Dynamics of palladium on nanocarbon in the direct synthesis of H2O2.

This work aims to clarify the nanostructural transformation accompanying the loss of activity and selectivity for the hydrogen peroxide synthesis of palladium and gold-palladium nanoparticles supported on N-functionalized carbon nanotubes. High-resolution X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) allows the discrimination of metallic palladium, electronically modified metallic palladium hosting impurities, and cationic palladium. This is paralleled by the morphological heterogeneity observed by high-resolution TEM, in which nanoparticles with an average size of 2 nm coexisted with very small palladium clusters.

Silybin combined with phosphatidylcholine and vitamin E in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial.

The only currently recommended treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is lifestyle modification. Preliminary studies of silybin showed beneficial effects on liver function. Realsil (RA) comprises the silybin phytosome complex (silybin plus phosphatidylcholine) coformulated with vitamin E.

High serum resistin in chronic viral hepatitis is not a marker of metabolic disorder.

Background/aims: The role of resistin, an adipocyte-secreted hormone, in insulin resistance and in inflammation is controversial. In chronic hepatitis C, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and liver steatosis are frequent and inconsistently correlated to circulating resistin levels. In this study we assessed if viral aetiology and host metabolic parameters influence serum resistin in patients with HCV- and HBV- related chronic hepatitis.

Recurrence of primary biliary cirrhosis and development of autoimmune hepatitis after liver transplant: A blind histologic study.

Aim: This long-term study aimed to evaluate recurrence and evolution of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods: We reviewed "blindly" allograft biopsy specimens of women who underwent transplantation for PBC (n = 84), and women who received a transplant for chronic hepatitis C virus infection (CHCV ) (n = 108). All needle liver biopsy specimens obtained more than 6 months post-OLT were examined, including 83 specimens from 44 PBC patients and 152 specimens from 58 CHCV patients.

High circulating D-dimers are associated with ascites and hepatocellular carcinoma in liver cirrhosis.

Aim: To measure plasma D-dimer levels in cirrhotic patients with and without ascites, assessing the effect of ascites resolution in D-dimer concentration.

Methods: Seventy consecutive cirrhotic patients (M = 44, F = 26, mean age 65 years, SD +/- 13), observed from October 2005 to March 2006 were enrolled. Circulating D-dimer levels were measured using a latex-enhanced, immunoturbidimetric test.

Prognostic factors of survival in complicated viral and alcoholic cirrhosis without hepatocellular carcinoma. A retrospective study.

Aim: In several studies, attention is needed to one specific complication, in particularly to hepatocellular carcinoma, which modifies the natural history of liver cirrhosis. Thus, we performed a retrospective cohort analysis to clarify which complications, alone or in combination, are predictive factors of mortality in patients with viral or alcoholic cirrhosis without hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Case records of 255 patients with decompensated viral or alcoholic cirrhosis between January 1990 and December 2000 were retrospectively analyzed.

Low utility of plasma Nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: The utility of serum alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP) in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is questionable. Very high circulating levels of nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), a ligand for a novel opioid receptor, have recently been reported in HCC. The aim of this study was to assess the role of plasma N/OFQ in the diagnosis of HCC arising in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Soluble CD30 serum levels before and after treatment with alpha-interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

It has been suggested that soluble CD30 (sCD30) serum levels in chronic hepatitis C are correlated with the activity of the disease and with the outcome of interferon (IFN) treatment. In this study, sCD30 serum levels in 25 patients with chronic hepatitis C, before and after treatment with IFN-2alpha, were measured. A total of 20 healthy subjects were used as controls.

Evaluation of fatigue in U.S. patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Objectives: Fatigue, which may have a significant impact on quality of life, is the most common reported symptom in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Multiple instruments to quantify fatigue and quality of life in liver disease have been validated, but have not been broadly applied to U.S.

Serum chromogranin-A in hepatocellular carcinoma: diagnostic utility and limits.

Aim: The utility of serum alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP) for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is questionable. High serum levels of chromogranin-A (CgA) have recently been reported in HCC. Impaired hepatic, renal, and heart functions influence circulating CgA.

Efficacy of interferon treatment (IFN) in elderly patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of interferon treatment in aged patients with chronic hepatitis C. One hundred and fifty-four patients with chronic hepatitis C, consecutively treated with a-interferon (a-IFN), were retrospectively subdivided into two groups according to age =60 or <60 years. The two groups were compared in terms of biochemical and histological activity of the disease, HCV genotype, total dose of IFN received, incidence of side effects and rate of response to treatment.

Retreatment with interferon plus ribavirin of chronic hepatitis C non-responders to interferon monotherapy: a meta-analysis of individual patient data.

Background And Aims: Retreatment with a combination of alpha interferon (IFN) plus ribavirin of patients with chronic hepatitis C who did not respond to IFN monotherapy has not been assessed in large controlled studies.

Methods: To assess the effectiveness and tolerability of IFN/ribavirin retreatment of non-responders to IFN and to identify predictors of complete (biochemical and virological) sustained response, we performed a meta-analysis of individual data on 581 patients from 10 centres. Retreatment with various IFN schedules (mean total dose 544 mega units) and a fixed ribavirin dose (1000-1200 mg/daily depending on body weight) was given for 24-60 (mean 39.

Serum thrombopoietin in chronic liver disease: relation to severity of the disease and spleen size.

Background/aims: Thrombopoietin is a thrombopoietic factor mainly synthesized in the liver. Its production is regulated by the mass of megakaryocytes and platelets. Impaired production of thrombopoietin may be responsible for thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease.

Interferon retreatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C. A long-term follow-up.

Background/aims: We retrospectively evaluated the long-term efficacy of interferon retreatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C, who did not have a sustained response to a 1st cycle of treatment.

Methodology: Sixty-six patients, 43 non-responder and 23 relapser to alpha interferon treatment, were retreated with alpha interferon, 6 MU thrice weekly for 12 months. Response was defined as negative HCV viremia.

Ten year follow-up of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon.

Background/aims: The impact of the treatment with interferon (IFN) on the natural history of chronic hepatitis C is not defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term effect of the treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methodology: In 31 patients with chronic hepatitis C (9 with cirrhosis) consecutively treated with recombinant alpha 2a interferon (r alpha 2a IFN), the evolution of the disease at 10 years from the therapy was evaluated by means of upper endoscopy, liver ultrasonography (US), liver function tests and hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia.

Low-dose aspirin therapy is associated with few side effects but does not prevent hepatic artery thrombosis in liver transplant recipients.

Hepatic artery thrombosis occurs in 4% to 10% of adult patients and in up to 26% of children undergoing liver transplantation. Aspirin has been used to prevent this complication but may increase procedure-related and gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose aspirin in the prophylaxis of hepatic artery thrombosis.

Class I HLA antigens hepatic display and beta-2-microglobulin serum values in chronic hepatitis C: effect of treatment with recombinant alpha interferon.

Background/aims: Enhanced hepatocellular display of class I HLA antigens together with rising serum beta-2-microglobulin (a subunit of class I HLA molecule) and transaminases is reported in patients with chronic hepatitis B during treatment with interferon as an index of immune lysis of virus infected cells.

Methodology: We studied class I HLA antigens and beta-2-microglobulin display in the livers of 23 patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after a 12 month treatment with recombinant alpha interferon. Beta-2-microglobulin serum values were monitored.

Focal lymphocytic aggregates in chronic hepatitis C: occurrence, immunohistochemical characterization, and relation to markers of autoimmunity.

Intrahepatic lymphocytic aggregates are observed in chronic hepatitis C as well as in autoimmune chronic hepatitis. Autoantibodies and autoimmune manifestations may occur in hepatitis C. It has been suggested that the lymphocytic aggregates play a role in the liver injury of chronic hepatitis C by an immune-mediated mechanism.

Demographics of anti-asialoglycoprotein receptor autoantibodies in autoimmune hepatitis.

Background/aims: The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is an established, liver-specific autoantigen. This multicenter study investigated the specificity of anti-ASGPR autoantibodies for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in different ethnic groups.

Methods: Nine hundred fourteen sera from European, Japanese, and North American (U.

[Assessment of portal hypertension in hepatic cirrhosis in relation to etiologic factors].

Hundred-forty-one patients, 78 affected by alcoholic liver cirrhosis and 63 by posthepatitic cirrhosis were studied in order to assess the degree of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis of different etiology taking into account the developing stages of the disease. Etiological assessment was based on anamnesis, laboratory data, needle liver biopsy and patients of each group were divided into 3 subgroups (grade A, B, C) according to Child-Turcotte classification. A > 1.

Histological behaviour of chronic hepatitis in patients treated with alpha interferon.

To evaluate the histological effects of alpha Interferon (IFN) therapy, serial liver biopsy specimens from 30 patients with chronic hepatitis were studied. The biopsies were examined using a scoring system. After 12 mths of IFN therapy responders were 8 out of 11 HBV infected patients, 10 out of 12 HCV infected patients and only 1 out of 7 patients with cryptogenetic hepatitis.

Nosography and immunopathogenesis of viral hepatitis.

Five viruses are responsible for the vast majority of cases of viral related hepatitis. They have been named hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), hepatitis E virus (HEV). The more recent literature concerning the viral structure, the epidemiology, the serological identification, the clinical course and the prevention of each type of hepatitis is reviewed.

HCV infection, hepatic HLA display and composition of the mononuclear cell inflammatory infiltrate in chronic alcoholic liver disease.

Viral infection may play a role in alcoholic liver disease with histological features of chronic active hepatitis (CAH). Human leucocyte antigen (HLA) hepatocellular display is supposed to allow HLA-restricted T-lymphocyte cytotoxicity in chronic viral hepatitis. We studied the presence of serum anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies, the hepatic HLA display and the composition of the mononuclear cell infiltrate in 16 patients with alcoholic liver disease and histological features of CAH and in 11 patients with alcohol-related degenerative changes.