Fernando A. Crocenzi, Enrique J. Sánchez Pozzi, María Laura Ruiz, Andrés E. Zucchetti, Marcelo G. Roma, Aldo D. Mottino, Mary Vore – 24 November 2008 – The endogenous estradiol metabolite estradiol 17β‐D‐glucuronide (E217G) induces an acute cholestasis in rat liver coincident with retrieval of the canalicular transporters bile salt export pump (Bsep, Abcc11) and multidrug resistance‐associated protein 2 (Mrp2, Abcc2) and their associated loss of function.

Haruaki Shirakawa, Akihiro Matsumoto, Satoru Joshita, Michiharu Komatsu, Naoki Tanaka, Takeji Umemura, Tetsuya Ichijo, Kaname Yoshizawa, Kendo Kiyosawa, Eiji Tanaka, Nagano Interferon Treatment Research Group – 24 November 2008 – The interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and T‐helper type 1 and type 2 (Th1/Th2) ratio were analyzed along with other host and viral factors for their ability to predict the response of patients with chronic hepatitis C to pegylated interferon alpha‐2b (Peg‐IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy.

Hiroyuki Nakashima, Manabu Kinoshita, Masahiro Nakashima, Yoshiko Habu, Satoshi Shono, Takefumi Uchida, Nariyoshi Shinomiya, Shuhji Seki – 24 November 2008 – Although concanavalin A (Con‐A)‐induced experimental hepatitis is thought to be induced by activated T cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, and cytokines, precise mechanisms are still unknown. In the current study, we investigated the roles of Kupffer cells, NKT cells, FasL, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and superoxide in Con‐A hepatitis in C57BL/6 mice.

Onpan Cheung, Puneet Puri, Christoph Eicken, Melissa J. Contos, Faridoddin Mirshahi, James W. Maher, John M. Kellum, Haeki Min, Velimir A. Luketic, Arun J. Sanyal – 24 November 2008 – The expression of microRNA in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and their role in the genesis of NASH are not known.

Pascal Lebray, Shaïda Varnous, Fréderic Charlotte, Anne Varaut, Thierry Poynard, Vlad Ratziu – 24 November 2008

Guilherme M. Campos – 24 November 2008

Nazia Selzner, Nigel Girgrah, Les Lilly, Maha Guindi, Markus Selzner, George Therapondos, Oyedele Adeyi, Ian McGilvray, Mark Cattral, Paul D. Greig, David Grant, Gary Levy, Eberhard L. Renner – 24 November 2008 – Hepatitis C recurs universally after liver transplantation (LT). Whether its progression differs after live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) is still debated.

Benoit Blanchet, Fabrice Taieb, Filomena Conti, Halim Abbas, Idrissa Seydi, Laura Harcouet, Alain Dauphin, Yvon Calmus, Michel Tod – 24 November 2008 – Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is used to prevent graft rejection. The methods used for determining the plasma MPA concentration in liver transplant recipients are the enzyme‐multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT), high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC‐UV), and most recently mass spectrometry. EMIT has been reported to overestimate the MPA concentration by 30% to 35% in comparison with HPLC‐UV.

Shira Zelber‐Sagi, Dorit Nitzan‐Kaluski, Rebecca Goldsmith, Muriel Webb, Izabel Zvibel, Ilana Goldiner, Laurie Blendis, Zamir Halpern, Ran Oren – 24 November 2008 – Physical activity (PA) is commonly recommended for nonalchoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. However, there is limited evidence on the independent role of PA in NAFLD. The aim of this study was to examine the association between PA and NAFLD. We conducted a cross‐sectional study of a subsample (n = 375) of the Israeli National Health and Nutrition Survey. Exclusion criteria were any known etiology for liver disease.

Giulio Ceolotto, Italia Papparella, Antonietta Sticca, Sergio Bova, Maurizio Cavalli, Gabriella Cargnelli, Andrea Semplicini, Angelo Gatta, Paolo Angeli – 24 November 2008 – Decreased cardiac contractility and β‐adrenergic responsiveness have been observed in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, but their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To study β‐adrenergic–stimulated contractility and β‐adrenergic gene expression patterns, 20 Wistar Kyoto rats were treated with carbon tetrachloride to induce cirrhosis and 20 rats were used as controls.