Cholestatic presentation of chronic hepatitis C: a clinical and histological study with a review of the literature.

Bile duct lesions are observed in the livers of chronic hepatitis C patients, but are inconstant and rarely associated with other features of chronic cholestasis and progressive bile duct injury or loss. We aimed to identify the clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C from our patient database presenting with prominent cholestatic features to determine if there is a correlation between histological evidence of bile duct injury and clinical or biochemical features observed in these patients. We retrospectively reviewed a hepatitis C database including 620 patients to identify those who presented with either alkaline phosphatase (AP) > or = 400 units/liter (normal 30-126 units/liter) or AP > or = 250 units/liter with pruritus.

Regulation of human CYP11B2 and CYP11B1: comparing the role of the common CRE/Ad1 element.

In humans, the final steps in corticosteroid production results from the activity of aldosterone synthase in the glomerulosa and 11beta-hydroxylase in the fasciculata. The regional expression of these isozymes is believed to result from transcriptional regulation of the aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) and 11beta-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) genes. Previous studies suggest that the primary cis-element needed for agonist enhanced transcription of the CYP11B genes shares high sequence similarity to a consensus cAMP Response Element (CRE).