Zhen Fan Yang, Patricia Ngai, David W. Ho, Wan Ching Yu, Michael N.P. Ng, Chi Keung Lau, Mandy L. Y. Li, Ka Ho Tam, Chi Tat Lam, Ronnie T. P. Poon, Sheung Tat Fan – 26 February 2008 – Increasing evidence has revealed the importance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in carcinogenesis. Although liver CSCs have been identified in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, no data have shown the presence of these cells in human settings. The present study was designed to delineate CSCs serially from HCC cell lines, human liver cancer specimens to blood samples, using CD90 as a potential marker.

Mathieu Vinken, Tom Henkens, Evelien De Rop, Joanna Fraczek, Tamara Vanhaecke, Vera Rogiers – 26 February 2008 – The present review provides the state of the art of the current knowledge concerning gap junctional channels and their roles in liver functioning. In the first part, we summarize some relevant biochemical properties of hepatic gap junctional channels, including their structure and regulation. In the second part, we discuss the involvement of gap junctional channels in the occurrence of liver cell growth, liver cell differentiation, and liver cell death.

Chiun Hsu, Chao A. Hsiung, Ih‐Jen Su, Wei‐Shou Hwang, Ming‐Chung Wang, Sheng‐Fung Lin, Tseng‐Hsi Lin, Hui‐Hua Hsiao, Ji‐Hsiung Young, Ming‐Chih Chang, Yu‐Min Liao, Chi‐Cheng Li, Hung‐Bo Wu, Hwei‐Fang Tien, Tsu‐Yi Chao, Tsang‐Wu Liu, Ann‐Lii Cheng, Pei‐Jer Chen – 26 February 2008 – Lamivudine is effective to control hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in HBV‐carrying cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy, but the optimal treatment protocol remains undetermined.

Geoffrey C. Nguyen, Paul J. Thuluvath – 26 February 2008 – Chronic liver diseases are a major public health issue in the United States, and there are substantial racial disparities in liver cirrhosis–related mortality. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most significant contributing factor in the development of chronic liver disease, complications such as hepatocellular carcinoma, and the need for liver transplantation. In the United States, African Americans have twice the prevalence of HCV seropositivity and develop hepatocellular carcinoma at more than twice the rate as whites.

Shirit Einav, Ella H. Sklan, Hyang Mi Moon, Elizabeth Gehrig, Ping Liu, Ying Hao, Anson W. Lowe, Jeffrey S. Glenn – 26 February 2008 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important cause of chronic liver disease and is complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mechanisms whereby the virus promotes cellular transformation are poorly understood. We hypothesized that the guanosine triphosphatase activity encoded in the HCV NS4B protein's nucleotide binding motif (NBM) might play a role in the transformation process.

Tetsuji Fujita – 26 February 2008

Anuradha Budhu, Hu‐Liang Jia, Marshonna Forgues, Chang‐Gong Liu, David Goldstein, Amy Lam, Krista A. Zanetti, Qing‐Hai Ye, Lun‐Xiu Qin, Carlo M. Croce, Zhao‐You Tang, Xin Wei Wang – 26 February 2008 – MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been used as cancer‐related biomarkers. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer with a dismal outcome largely due to metastasis and postsurgical recurrence. We investigated whether the expression of certain miRNAs are associated with HCC metastasis.

Richard B. Freeman – 26 February 2008

Robert J. Fontana, Zachary D. Goodman, Jules L. Dienstag, Herbert L. Bonkovsky, Deepa Naishadham, Richard K. Sterling, Grace L. Su, Mita Ghosh, Elizabeth C. Wright, HALT‐C Trial Group – 26 February 2008 – This study determined the utility of a panel of serum fibrosis markers along with routine laboratory tests in estimating the likelihood of histological cirrhosis in a cohort of prior nonresponders with chronic hepatitis C. The relationship between serum markers and quantitative hepatic collagen content was also determined.

Liya Pi, Xiaodong Ding, Marda Jorgensen, Jen‐Jung Pan, Seh‐Hoon Oh, Dana Pintilie, Alicia Brown, Wen‐Yuan Song, Bryon E. Petersen – 26 February 2008 – Oval cell activation, as part of the regenerative process after liver injury, involves considerable cell‐matrix interaction. The matricellular protein, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), has been shown to be critical for oval cell activation during liver regeneration following N‐2‐acetylaminofluorene/partial hepatectomy.