Short‐ and long‐term outcome of severe alcohol‐induced hepatitis treated with steroids or enteral nutrition: A multicenter randomized trial

Eduard Cabré, Pilar Rodríguez‐Iglesias, Joan Caballería, Joan C. Quer, José L. Sánchez‐Lombraña, Albert Parés, Michel Papo, Ramon Planas, Miquel A. Gassull – 30 December 2003 – Steroids are recommended in severe alcohol‐induced hepatitis, but some data suggest that artificial nutrition could also be effective. We conducted a randomized trial comparing the short‐ and long‐term effects of total enteral nutrition or steroids in these patients.

Isosorbide mononitrate and propranolol compared with propranolol alone for the prevention of variceal rebleeding

Jérôme Gournay, Claude Masliah, Thierry Martin, Daniel Perrin, Jean‐Paul Galmiche – 30 December 2003 – The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of isosorbide‐5‐mononitrate (IM) as an adjunct to propranolol (PR) in the prevention of variceal rebleeding. Ninety‐five cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding were randomly assigned to treatment with PR + IM (46 patients) or PR alone (49 patients). Eighteen patients in the PR + IM group and 28 in the PR group had rebleeding during the 2 years after randomization.

Mimicry peptides of human PDC‐E2 163‐176 peptide, the immunodominant T‐cell epitope of primary biliary cirrhosis

Shinji Shimoda, Minoru Nakamura, Hirohisa Shigematsu, Hironori Tanimoto, Toshihumi Gushima, M. Eric Gershwin, Hiromi Ishibashi – 30 December 2003 – The human PDC‐E2 163‐176 peptide (GDLLAEIETDKATI) is an immunodominant autoreactive T‐cell epitope in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), restricted by HLA DRB4*0101. We have previously reported that the ExDK sequence is essential for recognition of this epitope and identified 1 mimicry peptide, Escherichia coli PDC‐E2 peptide (EQSLITVEGDKASM), which can activate human PDC‐E2 163‐176 peptide‐reactive T‐cell clones.

Mutations within the E2 and NS5A protein in patients infected with hepatitis C virus type 3a and correlation with treatment response

Christoph Sarrazin, Ilka Kornetzky, Brigitte Rüster, Jung‐Hun Lee, Bernd Kronenberger, Katharina Bruch, W. Kurt Roth, Stefan Zeuzem – 30 December 2003 – Defined regions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope 2 (E2), PePHD, and nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein (PKR‐binding domain) have been shown to interact with interferon alfa (IFN‐α)–inducible double‐stranded RNA‐activated protein kinase (PKR) in vitro, suggesting a possible mechanism of HCV to evade antiviral effects of IFN‐α.

Adult living donor transplants‐which portion of the liver to use?

Abhi Humar – 30 December 2003 – Hypothesis: Few studies have investigated the results of research focused on living donor adult liver transplantation. Different characteristics between right‐ and left‐lobe grafts have not yet been clarified in living‐donor adult liver transplantation. Left‐lobe grafts remain an important option, even in adult recipients. Setting: A single liver transplant center with a long history of hepatic resection. Patients: Forty‐five donors received left‐lobe (n = 39) and right‐lobe (n = 6) grafts.

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