K Biden, J Young, R Buttenshaw, J Searle, G Cooksley, D B Xu, B Leggett – 30 December 2003 – The tumor suppressor gene CDKN2A (MTS1/p16), located on chromosome 9p21, is inactivated in a variety of tumors including melanomas and tumors of the biliary tract, pancreas, and stomach. The aim of the present study was to determine whether this gene is inactivated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Twenty‐three primary HCCs and four HCC cell lines were examined.

N O Funaki, J Tanaka, S I Seto, T Kasamatsu, T Kaido, M Imamura – 30 December 2003 – To detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in the circulating peripheral blood, we previously designed a highly sensitive reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) method targeting α‐fetoprotein (AFP) messenger RNA (mRNA). Using this method, we analyzed peripheral blood of in‐ and out‐patients bearing HCC for 2 months consecutively and examined the outcome thereafter. All 11 patients with recurrence either in the liver alone or in both the liver and the lung were positive for AFP mRNA.

D Jungst, R del Pozo, M H Dolu, S G Schneeweiss, E Frimberger – 30 December 2003 – Laparoscopic cholecystotomy (LCT) with subsequent extraction of gallstones and primary closure of the gallbladder has been introduced as an alternative therapy for patients with cholecystolithiasis and preserved gallbladder function. However, stone recurrence has to be considered as a major drawback that might be related to lithogenic factors of gallbladder bile or the composition of gallbladder stones.

E A Jones, C Yurdaydin – 30 December 2003

F A Rochling, W F Jones, K Chau, L DuCharme, L T Mimms, B Moore, J Scheffel, J A Cuthbert, D L Thiele – 30 December 2003 – Patients presenting with clinical and laboratory features consistent with a diagnosis of acute non‐A, non‐B hepatitis were evaluated for evidence of hepatitis C or hepatitis E infection and for evidence of severe or prolonged disease. Antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV) was detected in 75 of 108 (69%) patients, antibody to hepatitis E virus (anti‐HEV) in three patients (3%), and neither antibody in 31 (29%) patients. One patient had both anti‐HCV and anti‐HEV.

N Yuki, N Hayashi, T Moribe, Y Matsushita, T Tabata, T Inoue, Y Kanazawa, K Ohkawa, A Kasahara, H Fusamoto, T Kamada – 30 December 2003 – We studied the heterogeneity in the E2/NS1 hypervariable region 1 of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome in relation to the natural course after infection. The subjects were composed of 38 chronic hepatitis C carriers who had been followed for 9 to 218 months after the onset of non‐A, non‐B (type C) hepatitis, being tested monthly for serum alanine aminotransferase levels.

M A Avila, J Mingorance, M L Martínez‐Chantar, M Casado, P Martín‐Sanz, L Boscá, J M Mato – 30 December 2003 – We investigated the modulation of rat liver S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthetase in a model of acute sepsis. Our results show that animals treated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide experience a marked decrease in liver SAM synthetase activity. No changes were detected in the hepatic levels of SAM synthetase protein, suggesting that inactivation of the existing enzyme was the cause of the observed activity loss.

A J Czaja, M D Strettell, L J Thomson, P J Santrach, S B Moore, P T Donaldson, R Williams – 30 December 2003 – Susceptibility for type 1 autoimmune hepatitis has been associated with the major histocompatibility alleles DRB1*0301, DRB3*0101, DRB1*0401, and DRB4*0103, whereas the DRB1*1501 allele may protect from the disease. Our aim was to determine if these alleles or others influence clinical manifestations and prognosis. Eighty‐six white patients were evaluated prospectively for immune features and outcomes.

Michael D. Van Norstrand, Michael Malinchoc, K. D. Lindor, T. M. Therneau, M. E. Gershwin, P. S. Leung, E. R. Dickson, H. A. Homburger – 30 December 2003 – We examined the clinical usefulness of measurements of antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) in predicting disease progression in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

Don Rockey – 30 December 2003