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Minerva Centers |
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Minerva Center on Cholesterol Gallstones and Lipid Metabolism in the Liver
Tel Aviv University (Established 1994) Director
Dr. Fred M. Konikoff Chairman of the Advisory Council
Prof. Dr. Gustav Paumgartner |
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Fields of research/Forschungsgebiete
Cholesterol gallstones: Elucidation of pathophysiology and methods for their prevention. Nutrition, lipid metabolism in the liver and determinants of lipid transport and secretion into bile and blood. Cholesteringallensteine: Aufklärung der Pathophysiologie und Entwicklung von Methoden zur Prävention. Ernährung, Lipidstoffwechsel der Leber und Determinanten des Transports und der Sekretion von Lipiden in die Galle und in das Blut. |
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Key Words
Phospholipid molecular species, phospholipid head groups and fatty acids, cholesterol crystallization in bile and its modulation, cholesterol carriers in bile, lipid metabolism and transport |
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Research activities and aims
Cholesterol gallstones affect some 10 % of the population and their prevention is an important public health goal. Aims: o Elucidation of the multiple factors affecting cholesterol solubilization and crystallization in bile. o Identification and characterization of cholesterol "carriers" in bile. o Characterization of the role of various molecular species of biliary phospholipids on cholesterol transport and crystallization in bile. o Investigate the determinants of hepatic uptake, metabolism and biliary secretion of lipids and particularly phospholipids. o Modulate the phospholipid species secreted into bile with the aim of enhancing cholesterol solubility and retarding its crystallization. o To prevent the formation of cholesterol gallstones in bile and their recurrence. |
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