Mariana Verdelho Machado, António Gouveia Oliveira, Helena Cortez‐Pinto – 23 June 2010 – Hepatic steatosis (HS) is frequent in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, occurring in 40%‐80%, associating with metabolic and virus‐related factors, namely, genotype 3 and viral load. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and antiretroviral treatment seem to be risk factors for HS. Several studies addressed this issue in coinfected patients, with discrepant results. A meta‐analysis was performed on the HS risk factors in coinfected patients.

Emmanouil Sinakos, Hanns‐Ulrich Marschall, Kris V. Kowdley, Alex Befeler, Jill Keach, Keith Lindor – 23 June 2010 – High‐dose (28‐30 mg/kg/day) ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment improves serum liver tests in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) but does not improve survival and is associated with increased rates of serious adverse events. The mechanism for the latter undesired effect remains unclear.

Steve S. Choi, Rafal P. Witek, Liu Yang, Alessia Omenetti, Wing‐Kin Syn, Cynthia A. Moylan, Youngmi Jung, Gamze F. Karaca, Vanessa S. Teaberry, Thiago A. Pereira, Jiangbo Wang, Xiu‐Rong Ren, Anna Mae Diehl – 23 June 2010 – Hepatic accumulation of myofibroblastic hepatic stellate cells (MF‐HSCs) is pivotal in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis. Two events are necessary for MF‐HSCs to accumulate in damaged livers: transition of resident, quiescent hepatic stellate cells (Q‐HSCs) to MF‐HSCs and expansion of MF‐HSC numbers through increased proliferation and/or reduced apoptosis.

Yongjun Wang, Rajat Singh, Youqing Xiang, Mark J. Czaja – 23 June 2010 – The function of the lysosomal degradative pathway of autophagy in cellular injury is unclear, because findings in nonhepatic cells have implicated autophagy as both a mediator of cell death and as a survival response. Autophagic function is impaired in steatotic and aged hepatocytes, suggesting that in these settings hepatocellular injury may be altered by the decrease in autophagy.

Nathan A. Johnson, Jacob George – 23 June 2010 – The rapid emergence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a cause of both liver‐related morbidity and mortality and cardiometabolic risk has led to the search for effective lifestyle strategies to reduce liver fat. Lifestyle intervention comprising dietary restriction in conjunction with increased physical activity has shown clear hepatic benefits when weight loss approximating 3%‐10% of body weight is achieved.

Lorenzo Azzalini, José Altamirano, Ramón Bataller – 23 June 2010

Giovanni Musso, Roberto Gambino, Maurizio Cassader, Gianfranco Pagano – 23 June 2010 – Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a histological spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NAFLD carries a higher risk of cardio‐metabolic and liver‐related complications, the latter being confined to NASH and demanding specific treatment. We assessed the efficacy of proposed treatments for NAFLD/NASH by reviewing reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on online databases and national and international meeting abstracts through January 2010.

Roberto J. Groszmann – 23 June 2010

Kui Wang, Jian Liu, Zhen‐Lin Yan, Jun Li, Le‐Hua Shi, Wen‐Ming Cong, Yong Xia, Qi‐Fei Zou, Tao Xi, Feng Shen, Hong‐Yang Wang, Meng‐Chao Wu – 23 June 2010 – The association between the overexpression of aspartyl‐(asparaginyl)‐β‐hydroxylase (AAH) and the invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro has been reported. However, the prognostic value of AAH expression in HCC remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between AAH expression, tumor recurrence, and patient survival.

Sanjay Y. Bangarulingam, Einar Björnsson, Felicity Enders, Emily G. Barr Fritcher, Gregory Gores, Kevin C. Halling, Keith D. Lindor – 23 June 2010