Anna Suk‐Fong Lok – 19 February 2013

Rita Garcia‐Martinez, Paolo Caraceni, Mauro Bernardi, Pere Gines, Vicente Arroyo, Rajiv Jalan – 19 February 2013 – Since the introduction of human serum albumin as a plasma expander in the 1940s, considerable research has allowed a better understanding of its biochemical properties and potential clinical benefits. Albumin has a complex structure, which is responsible for a variety of biological functions. In disease, the albumin molecule is susceptible to modifications that may alter its biological activity.

Rita Garcia‐Martinez, Paolo Caraceni, Mauro Bernardi, Pere Gines, Vicente Arroyo, Rajiv Jalan – 19 February 2013 – Since the introduction of human serum albumin as a plasma expander in the 1940s, considerable research has allowed a better understanding of its biochemical properties and potential clinical benefits. Albumin has a complex structure, which is responsible for a variety of biological functions. In disease, the albumin molecule is susceptible to modifications that may alter its biological activity.

Norah Terrault, Jennifer Dodge, Miriam Alter – 19 February 2013

Martin Franz Sprinzl, Florian Reisinger, Andreas Puschnik, Marc Ringelhan, Kerstin Ackermann, Daniel Hartmann, Matthias Schiemann, Arndt Weinmann, Peter Robert Galle, Marcus Schuchmann, Helmut Friess, Gerd Otto, Mathias Heikenwalder, Ulrike Protzer – 19 February 2013 – Alternatively polarized macrophages (Mϕ) shape the microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and temper anticancer immune responses. We investigated if sorafenib alters the HCC microenvironment by restoring classical macrophage polarization and triggering tumor‐directed natural killer (NK) cell responses.

Mustafa A. Arain, Rajeev Attam, Martin L. Freeman – 15 February 2013 – Biliary tract complications after liver transplantation (LT) most commonly include biliary leaks, strictures, and stone disease. Living donor recipients and donation after cardiac death recipients are at an increased risk of developing biliary complications. Biliary leaks usually occur early after transplantation, whereas strictures and stone disease occur later. The diagnosis of biliary complications relies on a combination of clinical presentation, laboratory abnormalities, and imaging modalities.

Mamatha Bhat, Nahum Sonenberg, Gregory J. Gores – 13 February 2013 – The mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays a critical role in cellular metabolism, growth, and proliferation and has been evaluated as a target for therapy in various malignancies. The mTOR pathway is a major tumor‐initiating pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma, with up‐regulation seen in up to 50% of tumors. Metformin, which represses mTOR signaling by activating adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase, has been shown to decrease liver carcinogenesis in population studies.

Deepak Joshi, Siamak Salehi, Helen Brereton, Matthew Arno, Alberto Quaglia, Nigel Heaton, John O'Grady, Kosh Agarwal, Varuna Aluvihare – 13 February 2013 – Recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with accelerated fibrosis rates after liver transplantation (LT) and is the leading cause of graft failure. Furthermore, distinguishing recurrent HCV from acute cellular rejection (ACR) can be problematic, and this can lead to inappropriate treatments and adverse outcomes.

Joseph C. Yarze – 13 February 2013

Naoko Kamo, Bibo Ke, Amir A. Ghaffari, Xiu‐da Shen, Ronald W. Busuttil, Genhong Cheng, Jerzy W. Kupiec‐Weglinski – 13 February 2013 – Apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), an adaptor protein for inflammasome receptors, is essential for inducing caspase‐1 activation and the consequent secretion of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), which is associated with local inflammation during liver ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). However, little is known about the mechanisms by which the ASC/caspase‐1/IL‐1β axis exerts its function in hepatic IRI.