Racial and ethnic disparities in the VA health care system: a systematic review.

Objectives: To better understand the causes of racial disparities in health care, we reviewed and synthesized existing evidence related to disparities in the "equal access" Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.

Methods: We systematically reviewed and synthesized evidence from studies comparing health care utilization and quality by race within the VA.

Results: Racial disparities in the VA exist across a wide range of clinical areas and service types.

Ectonucleotidase NTPDase2 is selectively down-regulated in biliary cirrhosis.

Background: Portal fibroblasts are newly identified, potentially fibrogenic liver cells that are distinct from hepatic stellate cells. The ectonucleotidase* nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 2 (NTPDase2) is restricted to portal fibroblasts in the normal liver. However, the fate of NTPDase2 after bile duct ligation (BDL) is unknown.