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Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1894:47-55

Nano Safety Research Group, School of Engineering and Physical Science, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK.

The liver is the principal detoxification center of the body, removing xenobiotics and waste products which could potentially include some nanomaterials (NM). With the ever increasing public and occupational exposure associated with accumulative production of nanomaterials, there is an urgent need to consider the possibility of harmful health consequences of engineered NM exposure. It is understood that following exposure via inhalation, ingestion, or direct intravenous injection a fraction of NMs reach the liver. Read More

Surg Radiol Anat 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, 4, rue Ernest Barblé, 1210, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

Purpose: Our aim is to present a rare case of anatomic variation of the arterial blood supply to the liver because preoperative knowledge of hepatic vascular variations is mandatory in hepatic surgery and liver transplantation.

Methods: We present a case of unusual arterial blood supply to the liver, a right hepatic artery coming from the splenic artery, associated to a classical common hepatic artery and a left hepatic artery from the left gastric artery. Preoperative diagnosis was made using CT-scan and 3D reconstruction. Read More

Eur Radiol 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, 200 W. Arbor Drive #8756, San Diego, CA, 92103-8756, USA.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate proton density fat fraction (PDFF) distribution across liver segments at baseline and (2) compare longitudinal segmental PDFF changes across time points in adult patients undergoing a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) and subsequent bariatric weight loss surgery (WLS).

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of data from 118 morbidly obese adult patients enrolled in a VLCD-WLS program. PDFF was estimated using magnitude-based confounder-corrected chemical-shift-encoded (CSE) MRI in each hepatic segment and lobe at baseline (visit 1), after completion of VLCD (visit 2), and at 1, 3, and 6 months (visits 3-5) following WLS. Read More

Curr Hepatol Rep 2018 7;17(4):301-315. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

1Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Purpose Of Review: The natural history and classification systems of small varices (≤ 5 mm in diameter) in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension are summarized. Studies that assessed the course of and therapeutic intervention for small varices are discussed.

Recent Findings: Current non-invasive methods show suboptimal sensitivity to detect small varices in patients with cirrhosis. Read More

Curr Hepatol Rep 2018 18;17(3):200-208. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

1Division of Gastroenterology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena and University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

Purpose Of Review: To revise experimental and clinical data supporting a less traditional role of anticoagulation for treating portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis.

Recent Findings: Portal hypertension is the main driver of complications such as ascites, variceal hemorrhage, and hepatic encephalopathy, with inflammation as a key component. The traditional view of cirrhosis as a pro-hemorrhagic condition has recently changed, prothrombotic complications being recognized as frequently as the hemorrhagic ones. Read More

Oncol Lett 2018 Dec 9;16(6):7048-7056. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, P.R. China.

To investigate the expression level of microRNA-101-3p (miR-101-3p) and its possible association with progression, prognosis and chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to verify the expression in 327 NSCLC and 42 adjacent normal lung tissues, of which 42 viable tissues were paired with nearby normal lung tissues. Based on the Cox regression model, univariate and multivariate analyses were used to address the factors that had effects on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rate. Read More

Eur Surg 2018 20;50(6):285-298. Epub 2018 Jul 20.

1Department of Visceral, Transplantation and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.

Background: Non-operative management (NOM) of blunt hepatic and splenic injuries has become popular in haemodynamically stable adult patients, despite uncertainty about efficacy, patient selection, and details of management. Up-to-date strategies and practical recommendations are presented.

Methods: A selective literature search was conducted in PubMed and the Cochrane Library (1989-2016). Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2018 Dec 22;33(51):e324. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase deficiency is a very rare liver disease categorized as inborn errors of bile acid synthesis, caused by mutations. As it may cause rapid progression to end-stage liver disease even in early infancy, a high index of suspicion is required to prevent fatal outcomes. We describe the case of a 3-month-old boy with progressive cholestatic hepatitis and severe hepatic fibrosis. Read More

Int J Obes (Lond) 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSUHSC School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.

Background/objectives: NISCH-STAB1 is a newly identified locus correlated to human waist-hip ratio (WHR), which is a risk indicator of developing obesity-associated diabetes. Our previous studies have shown that Nisch mutant male mice increased glucose tolerance in chow-fed conditions. Thus we hypothesized that Nisch mutant mice will have changes in insulin resistance, adipocytes, hepatic steatosis when mice are fed with high-fat diet (HFD). Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Dec 13;8(1):17832. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Radiology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 725, South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.

This study aimed to explore the application of two radiotracers (F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and F-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO)) in monitoring hepatic metastases of human colorectal cancer (CRC). Mouse models of CRC hepatic metastases were established by implantation of the human CRC cell lines LoVo and HT29 by intrasplenic injection. Wound healing and Transwell assays were performed to examine cell migration and invasion abilities. Read More

Nat Commun 2018 Dec 13;9(1):5300. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Metabolism and Diabetes, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.

The liver possesses a high regenerative capacity. Liver regeneration is a compensatory response overcoming disturbances of whole-body homeostasis provoked by organ defects. Here we show that a vagus-macrophage-hepatocyte link regulates acute liver regeneration after liver injury and that this system is critical for promoting survival. Read More

J Lipid Res 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

University of Pittsburgh, United States.

Electrophilic nitro-fatty acids (NO2-FA) showed beneficial signaling actions in preclinical studies, and safety in Phase 1 clinical trials. Detailed understanding of the pharmacokinetics (PK) of NO2-FA is complicated by the capability of electrophilic fatty acids to alkylate thiols reversibly, become esterified in various complex lipids, and the instability of the nitroalkene moiety during enzymatic and base hydrolysis. Herein, we report the mechanism and kinetics of absorption, metabolism, and distribution of the endogenously-detectable and prototypical NO2-FA 10-nitro-oleic acid (10-NO2-OA) in dogs after oral administration. Read More

Burns 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States. Electronic address:

The benefits of oxandrolone in burn patients has led to its accepted use in the burn care community, however details regarding the most common adverse effect, transaminitis, remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of transaminitis in patients with burn injury and identify risk factors associated with the development of transaminitis. This single-center, retrospective risk factor analysis compared burn patients on oxandrolone with and without the development of transaminitis, defined as any aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase value >100mg/dL. Read More

Clin Nutr 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Division of Gastroenterology & Liver Unit, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: The subjective global assessment (SGA) is commonly used to assess nutritional status in patients with cirrhosis. Sarcopenia, a major component of malnutrition, is associated with survival in cirrhosis, and can be objectively diagnosed by computing the skeletal muscle index (SMI) using cross-sectional imaging. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sarcopenia between SGA categories in patients with cirrhosis, and to determine their association with decompensation/mortality. Read More

Cell Immunol 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2252, Australia; Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, NSW 2252, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2252, Australia. Electronic address:

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a frequent curative therapy for numerous haematological malignancies. However, HSCT is limited by the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), with current therapies restricted to general immunosuppression. Activation of the P2X7 receptor by extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) causes inflammation and tissue damage in GVHD. Read More

Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 2018 Dec 14;21(4):223-227. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

Department of Interventional Radiology, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY. Electronic address:

Interventional radiologists provide an essential role in the therapy and management of cancer patients. Computed-tomography (CT) guided percutaneous procedures have enabled interventionalists to treat multiple solid organ malignancies with minimal risk, however, certain lesions may present challenges to physicians due to a difficult approach, or their close proximity to other vital structures. The following presents a brief summary of tips and tricks the interventionalist may use to provide their patients with safe and effective therapy. Read More

Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 2018 Dec 31;21(4):205-222. Epub 2018 Jul 31.

Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157. Electronic address:

The rapidly evolving field of interventional oncology comprises both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for the treatment of various malignancies. With respect to the liver, the most commonly utilized therapeutic procedures include thermal tumor ablation and transarterial embolization. Transarterial embolization techniques include bland embolization, chemoembolization and radioembolization. Read More

Microbiome 2018 Dec 13;6(1):224. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Science, China Agricultural University, No. 2, West Yuanmingyuan Road, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.

Background: Antibiotics are commonly used worldwide, and pesticide is a kind of xenobiotic to which humans are frequently exposed. The interactive impact of antibiotics on pesticides has rarely been studied. We aim to investigate the effects of antibiotics on the pesticide exposure risk and whether gut microbiota altered by antibiotics has an influence on pesticide bioavailability. Read More

Lipids Health Dis 2018 Dec 13;17(1):285. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Genomics and Biomarkers Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, FI-00251, Helsinki, Finland.

Background: The focus of studies on high-density lipoproteins (HDL) has shifted from HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) to HDL function. We recently demonstrated that low USF1 expression in mice and humans associates with high plasma HDL-C and low triglyceride levels, as well as protection against obesity, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis. Here, we studied the impact of USF1 deficiency on HDL functional capacity and macrophage atherogenic functions, including inflammation, cholesterol efflux, and cholesterol accumulation. Read More

Int J Vitam Nutr Res 2018 Dec 14:1-10. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

1 Laboratory of Nutrigenomics, Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Pelotas, UFPel, Pelotas, Brazil.

β-hydroxy-β-methyl butyrate (HMB) is a bioactive metabolite derived from the amino acid leucine, usually applied for muscle mass increase during physical training, as well as for muscle mass maintenance in debilitating chronic diseases. The hypothesis of the present study is that HMB is a safe supplement for muscle mass gain by strength training. Based on this, the objective was to measure changes in body composition, glucose homeostasis and hepatic metabolism of HMB supplemented mice during strength training. Read More

J Oncol Pharm Pract 2018 Dec 14:1078155218818244. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

1 Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, Laboratory of Histology, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.

Context: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms, mainly the C677T, have been implicated as risk factors for several cancers as the acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In addition, a potential effect of such variant on the efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) has been reported.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the impact of the C677T variant of MTHFR on MTX-related toxicity in ALL patients from Tunisia; to provide new insights for a personalized therapy based on the human genotype. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2018 Dec 12;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Applied Toxicology, Lutheran University of Brazil, Canoas, RS 92425⁻900, Brazil.

Phα1β, a purified peptide from the venom of the spider , and its recombinant form CTK 01512-2 are voltage-dependent calcium channel (Ca) blockers of types N, R, /Q, and L with a preference for type N. These peptides show analgesic action in different pain models in rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute intrathecal toxicity of the native and recombinant Phα1β toxin in Wistar rats. Read More

J Pers Med 2018 Dec 11;8(4). Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Institute of Pharmacology, Center of Drug Absorption and Transport (C_DAT), University Medicine Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany.

The organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1, SLC22A1) is strongly expressed in the human liver and facilitates the hepatic uptake of drugs such as morphine, metformin, tropisetron, sumatriptan and fenoterol and of endogenous substances such as thiamine. OCT1 expression is inter-individually highly variable. Here, we analyzed SNPs in the promoter concerning their potential contribution to the variability in OCT1 expression. Read More

Mar Drugs 2018 Dec 9;16(12). Epub 2018 Dec 9.

College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.

Effects of marine microalga 55% ethanol extract (CPE55) on lipid metabolism, gut microbiota and regulation mechanism in high fat diet-fed induced hyperlipidaemia rats were investigated. Structure characterizations of major compounds in CPE55 were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). The compositions of gut microbiota in rats were analyzed by high-throughput next-generation 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Read More

Nutrients 2018 Dec 10;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, "Unidad Casco de Santo Tomas". Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón s/n, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The agents capable of causing damage to genetic material are known as genotoxins and, according to their mode of action, are classified into mutagens, carcinogens, or teratogens. Genotoxins are also involved in the pathogenesis of several chronic degenerative diseases, including hepatic, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular disorders; diabetes; arthritis; cancer; chronic inflammation; and ageing. Read More

J Fungi (Basel) 2018 Dec 10;4(4). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Heraklion, P.O. Box 1352, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Pre-existing liver disease in patients with invasive fungal infections further complicates their management. Altered pharmacokinetics and tolerance issues of antifungal drugs are important concerns. Adjustment of the dosage of antifungal agents in these cases can be challenging given that current evidence to guide decision-making is limited. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Dec 10;19(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

General Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano 20122, Italy.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) defines a wide pathological spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which may predispose to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It represents the leading cause of hepatic damage worldwide. Diagnosis of NASH still requires liver biopsy but due to the high prevalence of NAFLD, this procedure, which is invasive, is not practicable for mass screening. Read More

J Clin Med 2018 Dec 7;7(12). Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Centro de Estudios Para la Medición de la Actividad Física CEMA, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia.

This study had two main objectives: To examine the association between body fat distribution and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fat content, and to determine whether the relationship between NAFLD and regional body fat distribution, with respect to liver fat content in youths with excess adiposity, is independent of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and a healthy diet. Liver fat content (controlled attenuation parameter (CAP)), body fat distribution (body mass index (BMI) -score, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, fat mass/height, body fat percentage, total fat mass, android-to-gynoid fat mass ratio, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and lean mass index, determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)), CRF (20-m shuttle-run test), and healthy diet (adherence to the Mediterranean diet by KIDMED questionnaire) were measured in 126 adolescents (66% girls) aged between 11 and 17 years. Participants were assigned to two groups according to the presence or absence of hepatic steatosis (CAP values ≥225 dB/m or <225 dB/m of liver fat, respectively). Read More

Nutrients 2018 Dec 7;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Graduate Institute of Sports Science, National Taiwan Sports University, Taoyuan City 33301, Taiwan.

Essence of chicken is a popular Asian nutritional supplement that is often taken to improve metabolism and general health. Although used as a traditional remedy for combating fatigue and general health, there has been few studies investigating the ergogenic properties of chicken essence and its associated mechanism. We conducted a study to investigate the anti-fatigue and anti-oxidant properties of essence of chicken (EC) after exercise. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13532

Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School.

Rationale: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe and effective local treatment modality with a low complication rate and is commonly used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The clinical outcome of RFA may be closely related to the location, size, and shape of index tumors, and major complications, including hemorrhage, liver abscess, infarction, visceral organ perforation, hemothorax, pneumothorax, tumoral seeding, and hepatic failure. Cardiac tamponade is a rare and serious life-threatening complication associated with RFA. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13525

Department of Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

The objectives of this systematic review and pooled analysis were to examine long-term survival, morbidity, and mortality following thermal ablation of gastric cancer hepatic metastases and to identify prognostic factors that improve survival.Patients with hepatic metastases from gastric cancer are traditionally treated with palliative chemotherapy. Surgical resection is an alternative treatment of hepatic metastases. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13482

Acupuncture and massage department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.

Background: Characterized by diffuse hepatic fibrosis and nodule formation, hepatitis B cirrhosis (HBC), an important result of chronic hepatitis B development, mainly contains compensated and decompensated stage. Compensated cirrhosis can further develop into decompensated stage and hepatocellular carcinoma with serious complications and high mortality. Antiviral therapy using interferon (IFN) or nucleos(t)ide analogs (NUCs) is essential for improving the prognosis of the disease but IFN has large side effects while NUCs often develop drug resistance. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13478

School of Graduates, Tianjin Medical University.

Background: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a potentially severe adverse drug reaction especially in susceptible patients. But there are no sensitive or specific parameters to detecting DILI. The specific expression of miR-122 in the liver has been a hotspot in the evaluation of hepatic toxicity due to its high stability and sensitivity. Read More

Nucleic Acids Res 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapies are proving to be efficient for treating liver-associated disorders. However, extra-hepatic delivery remains challenging, limiting therapeutic siRNA utility. We synthesized a panel of fifteen lipid-conjugated siRNAs and systematically evaluated the impact of conjugate on siRNA tissue distribution and efficacy. Read More

Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China.

Propamocarb (PM) is a pesticide that is widely used to protect cucumbers and other plants from downy mildew. Recently, some studies indicated that PM exposure had potential toxic effects in animals. In this study, adult male zebrafish were exposed to 100 and 1000 μg/l PM for 7 days to assess its effects on metabolism and the gut microbiota. Read More

Breast 2018 Dec 5;43:113-119. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Oncology, Herlev & Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark.

Objectives: Hepatic arterial treatment (HAT) for liver metastases in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has only been investigated in few studies.

Materials And Methods: Two phase II trials were initiated simultaneously to evaluate capecitabine in combination with oxaliplatin in patients with MBC and liver metastases. These two trials are reported together. Read More

Thromb Res 2018 Dec 6;174:1-4. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Division of Vascular Surgery, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China. Electronic address:

Food Chem Toxicol 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 440-746, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

An overdose of acetaminophen (APAP) causes liver injury through formation of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine, which overproduces reactive oxygen species (ROS). Autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis and is regulated by generation of ROS. Pterostilbene (PTE) has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA; Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address:

Hexokinase domain containing 1, a recently discovered putative fifth hexokinase, is hypothesized to play key roles in glucose metabolism. Specifically, during pregnancy in a recent genome wide association study (GWAS), a strong correlation between HKDC1 and 2-h plasma glucose in pregnant women from different ethnic backgrounds was shown. Our earlier work also reported diminished glucose tolerance during pregnancy in our whole body HKDC1 heterozygous mice. Read More

Chem Biol Interact 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

College of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541004, PR China. Electronic address:

Liver fibrosis is a pathological wound-healing response caused by chronic liver damage due to a virus, autoimmune disorder, or drugs. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play an essential role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Methyl ferulic acid (MFA), a biologically active monomer, has a protective effect on liver injury. Read More

PLoS One 2018 13;13(12):e0209450. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone. Read More

Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Surgery and Institute for Military Medicine, University of Cincinnati, United States.

Liver recovery after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is characterized by clearance of dead tissue and its replacement with functional liver parenchyma. Previous reports have observed fibrosis after liver I/R. In order to determine if liver fibrosis after I/R was a pathologic consequence of the injury response, we assessed the development of liver fibrosis after I/R and its impact on subsequent insult. Read More

Mol Pharm 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Rapeseed protein hydrolysates have recently shown in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, scant data exist about their in vivo activities. Here we report that the peptide DHNNPQIR (hereinafter referred to as RAP-8), a bioactive peptide originated from rapeseed protein, exhibits excellent in vivo efficacy in mouse models of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatic fibrosis. Read More

J Invest Surg 2018 Dec 13:1-9. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

a Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, Southwest Hospital , Army Medical University , Chongqing , China.

Background: Stone recurrence is a major problem limiting the effects of surgical treatment for hepatolithiasis. It was showed that hyperplasia of perihilar liver may compress the hepatic portal and cause deficient bile flow because of compressed hilar bile duct, thereby leading to the formation of bile stasis and precipitating stone recurrence. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of perihilar hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis with compressed hilar bile duct induced by perihilar hyperplasia of liver. Read More

J Gastrointest Surg 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No.17 Panjiayuannanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China.

Background: This study assessed the clinical value of regional ischemic preconditioning (RIP) and the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in the protective mechanism of RIP in cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing hepatectomy.

Methods: Liver resection was performed with hemi-hepatic vascular inflow occlusion (HHV) under RIP (RIP group) or with HHV alone (HHV group). Clinical data, surgical outcomes, and the levels of phosphorylated MAPKs before occlusion and 30 min after reperfusion were estimated. Read More

Eur Radiol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Objective: To assess whether quantitative assessment of symptom reduction is a better outcome parameter than cyst volume reduction for treatment success in patients treated by aspiration sclerotherapy.

Methods: We included patients with symptomatic, large (> 5 cm), hepatic cysts from a randomized controlled trial (NCT02048319). At baseline and 6 months after treatment, symptoms were assessed with the polycystic liver disease questionnaire (PLD-Q) and we measured cyst volume using ultrasonography. Read More

Oncol Rep 2018 Oct 29. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Surgical Oncology, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, and current treatments exhibit limited efficacy against advanced HCC. The majority of cancer-related deaths are caused by metastasis from the primary tumor, which indicates the importance of identifying clinical biomarkers for predicting metastasis and indicating prognosis. Patient-derived cells (PDCs) may be effective models for biomarker identification. Read More

Front Pediatr 2018 27;6:356. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China.

With the widespread application of regional low-flow perfusion (RLFP), development of surgical techniques, and shortened circulatory arrest time, deep hypothermia is indispensable for organ protection. Clinicians have begun to increase the temperature to reduce hypothermia-related adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of elevated temperatures during aortic arch surgery with lower body circulatory arrest (LBCA) combined with RLFP. Read More

Medchemcomm 2018 Nov 14;9(11):1831-1842. Epub 2018 Sep 14.

Therapeutics Platform , Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard , Cambridge , MA02142 , USA . Email: ; Tel: +1 617 714 7377.

Increased expression of the Tribbles pseudokinase 1 gene () is associated with lower plasma levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, higher levels of HDL cholesterol and decreased risk of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. We identified a class of tricyclic glycal core-based compounds that upregulate expression in human HepG2 cells and phenocopy the effects of genetic overexpression as they inhibit expression of triglyceride synthesis genes and ApoB secretion in cells. In addition to predicted effects related to downregulation of VLDL assembly and secretion these compounds also have unexpected effects as they upregulate expression of LDLR and stimulate LDL uptake. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2018 Dec 9;16(6):5227-5235. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China.

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare clinical syndrome caused by the obstruction of hepatic venous outflow. In theory, hepatic congestion and hypoxia induce pathological damage and changes in the liver. However, at present, laboratory evidence supporting this theory is lacking. Read More