Joseph Torresi, Owen M. Stock, Alexandra E. Fischer, Lara Grollo, Heidi Drummer, Irene Boo, Weiguang Zeng, Linda Earnest‐Silveira, David C. Jackson – 28 March 2007 – We describe a peptide‐based strategy for HCV vaccine design that addresses the problem of variability in hypervariable region 1 (HVR1). Peptides representing antibody epitopes of HVR1 from genotype 1a were synthesized and incorporated into multideterminant immunogens that also included lipid moieties and helper T (Th) cell epitopes. Mice inoculated with these polyepitopes generated strong antibody responses.

Víctor Cortés, Attilio Rigotti – 28 March 2007

Ashraf Mohammad El‐Badry, Wolfgang Moritz, Claudio Contaldo, Yinghua Tian, Rolf Graf, Pierre‐Alain Clavien – 28 March 2007 – Macrovesicular hepatic steatosis has a lower tolerance to reperfusion injury than microvesicular steatosis with an abnormally high ratio of omega‐6 (n‐6): omega‐3 (n‐3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). We investigated the influence of PUFAs on microcirculation in steatotic livers and the potential to minimize reperfusion injury in the macrosteatotic liver by normalization of PUFAs.

Thomas F. Imperiale, Robert W. Klein, Naga Chalasani – 28 March 2007 – Although both β‐blockade (BB) and endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) are used for primary prevention of variceal bleeding (VB) in patients with cirrhosis with moderate to large esophageal varices (EVs), the more cost‐effective option is uncertain. We created a Markov decision model to compare BB and EVL in such patients, examining both cost‐effectiveness (cost per life year [LY]) and cost‐utility (cost per quality‐adjusted life year [QALY]).

Ruben Raphael Plentz, Young Nyun Park, André Lechel, Haeryoung Kim, Friederike Nellessen, Britta Heike Eva Langkopf, Ludwig Wilkens, Annarita Destro, Barbara Fiamengo, Michael Peter Manns, Massimo Roncalli, Karl Lenhard Rudolph – 28 March 2007 – Telomere shortening and inactivation of cell cycle checkpoints characterize carcinogenesis. Whether these molecular features coincide at specific stages of human hepatocarcinogenesis is unknown. The preneoplasia–carcinoma sequence of human HCC is not well defined.

Olivier Barbier, Jocelyn Trottier – 28 March 2007

Max Werth, Frank Gaunitz, Rolf Gebhardt – 28 March 2007

Sang Lee, Kathleen M. Gura, Mark Puder – 28 March 2007

Virginie Cerec, Denise Glaise, Delphine Garnier, Serban Morosan, Bruno Turlin, Bernard Drenou, Philippe Gripon, Dina Kremsdorf, Christiane Guguen‐Guillouzo, Anne Corlu – 28 March 2007 – Hepatic tumors, exhibiting mature hepatocytes and undifferentiated cells merging with cholangiocyte and hepatocyte phenotypes, are frequently described. The mechanisms by which they occur remain unclear. We report differentiation and transdifferentiation behaviors of human HepaRG cells isolated from a differentiated tumor developed consecutively to chronic HCV infection.

Paul Angulo, Jason M. Hui, Giulio Marchesini, Ellisabetta Bugianesi, Jacob George, Geoffrey C. Farrell, Felicity Enders, Sushma Saksena, Alastair D. Burt, John P. Bida, Keith Lindor, Schuyler O. Sanderson, Marco Lenzi, Leon A. Adams, James Kench, Terry M. Therneau, Christopher P. Day – 28 March 2007 – Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and advanced liver fibrosis are at the highest risk for progressing to end‐stage liver disease.