Hitoshi Yoshiji, Shigeki Kuriyama, Daniel J. Hicklin, James Huber, Junichi Yoshii, Yasuhide Ikenaka, Ryuichi Noguchi, Toshiya Nakatani, Hirohisa Tsujinoue, Hiroshi Fukui – 30 December 2003 – The vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGF‐A), also known as the vascular permeability factor (VPF), has been shown to play an important role in malignant ascites formation. The effects of VEGF‐A are mediated through flt‐1 and kinase insert domain–containing receptor/fetal liver kinase (KDR/Flk‐1) receptors.

Yoshimasa Saito, Yae Kanai, Michiie Sakamoto, Hidetsugu Saito, Hiromasa Ishii, Setsuo Hirohashi – 30 December 2003 – To evaluate the significance of alterations in DNA methylation during human hepatocarcinogenesis, we examined levels of mRNA for DNA methyltransferases and methyl‐CpG‐binding proteins and the DNA methylation status in 67 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). The average level of mRNA for DNMT1 and DNMT3a was significantly higher in noncancerous liver tissues showing chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis than in histologically normal liver tissues, and was even higher in HCCs.

Lisa M. Forman, Michael R. Lucey – 30 December 2003

Katja Breitkopf, Birgit Lahme, Carmen G. Tag, Axel M. Gressner – 30 December 2003 – Latent transforming growth factor β binding protein (LTBP), a high‐molecular‐weight glycoprotein of the large latent TGF‐β complex is suggested to serve as an anchor for latent TGF‐β in the extracellular matrix and as a component of microfibrillar structures. Proteolytic cleavage of LTBP is supposed to be a prerequisite for the release and generation of bioactive (mature) TGF‐β.

Derek Murphy, Katharina M. Detjen, Martina Welzel, Bertram Wiedenmann, Stefan Rosewicz – 30 December 2003 – The potential antiproliferative effects of interferon‐α (IFN‐α) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are controversial, and the growth inhibitory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Therefore, the current study was designed to delineate the molecular mechanisms responsible for direct antiproliferative actions of IFN‐α in HCC cells.

Filippo Schepis, Calogero Cammà, Domenico Niceforo, Antonio Magnano, Socrate Pallio, Maurizio Cinquegrani, Gennaro D'Amico, Linda Pasta, Antonio Craxì, Antonino Saitta, Giovanni Raimondo – 30 December 2003 – Our aims were to develop a noninvasive predictive tool to identify cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices and to evaluate whether portal Doppler ultrasonographic parameters may improve the value of other predictors. One hundred forty‐three consecutive compensated cirrhotic patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Arti Parikh‐Patel, Ellen B. Gold, Howard Worman, Kathryn E. Krivy, M. Eric Gershwin – 30 December 2003 – Although the etiology of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) remains unknown, environmental factors may act to trigger the disease in genetically susceptible hosts. To assess specific risk factors, we conducted a survey using standardized NHANES questions to 241 PBC patients in the United States, 261 of their siblings, and 141 friends without PBC. The overall response rate was 199 of 241 (83%) among PBC cases, 171 of 261 (67%) among siblings, and 141 of 225 (62.7%) among friend controls.

Koutaro Uchimura, Makoto Nakamuta, Munechika Enjoji, Takashi Irie, Rie Sugimoto, Tatsushi Muta, Hiroaki Iwamoto, Hajime Nawata – 30 December 2003 – Activators of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ), which forms a heterodimer with retinoic X receptor (RXR), inhibit the production of certain inflammatory mediators. To clarify the role of the PPARγ:RXR signaling pathway in Kupffer cells, we studied the effect of an RXR agonist and PPARγ agonist on LPS‐induced nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) production.

Simon F. Peek, Paul J. Cote, James R. Jacob, Ilia A. Toshkov, William E. Hornbuckle, Betty H. Baldwin, Frances V. Wells, C. K. Chu, John L. Gerin, Bud C. Tennant, Brent E. Korba – 30 December 2003 – L‐FMAU [1‐(2‐fluoro‐5‐methyl‐β,L‐arabinofuranosyl) uracil] has been shown to be an effective inhibitor of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and duck hepatitis B virus replication in cell culture and duck hepatitis B virus replication in acutely infected Peking ducks.

Katsuhiko Fukuda, Katsuya Tsuchihara, Makoto Hijikata, Shuhei Nishiguchi, Tetsuo Kuroki, Kunitada Shimotohno – 30 December 2003 – Mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways play key roles in cell proliferation, transformation of mammalian cells, and the stress response. We and other investigators showed that hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein has an oncogenic potential, but its mechanism has remained unknown.