Phillipp Hartmann, Peng Chen, Hui J. Wang, Lirui Wang, Declan F. McCole, Katharina Brandl, Peter Stärkel, Clara Belzer, Claus Hellerbrand, Hidekazu Tsukamoto, Samuel B. Ho, Bernd Schnabl – 13 February 2013 – The intestinal mucus layer protects the epithelium from noxious agents, viruses, and pathogenic bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract. It is composed of mucins, predominantly mucin (Muc) 2, secreted by goblet cells of the intestine.

Domingo Balderramo, Oriol Sendino, Rosa Miquel, Cristina Rodriguez de Miguel, Josep M. Bordas, Graciela Martinez‐Palli, Maria L. Leoz, Antoni Rimola, Miguel Navasa, Josep Llach, Andrés Cardenas – 12 February 2013 – In this descriptive study, we examined the role of single‐operator cholangioscopy (SOC) in the evaluation of biliary complications after liver transplantation (LT). We prospectively included adult recipients of deceased donor LT who were referred for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between June 2009 and July 2011.

Mohamed Rela, Venugopal Kota, Vivekanandan Shanmugam, Hemant Vadeyar – 12 February 2013

Hao Yang, Feng Fang, Ruimin Chang, Lianyue Yang – 11 February 2013 – By comparing the expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in different hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) subtypes, we identified miR‐140‐5p as an HCC‐related miRNA. We found that miR‐140‐5p was significantly decreased in HCC tissues and all of six liver cancer cell lines examined and its expression levels were correlated with multiple nodules, vein invasion, capsular formation, and differentiation, as well as overall and disease‐free survival of HCC.

Arne Dikkers, Jan Freak de Boer, Wijtske Annema, Albert K. Groen, Uwe J.F. Tietge – 11 February 2013 – Biliary lipid secretion plays an important role in gallstone disease and reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Using Sr‐bI/Abcg5 double knockout mice (dko), the present study investigated the differential contribution of two of the most relevant transporters: adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐binding cassette subfamily G member 5 and 8 (ABCG5/G8) and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR‐BI) to sterol metabolism and RCT.

Morris Sherman – 11 February 2013

Marialena Mouzaki, Elena M. Comelli, Bianca M. Arendt, Julia Bonengel, Scott K. Fung, Sandra E. Fischer, Ian D. McGilvray, Johane P. Allard – 11 February 2013

Anping Chen, Youcai Tang, Victoria Davis, Fong‐Fu Hsu, Susan M. Kennedy, Haowei Song, John Turk, Elizabeth M. Brunt, Elizabeth P. Newberry, Nicholas O. Davidson – 11 February 2013 – Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is crucial to the development of fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Quiescent HSCs contain lipid droplets (LDs), whose depletion upon activation induces a fibrogenic gene program.

Wim Laleman, Macarena Simon‐Talero, Geert Maleux, Mercedes Perez, Koen Ameloot, German Soriano, Jordi Villalba, Juan‐Carlos Garcia‐Pagan, Marta Barrufet, Rajiv Jalan, Jocelyn Brookes, Evangelos Thalassinos, Andrew K. Burroughs, Juan Cordoba, Frederik Nevens, on behalf of the EASL‐CLIF‐Consortium – 7 February 2013 – Refractory hepatic encephalopathy (HE) remains a major cause of morbidity in cirrhosis patients. Large spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSSs) have been previously suggested to sustain HE in these patients.

Phil McEwan, Thomas Ward, Yong Yuan, Ray Kim, Gilbert L'Italien – 6 February 2013 – Recent United States guidelines recommend one‐time birth cohort testing for hepatitis C infection in persons born between 1945 and 1965; this represents a major public health policy undertaking. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of treatment timing and prioritization on predicted cost‐effectiveness.