Kwang‐Hoon Song, John Y. L. Chiang – 1 December 2005 – The gene encoding cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase (CYP7A1) is tightly regulated to control bile acid synthesis and maintain lipid homeostasis. Recent studies in mice suggest that bile acid synthesis is regulated by the fasted‐to‐fed cycle, and fasting induces CYP7A1 gene expression in parallel to the induction of peroxisome proliferators‐activated receptor γ co‐activator 1α (PGC‐1α) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). How glucagon regulates CYP7A1 gene expression in the human liver is not clear.

Takeji Umemura, Richard Y.‐H. Wang, Cathy Schechterly, J. Wai‐Kuo Shih, Kendo Kiyosawa, Harvey J. Alter – 1 December 2005 – To investigate the quantitative characteristics of humoral immunity in patients with hepatitis C, we established an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assay for detection of anti–hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐secreting B cells. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated 100% specificity and 58% to 92% sensitivity for detecting B‐cell responses to NS5b, NS3, E2, and core antigens.

Giovanni Raimondo, Maurizia R. Brunetto, Patrizia Pontisso, Antonina Smedile, Anna Maria Maina, Carlo Saitta, Giovanni Squadrito, Natascia Tono – 1 December 2005 – Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is often associated with severe forms of liver disease. However, comprehensive studies are lacking, and scant information is available regarding the virological behavior over time in coinfected patients.

Nazzareno Ballatori, Whitney V. Christian, Jin Young Lee, Paul A. Dawson, Carol J. Soroka, James L. Boyer, Michael S. Madejczyk, Na Li – 29 November 2005 – The cellular and subcellular localization and mechanism of transport of the heteromeric organic solute transporter (OST) OSTα‐OSTβ was examined in human and rodent epithelia. The two subunits of the transporter were expressed together in human small intestine, kidney, and liver, tissues that also express the apical sodium‐dependent bile acid uptake transporter ASBT (SLC10A2).

Daniele Prati, Agostino Colli, Dario Conte, Massimo Colombo – 29 November 2005

Samuel S. Lee – 29 November 2005

Gary A. Abrams, Ronald H. Clements, Audrey J. Lazenby, Sachin S. Kunde – 29 November 2005

Xavier Forns – 29 November 2005

Thomas D. Schiano, Julio A. Gutierrez, Jose L. Walewski, M. Isabel Fiel, Bonnie Cheng, Henry Bodenheimer, Swan N. Thung, Raymond T. Chung, Myron E. Schwartz, Carol Bodian, Andrea D. Branch – 29 November 2005 – This study tested the hypothesis that hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and core antigen levels rise more rapidly after liver transplantation (LT) in recipients of grafts from living donors (LD) versus deceased donors (DD). Eleven consecutive LD and 15 DD recipients were followed prospectively. Before LT, median HCV RNA levels were similar: 5.42 (LDLT) and 5.07 (DDLT) log10 IU/mL (P = NS).

Marie‐Anne Robin, Christine Demeilliers, Angéla Sutton, Valérie Paradis, Caroline Maisonneuve, Sylvie Dubois, Odile Poirel, Philippe Lettéron, Dominique Pessayre, Bernard Fromenty – 29 November 2005 – Both obesity and alcohol can cause oxidative stress, cytokine induction, and steatohepatitis. To determine the consequences of their combination, we compared the hepatic effects of moderate ethanol binges in lean and obese ob/ob mice. Mice received water or ethanol (2.5 g/kg) by gastric intubation daily for 4 days, and were killed 2 hours after the last administration.