Michael Oertel, Richard Rosencrantz, Yuan‐Qing Chen, Prashanthi N. Thota, Jaswinderpal S. Sandhu, Mariana D. Dabeva, Annmarie L. Pacchia, Martin E. Adelson, Joseph P. Dougherty, David A. Shafritz – 30 December 2003 – Recent studies have shown that nondividing primary cells, such as hepatocytes, can be efficiently transduced in vitro by human immunodeficiency virus‐based lentivirus vectors. Other studies have reported that, under certain conditions, the liver can be repopulated with transplanted hepatocytes.

Haizhen Zhu, Hongshan Zhao, Christin D. Collins, Sarah E. Eckenrode, Qingguo Run, Richard A. McIndoe, James M. Crawford, David R. Nelson, Jin‐Xiong She, Chen Liu – 30 December 2003 – Interferon alfa (IFN‐α)‐based treatment is the only therapeutic option for chronic hepatitis C viral infection. However, the molecular mechanisms of IFN‐α antiviral activity are not completely understood. The recent development of an HCV replicon cell culture system provides a feasible experimental model to investigate the molecular details of IFN‐induced direct antiviral activity in hepatocytes.

Ngee‐Chih Foo, Byung Y. Ahn, T. S. Benedict Yen – 30 December 2003

Johannes Herkel, Bettina Jagemann, Christiane Wiegard, Jose Francisco Garcia Lazaro, Stefan Lueth, Stephan Kanzler, Manfred Blessing, Edgar Schmitt, Ansgar W. Lohse – 30 December 2003 – The ability to activate CD4 T cells is restricted to antigen‐presenting cells that express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. Parenchymal cells normally do not express MHC class II molecules; however, in clinical hepatitis, viral or autoimmune, hepatocytes often exhibit aberrant MHC class II expression.

Brent A. Neuschwander‐Tetri, Stephen H. Caldwell – 30 December 2003 – Fatty liver disease that develops in the absence of alcohol abuse is recognized increasingly as a major health burden. This report summarizes the presentations and discussions at a Single Topic Conference held September 20‐22, 2002, and sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. The conference focused on fatty liver disorders.

Elke Ueberham, Rainer Löw, Uwe Ueberham, Kai Schönig, Hermann Bujard, Rolf Gebhardt – 30 December 2003 – Based on the tetracycline‐regulated gene expression system, a double‐transgenic mouse model for liver fibrosis was established in which the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) can be regulated deliberately by addition or removal of doxycycline hydrochloride to the drinking water. TGF‐β1 plasma levels in induced double‐transgenic mice reached values ranging from 250 to 1,200 ng/mL, being 10 to 30 times above the normal plasma levels.

Mikio Kajihara, Shinzo Kato, Yuka Okazaki, Yutaka Kawakami, Hiromasa Ishii, Yasuo Ikeda, Masataka Kuwana – 30 December 2003 – Thrombocytopenia is a common manifestation in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), but its underlying mechanism remains controversial. This study examined the role of anti‐platelet autoimmunity in cirrhotic thrombocytopenia by determining the autoantibody response to GPIIb‐IIIa, a major platelet surface autoantigen recognized by anti‐platelet antibodies in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Juan Carlos García‐Pagán, Rosa Morillas, Rafael Bañares, Agustin Albillos, Candido Villanueva, Carme Vila, Joan Genescà, Manuel Jimenez, Manuel Rodriguez, Jose Luis Calleja, Joaquin Balanzó, Fernando Garcáa‐Durán, Ramón Planas, Jaume Bosch – 30 December 2003 – Nonselective β‐blockers are very effective in preventing first variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis. Treatment with isosorbide‐5‐mononitrate (IS‐MN) plus propranolol achieves a greater reduction in portal pressure than propranolol alone.

Steven W. M. Olde Damink, Rajiv Jalan, Nicolaas E. P. Deutz, Doris N. Redhead, Cornelis H. C. Dejong, Paula Hynd, Rosy A. Jalan, Peter C. Hayes, Peter B. Soeters – 30 December 2003 – Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding in cirrhosis is associated with enhanced ammoniagenesis, the site of which is thought to be the colon. The aims of this study were to evaluate interorgan metabolism of ammonia following an UGI bleed in patients with cirrhosis.

Masao Omata – 30 December 2003