R P Woitas, J Heller, B Stoffel‐Wagner, U Spengler, T Sauerbruch – 30 December 2003 – To investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) with respect to kidney function and liver cirrhosis, we evaluated renal function, as well as cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and NOx (nitrite/nitrate [NO3− /NO2−]) as indirect markers of NO formation in plasma and urine at rest and during amino acid (aa)‐induced glomerular hyperfiltration in patients with Child A liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension (n = 12), and in healthy controls (n = 10).

S Norris, M Lawler, S McCann, J Hegarty, C O'Farrelly – 30 December 2003 – Donor‐type microchimerism, the presence of a minority population of donor‐derived haematopoietic cells following solid organ transplantation, has been postulated as a mechanism for induction of donor‐specific graft tolerance. The stability, frequency, and relevance of microchimerism with respect to long‐term outcome, however, remains uncertain.

Q Xu, M Mantle, J G Pauletzki, E A Shaffer – 30 December 2003 – Although gallbladder stasis exists in most patients with cholesterol gallstones, it is unknown whether stasis is a causative factor of gallstone disease or merely a consequence of it. We studied the impact of sustained gallbladder stasis induced by a cholecystokinin (CCK)‐A receptor antagonist (MK‐329) on gallstone formation in ground squirrels fed either a trace or a high‐cholesterol diet. MK‐329 markedly inhibited gallbladder contraction in vitro in response to CCK (at EC100, control: 3.6 ± 0.5 vs.

T Heintges, J R Wands – 30 December 2003

G Missale, E Cariani, V Lamonaca, A Ravaggi, A Rossini, R Bertoni, M Houghton, Y Matsuura, T Miyamura, F Fiaccadori, C Ferrari – 30 December 2003 – The viral genotype may influence the response to interferon (IFN) treatment in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To characterize potential mechanisms responsible for this effect, we assessed whether IFN modulation of HCV‐specific T‐cell responses differs in patients infected by different genotypes.

Russell H. Wiesner, Ruud A.F. Krom – 30 December 2003

Giorgio E. Gerunda, Roberto Merenda, Daniele Neri, Paolo Angeli, Franco Barbazza, Michele Valmasoni, Paolo Feltracco, Fabio Zangrandi, Antonio Gangemi, Diego Miotto, Alessandro Gagliesi, Alvise Maffei Faccioli – 30 December 2003 – Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) may be feasible even in the presence of diffuse portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in the recipient, providing hepatopetal portal flow to the graft can be ensured. Cavoportal hemitransposition was used in selected cases in which no other salvage solutions were technically possible.

François Mosimann, Jean‐Jacques Gonvers, Gilles Mentha, Emiliano Giostra, Christian Seiler, Jean‐François Dufour, Philippe Morel – 30 December 2003

Hugo E. Vargas, Forrest S. Dodson, Jorge Rakela – 30 December 2003 – Significant improvements in both patient and graft survival after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related liver failure have been made during the last decade. Recurrence of HBV infection has decreased, even in high‐risk patients.

Michael R. Charlton – 30 December 2003