Weili Liu, Xiaoxing Li, Eagle S.H. Chu, Minnie Y.Y. Go, Lixia Xu, Guijun Zhao, Lili Li, Ning Dai, Jianmin Si, Qian Tao, Joseph J.Y. Sung, Jun Yu – 17 December 2010 – The paired box 5 (PAX5) is a member of PAX transcription factors family involved in the regulation of embryonic development. However, the role of PAX5 in carcinogenesis is largely unclear. We identified that PAX5 is involved in human cancer by methylation‐sensitive representational difference analysis. We examined the biological functions and related molecular mechanisms of PAX5 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Kristina Aleksic, Carolin Lackner, Jochen B. Geigl, Martina Schwarz, Martina Auer, Peter Ulz, Maria Fischer, Zlatko Trajanoski, Marcus Otte, Michael R. Speicher – 17 December 2010 – Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is a hepatic procarcinogen which is frequently used as an inducer of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in mice. Although mice after DEN exposure are among the most widely used models for liver tumorigenesis, a detailed, mechanistic characterization of the longitudinal changes in the respective tumor genomes has never been performed.

Maria Stepanova, Fasiha Kanwal, Hashem B. El‐Serag, Zobair M. Younossi – 17 December 2010 – Successful treatment with antiviral therapy could potentially reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, at the population level, these benefits may be offset by a limited number of patients who have access to antiviral treatment. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2005‐2008, we analyzed the health insurance status and treatment candidacy of HCV‐positive (HCV+) individuals.

Vicenzo Mazzaferro – 14 December 2010

14 December 2010

Hitendra Garg, Shiv Kumar Sarin, Manoj Kumar, Vishal Garg, Barjesh Chander Sharma, Ashish Kumar – 14 December 2010 – Spontaneous reactivation of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is an important cause of acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF). Antiviral drugs may help reduce the high morbidity and mortality in such patients, especially in places where liver transplant is not available. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of tenofovir and to determine the predictors of mortality in patients with spontaneous reactivation of CHB with ACLF.

Tiangang Li, Michelle Matozel, Shannon Boehme, Bo Kong, Lisa‐Mari Nilsson, Grace Guo, Ewa Ellis, John Y. L. Chiang – 14 December 2010 – We reported previously that mice overexpressing cytochrome P450 7a1 (Cyp7a1; Cyp7a1‐tg mice) are protected against high fat diet–induced hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and insulin resistance. Here, we investigated the underlying mechanism of bile acid signaling in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis in Cyp7a1‐tg mice. Cyp7a1‐tg mice had two‐fold higher Cyp7a1 activity and bile acid pool than did wild‐type mice.

Kyu Sik Jung, Seung Up Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Young Nyun Park, Do Young Kim, Jun Yong Park, Chae Yoon Chon, Eun Hee Choi, Kwang‐Hyub Han – 14 December 2010 – Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using FibroScan accurately assesses the degree of liver fibrosis and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis C. This study investigated the usefulness of LSM as a predictor of HCC development in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Arun Thenappan, Vivek Shukla, Feras J. Abdul Khalek, Ying Li, Kirti Shetty, Pu Liu, Lu Li, Randy L. Johnson, Lynt Johnson, Lopa Mishra – 14 December 2010 – Liver regeneration, following partial hepatectomy (PHx), occurs through precisely controlled and synchronized cell proliferation, in which quiescent hepatocytes undergo one to two rounds of replication, with restoration of liver mass and function. We previously demonstrated that loss of the Smad3/4 adaptor protein β‐2 spectrin (β2SP) is associated with faster entry into S phase, and hepatocellular cancer formation.

14 December 2010