Heinz Zoller, Ian McFarlane, Igor Theurl, Sylvia Stadlmann, Elizabeta Nemeth, David Oxley, Tomas Ganz, David J. Halsall, Timothy M. Cox, Wolfgang Vogel – 28 June 2005 – Ferroportin disease (hemochromatosis type 4) is a recently recognized disorder of human iron metabolism, characterized by iron deposition in macrophages, including Kupffer cells. Mutations in the gene encoding ferroportin 1, a cellular iron exporter, are responsible for this iron storage disease, inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.

Martin Wagner, Emina Halilbasic, Hanns‐Ulrich Marschall, Gernot Zollner, Peter Fickert, Cord Langner, Kurt Zatloukal, Helmut Denk, Michael Trauner – 28 June 2005 – Induction of hepatic phase I/II detoxification enzymes and alternative excretory pumps may limit hepatocellular accumulation of toxic biliary compounds in cholestasis. Because the nuclear xenobiotic receptors constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) regulate involved enzymes and transporters, we aimed to induce adaptive alternative pathways with different CAR and PXR agonists in vivo.

Daryl T.‐Y. Lau, Bruce A. Luxon, Shu‐Yuan Xiao, Michael R. Beard, Stanley M. Lemon – 28 June 2005 – To gain insight into pathogenic mechanisms underlying fibrosis in hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐mediated liver injury, we compared intrahepatic gene expression profiles in HCV‐infected patients at different stages of fibrosis and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) staining patterns. We studied 21 liver biopsy specimens: 5 had no fibrosis (Ludwig‐Batts stage 0); 10 had early portal or periportal fibrosis (stages 1 and 2); and 6, advanced fibrosis (stages 3 and 4).

Nicola Villanova, Simona Moscatiello, Stefano Ramilli, Elisabetta Bugianesi, Donatella Magalotti, Ester Vanni, Marco Zoli, Giulio Marchesini – 24 June 2005 – Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is consistently associated with features of the metabolic syndrome, a condition carrying a high risk of cardiovascular events. We measured the vasodilatory response of the brachial artery in response to ischemia (a test of endothelial function) (FMV) as well as cardiovascular risk profile in 52 NAFLD cases and 28 age‐ and sex‐matched controls.

Savita Srivastava, Zobair M. Younossi – 23 June 2005

Luis Ruiz‐del‐Arbol, Alberto Monescillo, Carlos Arocena, Paz Valer, Pere Ginès, Víctor Moreira, José María Milicua, Wladimiro Jiménez, Vicente Arroyo – 23 June 2005 – The pathogenic mechanism of hepatorenal syndrome is not well established. We investigated the circulatory function in cirrhosis before and after the development of hepatorenal syndrome.

George M. Lauer – 22 June 2005 – By necessity, human liver transplantation is performed across HLA barriers. As a result, intracellular infection of the allograft presents a unique immunologic challenge for the recipient's immune system. In this study, we describe the presence of HLA‐A2‐restricted, hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐specific CD8+ T cells in liver transplant recipients in whom the allograft is HLA‐A2 positive and the recipient is HLA‐A2 negative. These memory‐effector T cells are recipient derived and recognize HCV peptide uniquely in the context of HLA‐A2.

Elizabeth Anne Pomfret – 22 June 2005

Pieter Evenepoel, Bert Bammens, Frederik Nevens, Alexander Wilmer, Yves Vanrenterghem – 22 June 2005

Matthew R. Foxton, Lisa Knight, Alex S. Knisely, Ghulam J. Mufti, John O'Grady, Paolo Muiesan, Suzanne Norris – 22 June 2005 – End‐stage liver disease due to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is now the most frequent indication for liver transplantation. HCV infection is associated with extrahepatic disease including cryoglobulinemia and lymphoma.