Thermoreversible gelation polymer induces the emergence of hepatic stem cells in the partially injured rat liver

Masaki Nagaya, Sunao Kubota, Noboru Suzuki, Katsuya Akashi, Toshihiro Mitaka – 20 April 2006 – Focal injury of the adult liver causes formation of granulomatous tissue and fibrosis. When thermoreversible gelation polymer (TGP) was applied to such defects of the rat liver, complete recovery of hepatic tissues was observed without granulation. We analyzed the mechanism of the regeneration. TGP is a chemically synthesized biocompatible polymer material whose sol‐gel transition is reversible by changing the temperature. Cooled TGP was poured into a penetration lesion of the rat liver.

Identification of a hepatitis C virus–reactive T cell receptor that does not require CD8 for target cell recognition

Glenda G. Callender, Hugo R. Rosen, Jeffrey J. Roszkowski, Gretchen E. Lyons, Mingli Li, Tamson Moore, Natasha Brasic, Mark D. McKee, Michael I. Nishimura – 20 April 2006 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been reported to elicit B and T cell immunity in infected patients. Despite the presence of antiviral immunity, many patients develop chronic infections leading to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure that can require transplantation.

A 12‐week clevudine therapy showed potent and durable antiviral activity in HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B

Hyo‐Suk Lee, Young‐Hwa Chung, KwanSik Lee, Kwan Soo Byun, Seung Woon Paik, Joon‐Yeol Han, Kwon Yoo, Hee‐Won Yoo, Jin Heon Lee, Byung Chul Yoo – 20 April 2006 – Clevudine is a nucleoside analog with an unnatural β‐L configuration. In a phase I/II clinical trial, once daily doses ranging from 10 to 200 mg for 28 days were well tolerated, and produced significant antiviral activity. The present study was conducted to assess the degree and durability of the antiviral response to 12 weeks of clevudine treatment, and to investigate its safety and tolerability.

Antiproliferative effects of interferon alpha on hepatic progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo

Rebecca Lim, Belinda Knight, Keyur Patel, John G. McHutchison, George C. Yeoh, John K. Olynyk – 20 April 2006 – Hepatic progenitor cells (called oval cells in rodents) proliferate during chronic liver injury. They have been suggested as targets of malignant transformation in chronic liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis C. Interferon alpha therapy reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C regardless of viral clearance.

Pharmacodynamics of PEG‐IFN α differentiate HIV/HCV coinfected sustained virological responders from nonresponders

Andrew H. Talal, Ruy M. Ribeiro, Kimberly A. Powers, Michael Grace, Constance Cullen, Musaddeq Hussain, Marianthi Markatou, Alan S. Perelson – 20 April 2006 – Pegylated interferon (PEG‐IFN) has become standard therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We evaluated whether PEG‐IFN pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics account for differences in treatment outcome and whether these parameters might be predictors of therapeutic outcome.

Early identification of HCV genotype 1 patients responding to 24 weeks peginterferon α‐2a (40 kd)/ribavirin therapy

Donald M. Jensen, Timothy R. Morgan, Patrick Marcellin, Paul J. Pockros, K. Rajender Reddy, Stephanos J. Hadziyannis, Peter Ferenci, Andrew M. Ackrill, Bernard Willems – 20 April 2006 – Approximately one third of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 patients achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) after 24 weeks of treatment with peginterferon α‐2a (40 kd) plus ribavirin in a randomized, multinational trial.

Bile salt toxicity aggravates cold ischemic injury of bile ducts after liver transplantation in Mdr2+/− mice

Harm Hoekstra, Robert J. Porte, Yinghua Tian, Wolfram Jochum, Bruno Stieger, Wolfgang Moritz, Maarten J.H. Slooff, Rolf Graf, Pierre A. Clavien – 20 April 2006 – Intrahepatic bile duct strictures are a serious complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). We examined the role of endogenous bile salt toxicity in the pathogenesis of bile duct injury after OLT. Livers from wild‐type mice and mice heterozygous for disruption of the multidrug resistance 2 Mdr2 gene (Mdr2+/−) were transplanted into wild‐type recipient mice.

Subscribe to