Kyoungsub Song, Chang Han, Jinqiang Zhang, Dongdong Lu, Srikanta Dash, Mark Feitelson, Kyu Lim, Tong Wu – 23 May 2013 – MicroRNA‐122 (miR‐122), a pivotal liver‐specific miRNA, has been implicated in several liver diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatitis C and B viral infection. This study aimed to explore epigenetic regulation of miR‐122 in human HCC cells and to examine the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Kathleen B. Schwarz, Barbara H. Haber, Philip Rosenthal, Cara L. Mack, Jeffrey Moore, Kevin Bove, Jorge A. Bezerra, Saul J. Karpen, Nanda Kerkar, Benjamin L. Shneider, Yumirle P. Turmelle, Peter F. Whitington, Jean P. Molleston, Karen F. Murray, Vicky L. Ng, René Romero, Kasper S. Wang, Ronald J. Sokol, John C. Magee, Childhood Liver Disease Research and Education Network – 23 May 2013 – The etiology of biliary atresia (BA) is unknown.

Eugenio Rosado, Aina Rodríguez‐Vilarrupla, Jorge Gracia‐Sancho, Dinesh Tripathi, Héctor García‐Calderó, Jaume Bosch, Juan Carlos García‐Pagán – 23 May 2013 – Increased production of vasoconstrictive prostanoids, such as thromboxane A2 (TXA2), contributes to endothelial dysfunction and increased hepatic vascular tone in cirrhosis. TXA2 induces vasoconstriction by way of activation of the thromboxane‐A2/prostaglandin‐endoperoxide (TP) receptor.

Ingmar Mederacke, Matthias J. Bahr – 23 May 2013

Parvathi Mohan, Bruce A. Barton, Michael R. Narkewicz, Jean P. Molleston, Regino P. Gonzalez‐Peralta, Philip Rosenthal, Karen F. Murray, Barbara Haber, Kathleen B. Schwarz, Zachary D. Goodman – 23 May 2013 – Clinical and histologic progression of liver disease in untreated children with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is poorly documented. The aim of this retrospective study was to characterize changes in liver histology over time in a cohort of HCV‐infected children who had more than one liver biopsy separated by over 1 year.

Armando Tripodi, Massimo Primignani – 23 May 2013

Mazen Noureddin, Elizabeth C. Wright, Harvey J. Alter, Shauna Clark, Emmanuel Thomas, Richard Chen, Xiongce Zhao, Cathy Conry‐Cantilena, David E. Kleiner, T. Jake Liang, Marc G. Ghany – 23 May 2013 – Interleukin (IL)28B polymorphisms are associated with spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and response to therapy. Whether IL28B genotype affects fibrosis progression or clinical outcome is unclear. Our aim was to study the relationship between IL28B genotype and both histological and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Terence N. Bukong, Karen Kodys, Gyongyi Szabo – 23 May 2013 – Host cytoskeletal proteins of the ezrin‐moesin‐radixin (EMR) family have been shown to modulate single‐stranded RNA virus infection through regulating stable microtubule formation. Antibody engagement of CD81, a key receptor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry, induces ezrin phosphorylation. Here we tested the role of EMR proteins in regulating HCV infection and explored potential therapeutic targets.

Annalisa Berzigotti, Juan G. Abraldes, Jaume Bosch – 23 May 2013

Luís Ruíz‐del‐Árbol, Linette Achécar, Regina Serradilla, Miguel Á. Rodríguez‐Gandía, Miguel Rivero, Elena Garrido, José J. Natcher – 23 May 2013 – We investigated left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and its relationship with circulatory function and prognosis in cirrhosis with portal hypertension and normal creatinine. Conventional and tissue Doppler (TDI) echocardiography, systemic and hepatic hemodynamics, and the activity of endogenous vasoactive systems (AEVS) were measured prospectively in 80 patients.