Cost‐minimization analysis of MRC versus ERCP for the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis

Jayant A. Talwalkar, Paul Angulo, C. Daniel Johnson, Bret T. Petersen, Keith D. Lindor – 30 June 2004 – Investigations examining the use of magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) for the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) have described comparable accuracy when compared to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The effectiveness of MRC based on overall cost, however, remains unknown. Our aim was to determine the average cost per correct diagnosis using MRC or ERCP as the initial testing strategy for the diagnosis of PSC.

Adiponectin protects LPS‐induced liver injury through modulation of TNF‐α in KK‐Ay obese mice

Takayuki Masaki, Seiichi Chiba, Hiroshi Tatsukawa, Tohru Yasuda, Hitoshi Noguchi, Masataka Seike, Hironobu Yoshimatsu – 30 June 2004 – Adiponectin, an adipocytokine, has been identified in adipose tissue, and its receptors are widely distributed in many tissues, including the liver. The present study was performed to clarify the role of adiponectin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced liver injury using KK‐Ay obese mice. We analyzed the effects of adiponectin pretreatment on liver injury induced by D‐galactosamine/LPS (GalN/LPS) in KK‐Ay obese mice.

A prospective controlled study of interferon‐based therapy of chronic hepatitis C in patients on methadone maintenance

Stefan Mauss, Florian Berger, Joerg Goelz, Bernhard Jacob, Günther Schmutz – 30 June 2004 – We examined the feasibility of hepatitis C treatment in patients on opioid maintenance. One hundred patients with chronic hepatitis C, 50 on methadone maintenance, and 50 with no intravenous drug use or opioid maintenance for at least 5 years were prospectively matched for sex, age, hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype and HCV RNA. The primary end point was undetectable HCV RNA at 24 weeks posttreatment.

Vitamin K2 inhibits the growth and invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via protein kinase A activation

Motoyuki Otsuka, Naoya Kato, Run‐Xuan Shao, Yujin Hoshida, Hideaki Ijichi, Yukihiro Koike, Hiroyoshi Taniguchi, Masaru Moriyama, Yasushi Shiratori, Takao Kawabe, Masao Omata – 30 June 2004 – Heatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common human malignancy. Its high mortality rate is mainly a result of high intrahepatic recurrence and portal venous invasion (PVI). We previously reported that the development of PVI is related to levels of des‐gamma‐carboxy prothrombin (DCP), a serum protein that increases at a notably higher rate in patients with HCC.

Liposome‐mediated extracellular superoxide dismutase gene delivery protects against acute liver injury in mice

Jian Wu, Li Liu, Roy D. Yen, Andreea Catana, Michael H. Nantz, Mark A. Zern – 30 June 2004 – Our previous study demonstrated that polycationic liposomes are highly stable in the bloodstream and represent an effective agent for liver gene delivery. We report here that liposome‐mediated extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC‐SOD) gene delivery successfully prevented acute liver injury in mice.

Usefulness of dried blood samples for quantification and molecular characterization of HBV‐DNA

Rosendo Jardi, Francisco Rodriguez‐Frias, Maria Buti, Melanie Schaper, Auristela Valdes, Mariano Martinez, Rafael Esteban, Jaime Guardia – 30 June 2004 – The purpose of this study was to assess the use of dried blood spot (DBS) samples for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA quantification, HBV genotyping, and detection of G1896A precore mutants and variants in the YMDD polymerase motif.

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