Jordan J. Feld, T. Jake Liang – 23 December 2004

Motoh Iwasa, Makoto Nakao, Yoshiaki Kato, Yoshinao Kobayashi, Kenji Takagi, Masahiko Kaito, Yukihiko Adaci – 23 December 2004

Xavier Forns, Eva Martínez‐Bauer, Anna Feliu, Montserrat García‐Retortillo, Marta Martín, Eugeni Gay, Miquel Navasa, Jose María Sánchez‐Tapias, Miquel Bruguera, Juan Rodés – 23 December 2004 – Despite its medical and legal implications, there are no prospective studies analyzing the incidence and mechanisms involved in the nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in liver units. This study prospectively investigates the nosocomial transmission of HCV in the liver unit of a tertiary care center from August 2000 to October 2002.

Scott W. Biggins, Harry J. Rodriguez, Peter Bacchetti, Nathan M. Bass, John P. Roberts, Norah A. Terrault – 23 December 2004 – With the implementation of the model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD), refractory ascites, a known predictor of mortality in cirrhosis, was removed as a criterion for liver allocation. Because ascites is associated with low serum sodium, we evaluated serum sodium as an independent predictor of mortality in patients with cirrhosis who were listed for liver transplantation and whether the addition of serum sodium to MELD was superior to MELD alone.

Marwan S. Abougergi, Sarah J. Gidner, David K. Spady, Bonnie C. Miller, Dwain L. Thiele – 23 December 2004 – After intravenous injection of replication‐deficient adenovirus, hepatocytes are transduced and express high levels of adenovirus‐encoded genes. However, adenovirally encoded gene expression is ablated rapidly by CD8+ T‐cell–dependent mechanisms. Thus, this model is suitable for examining intrahepatic cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effector mechanisms.

Lars E. Schmidt, Kim Dalhoff – 23 December 2004 – An increase in alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) following hepatic necrosis is considered indicative of hepatic regeneration. This study evaluated the prognostic value of serial AFP measurements in patients with severe acetaminophen‐induced liver injury. Prospectively, serial measurements of AFP were performed in 239 patients with acetaminophen intoxication and a peak alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level above 1,000 U/L. AFP was measured using an enzyme‐linked immunoassay (EIA) with a detection limit below 0.4 μg/L.

Michael J. Liguori, Mark G. Anderson, Stanley Bukofzer, James McKim, Jeffrey F. Pregenzer, Jacques Retief, Brian B. Spear, Jeffrey F. Waring – 23 December 2004 – Idiosyncratic drug toxicity, defined as toxicity that is dose independent, host dependent, and usually cannot be predicted during preclinical or early phases of clinical trials, is a particularly confounding complication of drug development. An understanding of the mechanisms that lead to idiosyncratic liver toxicity would be extremely beneficial for the development of new compounds.

Grace L. Su, Ke Qin Gong, Ming Hui Fan, William M. Kelley, Jason Hsieh, Jian Min Sun, Mark R. Hemmila, Saman Arbabi, Daniel G. Remick, Stewart C. Wang – 23 December 2004 – Acetaminophen toxicity is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States and Europe. Although much is known about the metabolism of acetaminophen, many questions remain regarding the pathogenesis of liver injury.

Katsunori Shinozaki, Oliver Ebert, Savio L.C. Woo – 23 December 2004 – Viruses that replicate selectively in cancer cells hold considerable promise as novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of malignancy. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a nonpathogenic RNA virus with intrinsic oncolytic specificity due to attenuated antiviral responses in many tumors.

Ayako Suzuki, Paul Angulo, James Lymp, Jennifer St. Sauver, Ayako Muto, Toshihide Okada, Keith Lindor – 23 December 2004 – The incidence and risk factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have never been prospectively determined. To determine the frequency and risk factors of NAFLD and chronological ordering between NAFLD, weight gain, and features of insulin resistance, a historical cohort study was conducted in a Japanese workplace.