Terlipressin therapy with and without albumin for patients with hepatorenal syndrome: Results of a prospective, nonrandomized study

Rolando Ortega, Pere Ginès, Juan Uriz, Andrés Cárdenas, Blas Calahorra, Dara De Las Heras, Mónica Guevara, Ramón Bataller, Wladimiro Jiménez, Vicente Arroyo, Juan Rodés – 30 December 2003 – Vasopressin analogues associated with albumin improve renal function in hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). The current study was aimed at assessing the efficacy of the treatment, predictive factors of response, recurrence of HRS, and survival after therapy.

Altered expression of E‐cadherin in hepatocellular carcinoma: Correlations with genetic alterations, β‐catenin expression, and clinical features

Yu Wei, Jeanne Tran Van Nhieu, Sylvie Prigent, Petcharin Srivatanakul, Pierre Tiollais, Marie‐Annick Buendia – 30 December 2003 – E‐cadherin is a key cell adhesion protein implicated as a tumor/invasion suppressor in human carcinomas and a binding partner of β‐catenin, which plays a critical role in Wnt signaling and in tumorigenesis. Here we report genetic and expression studies of E‐cadherin and β‐catenin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Apoptosis of human hepatic myofibroblasts promotes activation of matrix metalloproteinase‐2

Anne‐Marie Preaux, Marie‐Pia D'Ortho, Marie‐Pierre Bralet, Yannick Laperche, Philippe Mavier – 30 December 2003 – Liver fibrosis is potentially reversible after removal of the injurious agent. Fibrosis resolution is characterized by apoptosis of hepatic myofibroblasts and degradation of extracellular matrix components. Matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) is involved in matrix remodeling. In the liver, it is synthesized by myofibroblasts, secreted as a proenzyme, and activated by membrane type‐MMPs (MT‐MMP) such as MT1‐MMP.

Reconstitution of liver mass via cellular hypertrophy in the rat

Peter Nagy, Tadahisa Teramoto, Valentina M. Factor, Aranzazu Sanchez, Janos Schnur, Sandor Paku, Snorri S. Thorgeirsson – 30 December 2003 – The liver has an extremely effective regenerative capacity. When 70% of a rat liver is removed by surgery, the liver mass regrows in 7 to 10 days by the compensatory hyperplasia of the remnant part. In case of damage to the surviving hepatocytes, the facultative stem‐cell compartment is activated and the liver regenerates by means of oval‐cell proliferation/differentiation.

Human and rat hepatic stellate cells express neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors

David Cassiman, Carl Denef, Valeer J. Desmet, Tania Roskams – 30 December 2003 – The expression of neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors in non‐neural tissue is related to tissue remodeling, differentiation, proliferation and migration of target cells. The literature yields contradictory results on neurotrophin and neurotrophin receptor expression in the liver.

Furosemide‐induced natriuresis as a test to identify cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites

Laurent Spahr, Jean‐Pierre Villeneuve, Hanh Khiem Tran, Gilles Pomier‐Layrargues – 30 December 2003 – The diagnosis of refractory ascites in cirrhotic patients carries a poor prognosis and liver transplantation should always be considered in this situation. Identification of patients who will not respond to diuretic therapy usually requires several weeks of observation during which a trial of diuretics is instituted using stepwise increases in dosage in order to classify ascites as refractory.

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