W R Kim, J J Poterucha, R A Jorgensen, K P Batts, H A Homburger, E R Dickson, R A Krom, R H Wiesner, K D Lindor – 30 December 2003 – Approximately 5% to 10% of patients with features otherwise consistent with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) lack antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). Most of these patients have other autoantibodies, a syndrome recently named “autoimmune cholangitis.” We report our experience in patients with AMA‐negative PBC treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and/or liver transplantation (OLT). The study of response to UDCA was performed as follows.

H O Conn – 30 December 2003

J Salo, M Guevara, G Fernandez‐Esparrach, R Bataller, A Gines, W Jimenez, P Gines, F Rivera, V Arroyo, J Rodes – 30 December 2003 – Moderate physical exercise does not affect glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal excretory function in normal subjects. This study is aimed at assessing the effects of moderate physical exercise on renal function in 21 nonazotemic cirrhotic patients with ascites.

K Shetty, L Rybicki, W D Carey – 30 December 2003 – Clinical decisions in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) depend upon understanding its variable natural history. Several prognostic models for survival have been developed. We explored the Child‐Pugh Classification (CPC) to determine if it predicts survival as well as a disease‐specific model (DSM). We identified 208 PSC patients who satisfied established criteria. Prognostic variables were measured from the first visit.

L J Scott, D Delautier, N R Meerson, G Trugnan, J W Goding, M Maurice – 30 December 2003 – We have identified B10, a plasma membrane protein previously defined by a monoclonal antibody, as an alkaline phosphodiesterase I (APDE) expressed in the plasma membrane of rat hepatocytes and enterocytes, with a restricted apical distribution. B10 complementary DNA (cDNA) was cloned from a rat intestinal library screened with a polyclonal antibody directed to the hepatic protein.

G A Niro, A Smedile, A Andriulli, M Rizzetto, J L Gerin, J L Casey – 30 December 2003 – The sera of 46 Italian patients with chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection were analyzed for HDV RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Genetic analysis of sequences amplified from two regions of the HDV genome indicated that all HDV RNA‐positive patients (98%) were infected with HDV genotype I. In Italy, infection with this genotype appeared to be associated with a broad spectrum of chronic disease.

C Pasquinelli, J M Shoenberger, J Chung, K M Chang, L G Guidotti, M Selby, K Berger, R Lesniewski, M Houghton, F V Chisari – 30 December 2003 – Transgenic mice have been produced that express the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein in the liver under the transcriptional control of the mouse major urinary protein promoter. These animals express the full length core protein in cytoplasm of their hepatocytes at levels comparable to those detected in naturally infected patients, without histological or biochemical evidence of liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma.

K Hayashi, T Kurohiji, K Shirouzu – 30 December 2003 – The expression of thrombospondin (TSP) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was investigated by light and electron microscopic immunohistochemical studies, using an anti‐human TSP antibody to HCC and liver specimens. Tissue specimens were obtained by surgical resection from 60 patients with HCC. In light microscopic immunohistochemistry, all specimens showed strong immunoreaction for TSP in fibrous tissues in HCC and surrounding nonmalignant areas.

Raghavakaimal Sreekumar, Barbara Rosado, Deborah Rasmussen, Michael Charlton – 30 December 2003 – Although the molecular basis for the pathophysiology of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is poorly understood, insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction are physiologic hallmarks of this condition. We sought evidence of a transcriptional or pretranscriptional basis for insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction through measurement of hepatic gene expression (messenger RNA [mRNA]) using high‐density synthetic oligonucleotide microarray analysis (Hu6800 GeneChip, Affymetrix, CA).

Carlo Merkel – 30 December 2003