γ‐Glutamyltranspeptidase–deficient knockout mice as a model to study the relationship between glutathione status, mitochondrial function, and cellular function

Yvonne Will, Kay A. Fischer, Robert A. Horton, Rhonda S. Kaetzel, Marda K. Brown, Olaf Hedstrom, Michael W. Lieberman, Donald J. Reed – 30 December 2003 – γ‐Glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT)‐deficient mice (GGT−/−) display chronic glutathione (GSH) deficiency, growth retardation, and die at a young age (<20 weeks). Using livers from these mice, we investigated the relationship between GSH content, especially mitochondrial, and mitochondrial and cellular function.

Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of interferon Alfa2a with and without amantadine as initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C

Stefan Zeuzem, Gerlinde Teuber, Uta Naumann, Thomas Berg, Jochen Raedle, Susanne Hartmann, Uwe Hopf – 30 December 2003 – Although the antiviral effects of amantadine sulphate (1‐aminoadamantan sulphate) have not been characterized for the hepatitis C virus (HCV), previous pilot studies have suggested promising results in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy, safety, and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) of interferon alfa (IFN‐α) alone or in combination with oral amantadine for treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatocyte growth factor promotes cell survival from Fas‐mediated cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via Akt activation and Fas‐death–inducing signaling complex suppression

Atsushi Suzuki, Midori Hayashida, Hirokazu Kawano, Kazushi Sugimoto, Takeshi Nakano, Katsuya Shiraki – 30 December 2003 – The Akt/PI‐3 kinase pathway is a system essential for cell survival. In the current study, we showed that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) activates the Akt/PI‐3 kinase pathway to suppress Fas‐mediated cell death in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; 3 lines; SK‐Hep1, HLE, and Chang Liver cell lines), hepatoblastoma (1 line; HepG2), and embryonic hepatocyte (1 line; WRL). Five tested cell lines showed the resistance to Fas‐mediated cell death by the pretreatment of HGF.

Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection After Withdrawal of Lamivudine Therapy

Pieter Honkoop, Robert A. de Man, Hubert G.M. Niesters, Pieter E. Zondervan, Solko W. Schalm – 30 December 2003 – Acute exacerbations of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection occur after withdrawal of lamivudine therapy in approximately 16% of patients and are considered of little clinical significance. We observed “lamivudine withdrawal hepatitis” accompanied by jaundice and incipient liver failure, but also followed by complete recovery and viral clearance.

Cytokine profile of liver‐ and blood‐derived nonspecific T cells after liver transplantation: T helper cells type 1/0 lymphokines dominate in recurrent hepatitis C virus infection and rejection

C. A. Schirren, M.‐C. Jung, T. Worzfeld, M. Mamin, G. B. Baretton, N. H. Gruener, J. T. Gerlach, H. M. Diepolder, R. Zachoval, G. R. Pape – 30 December 2003 – Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a successful treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐associated end‐stage liver disease worldwide. T lymphocytes and their cytokines are believed to have a pivotal role in the defense against HCV and in allograft rejection.

Liver transplantation

Robert L. Carithers – 30 December 2003 – Liver transplantation has revolutionized the care of patients with end‐stage liver disease. Liver transplantation is indicated for acute or chronic liver failure from any cause. Because there are no randomized controlled trials of liver transplantation versus no therapy, the efficacy of this surgery is best assessed by carefully comparing postoperative survival with the known natural history of the disease in question.

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