HCV synergizes with body weight in the promotion of insulin resistance.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection appears to contribute to the development of insulin resistance (IR). Among the multiple determinants of IR, body mass index (BMI) is the most important. We investigated the contribution of HCV to BMI-associated IR using a transgenic mouse model expressing HCV core protein.

Reduction of insulin resistance with effective clearance of hepatitis C infection: results from the HALT-C trial.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes and insulin resistance (IR); whether this is a causal relationship has not been established.

Methods: We performed a longitudinal study within the lead-in phase of the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) Trial to evaluate whether suppression of hepatitis C is associated with improvement in IR. Participants had advanced hepatic fibrosis and carried non-3 HCV genotypes (n = 96).

Hepatic SOCS3 expression is strongly associated with non-response to therapy and race in HCV and HCV/HIV infection.

Background/aims: The response rates of HCV infection to interferon therapy vary depending on viral and host factors. We hypothesized that key regulators of the IFN signaling pathway are predictive of treatment outcome.

Methods: We measured the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) in pretreatment liver biopsies.

Gene expression and association analyses of the phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) gene in major depressive disorder in the Japanese population.

The phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) interacts with disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), which is a known genetic risk factor for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (MDD). PDE4B is also important in the regulation of cAMP signaling, a second messenger implicated in learning, memory, and mood. In this study, we determined mRNA expression levels of the PDE4B gene in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with MDD and control subjects (n = 33, each).

Failure to confirm an association between Epsin 4 and schizophrenia in a Japanese population.

Previous studies suggested that genetic variations in the 5' region of Epsin 4, a gene encoding enthoprotin on chromosome 5q33, are associated with schizophrenia. However, conflicting results have also been reported. We examined the possible association in a Japanese sample of 354 patients and 365 controls.