Joint effects of coffee consumption and serum gamma‐glutamyltransferase on the risk of liver cancer

Gang Hu, Jaakko Tuomilehto, Eero Pukkala, Timo Hakulinen, Riitta Antikainen, Erkki Vartiainen, Pekka Jousilahti – 20 June 2008 – Only three Japanese prospective studies have suggested an inverse association between coffee drinking and liver cancer risk. No prospective studies on the association between serum gamma‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) and liver cancer risk have been reported. We aimed to determine the single and joint associations of coffee consumption and serum GGT with the risk of primary liver cancer.

Toll‐like receptors and adaptor molecules in liver disease: Update

Ekihiro Seki, David A. Brenner – 20 June 2008 – Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors that recognize pathogen‐associated molecular patterns and signal through adaptor molecules, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), Toll/IL‐1 receptor domain containing adaptor protein (TIRAP), Toll/IL‐1 receptor domain containing adaptor inducing interferon‐β (TRIF), and TRIF‐related adaptor molecule (TRAM) to activate transcription factors, nuclear factor (NF)‐κB, activator protein 1 (AP‐1), and interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) leading to the initiation of innate immunity.

Telomere shortening in the damaged small bile ducts in primary biliary cirrhosis reflects ongoing cellular senescence

Motoko Sasaki, Hiroko Ikeda, Junpei Yamaguchi, Satoko Nakada, Yasuni Nakanuma – 20 June 2008 – Telomere shortening is a trigger of cellular senescence. Biliary epithelial cells in damaged small bile ducts in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) show senescent features such as the expression of senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase and the increased expression of p16INK4a and p21WAF1/Cip1. We investigated whether the telomere shortening is involved in the pathogenesis of biliary cellular senescence in PBC.

Tranilast, an antifibrogenic agent, ameliorates a dietary rat model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Masafumi Uno, Seiichiro Kurita, Hirofumi Misu, Hitoshi Ando, Tsuguhito Ota, Naoto Matsuzawa‐Nagata, Yuki Kita, Satoko Nabemoto, Hiroshi Akahori, Yoh Zen, Yasuni Nakanuma, Shuichi Kaneko, Toshinari Takamura – 20 June 2008 – Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and is one of the most common liver diseases in the developed world. The histological findings of NASH are characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. However, an optimal treatment for NASH has not been established.

Lifestyle intervention and antioxidant therapy in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized, controlled trial

Valerio Nobili, Melania Manco, Rita Devito, Vincenzo Di Ciommo, Donatella Comparcola, Maria Rita Sartorelli, Fiorella Piemonte, Matilde Marcellini, Paul Angulo – 20 June 2008 – No proven treatment exists for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children and adolescents. We sought to determine the efficacy of lifestyle intervention with or without antioxidant therapy in pediatric NAFLD. A total of 53 patients (age 5.7‐18.8 years, 37 boys) were included.

Obesity and steatosis influence serum and hepatic inflammatory markers in chronic hepatitis C

Julie R. Jonsson, Helen D. Barrie, Peter O'Rourke, Andrew D. Clouston, Elizabeth E. Powell – 20 June 2008 – Obesity and fatty liver are commonly observed among patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and are risk factors for increased hepatic fibrosis. Obesity is accompanied by a low‐grade, chronic inflammatory response that may contribute to pathogenesis of obesity‐related comorbidities.

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