Increased intrahepatic and circulating levels of endoglin, a TGF-β1 co-receptor, in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: relationship to histological and serum markers of hepatic fibrosis

Endoglin, a transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 co-receptor, has been associated with renal and cutaneous fibrosis, as overexpression of this protein has been observed in biopsies from patients with glomerulosclerosis and scleroderma, respectively. Our aim was to evaluate whether endoglin may be associated with hepatic fibrosis featuring chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Fifty-two anti-HCV+ patients, five anti-HCV- patients and 27 healthy subjects were studied. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to quantify the expression levels of endoglin and TGF-beta1 in liver biopsy samples, and serum concentrations of endoglin and hyaluronic acid were determined by enzyme-linke…

12-month follow-up analysis of a multicenter, randomized, prospective trial in de novo liver transplant recipients (LIS2T) comparing cyclosporine microemulsion (C2 monitoring) and tacrolimus.

The LIS2T study was an open-label, multicenter study in which recipients of a primary liver transplant were randomized to cyclosporine microemulsion (CsA-ME) (Neoral) (n = 250) (monitoring of blood concentration at 2 hours postdose) C2 or tacrolimus (n = 245) (monitoring of trough drug blood level [predose]) C0 to compare efficacy and safety at 3 and 6 months and to evaluate patient status at 12 months. All patients received steroids with or without azathioprine. At 12 months, 85% of CsA-ME patients and 86% of tacrolimus patients survived with a functioning graft (P not significant). Efficacy was similar in deceased- and living-donor recipients. Significantly fewer hepatitis C–positive pati…

Incresed circulating and intrahepatic T-cell-specific chemokines in chronic hepatitis C: relationship with the type of virological response to peginterferon plus ribavirin combination therapy

Sex differences in food choices, adherence to dietary recommendations and plasma lipid profile in type 2 diabetes

Background and aims Diabetic women have a more adverse plasma lipid profile than men. Sex differences in dietary habits may play a role, but are little investigated. The study evaluates the quality of diet, adherence to the nutritional recommendations of the Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group and their relation with plasma lipid in men and women with diabetes. Methods and results We studied 2573 people, aged 50–75, enrolled in the TOSCA.IT study (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00700856). Plasma lipids were measured centrally. Diet was assessed with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Women had a more adverse plasma lipid profile than men. Women consumed significantly more legumes, veg…