Kathrin Schmich, Rebekka Schlatter, Nadia Corazza, Karine Sá Ferreira, Michael Ederer, Thomas Brunner, Christoph Borner, Irmgard Merfort – 24 September 2010 – Fas/CD95 is a critical mediator of cell death in many chronic and acute liver diseases and induces apoptosis in primary hepatocytes in vitro. In contrast, the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) fails to provoke cell death in isolated hepatocytes but has been implicated in hepatocyte apoptosis during liver diseases associated with chronic inflammation.

Liang Xi, Changting Xiao, Robert H.J. Bandsma, Mark Naples, Khosrow Adeli, Gary F. Lewis – 24 September 2010 – Plasma C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentration is increased in the metabolic syndrome, which consists of a cluster of cardiovascular disease risk factors, including insulin resistance. It is not known, however, whether CRP is merely a marker of accompanying inflammation or whether it contributes causally to insulin resistance. The objective of this study is to investigate the role that CRP may play in the development of insulin resistance.

Kuok Teong Ong, Mara T. Mashek, So Young Bu, Andrew S. Greenberg, Douglas G. Mashek – 24 September 2010 – Despite advances in our understanding of the ways in which nutrient oversupply and triacylglycerol (TAG) anabolism contribute to hepatic steatosis, little is known about the lipases responsible for regulating hepatic TAG turnover. Recent studies have identified adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) as a major lipase in adipose tissue, although its role in the liver is largely unknown. Thus, we tested the contribution of ATGL to hepatic lipid metabolism and signaling.

Gregory J. Gores – 24 September 2010

Anna Alisi, Nadia Panera, Clara Balsano, Valerio Nobili – 24 September 2010

Yoon‐Mi Lee, Ji‐Hong Lim, Haejin Yoon, Yang‐Sook Chun, Jong‐Wan Park – 24 September 2010 – Chaetocin, an antibiotic produced by Chaetomium species fungi, was recently found to have antimyeloma activity. Here we examined whether chaetocin has anticancer activities against solid tumors. Chaetocin inhibited the growth of mouse and human hepatoma grafts in nude mice. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that chaetocin inhibits hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) expression and vessel formation in the tumors.

Carole Macaron, Ibrahim A. Hanouneh, Nizar N. Zein – 24 September 2010

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.