Serum autoantibodies against cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) predict severity of necroinflammation of recurrent hepatitis C.

We previously reported that autoantibodies against cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) are frequent in patients with chronic hepatitis C. As autoimmune reactions are increasingly detected after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), this study investigates prevalence and significance of anti-CYP2E1 autoantibodies in 46 patients with post-OLT recurrent hepatitis C. IgG against recombinant human CYP2E1 above the control threshold was detected in 19 out 46 (41%) sera collected immediately before OLT and in 15 out 46 (33%) sera collected at the time of the 12 months follow-up liver biopsy.

Natural history of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a slowly growing tumor, whose natural history is not completely known. Since the hepatocarcinogenetic process may evolve for years in a stepwise fashion from premalignant to overt HCC, detection of early, better treatable tumors is made possible by surveillance of patients at risk. A 6-month interval surveillance with ultrasound is considered cost-effective, generally leading to the identification of a single < 3 cm tumor in 50-70% of the patients at risk.

Application of ultraviolet spectrophotometry to estimate occupational exposure to airborne polyaromatic compounds in asphalt pavers.

An ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometric procedure was devised for the determination of polycyclic aromatic compound-oriented organic soluble matter in vapors and particulate collected from emissions of hot asphalt mix. Ultrasonic extraction was carried out with acetonitrile, followed by UV measurements at 254 nm. Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in volatile and particulate fraction were quantified as phenanthrene or benzo[k]fluoranthene equivalents.