This cascade of responses drives the activation
of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into GSK1120212 solubility dmso a myofibroblast-like phenotype that is contractile, proliferative and fibrogenic. Collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM) components are deposited as the liver generates a wound-healing response to encapsulate injury. Sustained fibrogenesis leads to cirrhosis, characterized by a distortion of the liver parenchyma and vascular architecture. Uncovering the intricate mechanisms that underlie liver fibrogenesis forms the basis for efforts to develop targeted therapies to reverse the fibrotic response and improve the outcomes of patients with chronic liver disease. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The mission of the Heart Failure and Transplantation Section of the Spanish Society of Cardiology is to study, to promote interest in, and to disseminate information about all aspects of myocardial dysfunction
and heart transplantation. Heart failure is a highly prevalent condition that consumes a substantial proportion of healthcare resources. Consequently, there is considerable interest in the disorder. Numerous lines of clinical and preclinical research are actively being pursued and new ways of increasing selleck screening library knowledge about the disease are constantly being explored. The aim of this article was to describe the most recent developments concerning heart failure and its treatment. Firstly, the latest publications on chronic heart failure are analyzed. Then, there is a review of the most recent studies on resynchronization therapy and of clinical trials on acute heart failure. Thirdly, new developments in right Elafibranor heart dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension, and the findings of the Spanish Pulmonary Hypertension Registry are discussed. Finally, the latest information on ventricular assist devices and heart transplantation is presented. In addition, the most important data obtained from official transplantation
registries (i.e. the Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry and the Spanish Post-Heart Transplantation Tumor Registry) are reviewed.”
“Liver fibrogenic cells are a heterogenous population of cells that include alpha-smooth muscle actin positive myofibroblasts (MFs). MFs promote the progression of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) towards cirrhosis. MFs are highly proliferative and contractile and promote fibrogenesis by means of their multiple phenotypic responses to injury. These include: excess deposition and altered remodelling of extracellular matrix; the synthesis and release of growth factor which sustain and perpetuate fibrogenesis; chronic inflammatory response and neo-angiogenesis. MFs mainly originate from hepatic stellate cells or portal fibroblasts through activation and trans-differentiation. MFs may also potentially differentiate from bone marrow-derived stem cells.