Experimental Hepatocarcinogenesis

The meeting on experimental hepatocarcinogenesis which took place in Spa, Belgium at the end of May 1987 was the Second European Meeting. About 100 scientists, mostly from Europe but also from the United States, met there for three days in a very friendly atmosphere to exchange knowledge and ideas on experimental and human liver carcinogenesis. The main topics discussed during the meeting included general reviews on hepatocarcinogenesis, experimental models of hepa tocarcinogenesis, biology of hepatocarcinogenesis, and in vitro studies in hepatocarcinogenesis. They are all covered by the various chapters of this proceedings volume, which reflects the present state of knowledge in this important field of cancer research. The final aim of that research is to understand the basic mechanisms of carcinogenesis. The liver offers a parti cularly interesting tool to reach such a goal. Indeed, its biochemistry, its morphology, and its physiology are very diverse, but relatively well known. Various protocols have been developed to produce hepatocellular carcinomas or other malignant tumors. Their appearance is most often preceded by phenotypically altered foci and nodules which have been isolated and characterized. The major cell populations of normal, neoplastic, and malignant livers have been cultivated.

Bridging the gap between basic scientific advances and the understanding of liver disease — the extensively revised new edition of the premier text in the field. The latest edition of The Liver: Biology and Pathobiology remains a definitive volume in the field of hepatology, relating advances in biomedical sciences and engineering to understanding of liver structure, function, and disease pathology and treatment. Contributions from leading researchers examine the cell biology of the liver, the pathobiology of liver disease, the liver’s growth, regeneration, metabolic functions, and more. Now in its sixth edition, this classic text has been exhaustively revised to reflect new discoveries in biology and their influence on diagnosing, managing, and preventing liver disease. Seventy new chapters — including substantial original sections on liver cancer and groundbreaking advances that will have significant impact on hepatology — provide comprehensive, fully up-to-date coverage of both the current state and future direction of hepatology. Topics include liver RNA structure and function, gene editing, single-cell and single-molecule genomic analyses, the molecular biology of hepatitis, drug interactions and engineered drug design, and liver disease mechanisms and therapies. Edited by globally-recognized experts in the field, this authoritative volume: Relates molecular physiology to understanding disease pathology and treatment Links the science and pathology of the liver to practical clinical applications Features 16 new “Horizons” chapters that explore new and emerging science and technology Includes plentiful full-color illustrations and figures The Liver: Biology and Pathobiology, Sixth Edition is an indispensable resource for practicing and trainee hepatologists, gastroenterologists, hepatobiliary and liver transplant surgeons, and researchers and scientists in areas including hepatology, cell and molecular biology, virology, and drug metabolism.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the current limitations and unmet needs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. It also provides newly emerging concepts, approaches, and technologies to address challenges. Topics covered include changing landscape of HCC etiologies in association with health disparities, framework of clinical management algorithm, new and experimental modalities of HCC diagnosis and prognostication, multidisciplinary treatment options including rapidly evolving molecular targeted therapies and immune therapies, multi-omics molecular characterization, and clinically relevant experimental models. The book is intended to assist collaboration between the diverse disciplines and facilitate forward and reverse translation between basic and clinical research by providing a comprehensive overview of relevant areas, covering epidemiological trend and population-level patient management strategies, new diagnostic and prognostic tools, recent advances in the standard care and novel therapeutic approaches, and new concepts in pathogenesis and experimental approaches and tools, by experts and opinion leaders in their respective fields. By thoroughly and concisely covering whole aspects of HCC care, Hepatocellular Carcinoma serves as a valuable reference for multidisciplinary readers, and promotes the development of personalized precision care strategies that lead to substantial improvement of disease burden and patient prognosis in HCC.

The Role of Cell Types in Hepatocarcinogenesis provides the first comprehensive, review and analysis of cell precursor relationships believed to be important in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and other types of nonmesenchymal liver tumors. The book focuses on cell lineages in liver development and neoplastic formation in both experimental animal models and humans. It also critically reviews current information supporting the existence of a "facultative liver stem cell" and its potential role as an alternative cell of origin in the genesis of various hepatic neoplasms, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Other significant topics covered include cellular and viral oncogenes, p53 gene and growth factors in hepatocarcinogenesis, and the use of newly developed transgenic animal and cell culture models designed for investigating the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Numerous figures and tables illustrate difficult concepts, and an extensive listing of references is included. The Role of Cell Types in Hepatocarcinogenesis is a practical reference volume that basic and clinical researchers in liver carcinogenesis, development, and differentiation will find useful in their day-to-day work.

Mycotoxins, from the Greek "mukes" referring to fungi or slime molds and toxin from the Latin "toxicum" referencing a poison for arrows, have earned their reputation for being potentially deleterious to the health and well being of a consuming organism, whether it be animal or human. Unfortunately, mycotoxins are a ubiquitous factor in the natural life cycle of food producing plants. As such, control of the potential impact of mycotoxins on food safety relies heavily upon accurate analysis and surveys followed by commodity segregation and restricted use or decontamination through processing. The purpose of this book is to provide the most comprehensive and current information on the topic of mycotoxins and assuring food safety. Chapters represented in the book reflect such diverse topics ranging from occurrence and impact, analysis, reduction through processing and plant breeding, toxicology and safety assessments to regulatory perspectives. Authors represent a range of international perspectives.

The general populations are incidentally exposed to a wide variety of xenobiotics as a consequence of the pollution of the environment by industrial and agricultural chemicals. Xenobiotics entering the animal will undergo one or more of the following fate: (a) elimination unchanged, (b) metabolism by enzymes, (c) spontaneous chemical transformation and (d) remain unchanged in the body. The actions of xenobiotics on the body exhibit certain specificity depending upon the compound's chemical structure and reactivity. Since the processes of metabolism change these chemical properties ofaxenobiotic, bewildering number of reactions continue to pose new challenges to toxicologists and pharmacologists. It necessitates periodic and precise revision of the subject. This book contains invited contributions from learned colleagues that offer an excellent survey of and profound insight into the disposition and metabolism of a few environmentally and industrially significant xenobiotics. The topics range from an assessment of drug metabolising enzymes in the liver, DNA damage by reactive oxygen species generated by pesticides, role of NO in liver injury, hepatotrophicgrowth factor in liver regeneration, extracellular matrix in the liver, oncogene expression in liver injury, the hepatocarcinogenesis to oxidative stress and undifferentiated gene expression. Detailed analysis of the validity of liver function tests has been included. Last Chapter addresses the problem of apoptosis, which plays a key role in the signal transduction system of xenobiotics-induced liver injury. The reader should appreciate that overall exposure to this field is expanding at a rapid pace and selections had to be made.

The contributions to this volume cover all aspects of the assessment and management of hepatobiliary disease. The focal points of the book consist of three state-of-the-art summaries. The first of these deals with the highly topical problem of liver transplants from the point of view of patient selection. The second considers drug-induced liver injury in view of the fact that the liver is the main metabolic site for a number of drugs. The final summary deals with liver and aging: it asks whether the liver follows the aging process of the host organisms and whether the liver of aged liver transplant candidate donors could be suitable for grafting. Aside from these topics, the volume presents basic research on hepatic transport mechanisms, intrahepatic cholestasis and gall-stone disease, which serves as a background for the topics more specifically concerning the assessment of liver function. Much of the book is then devoted to the management of the commonest forms of liver diseases and their complications, such as chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and ascites.