Esther Raskopf, Christian Dzienisowicz, Tobias Hilbert, Christian Rabe, Ludger Leifeld, Nicolas Wernert, Tilman Sauerbruch, Jesús Prieto, Cheng Qian, Wolfgang H. Caselmann, Volker Schmitz – 24 May 2005 – Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) activity is correlated with a progressive tumor disease in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In spite of the well‐recognized role of VEGF in HCC, there are few data available regarding therapeutic strategies to block VEGF activity.

Carolin Lackner, Gerd Struber, Bernadette Liegl, Sebastian Leibl, Petra Ofner, Csilla Bankuti, Bernd Bauer, Rudolf E. Stauber – 24 May 2005 – Liver biopsy is recommended before antiviral treatment, particularly for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection, but it may cause complications and is limited by sampling error. Several non‐invasive tests comprising routine laboratory parameters (simple fibrosis tests) have been proposed to predict fibrosis in chronic HCV.

Andrew Godkin, Miles Davenport, Adrian V.S. Hill – 24 May 2005 – Clearance of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with a vigorous CD4+ T‐cell response focusing on the core protein. HLA class II glycoproteins present viral peptides to CD4+ T cells and influence the immune responses. HLA‐DRB1*1301/2 have been associated with viral clearance, and HLA‐DRB1*0301 is associated with nonresponse to vaccination with envelope proteins.

Gregory J. Quinlan, Greg S. Martin, Timothy W. Evans – 24 May 2005

Andres E. Ruf, Federico G. Villamil – 24 May 2005

Dariusz M. Lebensztejn, Elžbieta Skiba, Maria Sobaniec‐Lotowska, Maciej Kaczmarski – 24 May 2005

David E. Kaplan, Kazushi Sugimoto, Fusao Ikeda, Jason Stadanlick, Mary Valiga, Kirti Shetty, K. Rajender Reddy, Kyong‐Mi Chang – 24 May 2005 – Viral genotype and host ethnicity are important predictors of viral clearance during antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Based on the role of T cells in natural HCV clearance, we hypothesized that T cells may contribute to the genotypic and ethnic difference in treatment outcome.

Piero Marchetti – 24 May 2005 – New‐onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) develops in approximately 15% of liver transplant recipients, and a similar proportion of patients have diabetes prior to transplantation. Preexisting diabetes and probably NODM are associated with increased mortality and risk of infection. NODM occurs more frequently among patients with hepatitis C infection; additional risk factors include family history, male gender, increasing weight, and alcoholic cirrhosis.

Oren Shibolet, Mina Rowe, Rifaat Safadi, Izhar Levy, Gideon Zamir, Ahmed Eid, Yoel Donchin, Yaron Ilan, Daniel Shouval – 24 May 2005 – The Israeli population does not meet its transplantation organ needs. Therefore, liver transplantation (LTX) candidates are sometimes transported to centers abroad. We aimed to assess the demographic and clinical issues concerning this policy. Records of all candidates transported (2000–2004) were retrospectively reviewed. Data included etiology, disease severity, outcome, distances traveled and destinations, and medical complication arising en route.

Santiago J. Muñoz – 24 May 2005