Leonhard Mohr, Srinivas Shankara, Seung‐Kew Yoon, Tim U. Krohne, Michael Geissler, Bruce Roberts, Hubert E. Blum, Jack R. Wands – 30 December 2003 – Expression of viral or bacterial enzymes in tumor cells to convert nontoxic prodrugs into highly toxic metabolites is an attractive gene‐therapeutic approach for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The Escherichia coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) converts purine analogs into freely diffusible metabolites, which are highly toxic to dividing and nondividing cells.

Marianna Storto, Ugo de Grazia, Thomas Knöpfel, Pier Luigi Canonico, Agata Copani, Plinio Richelmi, Ferdinando Nicoletti, Mariapia Vairetti – 30 December 2003 – Western blot analysis of protein extracts from rat liver revealed the presence of the mGlu5 receptor, one of the G‐protein–coupled receptors activated by glutamate (named “metabotropic glutamate receptors” or mGlu receptors). mGlu5 expression was particularly high in extracts from isolated hepatocytes, where levels were comparable with those seen in the rat cerebral cortex.

Warren N. Schmidt, Jack T. Stapleton, Douglas R. LaBrecque, Frank A. Mitros, Patricia A. Kirby, Mary Jeanne Perino Phillips, Donna L. Brashear – 30 December 2003 – The influence of cryoprecipitate (CP) on liver histology and peripheral titers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA was evaluated for 115 patients with chronic hepatitis. Fifty‐four patients had measurable CP levels whereas 61 did not. Assessment of liver biopsies for grade of fibrosis revealed that patients with CP had increased fibrosis (P < .001) and incidence of cirrhosis (P = .001) compared with those without CP.

Esteban Mezey – 30 December 2003

30 December 2003

Norah A. Terrault – 30 December 2003

Astrid Scalori, Paolo Apale, Luigi Roffi – 30 December 2003

30 December 2003

30 December 2003

Elwyn Elias – 30 December 2003