Javed Ehtisham, Mario Altieri, Ephrem Salamé, Eric Saloux, Isabelle Ollivier, Martial Hamon – 25 January 2010 – The prevalence of coronary artery disease in end‐stage liver disease is only now being recognized. Liver transplant patients are a high risk subgroup for coronary artery disease, even if asymptomatic. Coronary artery disease is a predictor of poor outcomes; therefore, identification of those at risk must be a key clinical priority.

Seth Sweetser, Robert E. Kraichely – 25 January 2010

Rinke Stienstra, Fredy Saudale, Caroline Duval, Shohreh Keshtkar, Johanna E. M. Groener, Nico van Rooijen, Bart Staels, Sander Kersten, Michael Müller – 25 January 2010 – Kupffer cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various liver diseases. However, their involvement in metabolic disorders of the liver, including fatty liver disease, remains unclear. The present study sought to determine the impact of Kupffer cells on hepatic triglyceride storage and to explore the possible mechanisms involved.

Daniela C. Kroy, Naiara Beraza, Darjus F. Tschaharganeh, Leif E. Sander, Stephanie Erschfeld, Arne Giebeler, Christian Liedtke, Hermann E. Wasmuth, Christian Trautwein, Konrad L. Streetz – 25 January 2010 – A deregulated cytokine balance is involved in triggering the sequence from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, ultimately leading to liver fibrosis and cancer. To better define the role of proinflammatory interleukin‐6 (IL‐6)‐type cytokines in hepatocytes we investigated the role of IL‐6 and its shared receptor, glycoprotein 130 (gp130), in a mouse model of steatohepatitis.

Elisa Fabbrini, Shelby Sullivan, Samuel Klein – 25 January 2010 – Obesity is associated with an increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Steatosis, the hallmark feature of NAFLD, occurs when the rate of hepatic fatty acid uptake from plasma and de novo fatty acid synthesis is greater than the rate of fatty acid oxidation and export (as triglyceride within very low‐density lipoprotein). Therefore, an excessive amount of intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) represents an imbalance between complex interactions of metabolic events.

Ricardo Moreno‐Otero, María Trapero‐Marugán – 25 January 2010

Qiuwei Pan, Herold J. Metselaar, Petra de Ruiter, Jaap Kwekkeboom, Hugo W. Tilanus, Harry L. A. Janssen, Luc J. W. van der Laan – 25 January 2010 – Immunosuppression considerably affects hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence and the outcome of antiviral treatment after liver transplantation. Recent findings have suggested that the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus (Tac), unlike cyclosporine A (CsA), interferes with the antiviral activity of interferon‐α (IFN‐α) in vitro.

Gisele N'Kontchou, Michel Beaugrand, Olivier Seror – 25 January 2010

Carmen Martínez, Segismundo Galván, Elena Garcia‐Martin, María I. Ramos, Yolanda Gutiérrez‐Martín, José A.G. Agúndez – 25 January 2010 – Association between genetic variations in alcohol‐related enzymes and impaired ethanol biodisposition has not been unambiguously proven, and the effect of many newly described polymorphisms remains to be explored. The aims of this study are to elucidate the influence of genetic factors in alcohol biodisposition and effects.

Inge Mannaerts, Nele R. Nuytten, Vera Rogiers, Karin Vanderkerken, Leo A. van Grunsven, Albert Geerts – 25 January 2010 – Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is a pivotal step in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. The clarification of this transdifferentiation process is therefore important for the development of effective therapies for fibrosis. We analyzed the effect of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, valproic acid (VPA), on mouse HSC transdifferentiation in vitro and in vivo.