Yunfang Wang, Cai‐Bin Cui, Mitsuo Yamauchi, Patricia Miguez, Marsha Roach, Richard Malavarca, M. Joseph Costello, Vincenzo Cardinale, Eliane Wauthier, Claire Barbier, David A. Gerber, Domenico Alvaro, Lola M. Reid – 24 September 2010 – Current protocols for differentiation of stem cells make use of multiple treatments of soluble signals and/or matrix factors and result typically in partial differentiation to mature cells with under‐ or overexpression of adult tissue‐specific genes.

Dennis Eurich, Marcus Bahra, Sabine Boas‐Knoop, Johan F. Lock, Jennifer Golembus, Ruth Neuhaus, Peter Neuhaus, Ulf P. Neumann – 21 September 2010 – Re‐infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important development after liver transplantation (LT); it can lead to graft fibrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the role of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) polymorphisms in the development of HCV‐related graft disease by evaluating protocol liver biopsies.

Kenneth Siu Ho Chok, See Ching Chan, Tan To Cheung, William Wei Sharr, Albert Chi Yan Chan, Chung Mau Lo, Sheung Tat Fan – 21 September 2010 – Duct‐to‐duct anastomosis (DDA) and hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) are options for biliary reconstruction in patients undergoing adult‐to‐adult right lobe living donor liver transplantation (ARLDLT), after which biliary anastomotic stricture (BAS) is common as a complication. The risk factors for BAS are not clearly defined. We aimed to determine the rate of post‐ARLDLT BAS in our center and its associated factors.

John F. Renz – 21 September 2010

Kenya Yamanaka, Etsuro Hatano, Masato Narita, Koji Kitamura, Atsuko Yanagida, Hiroyuki Asechi, Hiromitsu Nagata, Kojiro Taura, Takashi Nitta, Shinji Uemoto – 21 September 2010 – After extended hepatectomy, excessive shear stress in the remnant liver causes postoperative liver failure. Olprinone (OLP), a selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, has been reported to improve microcirculation and attenuate inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of OLP on shear stress in rats with an excessive hepatectomy (EHx) model.

Miroslaw Kornek, Yury Popov, Towia A. Libermann, Nezam H. Afdhal, Detlef Schuppan – 20 September 2010 – Microparticles (MPs) are small cell membrane vesicles that are released from cells during apoptosis or activation. Although circulating platelet MPs have been studied in some detail, the existence and functional role of T cell MPs remain elusive. We show that blood from patients with active hepatitis C (alanine aminotransferase [ALT] level >100 IU/mL) contains elevated numbers of T cell MPs compared with patients with mild hepatitis C (ALT <40 IU/mL) and healthy controls.

Wing‐Kin Syn, Steve S. Choi, Evaggelia Liaskou, Gamze F. Karaca, Kolade M. Agboola, Ye Htun Oo, Zhiyong Mi, Thiago A. Pereira, Marzena Zdanowicz, Padmini Malladi, Yuping Chen, Cynthia Moylan, Youngmi Jung, Syamal D. Bhattacharya, Vanessa Teaberry, Alessia Omenetti, Manal F. Abdelmalek, Cynthia D. Guy, David H. Adams, Paul C. Kuo, Gregory A. Michelotti, Peter F. Whitington, Anna Mae Diehl – 20 September 2010 – Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of cirrhosis. Recently, we showed that NASH‐related cirrhosis is associated with Hedgehog (Hh) pathway activation.

Terence Kin Wah Lee, Antonia Castilho, Vincent Chi Ho Cheung, Kwan Ho Tang, Stephanie Ma, Irene Oi Lin Ng – 20 September 2010 – Liver tumor‐initiating cells (T‐ICs) are capable of self‐renewal and tumor initiation and are more chemoresistant to chemotherapeutic drugs. The current therapeutic strategies for targeting stem cell self‐renewal pathways therefore represent rational approaches for cancer prevention and treatment.

Herbert Tilg, Alexander R. Moschen – 20 September 2010 – Whereas in most cases a fatty liver remains free of inflammation, 10%‐20% of patients who have fatty liver develop inflammation and fibrosis (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]). Inflammation may precede steatosis in certain instances. Therefore, NASH could reflect a disease where inflammation is followed by steatosis. In contrast, NASH subsequent to simple steatosis may be the consequence of a failure of antilipotoxic protection.

Boris Blechacz, Gregory J. Gores – 20 September 2010