Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology, Vascular Disease, Nephrology and Clinical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, Germany.

Context: The effect of a lifestyle intervention to reduce liver fat content in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in humans is influenced by genetics. We hypothesized that the functionally active amino acid exchange in humans Gly388Arg (mouse homologue: Gly385Arg) in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), which regulates bile acid, lipid and glucose metabolism, may determine the dynamics of hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin sensitivity in humans. Mechanisms of this substitution were studied in mice under normal chow and high-fat diet. Read More

Am J Clin Nutr 2018 Dec;108(6):1264-1274

Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Background: Whole-grain wheat (WGW) is described as nutritionally superior to refined wheat (RW) and thus advocated as the healthy choice, although evidence from intervention studies is often inconsistent. The liver, as the central organ in energy metabolism, might be an important target organ for WGW interventions.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential benefits of WGW consumption compared with RW consumption on liver health and associated parameters. Read More

Am J Clin Nutr 2018 Dec;108(6):1162-1163

Liver Care Network, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA.

Ann Nutr Metab 2018 Dec 12;74(1):44-52. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,

Background/aims: Some adipokines, such as adiponectin and leptin, have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), while the association of adipsin and visfatin with NAFLD still remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association of circulating adipsin, visfatin, and adiponectin with NAFLD in Chinese adults.

Methods: We recruited a total of 211 eligible subjects, including 100 NAFLD cases and 111 age and sex frequency-matched controls. Read More

Cell Rep 2018 Dec;25(11):3099-3109.e3

Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore. Electronic address:

Inflammation-induced disappearance of tissue-resident macrophages represents a key pathogen defense mechanism. Using a model of systemic blood-stage malaria, we studied the dynamics of tissue-resident macrophages in multiple organs to determine how they are depleted and refilled during the course of disease. We show that Plasmodium infection results in a transient loss of embryonically established resident macrophages prior to the parasitemia peak. Read More

Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2018 Dec 12:1-9. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

a Division of Pediatric Nephrology , University Childrens Hospital, Universitatsklinikum Bonn , Bonn , Germany.

Introduction: Currently, three types of primary hyperoxaluria (PH I-III) are known, all based on different gene-mutations affecting the glyoxylate metabolism in the liver. Disease hallmark is an increased endogenous oxalate production and thus massively elevated urinary excretion of oxalate and other type-specific metabolites. Hyperoxaluria induces the formation of calcium-oxalate kidney stones and/or nephrocalcinosis. Read More

FASEB J 2018 Dec 12:fj201802015R. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Levels of augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR), a multifunctional protein, are reduced in steatohepatitis. ALR depletion from ALR /Alb-Cre [ALR-L-knockout (KO)] mouse causes robust steatosis and apoptosis of hepatocytes, and pericellular fibrosis between 1 and 2 wk postbirth. Steatosis regresses by 4 wk upon reappearance of ALR-expressing hepatocytes. Read More

J Med Chem 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

The F9/Yde/Fml pilus, tipped with the FmlH adhesin, has been shown to provide Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) a fitness advantage in urinary tract infections (UTIs). Here, we used X-ray structure guided design to optimize our previously described ortho-biphenyl Gal and GalNAc FmlH antagonists such as compound 1, by replacing the carboxylate with a sulfonamide as in 50. Other groups which can accept H-bonds were also tolerated. Read More

PLoS One 2018 12;13(12):e0208903. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: The role of noninvasive liver fibrosis markers which were developed to evaluate the severity of chronic liver disease remains unclear in cirrhosis.

Aims: To evaluate the correlation between noninvasive markers and hemodynamic parameters and their prognostic performance in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: A total of 242 cirrhotic patients undergoing hemodynamic study were analyzed. Read More

PLoS One 2018 12;13(12):e0208757. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States of America.

Premature baboons exhibit peripheral insulin resistance and impaired insulin signaling. 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation improves insulin sensitivity by enhancing glucose uptake (via increased glucose transporter type 4 [GLUT4] translocation and activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK]/ atypical protein kinase C [aPKC] pathway), and increasing fatty acid oxidation (via inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 [ACC]), while downregulating gluconeogenesis (via induction of small heterodimer partner [SHP] and subsequent downregulation of the gluconeogenic enzymes: phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase [PEPCK], glucose 6-phosphatase [G6PASE], fructose- 1,6-bisphosphatase 1 [FBP1], and forkhead box protein 1 [FOXO1]). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether pharmacologic activation of AMPK with AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboximide riboside) administration improves peripheral insulin sensitivity in preterm baboons. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018 Dec 12;12(12):e0006977. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, United States of America.

Background: The study of Onchocerca volvulus has been limited by its host range, with only humans and non-human primates shown to be susceptible to the full life cycle infection. Small animal models that support the development of adult parasites have not been identified.

Methodology/principal Findings: We hypothesized that highly immunodeficient NSG mice would support the survival and maturation of O. Read More

Rev Gastroenterol Peru 2018 Jul-Sep;38(3):285-288

Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú.

Ischemic Hepatitis is an uncommon entity in daily clinical practice with a prevalence of 0.16 to 0.5% among patients admitted to a critical care unit, associated with an approximate 60% mortality rate. Read More

Rev Gastroenterol Peru 2018 Jul-Sep;38(3):242-247

Departamento de Trasplantes, Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara. Lima, Perú.

Introduction: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a serious complication of liver disease, which is characterized by the presence of intrapulmonary vasodilation and progressive hypoxemia. Liver transplantation is the only effective treatment.

Objective: To show our results of patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome undergoing liver transplantation. Read More

Rev Gastroenterol Peru 2018 Jul-Sep;38(3):234-241

Departamento de Trasplante de órganos, Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen. Lima, Perú.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a neoplasm with significant incidence and prevalence in the world. In large percentage it originates from a cirrhotic liver. Liver transplantation under special conditions is effective in the simultaneous treatment of both conditions. Read More

Rev Gastroenterol Peru 2018 Jul-Sep;38(3):227

Revista de Gastroenterología del Perú. Lima, Perú; Hospital Central de la Fuerza Aérea del Perú. Lima, Perú.

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Institute of Gastroenterology, Nutrition, and Liver Disease, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva, Israel.

Objectives: Recommendations for diagnosing and treating eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) are evolving; however, information on real world clinical practice is lacking. To assess the practices of pediatric gastroenterologists diagnosing and treating EoE and to identify the triggering allergens in European children.

Methods: Retrospective anonymized data were collected from 26 European pediatric gastroenterology centers in 13 countries. Read More

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Faculty of Medicine, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.

Objectives: Evidence suggests that lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D) is often underdiagnosed because symptoms may be nonspecific. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of LAL-D in children with unexplained liver disease and to identify demographic and clinical features with a prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study.

Methods: Patients (aged 3 months-18 years) who had unexplained transaminase elevation, unexplained hepatomegaly or hepatosplenomegaly, obesity-unrelated liver steatosis, biopsy-proven cryptogenic fibrosis and cirrhosis, or liver transplantation for cryptogenic cirrhosis were enrolled. Read More

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Children's Nutrition and Research Center, Houston, TX.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is becoming part of the treatment algorithms against recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (rCDI) both in adult and pediatric gastroenterology practice. With our increasing recognition of the critical role the microbiome plays in human health and disease, FMT is also being considered as a potential therapy for other disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis), graft versus host disease, neuropsychiatric diseases, and metabolic syndrome. Controlled trials with FMT for rCDI have not been performed in children, and numerous clinical and regulatory considerations have to be considered when using this untraditional therapy. Read More

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Serbia.

To date, many questions about the extent and cause of pharmacokinetic variability of even the most widely studied and prescribed β1-adrenergic receptor blockers, such as metoprolol and bisoprolol, remain unanswered. Given that there are still no published population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) analyses of bisoprolol in routinely treated patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the aim of this study was to determine its PK variability in 71 Serbian patients with ACS. PopPK analysis was carried out using a non-linear mixed effects model (NONMEM), version 7. Read More

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

College of Biomedical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China.

Disorders of lipid metabolism and inflammation play an important role in atherosclerosis. LongShengZhi capsule (LSZ), a Chinese herbal medicine, has been used for treatment of patients with vascular diseases for many years. Herein, we determined the effect of LSZ on the progression of established atherosclerotic lesions in apoE deficient (apoE) mice. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2019 Jan;44(1):e6-e12

From the Departments of Nuclear Medicine, and.

Purpose: We investigated the prognostic value of F-FDG uptake in the supraclavicular lymph node (SCLN) on PET/CT in breast cancer patients with clinical ipsilateral SCLN metastasis (cN3c).

Methods: Fifty-five female patients with initial F-FDG PET/CT were treated with curative intent. For semiquantitative analysis, the SUVmax of the primary tumor, axillary lymph node, and SCLN were normalized by the SUVmean of the liver (defined as SUVR-tumor, SUVR-axillary lymph node, and SUVR-SCLN, respectively). Read More

Magy Seb 2018 Dec;71(4):163-169

Department of Organ Fabrication, Keio University School of Medicine 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.

Introduction: Research has made progress in organ fabrication using an extracellular matrix, cell sheets, or organoids. Human liver tissue has been constructed using a 3-dimensional (3D) bioprinter and showed evidence that an in vitro generated liver bud was reformed in a rodent liver model. This study describes the stages of development of rat fetal organs and liver structure and reviews recent progress in liver organoid transplantation. Read More

Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Institute of Pathophysiology and Immunology, Medical University of Graz.

The P-STS human ileal neuroendocrine tumor cells, as a model for gut enterochromaffin cells, are strongly and synergistically activated by histamine plus acetylcholine (ACh), presumably via histamine 4 receptors, and weakly activated by histamine alone. Sensing these signals, enterochromaffin cells could participate in intestinal intolerance or allergic reactions to food constituents associated with elevated histamine levels. In this study we aimed to analyze the underlying molecular mechanisms. Read More

Physiol Rev 2019 Jan;99(1):739-780

Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche , Ancona , Italy ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena , Siena , Italy ; and Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florence, Careggi University Hospital , Florence , Italy.

Activins are dimeric glycoproteins belonging to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily and resulting from the assembly of two beta subunits, which may also be combined with alpha subunits to form inhibins. Activins were discovered in 1986 following the isolation of inhibins from porcine follicular fluid, and were characterized as ovarian hormones that stimulate follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) release by the pituitary gland. In particular, activin A was shown to be the isoform of greater physiological importance in humans. Read More

Orbit 2018 Dec 12:1-8. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

a Division of Orbit & Oculofacial Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology , National University Hospital , Singapore , Singapore.

Introduction: The mainstay of therapy for active inflammatory phase of thyroid eye disease (TED) is immunosuppression. Patients in our centre with early active TED are treated with pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP). Two different protocols are offered in our centre: High dose (1g/day for 3 days, monthly for 6 months), or EUGOGO protocol (500 mg weekly for six weeks, followed by 250 mg weekly for the next 6 weeks). Read More

Arq Gastroenterol 2018 Jul-Sep;55(3):274-278

Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious public health problem, that affects approximately 170 million people worldwide. Chronic HCV infection is associated with hepatic insulin resistance and an increased risk of diabetes HCV-infected patients has been well documented.

Objective: To assess the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index in patients treated with direct acting antiviral (DAAs) medication in the sustained virological response (SVR), categorized by the presence or absence of cirrhosis. Read More

Arq Gastroenterol 2018 Jul-Sep;55(3):258-263

Universidade Federal de Goiás, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Departamento de Cirurgia, Goiânia, GO, Brasil.

Background: Liver metastases from colorectal cancer are an important public health problem due to the increasing incidence of colorectal cancer worldwide. Synchronous colorectal liver metastasis has been associated with worse survival, but this prognosis is controversial.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the recurrence-free survival and overall survival between groups of patients with metachronous and synchronous colorectal hepatic metastasis. Read More

Arq Gastroenterol 2018 Jul-Sep;55(3):247-251

Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Cirurgia, Campinas, SP, Brasil.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the commonest hepatopathy worldwide.

Objective: To investigate the correlations between NAFLD histopathological features and the levels of adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, and resistin) and circulating inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-8 [IL-8], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], and C-reactive protein [CRP]).

Methods: This is an exploratory cross-sectional study, which enrolled 19 women with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery. Read More

Arq Gastroenterol 2018 Jul-Sep;55(3):237-241

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Shiraz, Iran.

Background: Cancers are one of the most important causes of death in the world. According to their high incidence and mortality, gastrointestinal cancers have particular importance among other cancers.

Objective: Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the mortality change trends of gastrointestinal cancers in Iran. Read More

Arq Gastroenterol 2018 Jul-Sep;55(3):208-211

Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE), Faculdade de Medicina, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.

Background: Though strongly suggestive of metastasis, focal lesions on liver scans of oncological patients require histological confirmation for the prescription of adequate treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of US-guided percutaneous core liver biopsy.

Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study based on secondary data from 171 patients submitted to US-guided percutaneous core liver biopsy at the diagnostic radiology service of the Ceará Cancer Institute (ICC, Brazil) between February 2010 and March 2015. Read More

Arq Bras Cir Dig 2018 Dec 6;31(4):e1411. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Sector Cirugía HPB y Trasplante Hepático, Clínica Pueyrredón, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Arq Bras Cir Dig 2018 Dec 6;31(4):e1402. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Hospital of the Municipal Public Server, Technical Section of Digestive System Surgery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Background: PCR (C-reactive protein), produced in the liver after stimuli of inflammatory mediators, is determined as a marker of inflammatory activity (adipocytokines) and is present within adipocyte cells; besides being an inflammatory product, many studies have shown to be a predictor of complications.

Aim: To determine if the inflammatory state of the obese patient decreases after bariatric surgery, based on pre and post-operative PCR.

Methods: A prospective, observational study in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric by-pass surgery followed up for three months after surgery, with serum preoperative CRP in 30, 60 and 90 days after surgery. Read More

Braz J Med Biol Res 2018 Dec 10;52(1):e8150. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Departamento de Farmacologia e Terapêutica, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil.

High caloric intake promotes chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, which may be prevented by food restriction (FR). The effect of FR on expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory genes in adipose tissue, liver, muscle, and brain was compared. Male Swiss mice were submitted to FR (FR group) or had free access to food (control group) during 56 days. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 Dec;14(Supplement):S1230-S1232

Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with gastric metastasis is seldom reported. It is extremely easy to misdiagnose for primary gastric cancer with liver metastasis, especially gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma. Here, we report a case of recurrent HCC with gastric metastasis in a 22-year-old man. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 Dec;14(Supplement):S1217-S1219

Department of Medical Imaging, Shanghai Gongli Hospital, Shanghai 200135, China.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare spindle cell soft tissue tumor which is rarely encountered in the clinical setting and imaging findings are nonspecific, mainly occurring in the tissue structure of the serosa. However, there is very little report on SFT originating in the kidney in the medical literature. We report a case of SFT with liver metastasis in an adult female and discuss the pathological features as it appears in our case. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 Dec;14(Supplement):S1158-S1162

Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650101, Yunnan, China.

Purpose: To investigate the role of percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD) combined with percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) in maintaining the nutrition state in patients with advanced ampullary neoplasms.

Materials And Methods: Sixty patients who suffered from advanced ampullary neoplasms and could not tolerate internal drainage operation or biliary stent placement were enrolled. After PTCD, PEJ was implemented, and then the enteral nutrient solution + bile were instilled through PEJ tube for enteral nutrition support. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 Dec;14(Supplement):S1148-S1151

Department of Oncology. Dongying People's Hospital, Dongying, Shandong, China.

Objective: Endostar is a new vascular epithelial inhibitor, which is reported to be effective in treating liver metastasis from gastric cancer. However, the optimal therapeutic regimen of Endostar remains unclear. Thus, our study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of Endostar continuous intravenous infusion combined with S-1 and oxaliplatin (SOX) chemotherapy in treating such patients. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 Dec;14(Supplement):S1124-S1128

Department of Interventional Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.

Background: Serine/threonine kinase is originally identified as an oncogene and the forkhead box transcription factor forkhead box O3a (Foxo3a) has been found to be decreased in various human cancers. In the present study, we explored the expression of Akt and FOXO3a in liver cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: Akt level was detected by Western blotting analysis. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 Dec;14(Supplement):S964-S968

Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China, Dongguan.

Context: The metastasis of liver cancer is a major cause of clinical treatment failure, restrain, and control the cancer metastasis is the major strategy of the treatment and prevention of the disease. Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1) gene was overexpressed in many malignant tumors and considered as a potential target of anticancer drug. This study investigated the mechanism how ganodermanontriol effect the expression of SATB1 and thus inhibits the growth and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Read More

Exp Mol Pathol 2018 Oct 26;106:34-43. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Ultrasonic Cardiac Electrophysiology and Biomechanics of Sichuan Province, Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasound and Non-invasive Cardiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, P.R. China. Electronic address:

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the primary causes of cancer-related death and resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy is the major cause of mortality in HCC patients. miR-122 is a liver specific miRNA and is found to be reduced in HCC, however, the function of miR-122 in HCC chemosensitivity remains elusive.

Methods: We used qRT-PCR to measure expressions of miR-122, β-catenin and MDR1 in four HCC cell lines. Read More

Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Oct 19;7(1):237-238. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Center for Liver Diseases, Pittsburgh Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address:

Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Sep 19;7(1):211-231. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an increasingly prevalent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration and hepatocellular damage. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) has been investigated extensively in the context of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the role of mTORC1 in NASH remains largely unknown. Read More

Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Sep 15;7(1):197-209. Epub 2018 Sep 15.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: Transdifferentiation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblasts is a key event in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) are canonical HSC activators after liver injury. The aim of this study was to analyze the epigenetic modulators that differentially control TGF-β and PDGF signaling pathways. Read More

Recent Pat Drug Deliv Formul 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Pharmaceutics, ITS College of Pharmacy, NH-34, Ghaziabad-201206. India.

Aim And Background: The rationale of this study is that, treatment of asthmatic Guinea pig with combined administration of Montelukast sodium and green tea extract (GTE) as a single capsule will mitigate the inflammatory injury in the airways and weaken the asthmatic response. Recent patents for the treatment of asthma researched a polyphenolic alternatives for antiasthmatic combination therapy, especially for those patients who remains unresponsive or poorly responsive for current asthma therapy (US7232585B2). Synergistic activity of green tea polyphenols and therapeutic, prophylatic agents are also reported in some recent patents (US20120172423A1, US20150320696A1). Read More

Cardiovasc Hematol Agents Med Chem 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University, BP 509, Boutalamine, 52000. Errachidia. Morocco.

Objective: The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic potential of flavonoid-rich extract of Tamarix articulata (FRETA) in both normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Material And Methods: Normal and diabetic rats were treated with the FRETA for 7 days. At the end of treatment, a range of parameters were tested including blood lipid profile, histopathological changes in both liver and pancreas and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Read More

Curr Mol Med 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Pediatric Urology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai. China.

Background: Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is an inherited disease caused by mutations in alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGXT). It is characterized by abnormal metabolism of glyoxylic acid in liver leading to endogenous oxalate overproduction and deposition of oxalate in multiple organs, mainly the kidney. Patients of PH1 often suffer from recurrent urinary tract stones, and finally renal failure. Read More

J Proteome Res 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune liver disease characterized by ongoing inflammatory destruction of the interlobular bile ducts, eventually leading to chronic cholestasis and biliary cirrhosis. This study primarily aims to define the metabolomic signature of PBC after comparison with healthy controls (HC). Secondly it aims at evaluating the possible metabolic association between PBC and coeliac disease (CD), an immune-mediated disorder frequently associated with PBC. Read More

ACS Infect Dis 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) globally affects more than 257 million people, resulting in progressively worsening liver disease, manifesting as fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The exceptionally narrow species tropism of HBV restricts its natural hosts to humans and non-human primates, including chimpanzees, gorillas, gibbons, and orangutans. The unavailability of completely immunocompetent small-animal models has contributed to the lack of curative therapeutic interventions. Read More

Hepatol Int 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.

Background And Aims: While the association between platelet activation and hepatic fibrosis has been previously demonstrated in animal studies; the utility of anti-platelet agents in reversing the progression of hepatic fibrosis requires further review. Utilizing systematic review methods, we provide to our knowledge the first meta-analysis combining evidence from all studies aimed to establish the effect of anti-platelet agents in the prevention of hepatic fibrosis.

Methods: We searched Medline, EMBASE and PubMed databases from inception to October 2018 to identify all studies aimed at evaluating the role of anti-platelet agents in the prevention of hepatic fibrosis. Read More

Hepatol Int 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Yamanashi Prefectural Central Hospital, 1-1-1 Fujimi, Kofu-shi, Yamanashi, 400-8506, Japan.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and those on hemodialysis due to nosocomial infections and past blood transfusions. While a majority of HCV-infected patients with end-stage renal disease are asymptomatic, some may ultimately experience decompensated liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma. Administration of a combination of elbasvir/grazoprevir for 12 weeks leads to high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in patients with HCV genotypes (GTs) 1a, 1b or 4 and stage 4 or 5 CKD. Read More