Ravi K. Ghanta, Kevin D. Mullen – 25 October 2005

Natalia A. Osna, Dahn L. Clemens, Terrence M. Donohue – 25 October 2005 – We previously showed that IFNγ signal transduction was suppressed by ethanol in recombinant HepG2 cells (VL‐17A cells), which express alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and CYP2E1. We examined the mechanisms by which STAT1 phosphorylation is blocked by ethanol treatment in VL‐17A cells. Cells were exposed to 0 or 100 mmol/L ethanol for 72 hours. STAT1 phosphorylation was determined by Western blot after 1 hour IFNγ exposure.

Giovanni Musso, Roberto Gambino, Marilena Durazzo, Giampaolo Biroli, Monica Carello, Emanuela Fagà, Giovanni Pacini, Franco De Michieli, Laura Rabbione, Alberto Premoli, Maurizio Cassader, Gianfranco Pagano – 25 October 2005 – Circulating levels of four adipokines (adiponectin, TNF‐α, leptin, and resistin) and the postprandial lipid and adiponectin responses to an oral fat load were assessed in 25 non‐obese, non‐diabetic patients with biopsy‐proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and correlated with metabolic indices and liver histology.

Eirini I. Rigopoulou, Deepak Suri, Shilpa Chokshi, Ivana Mullerova, Steven Rice, Richard S. Tedder, Roger Williams, Nikolai V. Naoumov – 25 October 2005 – Interleukin‐12 (IL‐12) is an immunomodulatory cytokine that promotes cellular immunity. Pre‐clinical data suggest that IL‐12 inhibits hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication by stimulating interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) production.

Erwin Geuken, Dorien S. Visser, Henri G.D. Leuvenink, Koert P. de Jong, Paul M.J.G. Peeters, Maarten J.H. Slooff, Folkert Kuipers, Robert J. Porte – 25 October 2005 – The adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐binding cassette (ABC)‐transporters ABCG5 and ABCG8 have been shown to mediate hepatic and intestinal excretion of cholesterol. In various (genetically modified) murine models, a strong relationship was found between hepatic expression of ABCG5/ABCG8 and biliary cholesterol content.

Neil Kaplowitz – 25 October 2005

M. Eric Gershwin, Carlo Selmi, Howard J. Worman, Ellen B. Gold, Mitchell Watnik, Jessica Utts, Keith D. Lindor, Marshall M. Kaplan, John M. Vierling, USA PBC Epidemiology Group – 25 October 2005 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, often associated with other autoimmune conditions. Controlled studies have so far provided conflicting data on risk factors and comorbidity rates in PBC.

Wai Po Chong, Yuk Fai To, Wai Kee Ip, Man Fung Yuen, Tung Ping Poon, Wilfred H.S. Wong, Ching Lung Lai, Yu Lung Lau – 25 October 2005 – Mannose binding lectin (MBL) is a pattern‐recognition molecule of the innate immune system. The roles of MBL and its gene (mbl2) polymorphisms, −221X/Y and codon 54A/B, in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were investigated in this study.

Regino P. González‐Peralta, Deirdre A. Kelly, Barbara Haber, Jean Molleston, Karen F. Murray, Maureen M. Jonas, Mark Shelton, Giorgina Mieli‐Vergani, Yoav Lurie, Steven Martin, Thomas Lang, Andrew Baczkowski, Michael Geffner, Samir Gupta, Mark Laughlin, for the International Pediatric Hepatitis C Therapy Group – 25 October 2005 – Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is usually asymptomatic in children, but significant liver disease may occur. We evaluated the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of interferon alfa‐2b and ribavirin in children with chronic HCV.

Meta W. Djojosubroto, Allison C. Chin, Ning Go, Sonja Schaetzlein, Michael P. Manns, Sergei Gryaznov, Calvin B. Harley, K. Lenhard Rudolph – 25 October 2005 – Most cancer cells have an immortal growth capacity as a consequence of telomerase reactivation. Inhibition of this enzyme leads to increased telomere dysfunction, which limits the proliferative capacity of tumor cells; thus, telomerase inhibition represents a potentially safe and universal target for cancer treatment.