Expression of e‐cadherin, α‐catenin, β‐catenin, and CD44 (standard and variant isoforms) in human cholangiocarcinoma: An immunohistochemical study

Keigo Ashida, Tadashi Terada, Yukisato Kitamura, Nobuaki Kaibara – 30 December 2003 – Immunolocalization of E‐cadherin (E‐cad), α‐catenin, β‐catenin, and CD44 has rarely been investigated in human cholangiocarcinoma (CC).

Variant liver estrogen receptor transcripts already occur at an early stage of chronic liver disease

Erica Villa, Aisha Dugani, Anna Moles, Lorenzo Camellini, Antonella Grottola, Paola Buttafoco, Annalisa Merighi, Ilva Ferretti, Patrizia Esposito, Lucia Miglioli, Alberto Bagni, Roberto Troisi, Bernard De Hemptinne, Marlene Praet, Francesco Callea, Federico Manenti – 30 December 2003 – Variant estrogen receptors may be found in hepatocellular carcinoma and may influence its natural history.

Cytomegalovirus infection is associated with increased inflammation and severe bile duct damage in rat liver allografts

Timi Martelius, Leena Krogerus, Krister Höckerstedt, Cathrien Bruggeman, Irmeli Lautenschlager – 30 December 2003 – It has been suggested that cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is involved in allograft rejection. In liver transplantation, it has been suggested that CMV is associated with the development of vanishing bile duct syndrome (VBDS), and persistent CMV has been found in liver grafts that develop chronic rejection. In this experimental study, the effect of rat CMV (RCMV) infection on intragraft changes was investigated in a rat model of acute liver allograft rejection.

(Latent) transforming growth factor β in liver parenchymal cells, its injury‐dependent release, and paracrine effects on rat hepatic stellate cells

Sylke Roth, Kristin Michel, Axel M. Gressner – 30 December 2003 – Cultured parenchymal liver cells (PC) were recently recognized to contain (latent) transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β) while the expression of TGF‐β mRNA remains controversial. This study was designed to analyze PC in different microenvironments (liver in situ, highly purified, isolated, and cultured PC) regarding the qualitative and quantitative content of mature and latent TGF‐β protein (immunostainings, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], and enzyme‐labeled fluorescence [ELF] technique).

The surface of rat hepatocytes can transfer iron from stable chelates to external acceptors

Barbara Scheiber, Hans Goldenberg – 30 December 2003 – The chelator diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA) forms a stable complex with iron that does not donate iron to transferrin under physiological conditions, i.e., pH above 7 and isotonic milieu. It does, however, deliver iron to hepatocytes. This uptake is initiated by a mobilization of the metal from the complex by the cell surface. When an external chelator is added simultaneously, it can bind the iron and inhibit its accumulation by the cells.

Increased renal expression of nitric oxide synthase type III in cirrhotic rats with ascites

Marta Bosch‐Marcé, Manuel Morales‐Ruiz, Wladimiro Jiménez, Nuria Bordas, Manuel Solé, Josefa Ros, Ramón Deulofeu, Vicente Arroyo, Francisca Rivera, Juan Rodés – 30 December 2003 – This article assesses the circulating levels of l‐arginine, the renal response to l‐arginine infusion, and the renal expression of inducible and constitutive nitric oxide synthase (NOS II and NOS III, respectively) in cirrhotic rats with ascites.

Decreased muscle strength in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis in relation to nutritional status, alcohol abstinence, liver function, and neuropathy

Henning Andersen, Mette Borre, Johannes Jakobsen, Per Heden Andersen, Hendrik Vilstrup – 30 December 2003 – To study motor function quantitatively in alcoholic liver cirrhosis muscle strength, liver function, peripheral nerve function, and nutrition were assessed in 24 patients. Isokinetic strength of flexion and extension at elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle and of shoulder abduction and adduction was evaluated and compared with findings in 24 matched healthy subjects. Degree of liver disease was assessed with the Child‐Pugh score and the galactose elimination capacity (GEC).

Tumor necrosis factor and interleukin‐6 in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis: Relationship with the development of renal impairment and mortality

Miguel Navasa, Antonio Follo, Xavier Filella, Wladimiro Jiménez, Anna Francitorra, Ramón Planas, Antoni Rimola, Vicente Arroyo, Joan Rodés – 30 December 2003 – Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is associated with an important production of inflammatory mediators. However, it is unknown whether there is a relationship between the abdominal production of these mediators and the development of renal impairment, one of the most important prognostic parameters in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Effect of antioxidants, resveratrol, quercetin, and N‐acetylcysteine, on the functions of cultured rat hepatic stellate cells and kupffer cells

Norifumi Kawada, Shuichi Seki, Masayasu Inoue, Tetsuo Kuroki – 30 December 2003 – Effects of antioxidants, resveratrol, quercetin, and N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) on the functions of cultured rat hepatic stellate cells and Kupffer cells were studied. These compounds dose‐dependently suppressed serum‐dependent proliferation of stellate cells as determined by [3H]thymidine and 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine uptake. Expression of smooth muscle α‐actin was suppressed by a high dose of resveratrol and quercetin.

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