K Brix, R Wirtz, V Herzog – 30 December 2003 – Thyroglobulin (Tg), the precursor of the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), is known to derive from thyroid epithelial cells. Part of Tg reaches the circulation as an intact molecule by transcytosis across the epithelial wall of thyroid follicles. Circulating Tg is a potential ligand for the asialoglycoprotein receptor of hepatocytes. In this report we show, however, that clearance of circulating Tg occurred exclusively by endocytosis in liver macrophages, whereas hepatocytes did not participate in this process.

M Yoneda, K Tamori, Y Sato, S Yokohama, K Nakamura, T Kono, I Makino – 30 December 2003 – Central neuropeptides play a role as physiological regulators in the autonomic nervous system. One of these neuropeptides, thyrotropin‐ releasing hormone (TRH), is distributed throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and acts as a neurotransmitter to regulate gastric functions through the vagus nerve. However, the autonomic nervous system is also involved in hepatic regeneration, but the effect of TRH is unknown. Therefore, the CNS's effect of TRH on hepatic DNA synthesis was studied in rats.

L Garcia‐Huete, P Domenech, A Sabate, F Martinez‐Brotons, E Jaurrieta, J Figueras – 30 December 2003 – Fibrinolysis has been recognized as an important cause of intraoperative bleeding during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Several investigators have used prophylactic administration of aprotinin in patients to inhibit fibrinolysis and to decrease transfusion requirements, morbidity, and mortality. Nevertheless, the role of aprotinin in this situation is not yet clear.

A Bertoletti, S Southwood, R Chesnut, A Sette, M Falco, G B Ferrara, A Penna, C Boni, F Fiaccadori, C Ferrari – 30 December 2003 – The strength of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response is believed to influence the final outcome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

A Rossini, A Ravaggi, L Biasi, E Agostinelli, L Bercich, G B Gazzola, F Callea, E Radaeli, E Cariani – 30 December 2003 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers with normal aminotransferase levels often show histological chronic hepatitis. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of interferon (IFN) in such patients. Nineteen HCV carriers with normal aminotransferase activities and chronic hepatitis were randomized to receive IFN‐α2b (3 million units 3 times weekly for 12 months) or no treatment. Therapy was monitored by qualitative and quantitative determination of viral RNA.

G Kullak‐Ublick, U Beuers, C Fahney, B Hagenbuch, P J Meier, G Paumgartner – 30 December 2003 – The organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) of the basolateral hepatocyte membrane mediates multispecific uptake of anionic and other amphipathic substrates from sinusoidal blood plasma. To investigate the mechanisms controlling OATP expression, the 5′‐flanking region of the human OATP gene was isolated from a P1‐derived artificial chromosome genomic clone.

J A Goss, G J Schiller, P Martin, P Seu, R Stribling, S V McDiarmid, C R Shackleton, J S Markowitz, B J Nuesse, L I Goldstein, R W Busuttil – 30 December 2003 – The clinical characteristics and outcome of posttransplantation aplastic anemia (AA) were determined in 12 of 1,736 patients (0.007%) undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) that were afflicted with AA. None of the affected patients had a history of hematologic disease. Median patient age was 53 years (range, 2‐61 years); 10 of the affected patients were men, and 2 were women.

L Krähenbühl, J Reichen, C Talos, S Krähenbühl – 30 December 2003 – Benzoic acid metabolism, which is primarily a function of liver mitochondria, depending on the concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), coenzyme A (CoA), and glycine in the mitochondrial matrix, was investigated in both rats with long‐term cholestasis caused by bile duct ligation (BDL) and sham‐operated control rats.

L. Benvegnù, P. Pontisso, D. Cavalletto, F. Noventa, L. Chemello, A. Alberti – 30 December 2003 – The influence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐genotype on liver disease severity was evaluated in 429 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C, including 109 with cirrhosis who were followed up prospectively, allowing for the assessment of the role of the HCV‐genotype on disease outcome and on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV‐1 was detected in 147 (46%) patients without cirrhosis and in 47 (43%) with cirrhosis (x not significant), being mainly HCV‐1b.

N. Ito, S. Kawata, H. Tsushima, S. Tamura, S. Kiso, S. Takami, T. Igura, M. Monnden, Y. Matsuzawa – 30 December 2003 – A patient, having a huge hepatic hemangioma, presented with decreases in the number of peripheral lymphocytes and in serum concentrations of γ‐globulin and immunoglobulin (Ig) G, and a negative purified protein derivatives skin test, indicating that the patient's immunity was impaired. The plasma concentration of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1), a potent immunosuppressor, in the patient was markedly elevated (113 ng/mL, normal < 5).