Ahmed El‐Shamy, Michiko Shindo, Ikuo Shoji, Lin Deng, Tadao Okuno, Hak Hotta – 24 December 2012 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common sequelae of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. It remains controversial, however, whether HCV itself plays a direct role in the development of HCC. Although HCV core, NS3, and NS5A proteins were reported to display tumorigenic activities in cell culture and experimental animal systems, their clinical impact on HCC development in humans is still unclear.

John P. Allen, Friedrich M. Wurst, Natasha Thon, Raye Z. Litten – 24 December 2012 – The accurate assessment of drinking by patients with alcoholic liver disease is important both before and after liver transplantation. Unfortunately, self‐reports by these individuals often underestimate their actual alcohol consumption. Several recently developed biochemical measures can provide additional information on a patient's use of alcohol.

James E. Fisher, Joseph B. Lillegard, Travis J. Mckenzie, Brian R. Rodysill, Peter J. Wettstein, Scott L. Nyberg – 24 December 2012 – In utero cell transplantation (IUCT) can lead to the postnatal engraftment of human cells in the xenogeneic recipient. Most reports of IUCT have involved hematopoietic stem cells. It is unknown whether human hepatocytes used for IUCT in fetal pigs will lead to the engraftment of these same cells in the postnatal environment.

David S. Lu, Surachate Siripongsakun, Jeong Kyong Lee, Sindy H. Wei, Phillip M. Cheng, Saman Sabounchi, Jong Seok Lee, Steven Raman, Myron J. Tong, Ronald W. Busuttil, James Sayre – 24 December 2012 – The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of complete tumor encapsulation as visualized on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with a solitary large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond the Milan criteria for liver transplantation (LT).

Nadia Panera, Sara Ceccarelli, Cristiano Stefanis, Valerio Nobili, Anna Alisi – 22 December 2012

Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Kentaro Kogure, Goshi Shiota – 22 December 2012

Yoichi Hiasa, Hironori Ochi, Masashi Hirooka – 22 December 2012

Homie Razavi, Antoine C. ElKhoury, Elamin Elbasha, Chris Estes, Ken Pasini, Thierry Poynard, Ritesh Kumar – 22 December 2012 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation. A better understanding of HCV disease progression and the associated cost can help the medical community manage HCV and develop treatment strategies in light of the emergence of several potent anti‐HCV therapies. A system dynamic model with 36 cohorts was used to provide maximum flexibility and improved forecasting.

Mark J. Czaja – 22 December 2012

Giovanna Ferraioli, Raffaella Lissandrin, Carlo Filice – 22 December 2012