Tea Restuccia, Beatriz Gómez‐Ansón, Mónica Guevara, Carlo Alessandria, Aldo Torre, M. Elena Alayrach, Carlos Terra, Marta Martín, Magda Castellví, Lorena Rami, Aitor Sainz, Pere Ginès, Vicente Arroyo – 27 May 2004 – In advanced cirrhosis there is a reduction in the brain concentration of many organic osmolytes, particularly myo‐inositol (MI). Hyponatremia could theoretically aggravate these changes as a result of hypo‐osmolality of the extracellular fluid. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hyponatremia on brain organic osmolytes and brain water content in cirrhosis.

Elwyn Elias – 27 May 2004

Darrell H.G. Crawford, Linda M. Fletcher, Stefan G. Hubscher, Katherine A. Stuart, Edward Gane, Peter W. Angus, Gary P. Jeffrey, Geoffrey W. McCaughan, Paul Kerlin, Lawrie W. Powell, Elwyn E. Elias – 27 May 2004 – The clinical outcome of patients who have undergone liver transplantation for hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) or who have received iron‐loaded donor grafts is unclear. We reviewed 3,600 adult primary orthotopic liver transplants and assessed the outcomes in 22 patients with HH. We also evaluated graft function and iron mobilization in 12 recipients of iron‐loaded donor grafts.

Man‐Fung Yuen, Danny Ka‐Ho Wong, Erwin Sablon, Eric Tse, Irene Oi‐Lin Ng, He‐Jun Yuan, Chung‐Wah Siu, Tamara J. Sander, Eric J. Bourne, Jeff G. Hall, Lynn D. Condreay, Ching‐Lung Lai – 27 May 2004 – Few studies have examined Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B who exhibit hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance. We comprehensively studied the biochemical, virological, histological, and clinical aspects of 92 patients with HBsAg seroclearance (median follow‐up, 126 months).

Susan E. Crawford – 27 May 2004

Lennox J. Jeffers, William Cassidy, Charles D. Howell, Sylvia Hu, K. Rajender Reddy – 27 May 2004 – Black Americans (blacks) have a high prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and respond poorly to therapy with interferon alfa‐based regimens, but they have been underrepresented in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to assess the rate of sustained virological response (SVR) to peginterferon alfa‐2a (40 kd) in combination with ribavirin in black patients chronically infected with HCV genotype 1.

Jae‐Sung Kim, Shigetoshi Ohshima, Peter Pediaditakis, John J. Lemasters – 27 May 2004 – We investigated the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on hepatocellular killing after simulated ischemia/reperfusion and characterized signaling factors triggering cytoprotection by NO. Cultured rat hepatocytes were incubated in anoxic Krebs‐Ringer–HEPES buffer at pH 6.2 for 4 hours and reoxygenated at pH 7.4 for 2 hours.

Andrew K Burroughs, Ulrich Thalheimer, Maria Mela, David Patch – 27 May 2004

Jeffery L. Smith, Peter J. Lewindon, Anita C. Hoskins, Tamara N. Pereira, Kenneth D. R. Setchell, Nancy C. O'Connell, Ross W. Shepherd, Grant A. Ramm – 27 May 2004 – Focal biliary cirrhosis causes significant morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF). Although the mechanisms of pathogenesis remain unclear, bile acids have been proposed as potential mediators of liver injury. This study examined bile acid composition in CF and assessed altered bile acid profiles to determine if they are associated with incidence and progression of liver injury in CF‐associated liver disease (CFLD).

Keiji Hisaeda, Akihiko Inokuchi, Takanori Nakamura, Yukihide Iwamoto, Kimitoshi Kohno, Michihiko Kuwano, Takeshi Uchiumi – 27 May 2004 – The human multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2/ABCC2), expressed on the bile canalicular membrane, mediates the multispecific efflux of several organic anions, including conjugates of glucuronate, sulfate, and glutathione. Expression of MRP2 can be altered in response to environmental stimuli such as cholestasis and jaundice.