Hox transcription factors control a number of developmental processes with the help of the PBC class proteins. In vitro analyses have established that the formation of Hox/PBC complexes relies on a short conserved Hox protein motif called the hexapeptide (HX). This paradigm is at the basis of the vast majority of experimental approaches dedicated to the study of Hox protein function. Here we qu...

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) has been regarded as female-predominant without evidence of gender difference in survival. We aimed to compare the overall survival, incidence and prevalence of PBC in two well defined population-based studies over a recent decade, considering also sex ratios and mortality. We have taken advantage of population-wide records, during 2000-2009, in Lombardia, Nort...

Hypercholesterolemic human LDL contains oxidized subfractions that have atherogenic properties. Paradoxically, atherosclerosis incidence is low in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), a disease characterized by marked increases in plasma LDL, including the LDL subfraction lipoprotein-X (Lp-X). To investigate the mechanisms underlying this paradox, we first examined the propensity to o...

Background. Severe anterior post-burn contracture (PBC) of the neck poses the anaesthesiologist some difficult problems and results in difficult intubation when extension of the atlanto-occipital joint is impaired. Such patients must therefore have the PBC scar released before other procedures are performed, in order to ensure airway control. Objectives. To show our experience with quick surgic...

The association between primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is uncommon; only fourteen such case reports have been described. In this report, three patients who developed AIHA on the basis of PBC underwent successful therapy with corticosteroids and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Patient 3 was more complicated, suffering from PBC, Evans syndrome, Sjögren syndrom...

BACKGROUND/AIM Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a progressive, chronic liver disease with elevated serum lipids, but it is unclear whether hyperlipidemia in PBC patients is associated with atherosclerosis. Metabolic syndrome promotes development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease related to abdominal type obesity and insulin resistance. The aim of our study was to assess abdominal adip...

Although autoimmune diseases are often concomitant, the coexistence of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is rare. This is a review of the English-language literature regarding concomitant cases of PBC and ITP. Among 17 concomitant cases reported, including four diagnosed with Evans syndrome, which includes ITP symptoms, PBC was diagnosed firs...

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has been often coined a model autoimmune disease based on the homogeneity amongst patients, the frequency and similarity of antimitochondrial antibodies, including the highly directed immune response to pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDC-E2). A significant number of patients with PBC suffer from sicca and amongst these, there are patients who also have classic Sjögren's...

In this study, we assessed the differences in the dose distribution of a 4 MV photon beam among different calculation algorithms: the Acuros XB (AXB) algorithm, the analytic anisotropic algorithm (AAA), and the pencil beam convolution (PBC) algorithm (ver. 11.0.31), in phantoms and in clinical intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans. Homogeneous and heterogeneous, including middle-, ...

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic, cholestatic autoimmune liver disease characterized by inflammation and progressive destruction of interlobular bile ducts, ultimately leading to biliary cirrhosis. Population based studies have estimated the incidence of PBC as 19.1–251/ 1 000 000 in the general population [1,2]. The etiology of PBC is attributed to autoimmunity mainly due to the as...