A genomewide DNA microsatellite association study of Japanese patients with autoimmune hepatitis type 1

Shuichi Yokosawa, Kaname Yoshizawa, Masao Ota, Yoshihiko Katsuyama, Shigeyuki Kawa, Tetsuya Ichijo, Takeji Umemura, Eiji Tanaka, Kendo Kiyosawa – 26 January 2007 – Genetic predisposition to type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is linked mainly to HLA class II genes. We previously searched the whole HLA region for AIH susceptibility genes using microsatellite markers and found only HLA‐DR/DQ to be a candidate region for this suspected multifactorial disease.

AMA production in primary biliary cirrhosis is promoted by the TLR9 ligand CpG and suppressed by potassium channel blockers

Yuki Moritoki, Zhe‐Xiong Lian, Heike Wulff, Guo‐Xiang Yang, Ya‐Hui Chuang, Ruth Y. Lan, Yoshiyuki Ueno, Aftab A. Ansari, Ross L. Coppel, Ian R. Mackay, M. Eric Gershwin – 26 January 2007 – We previously reported that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) produce significantly higher levels of polyclonal IgM than controls after exposure to CpG. Furthermore, the prevalence and unusually high levels of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) in patients with PBC suggest a profound loss of B cell tolerance.

Concanavalin A induces autophagy in hepatoma cells and has a therapeutic effect in a murine in situ hepatoma model

Chih‐Peng Chang, Ming‐Cheng Yang, Hsiao‐Sheng Liu, Yee‐Shin Lin, Huan‐Yao Lei – 26 January 2007 – Concanavalin A (ConA), a lectin with mannose specificity that can induce acute hepatic inflammation, was tested for its therapeutic effect against hepatoma. ConA is cytotoxic or inhibitory to hepatoma cells, which is mediated by the autophagic pathway through mitochondria. Once it was bound to cell membrane glycoproteins, the ConA was internalized and preferentially localized onto the mitochondria.

Adding‐on versus switching‐to adefovir therapy in lamivudine‐resistant HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B

Irene Rapti, Evangelini Dimou, Panayota Mitsoula, Stephanos J. Hadziyannis – 26 January 2007 – We studied the long‐term efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment in 42 HBeAg‐negative patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who had developed genotypical lamivudine (LAM) resistance with virological and clinical breakthroughs under long‐term LAM treatment. Patients were allocated in 2 treatment groups. In the first (n = 14), LAM was switched to ADV monotherapy whereas in the second (n = 28) ADV was added to LAM.

Fibroindex, a practical index for predicting significant fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Masahiko Koda, Yoshiko Matunaga, Manri Kawakami, Yukihiro Kishimoto, Takeaki Suou, Yoshikazu Murawaki – 26 January 2007 – Diagnosis of the stage of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C is essential for making a prognosis and deciding on antiviral therapy. In the present study a simple model consisting of routine laboratory tests was constructed and then validated in cross‐sectional and longitudinal investigations.

Response to preoperative chemoembolization correlates with outcome after liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Gunda Millonig, Ivo W. Graziadei, Martin C. Freund, Werner Jaschke, Sylvia Stadlmann, Ruth Ladurner, Raimund Margreiter, Wolfgang Vogel – 26 January 2007 – Patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be cured by liver transplantation (LT). However, many patients drop out during the waiting time as a result of tumor progression. We prospectively investigated the effect of transarterial chemoembolization on long‐term survival of 116 patients with HCC listed for LT.

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