Hang Li, Ke Wu, Kaixiong Tao, Libo Chen, Qichang Zheng, Xiaoming Lu, Jun Liu, Liang Shi, Chuanqiao Liu, Guobin Wang, Weiping Zou – 13 April 2012 – The interaction between T cell immunoglobulin‐ and mucin‐domain‐containing molecule (Tim‐3) expressed on T helper 1 (Th1) cells, and its ligand, galectin‐9, negatively regulates Th1‐mediated immune responses. However, it is poorly understood if and how the Tim‐3/galectin‐9 signaling pathway is involved in immune escape in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Yuko Kageyama, Hitoshi Ikeda, Naoko Watanabe, Masakazu Nagamine, Yoshika Kusumoto, Mitsuru Yashiro, Yumiko Satoh, Tatsuo Shimosawa, Koji Shinozaki, Tomoaki Tomiya, Yukiko Inoue, Takako Nishikawa, Natsuko Ohtomo, Yasushi Tanoue, Hiromitsu Yokota, Takatoshi Koyama, Kazuhiro Ishimaru, Yasuo Okamoto, Yoh Takuwa, Kazuhiko Koike, Yutaka Yatomi – 13 April 2012 – Sinusoidal vasoconstriction, in which hepatic stellate cells operate as contractile machinery, has been suggested to play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of portal hypertension.

Silvia Sookoian, Gustavo O. Castaño, Carlos J. Pirola – 13 April 2012

Daisuke Kawai, Akinobu Takaki, Atsuko Nakatsuka, Jun Wada, Naofumi Tamaki, Tetsuya Yasunaka, Kazuko Koike, Ryuichiro Tsuzaki, Kazuyuki Matsumoto, Yasuhiro Miyake, Hidenori Shiraha, Manabu Morita, Hirofumi Makino, Kazuhide Yamamoto – 13 April 2012 – Oxidative stress is a strong contributor to the progression from simple fatty liver to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Molecular hydrogen is an effective antioxidant that reduces cytotoxic reactive oxygen species.

Lucy Golden‐Mason, Amy E.L. Stone, Kiran M. Bambha, Linling Cheng, Hugo R. Rosen – 13 April 2012 – Major racial and gender differences have been documented in the natural history and treatment responses of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; however, distinct mechanisms have remained enigmatic. We hypothesized that racial‐ and gender‐related differences in natural killer (NK) cell populations may explain altered natural history and treatment responses.

Yan Liang, Zaixing Yang, Renqian Zhong – 13 April 2012 – Several studies have indicated that primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) may be associated with increased risk of some cancers, but the results are controversial. We conducted a systematic review of studies to examine the association of PBC with cancer risk by meta‐analysis. We searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases for English‐language studies published before November 2011. Studies were included if they reported relative risk estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) or related data for the association between PBC and cancer risk.

Flavio G. Rocha, Hwajeong Lee, Nora Katabi, Ronald P. DeMatteo, Yuman Fong, Michael I. D'Angelica, Peter J. Allen, David S. Klimstra, William R. Jarnagin – 13 April 2012 – Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a variant of bile duct carcinoma characterized by intraductal growth and better outcome compared with the more common nodular‐sclerosing type. IPNB is a recognized precursor of invasive carcinoma, but its pathogenesis and natural history are ill‐defined. This study examines the clinicopathologic features and outcomes of IPNB.

Claudia O. Zein, Rocio Lopez, Xiaoming Fu, John P. Kirwan, Lisa M. Yerian, Arthur J. McCullough, Stanley L. Hazen, Ariel E. Feldstein – 13 April 2012 – Pentoxifylline (PTX) improved the histological features of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in a recent randomized placebo‐controlled trial. However, the underlying mechanism responsible for the beneficial effects of PTX in NASH remains unidentified. A key role of lipid oxidation in the pathogenesis and progression of NASH has been established. PTX is known to decrease free‐radical‐mediated oxidative stress and inhibit lipid oxidation.

Takuya Matsumura, Takanobu Kato, Nao Sugiyama, Megumi Tasaka‐Fujita, Asako Murayama, Takahiro Masaki, Takaji Wakita, Michio Imawari – 6 April 2012 – Because the current interferon (IFN)‐based treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has a therapeutic limitation and side effects, a more efficient therapeutic strategy is desired. Recent studies show that supplementation of vitamin D significantly improves sustained viral response via IFN‐based therapy. However, mechanisms and an active molecular form of vitamin D for its anti‐HCV effects have not been fully clarified.

Wei‐Dong Chen, Xianghui Fu, Bingning Dong, Yan‐Dong Wang, Steven Shiah, David D. Moore, Wendong Huang – 6 April 2012 – Aberrant epigenetic alterations during development may result in long‐term epigenetic memory and have a permanent effect on the health of subjects. Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) is a central regulator of drug/xenobiotic metabolism. Here, we report that transient neonatal activation of CAR results in epigenetic memory and a permanent change of liver drug metabolism.