Cryopreservation of Marchantia polymorpha spermatozoa.

The liverwort Marchantia polymorpha has become one of the model organisms, since it has less genetic redundancy, sexual and asexual modes of reproduction and a range of genomic and molecular genetic resources. Cryopreservation of fertile spermatozoa eliminates time, space and labor for growing and maintaining male plants in reproductive phase, and also provides an optional way to backup lines. Here we report a protocol to cryopreserve spermatozoa of M.

Separate analysis of asialoglycoprotein receptors in the right and left hepatic lobes using (99m)Tc-GSA SPECT in patients with acute hepatic damage.

The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is abundantly expressed on the sinusoidal surfaces of hepatocytes. However, regional expression and clinical significance of the ASGPR in acute hepatic damage is presently unknown. Our aim was to clarify the clinical significance of the regional expression of ASGPR in human livers with acute hepatitis (AH) and fulminant hepatic failure (FHF).

NAD(P)H oxidase plays a crucial role in PDGF-induced proliferation of hepatic stellate cells.

The proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a critical step in hepatic fibrogenesis. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is the most potent mitogen for HSCs. We investigated the role of nonphagocytic NAD(P)H oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PDGF-induced HSC proliferation.

Genetic variations in humans associated with differences in the course of hepatitis C.

The outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection varies among individuals, but the genetic factors involved remain unknown. We conducted a population-based association study in which 238 Japanese individuals positive for anti-HCV antibody were genotyped for 269 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 103 candidate genes that might influence the course of infection. Altogether, 50 SNPs in 32 genes were listed.

Possible contribution of circulating interleukin-10 (IL-10) to anti-tumor immunity and prognosis in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been implicated in immune deficiency in patients with cancer. The relationship of this cytokine as measured in serum to anti-tumor immunity and prognosis was investigated in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: This study consisted of 74 consecutive patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (median age, 65 years).

Separate analysis of asialoglycoprotein receptors in the right and left hepatic lobes using Tc-GSA SPECT.

The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is abundantly expressed on the sinusoidal surfaces of hepatocytes. We aimed to clarify the clinical significance of the regional distribution of ASGPRs in the human liver, especially in chronic viral hepatitis. Eighteen volunteers, 34 patients with chronic hepatitis, and 33 patients with cirrhosis (11/Child-Pugh A, 11/Child-Pugh B, 11/Child-Pugh C) were studied using a newly developed, conventional technetium-99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin ((99m)Tc-GSA), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) method.

Spontaneous elimination of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in chronic HCV carriers: a population-based cohort study.

The natural course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has not been fully elucidated. To investigate whether HCV is spontaneously eliminated in chronic carriers, a long-term population-based cohort study was conducted on 435 chronic HCV carriers. Individual characteristics, serum HCV RNA, and liver function tests were analyzed, and ultra sonography (US) was performed in all subjects.

Differentiation of bone marrow cells into cells that express liver-specific genes in vitro: implication of the Notch signals in differentiation.

Bone marrow (BM) stem cells have been shown to differentiate into liver cells. It remains difficult to sort and culture BM stem cells, and the gene expression of liver-specific proteins in these cells has not been fully investigated. We used a negative selective magnetic cell separation system to obtain stem cell-enriched BM cells.