Michael André Kern, Dominic Schubert, Dina Sahi, Mirja Mareike Schöneweiß, Ilona Moll, Anke Maria Haugg, Hans Peter Dienes, Kai Breuhahn, Peter Schirmacher – 30 December 2003 – Recent studies have shown increased levels of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) in a variety of human malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but so far it is unknown whether COX‐2 contributes to the malignant growth and whether inhibition of COX‐2 function modifies the malignant potential of liver tumors.

Alberto Larghi, Massimo Zuin, Andrea Crosignani, Maria Lisa Ribero, Cristina Pipia, Pier Maria Battezzati, Giorgio Binelli, Francesco Donato, Alessandro Remo Zanetti, Mauro Podda, Alessandro Tagger – 30 December 2003 – We identified 15 patients with acute hepatitis C (AHC) among 29 healthy volunteers participating in 2 consecutive pharmacokinetics studies. Molecular techniques were used to determine the relatedness of viral strains, whereas clinical and virologic follow‐up was started to establish the course and outcome of the acute infection.

Akihiro Obora, Yoshimune Shiratori, Masataka Okuno, Seiji Adachi, Yukihiko Takano, Rie Matsushima‐Nishiwaki, Ichiro Yasuda, Yasuhiro Yamada, Kuniharu Akita, Tetsuro Sano, Jun Shimada, Soichi Kojima, Yukio Okano, Scott L. Friedman, Hisataka Moriwaki – 30 December 2003 – Acyclic retinoid, a synthetic retinoid analog, as well as interferon alfa (IFN‐α) and IFN‐β induce apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and are used clinically in the prevention of HCC.

Markus F. Wolschek, Christiane Thallinger, Malgorzata Kursa, Vanessa Rössler, Matthew Allen, Cornelia Lichtenberger, Ralf Kircheis, Trevor Lucas, Martin Willheim, Walter Reinisch, Alfred Gangl, Ernst Wagner, Burkhard Jansen – 30 December 2003 – Systemic tumor‐targeted gene delivery is attracting increasing attention as a promising alternative to conventional therapeutical strategies. To be considered as a viable option, however, the respective transgene has to be administered with high tumor specificity.

David Oldach – 30 December 2003

Mitchell L. Shiffman – 30 December 2003 – Significant advances have been made in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during the past 5 years. As a consequence, there is continuing enthusiasm for retreating patients who did not achieve sustained virological response (SVR) with previous therapy. Retreatment of non‐responders to standard interferon monotherapy using interferon and ribavirin has yielded SVR rates of 12% to 15%. Retreatment with peginterferon and ribavirin has been more effective; achieving SVR rates of 34% to 40%.

Pavel Taimr, Hajime Higuchi, Eva Kocova, Richard A. Rippe, Scott Friedman, Gregory J. Gores – 30 December 2003 – Apoptosis has emerged as an important mechanism to reduce numbers of activated stellate cells during the resolution phase of hepatic fibrosis. These observations suggest that activated stellate cells may be more susceptible to apoptotic stimuli than their quiescent counterparts.

Qi Qian, Airong Li, Bernard F. King, Patrick S. Kamath, Donna J. Lager, John Huston, Clarence Shub, Sonia Davila, Stefan Somlo, Vicente E. Torres – 30 December 2003 – Most reports on the natural history, manifestations, and treatment of polycystic liver disease are based on the disease as it manifests in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The purpose of this study was to develop a clinical profile of isolated autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease (ADPLD) using nonaffected family members as controls.

Shoichiro Shishido, Hironori Koga, Masaru Harada, Hiroto Kumemura, Shinichiro Hanada, Eitaro Taniguchi, Ryukichi Kumashiro, Hiromasa Ohira, Yukio Sato, Masayoshi Namba, Takato Ueno, Michio Sata – 30 December 2003 – Troglitazone has been withdrawn from therapeutic options for diabetes mellitus because of its severe hepatocyte toxicity of unknown pathogenesis. The aim of the present study was to assess both morphologic and functional alterations in the mitochondria of troglitazone‐treated hepatocytes. A polarized human hepatocyte cell line, OUMS‐29, was used in this study.

Emilio Iannitto, Vincenzo Barbera, Rocco Gambino, Emanuele Ammatuna, Giuseppe Montalto, Rosa Di Stefano – 30 December 2003