Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: Summary of an AASLD Single Topic Conference

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.

Conditional tetracycline‐regulated expression of TGF‐β1 in liver of transgenic mice leads to reversible intermediary fibrosis

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.

A role of autoantibody‐mediated platelet destruction in thrombocytopenia in patients with cirrhosis

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).

Propranolol plus placebo versus propranolol plus isosorbide‐5‐mononitrate in the prevention of a first variceal bleed: A double‐blind RCT

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.

The kidney plays a major role in the hyperammonemia seen after simulated or actual GI bleeding in patients with cirrhosis

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.

EBP50, a β‐catenin–associating protein, enhances Wnt signaling and is over‐expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma

Tatsuhiro Shibata, Makoto Chuma, Akiko Kokubu, Michiie Sakamoto, Setsuo Hirohashi – 30 December 2003 – Wnt signaling mediated by β‐catenin plays crucial roles in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and other cancers such as colorectal cancer. β‐Catenin associates with T‐cell factor (TCF) transcription factors and functions as a transcriptional activator in the nucleus. By protein interaction screening, we identified EBP50, a cytoplasmic protein with 2 PDZ domains, as a β‐catenin‐associating molecule.

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