Ursodeoxycholate inhibits mast cell activation and reverses biliary injury and fibrosis in Mdr2 mice and human primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is used to treat biliary disorders; and, bile acids alter mast cell (MC) histamine release. MCs infiltrate Mdr2 mice liver (model of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)). MC-derived histamine increases inflammation, hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and fibrosis.

Factor structure of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment items in a sample with early Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a frequently utilized cognitive screening tool that has attractive clinical attributes when utilized in individuals with Parkinson's disease. However, the construct validity of this instrument has not been well-characterized in Parkinson's samples. The purpose of this study is to explore the underlying factor structure of the MoCA in individuals with early stage Parkinson's disease.

Bile duct ligation-induced biliary hyperplasia, hepatic injury, and fibrosis are reduced in mast cell-deficient Kit mice.

Unlabelled: Activated mast cells (MCs) release histamine (HA) and MCs infiltrate the liver following bile duct ligation (BDL), increasing intrahepatic bile duct mass (IBDM) and fibrosis. We evaluated the effects of BDL in MC-deficient (Kit ) mice. Wild-type (WT) and Kit mice were subjected to sham or BDL for up to 7 days and Kit mice were injected with cultured mast cells or 1× phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) before collecting serum, liver, and cholangiocytes.