Yoshinari Atarashi, Satoshi Yasumura, Shuji Nambu, Yukimatsu Yoshio, Jun Murakami, Terumi Takahara, Kiyohiro Higuchi, Akiharu Watanabe, Keizo Miyata, Masanari Kato – 30 December 2003 – Although treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has recently improved, most patients still relapse and die from this disease. The development of new therapeutic and preventive strategies for HCC is, therefore, required. A novel mutant protein (mutein) of human tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF‐α mutein F4614,1SSSRGDSD··· 29V ··· 155L) was developed to decrease several adverse effects of TNF‐α.

Stefan Zeuzem, Jürgen M. Schmidt, Jung‐hun Lee, Michael von Wagner, Gerlinde Teuber, W. Kurt Roth – 30 December 2003 – Treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C with recombinant interferon alfa (rIFN‐α) can cause a decrease of serum transaminases and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. Recent trials evaluating combination therapy of IFN‐α and ribavirin suggested a potential synergistic effect.

Aleta R. Crawford, Xi‐Zhang Lin, James M. Crawford – 30 December 2003 – In assessing adult human liver histology, questions remain concerning the normal number of portal tracts and bile ducts in a liver biopsy. We therefore reviewed liver biopsies obtained with use of a percutaneous Menghini cutting needle (14G, internal diameter 1.6 mm), from 16 patients undergoing liver biopsy for screening procedures (age 49 ± 14 years, ±SD) and found to be normal by histological examination.

Gin‐ho Lo, Kwok‐hung Lai, Jin‐shiung Cheng, Chiun‐ku Lin, Jia‐sheng Huang, Ping‐i Hsu, Hui‐chun Huang, Hung‐ting Chiang – 30 December 2003 – Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is a new technique designed to manage esophageal varices. The effect of sclerotherapy following repeated banding ligation remains unknown. Seventy‐two patients with a history of esophageal variceal bleeding received regular EVL until variceal disappearance or until left with residual small varices.

Mónica Guevara, Pere Ginès, Juan Carlos Bandi, Rosa Gilabert, Pau Sort, Wladimiro Jiménez, Juan Carlos Garcia‐Pagán, Jaume Bosch, Vicente Arroyo, Juan Rodés – 30 December 2003 – Little information exists on the effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) in the management of cirrhotic patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). The current study was aimed to prospectively evaluate the effects of TIPS on renal function and vasoactive systems in patients with type I HRS.

Martin J. Schuster, George Y. Wu – 30 December 2003

Qi‐Wei Xu, R. Brent Scott, Daimen T. M. Tan, Eldon A. Shaffer – 30 December 2003 – Impaired gallbladder motility and delayed intestinal transit contribute to cholesterol gallstone formation by impeding the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts and causing gallbladder stasis. The therapeutic value of erythromycin, a prokinetic motilin analog, was evaluated in an animal model of gallstone formation. Eighty ground squirrels were fed either a trace‐ (control) or a high‐ (1%) cholesterol diet.

Judy A. Lawson, Michael A. Fisher, Carol A. Simmons, Anwar Farhood, Hartmut Jaeschke – 30 December 2003 – Endotoxin (ET) induces neutrophil sequestration in hepatic sinusoids, the activation of proinflammatory transcription factors (nuclear factor κB [NF‐κB]) with up‐regulation of adhesion molecules on sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes. However, if galactosamine (Gal) is co‐administered with ET, neutrophils transmigrate and attack parenchymal cells. This suggests that a signal from parenchymal cells triggers neutrophil transmigration.

Enrique Lara‐Pezzi, Pedro L. Majano, Marta Gómez‐Gonzalo, Carmelo García‐Monzón, Ricardo Moreno‐Otero, Massimo Levrero, Manuel López‐Cabrera – 30 December 2003 – Human hepatocytes infected by hepatitis B virus (HBV) produce the proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α). In this study, we explored the mechanism of induction of TNF‐α synthesis by HBV. We found that the stable HBV‐transfected hepatoma cell line, 2.2.15, expressed high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) TNF‐α mRNAs, which were absent in the parent HepG2 cells.

David V. Sangar, A. R. Carroll – 30 December 2003