Roman E. Perri, Michael V. Chiorean, Jeff L. Fidler, Joel G. Fletcher, Jayant A. Talwalkar, Linda Stadheim, Nilay D. Shah, Patrick S. Kamath – 21 January 2008 – Patients with cirrhosis require endoscopic screening for large esophageal varices. The aims of this study were to determine the cost‐effectiveness and patient preferences of a strategy employing abdominal computerized tomography (CT) as the initial screening test for identifying large esophageal varices. In a prospective evaluation,102 patients underwent both CT and endoscopic screening for gastroesophageal varices.

Clifford S. Guy, Sherri L. Rankin, Jinguo Wang, Tomasz I. Michalak – 21 January 2008 – The liver displays unique immunological properties including the ability to remove aberrant cells and pathogens and to induce peripheral immunotolerance. We have previously demonstrated that hepatocytes can cause cell death by a CD95 ligand–mediated mechanism. Here, we provide evidence that hepatocytes can kill other cells via a perforin‐dependent pathway.

Pallavi Singh, Zeynep Z. Coskun, Catriona Goode, Adam Dean, LuAnn Thompson‐Snipes, Gretchen Darlington – 21 January 2008 – Immune dysregulation and inflammation play a major role in the pathology of age‐related disorders. In an earlier study, the microarray data from our laboratory indicated an increase in inflammation‐related gene expression in the liver with age. We further investigated immune‐related changes in the aged liver and found that the levels of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory genes were higher in aged animals.

Roberto de Franchis, Glenn M. Eisen, Loren Laine, Inaki Fernandez‐Urien, Juan Manuel Herrerias, Russell D. Brown, Laurel Fisher, Hugo E. Vargas, John Vargo, Julie Thompson, Rami Eliakim – 21 January 2008 – Bleeding from esophageal varices (EV) is a serious consequence of portal hypertension. Current guidelines recommend screening patients with cirrhosis with esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to detect varices. However, the unpleasantness and need for sedation of EGD may limit adherence to screening programs.

Guo‐Xiang Yang, Zhe‐Xiong Lian, Ya‐Hui Chuang, Yuki Moritoki, Ruth Y. Lan, Kanji Wakabayashi, Aftab A. Ansari, Richard A. Flavell, William M. Ridgway, Ross L. Coppel, Koichi Tsuneyama, Ian R. Mackay, M.

Pallavi B. Limaye, William C. Bowen, Anne V. Orr, Jianhua Luo, George C. Tseng, George K. Michalopoulos – 21 January 2008 – Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that hepatocytes can transdifferentiate into biliary epithelium (BE) both in vivo and in vitro; however, the mechanisms are unclear. The current study was designed to investigate the mechanisms of hepatocyte transdifferentiation in vitro.

Chee‐Kin Hui, Winnie W. Cheung, Kar‐Wai Leung, Vincent C. C. Cheng, Bone S. F. Tang, Iris W. S. Li, John M. Luk, Nikki P. Lee, Yok‐Lam Kwong, Wing‐Yan Au, Kwok‐Yung Yuen, George K. Lau, Raymond Liang – 14 January 2008 – Retraction: The following article from HEPATOLOGY, “Outcome and immune reconstitution of HBV‐specific immunity in patients with reactivation of occult HBV infection after alemtuzumab‐containing chemotherapy regiment” by Chee‐Kin Hui, Winnie W. Cheung, Kar‐Wai Leung, Vincent C. C. Cheng, Bone S. F. Tang, Iris W. S. Li, John M. Luk, Nikki P.

Tae Jun Park, Ji Yeon Kim, S. Paul Oh, So Young Kang, Bong Wan Kim, Hee Jung Wang, Kye Yong Song, Hyoung Chin Kim, In Kyoung Lim – 14 January 2008 – A functional and biochemical interaction of TIS21/BTG2/PC3 with Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1), essential transcription factor for hepatocyte regeneration and a master regulator of mitotic gene expression, was explored.

Takehiro Torisu, Mako Nakaya, Satoko Watanabe, Masayuki Hashimoto, Hideyuki Yoshida, Takatoshi Chinen, Ryoko Yoshida, Fuyuki Okamoto, Toshikatsu Hanada, Kumiko Torisu, Giichi Takaesu, Takashi Kobayashi, Hideo Yasukawa, Akihiko Yoshimura – 14 January 2008 – Acute liver failure is associated with significant mortality. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanism is not yet fully understood. Suppressor of cytokine signaling‐1 (SOCS1), which is a negative‐feedback molecule for cytokine signaling, has been shown to be rapidly induced during liver injury.

Jaime Bosch, Dominique Thabut, Agustín Albillos, Nicolas Carbonell, Julius Spicak, Julien Massard, Gennaro D'Amico, Didier Lebrec, Roberto de Franchis, Søren Fabricius, Yan Cai, Flemming Bendtsen – 14 January 2008 – A beneficial effect of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in Child‐Pugh class B and C patients with cirrhosis who have variceal bleeding has been suggested. This randomized controlled trial assessed the efficacy and safety of rFVIIa in patients with advanced cirrhosis and active variceal bleeding.