Y Bacq, T Sapey, M Brechot, F Pierre, A Fignon, F Dubois – 30 December 2003 – The aim of this prospective study was to analyze the characteristics of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) in a French population. From 1989 to 1995 we studied 50 consecutive pregnant women with ICP (41 single, 7 twin, and 2 triplet pregnancies) referred for hepatologic consultation. All patients suffered from pruritus and/or jaundice associated with elevated fasting serum levels of total bile acids (mean 49 micromol/L, range 7‐290).

P W L Thimister, W P Hopman, R F C van Roermund, H L Willems, G Rosenbusch, R Woestenborghs, J B Jansen – 30 December 2003 – Loperamide, a peripherally acting opiate receptor agonist with antidiarrheal action, inhibits ileal and colonic motor function. It was determined whether loperamide also affects gallbladder emptying and pancreatic enzyme secretion in humans.

D Colledge, S Locarnini, T Shaw – 30 December 2003 – Lamivudine ([‐]‐β‐L‐2′,3′‐dideoxy‐3′‐thiacytidine [3TC]) and penciclovir (9‐[2‐hydroxy‐1‐(hydroxymethyl)ethoxymethyl]guanine [PCV]) are potent inhibitors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Both drugs have entered phase III clinical trials for treatment of chronic HBV infection. 3TC and PCV are deoxycytidine and deoxyguanosine analogs, respectively, and their modes of action and how they interact are matters of both theoretical and practical interest.

H Weidenbach, A K Nussler, Z Shu, G Adler, K Beckh – 30 December 2003 – Nitric oxide (NO) and norepinephrine are potent vasoactive agents that are involved in the control of portal blood flow. We have studied NO and norepinephrine in a non‐recirculated rat liver perfusion to analyze their influence on portal flow and hepatic metabolism. Animals were either pretreated with endotoxin (4 hours; 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally) to activate the inducible NO synthase (NOS2), or used without pretreatment for the constitutive NO synthase (NOS3).

P Brissot, U Bolder, C D Schteingart, J Arnaud, A F Hofmann – 30 December 2003 – In iron overload, non‐transferrin‐bound iron (NTBI) is found in plasma and is rapidly removed by hepatocytes. Some of this NTBI is excreted into bile. Biliary excretion of NTBI, in the form of an iron‐ deferiprone chelate, is greatly increased by deferiprone, an iron chelator. The aim of this study was to test whether biliary iron as such or as an iron‐deferiprone chelate (both originating from plasma NTBI) is absorbed from the intestine and re‐secreted into bile.

B N Smith, W Kantrowitz, N D Grace, M S Greenberg, T J Patton, R Ookubo, K Sorger, J G Semeraro, J R Doyle, A G Cooper, B R Kamat, L M Maregni, W M Rand – 30 December 2003 – The prevalence of homozygous hereditary hemochromatosis (HHC) is estimated at 1:250 in Caucasian adults. Little is known about ethnic subpopulations that might be at increased risk for this disease. HLA data have suggested a Celtic origin for HHC. Screening for HHC was offered to all employees of the Massachusetts Polaroid Corporation.

P Loria, M Bozzoli, M Concari, M E Guicciardi, F Carubbi, M Bertolotti, D Piani, A Nistri, M Angelico, M Romani, N Carulli – 30 December 2003 – This study aimed to determine the effect in humans of taurohyodeoxycholic acid, a 6α‐hydroxylated bile acid with hydrophilic properties, on bile lipid secretion. Four cholecystectomized patients who had gallstones and an interrupted enterohepatic circulation were intraduodenally infused with taurohyodeoxycholic and tauroursodeoxycholic acids on separate occasions at a dose of 0.8 to 1 g/h for 3 hours.

F Marra – 30 December 2003

M W Fried, Y E Khudyakov, G A Smallwood, M Cong, B Nichols, E Diaz, P Siefert, K Gutekunst, R D Gordon, T D Boyer, H A Fields – 30 December 2003 – Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a newly described RNA virus that is parenterally transmitted and has been found frequently in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

S Issaragrisil, D Kaufman, A Thongput, K Chansung, T Thamprasit, A Piankijagum, T Anderson, S Shapiro, P Leaverton, N S Young – 30 December 2003 – Aplastic anemia is more common in the Orient than in western countries, with an incidence in Thailand that is 2‐ to 3‐fold higher than in Europe. Aplastic anemia after hepatitis is a well characterized clinical entity, and clinical hepatitis is also prevalent in the Far East. We performed a prospective case‐control study to determine risk factors for aplastic anemia in Bangkok and two rural regions during 1989 to 1994.