Laura Falasca, Anna Favale, Giampiero Gualandi, Gennaro Maietta, Laura Conti Devirgiliis – 30 December 2003 – The present study reports the effects of retinoic acid (RA) on cultured fetal rat hepatocytes. We show that RA treatment induces both differentiation and apoptosis. Hepatocytes cultured for 48 hours in the presence of 5 μmol/L RA form junctional complexes in the areas of contact between neighboring cells and develop bile canaliculi, typical features of mature and well‐differentiated cells.

Bettina Grasl‐Kraupp, Walter Rossmanith, Branislav Ruttkay‐Nedecky, Leonhard Müllauer, Bettina Kammerer, Wilfried Bursch, Rolf Schulte‐Hermann – 30 December 2003 – Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) has been implicated as inhibitor of cell proliferation and a potent inducer of apoptosis in vitro and in vivo after the administration of high doses. To assess the role of endogenous TGF‐β1, we quantitated the cytokine and its receptors in rat liver during regenerative and hyperplastic growth, regression by apoptosis, and in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Susanne Keiding, Søren B. Hansen, Henrik H Rasmussen, Antony Gee, Aksel Kruse, Klaus Roelsgaard, Ulrik Tage‐Jensen, Jens Frederik Dahlerup – 30 December 2003 – Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) predisposes to cholangiocarcinoma (CC), which usually is widespread in the liver at the time of the diagnosis and which has a median survival of approximately 6 months. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a noninvasive scanning method that allows the assessment of metabolism in vivo by means of positron‐emitting radiolabeled tracers.

Masashi Yoneda, Kimihide Nakamura, Shiro Yokohama, Keisuke Tamori, Yoichi Sato, Kazunobu Aso, Masaru Aoshima, Toru Kono, Isao Makino – 30 December 2003 – Neuropeptide Y (NPY) injected into the cerebrospinal fluid and the left dorsal vagal complex enhances bile acid–independent and bicarbonate‐dependent bile secretion through vagal muscarinic pathways in animal models. NPY binds to and activates six different receptor subtypes, and NPY Y1 and Y2 receptors are distributed in the dorsal vagal complex.

Philippe Sogni, Richard Moreau, Alexandra Gomola, Adrian Gadano, Stephane Cailmail, Yvon Calmus, Martine Clozel, Didier Lebrec – 30 December 2003 – In patients with cirrhosis, the plasma level of endothelin, a potent vasoconstrictor peptide, is elevated, and endothelin plays a role in increased intrahepatic vascular resistance. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic effects of bosentan, a mixed ETA and ETB endothelin receptor antagonist in three models of portal hypertension.

Masaru Iwai, Tadashige Yamauchi, Takashi Shimazu – 30 December 2003 – The effects of endothelin 1 (ET‐1) on hemodynamics and acute liver damage were studied using perfused livers of rats treated with d‐galactosamine. In control liver perfused in situ with constant pressure, infusion of ET‐1 into the portal vein at a concentration of 0.1 nmol/L decreased the flow rate without a significant leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) or aspartate transaminase (AST) into the effluent.

Qin Su, Heide Zerban, Gerd Otto, Peter Bannasch – 30 December 2003 – Hepatocytes of normal adult liver express cytokeratins (CKs) 8/18, but bile duct cells additionally contain CK7/19. We have previously demonstrated the frequent occurrence of foci of altered hepatocytes in association with hepatic tumors in humans and provided evidence for a preneoplastic nature of the focal lesions. In this study, we investigated the CK expression in both the preneoplastic lesions and extrafocal parenchyma.

Raffaello Sostegni, Valeria Ghisetti, Fabrizia Pittaluga, Giovanna Marchiaro, Giuseppe Rocca, Elisabetta Borghesio, Mario Rizzetto, Giorgio Saracco – 30 December 2003 – We conducted a three‐arm, randomized trial in 96 patients with chronic hepatitis C who did not respond to interferon alfa to compare treatments.

Olivier Chazouillères, Dominique Wendum, Lawrence Serfaty, Sarah Montembault, Olivier Rosmorduc, Raoul Poupon – 30 December 2003 – The association of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is thought to be rare, and its optimal treatment is unknown. Of 130 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of PBC, we identified 12 cases (9.2%) of overlap syndrome (10 females, 2 males; median age, 50 years) strictly defined by the presence of at least two of the three recognized biochemical, serological, and histological criteria of each disease.

Teh‐ia Huo, Jaw‐ching Wu, Pui‐ching Lee, Gar‐yang Chau, Wing‐yu Lui, Shyh‐haw Tsay, Ling‐tan Ting, Full‐young Chang, Shou‐dong Lee – 30 December 2003 – The incidence of delayed hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance in the natural history of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐infected patients was low. Previous studies regarding the prognosis in such patients were controversial. Among 1,355 chronic carriers from 1985 to 1997, spontaneous HBsAg clearance was observed in 55 patients.