Defective hippocampal neurogenesis underlies cognitive impairment by carotid stenosis-induced cerebral hypoperfusion in mice.

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion due to carotid artery stenosis is a major cause of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) in rodents is a well-established model of VCID where most studies have focused on white matter pathology and subsequent cognitive deficit. Therefore, our aim was to study the implication of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in hypoperfusion-induced VCID in mice, and its relationship with cognitive hippocampal deficits.

Non-malignant portal vein thrombosis in a cohort of cirrhotic patients: Incidence and risk factors.

Aim: Non-malignant portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a complication of liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the annual incidence of PVT and related risk factors.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical, laboratory, and radiological data collected prospectively from September 2016 to September 2017.

Adding Branched-Chain Amino Acids to an Enhanced Standard-of-Care Treatment Improves Muscle Mass of Cirrhotic Patients With Sarcopenia: A Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Introduction: The effect of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation on muscle mass in patients with cirrhosis and sarcopenia is unknown.

Methods: This is a pilot, prospective, randomized, and double-blind study of a cohort of 32 patients with cirrhosis and sarcopenia diagnosed by computed tomography scan who underwent a nutritional and physical activity intervention for 12 weeks. They were divided into 2 groups (placebo: 17 patients; BCAA: 15 patients).

Post-stroke Neurogenesis: Friend or Foe?

The substantial clinical burden and disability after stroke injury urges the need to explore therapeutic solutions. Recent compelling evidence supports that neurogenesis persists in the adult mammalian brain and is amenable to regulation in both physiological and pathological situations. Its ability to generate new neurons implies a potential to contribute to recovery after brain injury.

Estimation of visceral fat is useful for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), although obese patients with NAFLD do not always develop significant fibrosis. The distribution of body fat could predict the risk of NAFLD progression.

Aim: To investigate the role of bioelectrical impedance-estimated visceral fat (VF) in assessing NAFLD severity.

HIF1α Suppresses Tumor Cell Proliferation through Inhibition of Aspartate Biosynthesis.

Cellular aspartate drives cancer cell proliferation, but signaling pathways that rewire aspartate biosynthesis to control cell growth remain largely unknown. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) can suppress tumor cell proliferation. Here, we discovered that HIF1α acts as a direct repressor of aspartate biosynthesis involving the suppression of several key aspartate-producing proteins, including cytosolic glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase-1 (GOT1) and mitochondrial GOT2.

Tenofovir lamivudine plus adefovir in chronic hepatitis B: TENOSIMP-B study.

Aim: To demonstrate the non-inferiority (15% non-inferiority limit) of monotherapy with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) the combination of lamivudine (LAM) plus adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in the maintenance of virologic response in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and prior failure with LAM.

Methods: This study was a Phase IV prospective, randomized, open, controlled study with 2 parallel groups (TDF and LAM+ADV) of adult patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative CHB, prior failure with LAM, on treatment with LAM+ADV for at least 6 mo, without prior resistance to ADV and with an undetectable viral load at the start of the study, in 14 Spanish hospitals. The follow-up time for each patient was 48 wk after randomization, with quarterly visits in which the viral load, biochemical and serological parameters, adverse effects, adherence to treatment and consumption of hospital resources were analysed.

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation: The protective role of mycophenolate mofetil.

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are recognized longterm causes of death after liver transplantation (LT). The objective of this multicenter study was to analyze the prevalence and the evolution of CV risk factors and CV morbidity and mortality in 1819 LT recipients along 5 years after LT. The influence of baseline variables on survival, morbidity, and mortality was studied.

Altered Underlying Renal Tubular Function in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Receiving Nucleos(t)ide Analogs in a Real-World Setting: The MENTE Study.

Background: Cases of renal tubular dysfunction have been reported in patients with hepatitis B and in patients with human immunodeficiency virus who are undergoing tenofovir treatment. However, little is known about the impact on tubular function in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) under long-term use of entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). We evaluated markers of renal tubular function and bone turnover in patients with CHB treated with ETV or TDF.

Control of blood pressure in liver transplant recipients.

Background: Increased blood pressure (BP) is common after liver transplantation. However, there is scarce information on its control.

Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study, we determined BP according to the recommended international standards in 921 liver transplant patients during one routine outpatient visit to assess their grade of control of BP.

[Virological response to adefovir dipivoxil predicts the long-term development of resistance in previously untreated patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B].

Background And Objective: Adefovir dipivoxil monotherapy in lamivudine-resistant patients is associated with more frequent development of resistance than in naïve patients. The virological response during treatment predicts the risk of developing resistance. The aims of this study were to assess the efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil treatment in naïve and lamivudine-resistant patients and to determine whether virological response predicts the development of adefovir resistance.

Cytoprotective properties of alpha-tocopherol are related to gene regulation in cultured D-galactosamine-treated human hepatocytes.

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) has demonstrated antioxidant activity and gene-regulatory properties. d-Galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced cell death is mediated by nitric oxide in hepatocytes, and it is associated with hepatic steatosis. The beneficial properties of alpha-tocopherol and their relation to oxidative stress and gene regulation were assessed in D-GalN-induced cell death.

S-Nitrosation of proteins during D-galactosamine-induced cell death in human hepatocytes.

Nitric oxide (NO) participates in the cell death induced by d-Galactosamine (d-GalN) in hepatocytes, and NO-derived reactive oxygen intermediates are critical contributors to protein modification and hepatocellular injury. It is anticipated that S-nitrosation of proteins will participate in the mechanisms leading to cell death in d-GalN-treated human hepatocytes. In the present study, d-GalN-induced cell death was related to augmented levels of NO production and S-nitrosothiol (SNO) content.

Adverse hepatic reactions associated with calcium carbimide and disulfiram therapy: is there still a role for these drugs?

Disulfiram and calcium carbimide are two alcohol deterrants widely used in alcoholism treatment, however, there exist great concerns over their safety. Reports on hepatotoxicity, mainly related to disulfiram therapy, have been published. The hepatotoxic potential of calcium carbimide is less well characterized.

Dual effect of ethanol on cell death in primary culture of human and rat hepatocytes.

Aims: In-vivo and in-vitro studies have shown that ethanol induces hepatocyte damage. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a broad range of ethanol concentrations on apoptosis and necrosis in primary culture of human and rat hepatocytes.

Methods: Human and rat hepatocytes were isolated from human hepatectomies and male Wistar rats (200-250 g) using the classical collagenase perfusion method.