D M Simon, S C Gordon, M M Kaplan, R S Koff, F Regenstein, G Everson, Y M Lee, F Weiner, A Silverman, T Plasse, D Fedorczyk, M Liao – 30 December 2003 – We studied the antiviral effectiveness and safety of interferon alfa‐n3, a natural alpha interferon which contains multiple interferon species, in the treatment of previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C. Seventy‐seven patients were randomized to receive either 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 million units (MU) of interferon alfa‐n3 three times a week for 24 weeks and were then followed for an additional 24 weeks.

E Jacquemin, D Hermans, A Myara, D Habes, D Debray, M Hadchouel, E M Sokal, O Bernard – 30 December 2003 – Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a lethal inherited childhood cholestasis of hepatocellular origin. Different subtypes of PFIC have been described according to serum gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity. There is currently no effective medical therapy available for children with PFIC. We report on 39 patients with PFIC who received ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) orally (20‐30 mg/kg b.w./day) for a period of 2 to 4 years.

G V Gregorio, B Portmann, F Reid, P T Donaldson, D G Doherty, M McCartney, A P Mowat, D Vergani, G Mieli‐Vergani – 30 December 2003 – To determine the clinical, biochemical, and histological features, and outcome of childhood autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), we reviewed the medical records of 52 children with AIH, 32 (median age: 10 [2‐15] years) anti‐nuclear and/or smooth muscle antibody (ANA/SMA) positive, 20 (7 [0.8‐14] years) liver/kidney microsomal antibody (LKM‐1) positive, with median follow‐up of 5 years (range 0.3‐19).

J H Albrecht, A H Meyer, M Y Hu – 30 December 2003 – WAF1/Cip1/Sdi1 (p21) is the prototype of a family of proteins that inhibit cyclin‐dependent kinases and regulate cell cycle progression in eukaryotic cells. In addition to normal cell cycle progression, p21 is involved in growth suppression mediated by p53 and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), differentiation, and apoptosis. To gain insight into the possible involvement of p21 in liver cell growth, the expression and regulation of the p21 gene was evaluated in rodent models of liver regeneration and specimens of human liver diseases.

L K Juvet, T Berg, T Gjoen – 30 December 2003 – Hepatic endocytosis is characterized by a division of labor between the different cell types with respect to endocytosis, which is mediated by receptors expressed on their cell surface. We have investigated the expression of GTPases of the rab family in rat liver parenchymal and endothelial cells. Small GTPases of the rab protein family control distinct steps of intracellular transport both in the secretory and the endocytic pathway.

C Reichel, A Nacke, T Sudhop, G Wienkoop, C Luers, C Hahn, C Pohl, U Spengler, T Sauerbruch – 30 December 2003 – The hepatic metabolism of lidocaine (1 mg/kg intravenously) to its metabolite monoethylglycinexylidide (MEG‐X) is the basis of the standard MEG‐X test. To reduce the lidocaine‐induced side effects, we evaluated the MEG‐X formation after 0.5 and 1 mg/kg lidocaine intravenously in subjects with normal (n = 5) and severely impaired liver function (n = 7) (study I).

J Figueras, E Jaurrieta, C Valls, C Benasco, A Rafecas, X Xiol, J Fabregat, T Casanovas, J Torras, C Baliellas, L Ibanez, P Moreno, L Casais – 30 December 2003 – Cumulative recurrence after surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is very high. Several retrospective analyses have shown that liver transplantation was more effective than resection for patients with HCC at early tumor stages.

F Dubois, J Desenclos, N Mariotte, A Goudeau, The Collaborative Study Group – 30 December 2003 – The aims of this study were the following: (1) to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (anti‐HCV) in a population‐based survey of French residents not selected for risk factors; (2) to investigate the association between anti‐HCV seropositivity, viremia, the infecting HCV genotype, and the alanine transaminase (ALT) level; and (3) to identify risk factors for HCV infection by a nested case control study within this survey sample.

G K Lau, A S Lok, R H Liang, C L Lai, E K Chiu, Y L Lau, S K Lam – 30 December 2003 – Adoptive immunity transfer has been reported to be effective in clearing chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Two hundred twenty‐six patients who received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) between May 1990 and September 1995 were screened for hepatitis B markers. Twenty‐one patients were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive before BMT. The median follow‐up period was 20 months (range, 2‐59 months).

M Hou, P A Cahill, S Zhang, E M Redmond, J V Sitzmann – 30 December 2003 – Portal hypertension (PHT) is characterized by splanchnic hyperemia due to a reduction in mesenteric vascular resistance. The reasons for the decreased resistance include an increased responsiveness to a vasodilator substance.