It is also conceivable that the findings could be generalizable to other dynamic cell membrane GSK2126458 concentration events, such as phagocytosis, apoptosis/autophagy, cytokinesis, and amoeboid motility in other
cell types. The authors thank Patrick Splinter and Helen Hendrickson for technical support and Theresa Johnson for secretarial support. Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article. “
“No pharmacological therapies have been established for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can lead to liver-related mortality. Human placental extract (HPE), which has anti-inflammatory effects, has been expected to be a promising treatment for chronic liver disease. This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of HPE for biopsy-diagnosed NASH. After a lifestyle intervention for 12 weeks, 10 subjects with abnormal alanine aminotransferase (≥30 IU/L) and biopsy-proven NASH (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Disease Activity Score [NAS], ≥4) received i.m. injections of HPE (Laennec) at a Rucaparib in vivo dose of 4 mL/day twice per week for 24 weeks, and seven of them underwent a second liver biopsy after the treatment. Liver biopsies were scored for NAS and fibrosis. Histological response was defined as a decrease of 2 points or more in NAS and no increase in fibrosis. Serum transaminase activities were significantly lower at 8 weeks compared with pretreatment levels in nine patients who continued treatment for 24 weeks. One patient refused to continue the treatment soon after starting therapies. In seven patients undergoing post-treatment biopsies, NAS (mean [standard deviation]) mildly decreased from 5.29 (0.95) to 4.00 (1.83) without reaching statistical significance from (P = 0.078). Histological response
was observed in all three obese patients and in only one of four non-obese ones. No significant changes were observed in body mass index, lipid profiles and diabetic control/insulin resistance. In NASH patients who received HPE treatment, significant reductions in serum liver enzymes were obtained after 8 weeks. Histological efficacy may be better in obese patients than in non-obese ones. “
“Jepsen P, Ott P, Andersen PK, Sorensen HT, Vilstrup H. Risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Ann Int Med 2012;156:841-847. (Reprinted with permission.) Background: Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis are at higher risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The role of HCC surveillance for these patients is undefined. Objective: To provide population-based estimates of HCC incidence and comparisons of HCC-related mortality and total mortality among patients with alcoholic cirrhosis as a basis for assessing the role of HCC surveillance. Design: Nationwide, registry-based, historical cohort study. Setting: Denmark.