in nontransplant patients. This is a retrospective review of 13 patients who underwent laparoscopic incisional hernia repair (LAP group) after liver transplantation compared to 14 patients who had open repairs (OP group; all but one with mesh).