Yves Benhamou, Marie Bochet, Vincent Thibault, Vincent Di Martino, Eric Caumes, François Bricaire, Pierre Opolon, Christine Katlama, Thierry Poynard – 30 December 2003 – Hepatitis B virus (HBV) resistance to lamivudine has not been extensively documented in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected patients. We studied the long‐term incidence of HBV resistance to lamivudine in HIV‐positive patients. Sixty‐six HIV‐HBV–coinfected patients were studied while receiving lamivudine (150 mg twice daily) as a part of antiretroviral therapy.

Michel P. Cooreman, Mark H. van Roosmalen, René te Morsche, Cécile M. G. Sünnen, Esther M. E. Schoondermark‐van de Ven, Jan B. M. J. Jansen, Guido N. J. Tytgat, Pauline L. M. de Wit, Wilma P. Paulij – 30 December 2003 – The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) “a” domain harbors major B‐cell epitopes. Viruses with mutations in this region emerge after vaccination or during hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg) prophylaxis. A strain with G145R replacement has been almost invariably isolated as a major escape mutant.

Natalia Nieto, Scott L. Friedman, Patricia Greenwel, Arthur I. Cederbaum – 30 December 2003 – Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are a major source of extracellular matrix, which, during fibrogenesis, undergo a process of “activation” characterized by increased proliferation and collagen synthesis. Oxidative stress can stimulate HSC proliferation and collagen synthesisin vitro. Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) is an effective producer of reactive oxygen species.

Fabio Marra, Maria Cristina Arrighi, Marilena Fazi, Alessandra Caligiuri, Massimo Pinzani, Roberto G. Romanelli, Eva Efsen, Giacomo Laffi, Paolo Gentilini – 30 December 2003 – Upon liver injury, hepatic stellate cells (HSC) show increased proliferation, motility, and extracellular matrix (ECM) production. The extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK) control different functions in a cell‐specific manner. In this study, we evaluated the role of ERK activation in cultured HSC stimulated with platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) and after induction of liver injuryin vivo.

Takeshi Murakami, Nobuyuki Enomoto, Masayuki Kurosaki, Namiki Izumi, Fumiaki Marumo, Chifumi Sato – 30 December 2003 – An association has been reported between mutations in the amino acid residues 2209‐2248 of the nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) gene (interferon‐sensitivity determining region [ISDR]) and interferon efficacy in hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐1b infection. This relationship was analyzed in chronic HCV‐2 infection. Forty patients with HCV‐2a and 35 with HCV‐2b were treated with interferon alfa for 6 months with a total dose of 468 to 860 million units.

Davide Festi, Sandra Sottili, Antonio Colecchia, Adolfo Attili, Giuseppe Mazzella, Enrico Roda, Ferdinando Romano, MICOL Research Group – 30 December 2003 – Despite the many efforts to delineate the clinical manifestations of gallbladder disease, the precise symptom complex associated with gallstones is still a matter of debate, and even the existence of gallstone‐specific symptoms has been questioned. We carried out a large population‐based cross‐sectional study (MICOL) to identify symptoms significantly related to gallstones.

Jeffrey A. Rudolph, William F. Balistreri – 30 December 2003

Ahmed M. Elsharkawy, Matthew C. Wright, Ron T. Hay, Michael J. Arthur, Timothy Hughes, Matthias J. Bahr, Klaus Degitz, Derek A. Mann – 30 December 2003 – Rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) cultured in serum‐containing medium underwent a rapid (3‐hour) classical induction of p50:p65 and p65:p65 nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) dimers. Subsequent culturing was associated with prolonged expression of active p50:p65 and persistent induction of a high‐mobility NF‐κB DNA binding complex consisting of potentially novel Rel‐like protein(s).

Antonio Craxì, Guglielmo Mariani – 30 December 2003

George V. Papatheodoridis, John Goulis, Gioacchino Leandro, David Patch, Andrew K. Burroughs – 30 December 2003 – Endoscopic treatment (ET) is frequently used to prevent variceal rebleeding but this still occurs in about 50% of patients. Recently, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been compared with ET in several trials. Using a meta‐analysis, we evaluated randomized trials comparing TIPS to ET assessing prevention of rebleeding, survival, and the effects on resource use and the quality of patients' lives.