Ho Jung Shin, Naohiko Anzai, Atsushi Enomoto, Xin He, Do Kyung Kim, Hitoshi Endou, Yoshikatsu Kanai – 28 March 2007 – The liver plays an important role in the elimination of endogenous and exogenous lipophilic organic compounds from the body, which is mediated by various carrier proteins that differ in substrate specificity and kinetic properties. Here, we have characterized a novel member of the organic anion transporter family (SLC22) isolated from human liver.

Frank Tacke, Christian Trautwein – 28 March 2007

Sandra Franco, Mariona Parera, Ester Aparicio, Bonaventura Clotet, Miguel Angel Martinez – 28 March 2007 – The HCV nonstructural protein (NS)3/4A serine protease is not only involved in viral polyprotein processing but also efficiently blocks the retinoic‐acid–inducible gen I and Toll‐like receptor 3 signaling pathways and contributes to virus persistence by enabling HCV to escape the interferon antiviral response. Therefore, the NS3/4A protease has emerged as an ideal target for the control of the disease and the development of new anti‐HCV agents.

Helen Robertson, John A. Kirby, William W. Yip, David E.J. Jones, Alastair D. Burt – 28 March 2007 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) recurs in the allograft after liver transplantation. Study of early tissue changes in the time‐course of disease recurrence provides a unique insight into the initial stages of the disease process, which, in nontransplant patients, occurs long before clinical presentation. We describe a patient who developed classical clinical, biochemical, immunological, and histological features of PBC within 9 months after transplantation.

Vasiliki Gkretsi, Wendy M. Mars, William C. Bowen, Lindsay Barua, Yu Yang, Lida Guo, René St.‐Arnaud, Shoukat Dedhar, Chuanyue Wu, George K. Michalopoulos – 28 March 2007 – Extracellular matrix (ECM) is fundamental for the survival of cells within a tissue. Loss of contact with the surrounding ECM often causes altered cell differentiation or cell death. Hepatocytes cultured without matrix lose patterns of hepatocyte‐specific gene expression and characteristic cellular micro‐architecture.

Manuel Romero‐Gómez, Juan Córdoba, Rodrigo Jover, Juan A. del Olmo, Marta Ramírez, Ramón Rey, Enrique de Madaria, Carmina Montoliu, David Nuñez, Montse Flavia, Luis Compañy, José M. Rodrigo, Vicente Felipo – 28 March 2007 – Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is mainly diagnosed using psychometric tests such as the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES). Despite the clinical and social relevance of MHE, psychometric testing is not widespread in routine clinical care.

Andrew L. Lundquist, Ravi S. Chari, James H. Wood, Geraldine G. Miller, Heidi M. Schaefer, David S. Raiford, Kelly J. Wright, D. Lee Gorden – 20 March 2007 – Thymoglobulin® (Genzyme, Cambridge, MA) is an antithymocyte globulin preparation used for induction immunosuppression therapy in solid organ transplantation. It is being utilized with increasing frequency in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in an effort to minimize or delay the use of calcineurin inhibitors due to their inherent nephrotoxicity. Experience with thymoglobulin in OLT remains limited.

Pratima Sharma, Jorge A. Marrero, Robert J. Fontana, Joel K. Greenson, Hari Conjeevaram, Grace L. Su, Frederick Askari, Patricia Sullivan, Anna S. Lok – 20 March 2007 – Sustained virologic response (SVR) after antiviral therapy for recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in liver transplant (LT) recipients is consistently lower than that achieved in non‐LT patients. We evaluated efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) therapy in LT recipients with recurrent HCV and factors associated with SVR.

Martin Eefsen, Allan Rasmussen, Hans Christian Wulf, Axel Brock, Bent Adel Hansen – 20 March 2007 – Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a disease of the heme metabolism due to a deficiency of ferrochelatase, leading to accumulation of protoporphyrin (PPIX) in the erythrocyte (red blood cell [RBC]). The major clinical manifestation in EPP is photosensitivity; however, in a small number of patients liver failure is a significant complication and liver transplantation is the only treatment option.

Moataz Seyam, James M. Neuberger, Bridget K. Gunson, Stefan G. Hübscher – 16 March 2007 – Liver allograft cirrhosis is a relatively uncommon complication of liver transplantation. Most cases can be attributed to disease recurrence, particularly recurrent hepatitis C. Little is known about the frequency, etiology, and natural history of liver allograft cirrhosis occurring without evidence of recurrent disease. The aim of the present study was to review the clinicopathological features in this group of patients.