Christian Wein, Horst Koch, Birthe Popp, Gerd Oehler, Peter Schauder – 27 February 2004 – It has been suggested that the ability to drive a car is impaired in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). However, the only study using an on‐road driving test did not reveal such an impairment. In a prospective controlled study, we evaluated patients with cirrhosis of the liver for MHE and the ability to drive a car. MHE was diagnosed using three psychometric tests: Number Connection Test Part A, Digit Symbol Test, and a Complex Choice Reaction Test.

Delphine Ducoulombier, Anne‐Marie Roque‐Afonso, Gaëtana Di Liberto, François Penin, Rachid Kara, Yolande Richard, Elisabeth Dussaix, Cyrille Féray – 27 February 2004 – Differences in the composition of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies between plasma and blood mononuclear cells (BMC) strongly suggest that BMCs support viral replication. We examined the frequency of such compartmentalization, the cell types involved, the constraints exerted on the different variants, and the role of immunoglobulin‐complexed variants.

Walter K. Kremers, Marrije van IJperen, W. Ray Kim, Richard B. Freeman, Ann M. Harper, Patrick S. Kamath, Russell H. Wiesner – 27 February 2004 – The Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score is predictive of survival and is used to prioritize patients with chronic liver disease patients for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Ralf Bartenschlager – 27 February 2004

Monika van Zonneveld, Pieter Honkoop, Bettina E. Hansen, Hubertus G.M. Niesters, Sarwa Darwish Murad, Robert A. de Man, Solko W. Schalm, Harry L.A. Janssen – 27 February 2004 – Data on the long‐term effects of interferon alfa (IFN) treatment on disease progression and mortality in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are limited. To evaluate factors that influence clinical outcome and survival, we performed a follow‐up study on 165 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive CHB patients treated with IFN between 1978 and 2002.

James R. Levy, John N. Clore, Wayne Stevens – 27 February 2004 – Dietary fatty acid composition modifies hepatic lipid metabolism. To determine the effects of fatty acids on hepatic triglyceride storage, rats were fed diets enriched in carbohydrates (control), fish oil, or lard. After 4 weeks, the animals were fasted overnight. In the morning, the animals were either sacrificed or fed 8 g of their respective diets before sacrifice. Animals ingested more food calories with diets containing fish oil than with other diets. However, fish oil–fed animals weighed less and had less body fat.

Koji Nakamura, Hidenori Nonaka, Hiroki Saito, Minoru Tanaka, Atsushi Miyajima – 27 February 2004 – Oncostatin M (OSM) is a member of the IL‐6 family of cytokines. Mice deficient in the OSM receptor (OSMR‐/‐) showed impaired liver regeneration with persistent parenchymal necrosis after carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) exposure. The recovery of liver mass from partial hepatectomy was also significantly delayed in OSMR‐/‐ mice.

Mario Mikula, Eva Fuchs, Heidemarie Huber, Hartmut Beug, Rolf Schulte‐Hermann, Wolfgang Mikulits – 27 February 2004 – Primary hepatocytes are blocked in mitotic activity and well‐defined culture conditions only allow the limited expansion of these cells. Various genetic modifications have therefore been employed to establish immortalized hepatic cell lines, but, unfortunately, proper hepatocyte cultures conducting a faithful hepatic gene expression program and lacking malignancy are hardly available.

Jung‐Hwan Yoon, Ali E. Canbay, Nathan W. Werneburg, Sum P. Lee, Gregory J. Gores – 27 February 2004 – Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), which is expressed by cholangiocytes in biliary tract disorders, has recently been implicated in biliary tract carcinogenesis. The mechanisms responsible for this COX‐2 expression remain unclear. In human diseases, bile contains oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol (oxysterols) which possess diverse biological properties. Therefore, we determined if oxysterols modulate COX‐2 expression.

Thomas A. Wynn, Matthias Hesse, Netanya G. Sandler, Mallika Kaviratne, Karl F. Hoffmann, Monica G. Chiaramonte, Rachael Reiman, Allen W. Cheever, Joseph P. Sypek, Margaret M. Mentink‐Kane – 27 February 2004 – The selectin family of cell adhesion molecules is widely thought to promote inflammatory reactions by facilitating leukocyte recruitment.