Matthew T. Nichols, Elsa Gidey, Tom Matzakos, Rolf Dahl, Greg Stiegmann, Raj J. Shah, Jared J. Grantham, J. Gregory Fitz, R. Brian – 7 March 2007 – The principal extrarenal manifestation of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) involves formation of liver cysts derived from intrahepatic bile ducts. Autocrine and paracrine factors secreted into the cyst would be positioned to modulate the rate of hepatic cyst growth. The aim of this study was to identify potential growth factors present in human ADPKD liver cyst fluid.

Katherine A. McGlynn, Michael N. Edmonson, Rita A. Michielli, W. Thomas London, Wen Yao Lin, Gong‐Chao Chen, Fu‐Min Shen, Kenneth H. Buetow – 7 March 2007 – Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant cause of cancer morbidity and mortality on the global scale. Although epidemiologic studies have identified major risk factors for HCC, the sequence of oncogenic events at the molecular level remains poorly understood. While genetic allele loss appears to be a common event, the significance of the loss is not clear.

Stephen F. Stewart, Julian B. Leathart, Yuanneng Chen, Ann K. Daly, Roberta Rolla, Daria Vay, Elisa Mottaran, Matteo Vidali, Emanuele Albano, Chris P. Day – 7 March 2007 – The role of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of alcohol‐induced liver disease (ALD) is receiving increasing attention. Recently, it has been reported that homozygosity for a valine to alanine substitution in the mitochondrial targeting sequence of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn‐SOD) represents a risk factor for severe ALD.

Carla Colombo, Pier Maria Battezzati, Andrea Crosignani, Alberto Morabito, Diana Costantini, Rita Padoan, Annamaria Giunta – 7 March 2007 – Incidence of liver disease (LD) associated with cystic fibrosis (CF) and its clinical characterization still is unsettled. We have assessed prospectively the incidence and risk factors of this complication, and its impact on the clinical course of CF. Between 1980 and 1990, we enrolled 177 CF patients without LD in a systematic clinical, laboratory, ultrasonography screening program of at least a 10‐year duration.

Jennifer K. King, Shiou‐Hwei Yeh, Ming‐Wei Lin, Chun‐Jen Liu, Ming‐Yang Lai, Jia‐Horng Kao, Ding‐Shinn Chen, Pei‐Jer Chen – 7 March 2007 – Interferon alfa (IEN‐α) therapy remains a mainstay of treatment in active hepatitis B. However, sustained remission rates remain relatively low, and the search for factors important for response to therapy continues. Our study aimed to identify the host single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that predict IFN response in hepatitis B patients.

Takeya Tsutsumi, Tetsuro Suzuki, Kyoji Moriya, Yoshizumi Shintani, Hajime Fujie, Hideyuki Miyoshi, Yoshiharu Matsuura, Kazuhiko Koike, Tatsuo Miyamura – 7 March 2007 – In human chronic hepatitis C, alcohol intake is a synergistic factor for the acceleration of hepatocarcinogenesis. Recently, we showed a significant increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) core‐transgenic mice fed ethanol‐containing diets.

Alberto Monescillo, Francisco Martínez‐Lagares, Luis Ruiz‐Del‐Arbol, Angel Sierra, Clemencia Guevara, Elena Jiménez, José Miguel Marrero, Enrique Buceta, Juan Sánchen, Ana Castellot, Mónica Peñate, Ana Cruz, Elena Peña – 7 March 2007 – Increased portal pressure during variceal bleeding may have an influence on the treatment failure rate, as well as on short‐ and long‐term survival.

7 March 2007

Benita L. McVicker, Dean J. Tuma, Jacy A. Kubik, Agnes M. Hindemith, Cheryl R. Baldwin, Carol A. Casey – 7 March 2007 – Apoptotic cell death is a well‐defined process that is controlled by intrinsic cellular mechanisms followed by the generation of apoptotic bodies and their subsequent rapid elimination through the action of phagocytic cells. Within the liver, the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP‐R) has been shown to be involved in the phagocytosis of apoptotic hepatocytes, as well as altered cellular endocytic events after ethanol administration.

Hazem Hallak, Giesla Moehren, Jei Tang, Mohamad Kaou, Mouhamad Addas, Jan B. Hoek, Raphael Rubin – 7 March 2007 – Insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) plays a critical role in the induction of cell cycle progression and survival in many cell types. However, there is minimal IGF‐I binding to hepatocytes, and a role for IGF‐I in hepatocyte signaling has not been elucidated. The dynamics of IGF‐I receptor (IGF‐IR) activation were examined in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. IGF‐I did not activate the IGF‐IR.