Snorri S. Thorgeirsson, Ju‐Seog Lee, Joe W. Grisham – 30 January 2006 – The majority of DNA‐microarray based gene expression profiling studies on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has focused on identifying genes associated with clinicopathological features of HCC patients. Although notable success has been achieved, this approach still faces significant challenges due to the heterogeneous nature of HCC (and other cancers) as well as the many confounding factors embedded in gene expression profile data.

Irwin M. Arias – 30 January 2006

Scott L. Friedman, Meena B. Bansal – 30 January 2006 – The prospect of reversing hepatic fibrosis has generated great interest now that basic science advances are being translated into promising new antifibrotic therapies. It is appropriate to recognize both the historical advances that created the framework for these successes, and the important role that Hepatology has played in disseminating them. A sense of urgency underlies this effort as the epidemics of HCV and NASH are becoming associated with advancing fibrosis.

Bijan Eghtesad, Charles M. Miller – 30 January 2006

Geoffrey C. Farrell, Claire Z. Larter – 30 January 2006 – Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the lynchpin between steatosis and cirrhosis in the spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disorders (NAFLD), was barely recognized in 1981. NAFLD is now present in 17% to 33% of Americans, has a worldwide distribution, and parallels the frequency of central adiposity, obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. NASH could be present in one third of NAFLD cases.

Elwyn Elias – 30 January 2006

Annette Martin, Stanley M. Lemon – 30 January 2006 – Hepatitis A virus (HAV), the causative agent of type A viral hepatitis, is an ancient human virus that was first identified almost 35 years ago. It has several characteristics that make it unique among the Picornaviridae, particularly in terms of its mechanisms of polyprotein processing and virion morphogenesis, and which likely contribute to its pathobiology.

Steven Schenker, D. Montgomery Bissell, Andres T. Blei – 30 January 2006

Anatoliy I. Masyuk, Nicholas F. LaRusso – 30 January 2006 – The review focuses on the potential physiological and pathophysiological roles of aquaporins (AQPs), a family of water channel proteins, in the hepatobiliary system. Among 13 aquaporins (AQP0‐AQP12) cloned in mammals, seven AQPs have been identified in the liver and biliary tree. Accumulating evidence suggests that AQPs are likely involved in canalicular and ductal bile secretion, gluconeogenesis and microbial infection and may have other novel roles that affect liver function. (Hepatology 2006;43:S75–S81.)

Jordan J. Feld, T. Jake Liang – 30 January 2006 – Hepatitis C follows a variable course with some patients developing progressive liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, while others have minimal or no significant liver disease after decades of infection. Studies have identified both host and viral factors associated with disease progression.