Robert F. Rotundo, Robert A. Rebres, Paula J. Mckeown‐Longo, Frank A. Blumenstock, Thomas M. Saba – 30 December 2003 – It has been postulated that the in vivo removal of many plasma glycoproteins after desialylation is mediated by their interaction with a specific endocytic receptor on hepatocytes called the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP‐R), which is known to have a high affinity for specific carbohydrate residues, such as galactose. However, this mechanism has never been proven in vivo, nor has a naturally occurring ligand for the ASGP‐R been identified.

Terence Wong, Kayhan T. Nouri‐Aria, John Devlin, Bernard Portmann, Roger Williams – 30 December 2003 – Tolerance develops in a proportion of long‐term liver transplant recipients but currently cannot be identified before an attempt at withdrawal from immunosuppression therapy. In the present study, we have examined the immunophenotypic characteristics of the cellular infiltrate in portal tracts and lobules as observed in liver biopsy specimens in relation to the outcome of subsequent withdrawal from immunosuppression therapy.

Stefano Ginanni Corradini, Cristina Ripani, Paola Della Guardia, Luca Giovannelli, Walter Elisei, Alfredo Cantafora, Massimo Codacci Pisanelli, Giovanni Domenico Tebala, Gennaro Nuzzo, Alessandro Corsi, Adolfo Francesco Attili, Livio Capocaccia, Vincenzo Ziparo – 30 December 2003 – In this study, we first developed and validated a new in vitro isolated, intra‐arterially perfused, gallbladder model and then applied the method to investigate the absorption of biliary lipids by the gallbladder wall and the effect of this process on the composition of human bile.

Carlos Valls, Juan Figueras, S. Bhattacjarya, A. P. Dhillon, B. R. Davidson – 30 December 2003

Debra Sudan, Ranjan Sudan, Dan Schafer, Alan Langnas – 30 December 2003

Toshiki Kanemaki, Hiroaki Kitade, Masaki Kaibori, Kazushige Sakitani, Yoshifumi Hiramatsu, Yasuo Kamiyama, Seiji Ito, Tadayoshi Okumura – 30 December 2003 – Recent evidence indicates that inflammatory cytokines are involved in changes of blood glucose concentrations and hepatic glucose metabolism in infectious diseases, including sepsis. However, little is known regarding how cytokines interact with glucoregulatory hormones such as insulin. The objective of the present study is to investigate if and how cytokines influence insulin‐stimulated glycogen metabolism in the liver.

Geoffrey C. Farrell, Bruce R. Bacon, Robert D. Goldin, Clinical Advisory Group for the Hepatitis C Comparative Study – 30 December 2003 – The aim of this study was to compare the short‐term and long‐term efficacy and safety of lymphoblastoid interferon with a recombinant interferon alfa (IFN‐α) in a 24‐week treatment course for chronic hepatitis C. One thousand seventy‐one patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomized to receive lymphoblastoid IFN‐αn1 or recombinant IFN‐α2b at the same dosing regimen, 3 million units administered subcutaneously three times a week for 24 weeks.

Maria H. Sjogren – 30 December 2003

Angelo Sangiovanni, Rino Morales, GianCarlo Spinzi, MariaGrazia Rumi, Antonietta Casiraghi, Roberto Ceriani, Enrico Colombo, Maurizio Fossati, Alberto Prada, Enrico Tavani, Giorgio Minoli – 30 December 2003 – Most patients with serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and persistently normal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels show histological features of mild to moderately active chronic hepatitis. Some cirrhosis has also been reported.

Ji‐Ying Song, Cornelis J. F. Van Noorden, Wilma M. Frederiks – 30 December 2003 – The involvement of hepatocytes in proliferation of bile ductule‐like structures during cholestasis remains controversial. The present study was an attempt to address the issue of whether hepatocytes transform into ductular epithelial cells in response to cholestasis and, if so, which mechanisms are involved. Cholestasis was induced by common bile duct–ligation (CBDL) in rat liver for 2, 7, and 14 days.