Diabetes Status and Race are Associated with Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Obese Adolescents.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers in obese adolescents based on diabetes status and race in order to improve risk-reduction intervention strategies.

Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study of obese adolescents, age 10 to 21 years, who were evaluated at Children's of Alabama between 2000 and 2012. Subjects were classified by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as having normoglycemia, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

A nonhuman primate model of human radiation-induced venocclusive liver disease and hepatocyte injury.

Background: Human liver has an unusual sensitivity to radiation that limits its use in cancer therapy or in preconditioning for hepatocyte transplantation. Because the characteristic veno-occlusive lesions of radiation-induced liver disease do not occur in rodents, there has been no experimental model to investigate the limits of safe radiation therapy or explore the pathogenesis of hepatic veno-occlusive disease.

Methods And Materials: We performed a dose-escalation study in a primate, the cynomolgus monkey, using hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy in 13 animals.

Loss of renal allografts secondary to Candida vascular complications in two recipients from the same donor.

Infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant patients. Organ recipients are also susceptible to donor-derived pathogens and the majority of donor infections are easily treatable. Rarely, some pathogens have produced life-threatening complications by compromising the vascular anastomosis.

The microenvironment in hepatocyte regeneration and function in rats with advanced cirrhosis.

Unlabelled: In advanced cirrhosis, impaired function is caused by intrinsic damage to the native liver cells and from the abnormal microenvironment in which the cells reside. The extent to which each plays a role in liver failure and regeneration is unknown. To examine this issue, hepatocytes from cirrhotic and age-matched control rats were isolated, characterized, and transplanted into the livers of noncirrhotic hosts whose livers permit extensive repopulation with donor cells.

IL-23 in infections, inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer: possible role in HIV-1 and AIDS.

The growing family of interleukin (IL)-12-like cytokines produced by activated macrophages and dendritic cells became the important players in the control of infections, development of inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer. However, the role of one of them-heterodimer IL-23, which consists of IL12p40 and the unique p19 subunit in HIV-1 infection pathogenesis and progression to AIDS, represent special interest. We overviewed findings of IL-23 involvement in control of peripheral bacterial pathogens and opportunistic infection, central nervous system (CNS) viral infections and autoimmune disorders, and tumorogenesis, which potentially could be applicable to HIV-1 and AIDS.

Intestinal lengthening in adult patients with short bowel syndrome.

Introduction: Limited information regarding the usefulness of bowel lengthening in adult patients with short bowel syndrome is available.

Methods: Retrospective review of a single center series of intestinal lengthening over 15-year period in patients ≥ 18 years old.

Results: Twenty adult patients underwent Bianchi (n = 6) or serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) (n = 15).

Differentiation and transplantation of human embryonic stem cell-derived hepatocytes.

Background & Aims: The ability to obtain unlimited numbers of human hepatocytes would improve the development of cell-based therapies for liver diseases, facilitate the study of liver biology, and improve the early stages of drug discovery. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, potentially can differentiate into any cell type, and therefore could be developed as a source of human hepatocytes.

Methods: To generate human hepatocytes, human embryonic stem cells were differentiated by sequential culture in fibroblast growth factor 2 and human activin-A, hepatocyte growth factor, and dexamethasone.

Hepatic irradiation augments engraftment of donor cells following hepatocyte transplantation.

Engraftment of donor hepatocytes is a critical step that determines the success of hepatocyte transplantation. Rapid and efficient integration of donor cells would enable prompt liver repopulation of these cells in response to selective proliferative stimuli offered by a preparative regimen. We have earlier demonstrated that hepatic irradiation (HIR) in combination with a variety of hepatotrophic growth signals, such as partial hepatectomy and hepatocyte growth factor, can be used as a preparative regimen for liver repopulation of transplanted hepatocytes.