Francis Y. Yao, Robert K. Kerlan, Ryutaro Hirose, Timothy J. Davern, Nathan M. Bass, Sandy Feng, Marion Peters, Norah Terrault, Chris E. Freise, Nancy L. Ascher, John P. Roberts – 9 May 2008 – We previously reported encouraging results of down‐staging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to meet conventional T2 criteria (one lesion 2–5 cm or two to three lesions <3 cm) for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in 30 patients as a test of concept.

Sophie Clément, Cristiana Juge‐Aubry, Antonino Sgroi, Stéphanie Conzelmann, Valerio Pazienza, Brigitte Pittet‐Cuenod, Christoph A. Meier, Francesco Negro – 9 May 2008 – For many years, adipose tissue has been mainly considered as an inert reservoir for storing triglycerides. Since the discovery that adipocytes may secrete a variety of bioactive molecules (hormones, chemokines, and cytokines), an endocrine and paracrine role for white adipose tissue (WAT) in the regulation of energy balance and other physiological processes has been established, particularly with regard to brain and muscle.

Stefan Zeuzem, Eric M. Yoshida, Yves Benhamou, Stephen Pianko, Vincent G. Bain, Daniel Shouval, Robert Flisiak, Vratislav Rehak, Mircea Grigorescu, Kelly Kaita, Patrick W. Cronin, Erik Pulkstenis, G. Mani Subramanian, John G. McHutchison – 9 May 2008 – The efficacy and safety of albinterferon alfa‐2b (alb‐IFN), a novel recombinant protein consisting of interferon alfa‐2b genetically fused to human albumin, was evaluated in a phase 2b, open‐label study of patients with genotype 1, chronic hepatitis C.

Eirini I. Rigopoulou, George N. Dalekos – 5 May 2008

Felix Flohr, Jan Harder, Jochen Seufert, Hubert E. Blum, Hans C. Spangenberg – 5 May 2008

Daniel A. Langer, Amitava Das, David Semela, Ningling Kang‐Decker, Helen Hendrickson, Steven F. Bronk, Zvonimir S. Katusic, Gregory J. Gores, Vijay H. Shah – 5 May 2008 – Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) contribute to portal hypertension through multiple mechanisms that include collagen deposition, vasoconstriction, and regulation of sinusoidal structure.

Hilde Herrema, Terry G. J. Derks, Theo H. van Dijk, Vincent W. Bloks, Albert Gerding, Rick Havinga, Uwe J. F. Tietge, Michael Müller, G. Peter A. Smit, Folkert Kuipers, Dirk‐Jan Reijngoud – 5 May 2008 – Medium‐chain acyl–coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenase (MCAD) catalyzes crucial steps in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, a process that is of key relevance for maintenance of energy homeostasis, especially during high metabolic demand.

Silke Marhenke, Jutta Lamlé, Laura Elisa Buitrago‐Molina, José Manuel Fernández Cañón, Robert Geffers, Milton Finegold, Michael Sporn, Masayuki Yamamoto, Michael P. Manns, Markus Grompe, Arndt Vogel – 2 May 2008 – In tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1), accumulation of toxic metabolites results in oxidative stress and DNA damage, leading to a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas. Nuclear factor erythroid‐2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor important for cellular protection against oxidative stress and chemical induced liver damage.

Takashi Nitta, Jae‐Sung Kim, Dagmara Mohuczy, Kevin E. Behrns – 2 May 2008 – Hepatocytes that reside in a chronically‐injured liver have altered growth responses compared to hepatocytes in normal liver. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is upregulated in the cirrhotic liver, and cirrhotic hepatocytes, unlike normal hepatocytes exposed to this cytokine, exhibit decreased apoptosis. In fetal hepatocytes, TGFβ also induces epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and signaling changes in cell survival pathways.

Mary Jane Masson, Leah D. Carpenter, Mary L. Graf, Lance R. Pohl – 2 May 2008 – Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is commonly used in biological studies to dissolve drugs and enzyme inhibitors with low solubility. Although DMSO is generally thought of as being relatively inert, it can induce biological effects that are often overlooked.