Samuel Martín‐Vílchez, Paloma Sanz‐Cameno, Yolanda Rodríguez‐Muñoz, Pedro L. Majano, Francisca Molina‐Jiménez, Manuel López‐Cabrera, Ricardo Moreno‐Otero, Enrique Lara‐Pezzi – 4 February 2008 – Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of liver fibrosis, eventually leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the involvement of the X protein of HBV (HBx) in viral replication and tumor development has been extensively studied, little is known about its possible role in the development of fibrosis.

Yannick Ladeiro, Gabrielle Couchy, Charles Balabaud, Paulette Bioulac‐Sage, Laura Pelletier, Sandra Rebouissou, Jessica Zucman‐Rossi – 1 February 2008 – Molecular classifications defining new tumor subtypes have been recently refined with genetic and transcriptomic analyses of benign and malignant hepatocellular tumors. Here, we performed microRNA (miRNA) profiling in two series of fully annotated liver tumors to uncover associations between oncogene/tumor suppressor mutations and clinical and pathological features.

Maureen M. Jonas, Deirdre Kelly, Henry Pollack, Jacek Mizerski, Jeff Sorbel, David Frederick, Elsa Mondou, Franck Rousseau, Etienne Sokal – 1 February 2008 – This study investigated the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). A total of 173 treatment‐naive and treatment‐experienced children with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)+ CHB were randomized to ADV or placebo. Randomization was stratified by age (2 to <7 years; >7 to <12 years; >12 to <18 years) and prior treatment.

Martin Lagging, Nina Langeland, Court Pedersen, Martti Färkkilä, Mads Rauning Buhl, Kristine Mørch, Amar P. Dhillon, Åsa Alsiö, Kristoffer Hellstrand, Johan Westin, Gunnar Norkrans – 1 February 2008 – Previous trials investigating the efficacy of treatment durations shorter than the standard of 24 weeks for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2/3 infections have yielded discordant results. The aims of this investigator‐initiated phase III study were to compare the efficacy of 12 or 24 weeks of treatment and to identify patients suitable for short‐term therapy.

Bart J. Veldt, Wendong Chen, E. Jenny Heathcote, Heiner Wedemeyer, Juerg Reichen, W. Peter Hofmann, Robert J. de Knegt, Stefan Zeuzem, Michael P. Manns, Bettina E. Hansen, Solko W. Schalm, Harry L. A. Janssen – 1 February 2008 – Recent studies suggest that diabetes mellitus increases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study is to quantify the risk of HCC among patients with both diabetes mellitus and hepatitis C in a large cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis C and advanced fibrosis. We included 541 patients of whom 85 (16%) had diabetes mellitus.

Hung‐Yun Lin, I‐Chen Yu, Ruey‐Shen Wang, Yei‐Tsung Chen, Ning‐Chun Liu, Saleh Altuwaijri, Cheng‐Lung Hsu, Wen‐Lung Ma, Jenny Jokinen, Janet D. Sparks, Shuyuan Yeh, Chawnshang Chang – 1 February 2008 – Early studies demonstrated that whole‐body androgen receptor (AR)–knockout mice with hypogonadism exhibit insulin resistance. However, details about the mechanisms underlying how androgen/AR signaling regulates insulin sensitivity in individual organs remain unclear.

Guilherme M. Campos, Kiran Bambha, Eric Vittinghoff, Charlotte Rabl, Andrew M. Posselt, Ruxandra Ciovica, Umesh Tiwari, Linda Ferrel, Mark Pabst, Nathan M. Bass, Raphael B. Merriman – 31 January 2008 – Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is common in morbidly obese persons. Liver biopsy is diagnostic but technically challenging in such individuals. This study was undertaken to develop a clinically useful scoring system to predict the probability of NASH in morbidly obese persons, thus assisting in the decision to perform liver biopsy.

Xudong Wu, Luyong Zhang, Emily Gurley, Elaine Studer, Jing Shang, Tao Wang, Cuifen Wang, Ming Yan, Zhenzhou Jiang, Phillip B. Hylemon, Arun J. Sanyal, William M. Pandak, Huiping Zhou – 31 January 2008 – Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease and affects millions of people worldwide. Despite the increasing prevalence of NAFLD, the exact molecular/cellular mechanisms remain obscure and effective therapeutic strategies are still limited. It is well‐accepted that free fatty acid (FFA)‐induced lipotoxicity plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.

Christoph Neumann‐Haefelin, Jörg Timm, Hans Christian Spangenberg, Natalie Wischniowski, Natalja Nazarova, Nadine Kersting, Michael Roggendorf, Todd M. Allen, Hubert E. Blum, Robert Thimme – 31 January 2008 – Virus‐specific CD8+ T‐cells play an important role in the outcome of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In the chronic phase, however, HCV can persist despite the presence of virus‐specific T‐cell responses.

Terumi Takahara, Feng Xue, Massimiliano Mazzone, Yutaka Yata, Kazunobu Nonome, Masami Kanayama, Kengo Kawai, Alberto M. Pisacane, Shiro Takahara, Xiao‐Kang Li, Paolo M. Comoglio, Toshiro Sugiyama, Paolo Michieli – 31 January 2008 – Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is the most powerful hepatotrophic factor identified so far. However, the ability of HGF to promote tumor cell “scattering” and invasion raises some concern about its therapeutic safety.