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Article
Open AccessBlood angiopoietin-2 predicts liver angiogenesis and fibrosis in hepatitis C patients
Pathological angiogenesis is involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. In patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), the level of angiogenic factor angiopoietin (ANGP)-2 is reported to be increase...
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Article
Bone morphogenetic protein 4 provides cancer-supportive phenotypes to liver fibroblasts in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are essential constituents of cancer-supportive microenvironments. The high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in advanced fibrosis patients implies that fibroblas...
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Article
Open AccessSerum milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFG-E8) as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Current serum hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biomarkers are insufficient for early diagnosis. We aimed to clarify whether serum MFG-E8 can serve as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker of HCC. Serum MFG-E8 lev...
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Article
Open AccessSelective inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin/CBP signaling ameliorates hepatitis C virus-induced liver fibrosis in mouse model
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major causes of serious liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis. There are no anti-fibrotic drugs with efficacy against liver cirrhosis. Wnt/β-catenin ...
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Article
A case of malignant melanoma simultaneously found in the lung and small intestine
Metastatic melanoma in the small bowel is a common cause of secondary intestinal tumors. We present a case of a 77-year-old man with melena resulting from melanoma in the small bowel that was simultaneously fo...
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Article
Open AccessHigh susceptibility to lipopolysaccharide-induced lethal shock in encephalomyocarditis virus-infected mice
Secondary bacterial infection in humans is one of the pathological conditions requiring clinical attention. In this study, we examined the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV...
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Article
Adult intussusception of the descending colon due to inflammatory myofibroblastic proliferation
We present a case of an asymptomatic 70-year-old man with intussusception of the descending colon due to inflammatory myofibroblastic proliferation. Abdominal ultrasound examination showed a hypoechoic mass, 3...
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Chapter
Apoptosis in Liver Injury and Liver Diseases
The liver is a multifunctional organ that has important roles such as metabolism, synthesis, and detoxification. Enhanced hepatocyte apoptosis and impaired liver regeneration are the most common liver disorder...
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Article
TLR4 enhances TGF-β signaling and hepatic fibrosis
Hepatic injury is associated with a defective intestinal barrier and increased hepatic exposure to bacterial products. Here we report that the intestinal bacterial microflora and a functional Toll-like recepto...
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Chapter and Conference Paper
Tumor Necrosis Factor α-Induced Hepatic Apoptosis and Hepatocyte Sensitization
Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and Fas ligand are death factors that bind to their receptors, two TNF receptors (TNFR), TNFR1 and TNFR2, and Fas, respectively, and induce apoptosis in a variety of cell types. ...
