Biological and Histological Assessment of the Hepatoportoenterostomy Role in Biliary Atresia as a Stand-Alone Procedure or as a Bridge toward Liver Transplantation.

: In patients with biliary atresia (BA), hepatoportoenterostomy (HPE) is still a valuable therapeutic tool for prolonged survival or a safer transition to liver transplantation. The main focus today is towards efficient screening programs, a faster diagnostic, and prompt treatment. However, the limited information on BA pathophysiology makes valuable any experience in disease management.

Hepatoportoenterostomy in Selective Obstructive Cholestasis - An New Experimental Model in the Rat.

Biliary atresia is the most frequent cause for neonatal obstructive cholestasis. Hepatoportoenterostomy (HPE) is the only method allowing survival until liver transplantation. For a maximum rate of success, the HPE procedure has to be performed within the 60 days of life.

Expression of TLR4 protein is reduced in chronic renal failure: evidence from an experimental model of nephron reduction.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling is involved in various acute and chronic renal lesions and contributes to inflammation and fibrosis in several organs; the latter are important determinants to the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to assess TLR4 expression in progressive CKD and relate it to severity of kidney damage, using an experimental nephron reduction model. Male Wistar rats were subjected to subtotal nephrectomy using the ligation technique, after 12 weeks of observation, serum creatinine and proteinuria were determined, animals were sacrificed, glomerulosclerosis and interstitial scarring were quantified histologically, and TLR4 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry.