Marina Baptista, Anna Kramvis, Michael C. Kew – 30 December 2003 – The purpose of this study was to identify mutations in the basic core promoter and enhancer II region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) that might cause the HBV e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative phenotype and contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis in black African carriers of the virus. The basic core promoter/enhancer II overlaps with the X gene. HBV DNA from serum of 47 asymptomatic carriers and 50 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and from 28 tumor and 10 nontumor liver tissues was amplified and sequenced directly.

Elena R. García‐Trevijano, María J. Iraburu, Luis Fontana, José A. Domínguez‐Rosales, Anitra Auster, Amador Covarrubias‐Pinedo, Marcos Rojkind – 30 December 2003 – Oxidative stress plays a key role in liver fibrosis. Both inflammatory cells and activated Kupffer cells produce H2O2, an oxidant involved in the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Increased production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) in fibrotic livers is associated in part with the up‐regulation of transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β), and this cytokine enhances collagen production by cultured HSC.

Vincent M. Christoffels, Habib Sassi, Jan M. Ruijter, Antoon F. Moorman, Thierry Grange, Wouter H. Lamers – 30 December 2003 – In the liver, genes are expressed along a portocentral gradient. Based on their adaptive behavior, a gradient versus compartment type, and a dynamic versus stable type of gradient have been recognized. To understand at least in principle the development and maintenance of these gradients in gene expression in relation to the limited number of signal gradients, we propose a simple and testable model.

Dae‐Ghon Kim, Dae‐yeol Lee, Baik‐Hwan Cho, Kyung‐Ran You, Mi‐Young Kim, Deuk‐Soo Ahn – 30 December 2003 – We observed that all‐trans‐retinoic acid (RA) down‐regulated insulin‐like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) in cultured human hepatoma cells (Hep 3B, PLC/PRF/5, and Hep G2); therefore, we characterized the role of this down‐regulation in cell growth. Treatment with 10 μmol/L RA revealed a rapid decrease in IGFBP‐3 within 2 days, and continued treatment with RA for 6 days resulted in a time‐dependent stimulation of Hep 3B cell growth.

Claus‐Thomas Bock, Stefan Kubicka, Michael Peter Manns, Christian Trautwein – 30 December 2003 – Natural occurring mutations in the preS‐region are frequently found during chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Here we used the mutated preS‐region from a patient to study the transcriptional regulation of the S‐promoter. The mutations were a CCAAT‐box (MUT1) point mutation, a 6‐base pair (bp) deletion (MUT2) 3′ of the CCAAT‐box, and a 153 bp deletion (MUT3) in the preS2 genome.

Pardeep K. Nijhawan, Terry M. Therneau, E. Rolland Dickson, Jessica Boynton, Keith D. Lindor – 30 December 2003 – Patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) may be at increased risk for malignancies. Several studies have addressed the risk of specific malignancies; however, there is little information about overall incidences of malignancies in these patients. We hypothesize that these patients may be at an increased risk for cancer. We performed a retrospective chart review evaluating patients with the diagnosis of PBC and malignancies.

JaeWoon Choi, J. Henri Klinkspoor, Tadashi Yoshida, Sum P. Lee – 30 December 2003 – Biliary infection is associated with mucin hypersecretion by the biliary epithelium. Mucins have been identified as potent pronucleators of cholesterol in bile. The aim of the present study was to determine whether lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from different bacteria are capable of stimulating mucin secretion by cultured dog gallbladder epithelial (DGBE) cells, and to investigate the mechanism by which LPS stimulate mucin secretion.

Chandrashekhar R. Gandhi, Ruhul Kuddus, Vladimir M. Subbotin, John Prelich, Noriko Murase, Abdul S. Rao, Michael A. Nalesnik, Simon C. Watkins, Albert DeLeo, Massimo Trucco, Thomas E. Starzl – 30 December 2003 – Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) is a hepatotrophic protein originally identified by bioassay in regenerating rat and canine livers following partial hepatectomy and in the hyperplastic livers of weanling rats, but not in resting adult livers.

Richard M. Green, Kathy Lo, Coreen Sterritt, David R. Beier – 30 December 2003 – Hepatic uptake of organic cations is essential for the metabolism and secretion of numerous endobiotics and drugs. Several hepatic organic cation transporters have been kinetically defined, yet have not been isolated or cloned. We have isolated a complementary DNA (cDNA) from both murine liver and kidney cDNA libraries (mOct1/Slc22a1), and have functionally expressed it in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Brigitte Bernard, Jean‐Didier Grangé, Eric Nguyen Khac, Xavier Amiot, Pierre Opolon, Thierry Poynard – 30 December 2003 – In cirrhotic patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, antibiotic prophylaxis decreases the incidence of infections but most randomized trials have not shown an increase in survival. The aim of this meta‐analysis was to assess the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in the prevention of infections and its effect on survival rate in cirrhotic patients with gastrointestinal bleeding.