Samir Zakhari, Jay H. Hoofnagle – 29 November 2005

Wim Laleman, Anita Omasta, Marc Van de Casteele, Marcel Zeegers, Ingrid Vander Elst, Lien Van Landeghem, Tamara Severi, Jos van Pelt, Tania Roskams, Johan Fevery, Frederik Nevens – 29 November 2005 – Reduced intrahepatic endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity contributes to the pathogenesis of portal hypertension (PHT) associated with cirrhosis. We evaluated whether asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a putative endogenous NOS inhibitor, may be involved in PHT associated with cirrhosis.

29 November 2005

Charles M. Rice, Shihyun You – 29 November 2005 – Viruses depend on host‐derived factors for their efficient genome replication. Here, we demonstrate that a cellular peptidyl‐prolyl cis‐trans isomerase (PPIase), cyclophilin B (CyPB), is critical for the efficient replication of the hepatitis C virus genome. CyPB interacted with the HCV RNA polymerase NS5B to directly stimulate its RNA binding activity. Both the RNA interference (RNAi)‐mediated reduction of endogenous CyPB expression and the induced loss of NS5B binding to CyPB decreased the levels of HCV replication.

Min‐De Zeng, Lun‐Gen Lu, Yi‐Min Mao, De‐Kai Qiu, Ji‐Qiang Li, Mo‐Bin Wan, Cheng‐Wei Chen, Ji‐Yao Wang, Xiong Cai, Chun‐Fang Gao, Xia‐Qiu Zhou – 29 November 2005 – A model was constructed consisting of clinical and serum variables to discriminate between hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with and without significant fibrosis (stages 2‐4 vs. stages 0‐1). Consecutive treatment‐naive CHB patients who underwent liver biopsy were divided into 2 sequential groups: a training group (n = 200) and a validation group (n = 172).

Harry L.A. Janssen, George K.K. Lau – 29 November 2005

Paul Dent, Youwen Fang, Seema Gupta, Elaine Studer, Clint Mitchell, Sarah Spiegel, Philip B. Hylemon – 29 November 2005 – Several studies have argued that G‐protein–coupled receptors (GPCR) have the capacity to promote activation of receptor tyrosine kinases. The current studies were performed to examine the regulation of the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and AKT pathways by conjugated and unconjugated bile acids in primary hepatocytes.

John G. O'Grady – 29 November 2005

Rosa M. Pascale, Maria M. Simile, Diego F. Calvisi, Maddalena Frau, Maria R. Muroni, Maria A. Seddaiu, Lucia Daino, Maria D. Muntoni, Maria R. De Miglio, Snorri S. Thorgeirsson, Francesco Feo – 29 November 2005 – Current evidence indicates that neoplastic nodules induced in liver of Brown Norway (BN) rats genetically resistant to hepatocarcinogenesis are not prone to evolve into hepatocellular carcinoma.

Anne M. Larson, Julie Polson, Robert J. Fontana, Timothy J. Davern, Ezmina Lalani, Linda S. Hynan, Joan S. Reisch, Frank V. Schiødt, George Ostapowicz, A. Obaid Shakil, William M. Lee, the Acute Liver Failure Study Group – 29 November 2005 – Severe acetaminophen hepatotoxicity frequently leads to acute liver failure (ALF). We determined the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of acetaminophen‐induced ALF at 22 tertiary care centers in the United States.