Yi‐Shin Huang, Herng‐Der Chern, Wei‐Juin Su, Jaw‐Ching Wu, Shi‐Chuan Chang, Chi‐Huei Chiang, Full‐Young Chang, Shou‐Dong Lee – 30 December 2003 – Most cases with antituberculosis drug‐induced hepatitis have been attributed to isoniazid. Isoniazid is metabolized by hepatic N‐acetyltransferase (NAT) and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) to form hepatotoxins. However, the role of CYP2E1 in this hepatotoxicity has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the polymorphism of the CYP2E1 gene is associated with antituberculosis drug‐induced hepatitis.

Jordi Bruix, Josep M. Llovet – 30 December 2003

Robert F. Schwabe, Cynthia A. Bradham, Tetsuya Uehara, Etsuro Hatano, Brydon L. Bennett, Robert Schoonhoven, David A. Brenner – 30 December 2003 – The c‐Jun‐N‐terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is strongly activated after partial hepatectomy (PH), but its role in hepatocyte proliferation is not known. In this study, JNK activity was blocked with the small molecule inhibitor JNK SP600125 in vivo and in vitro as shown by a reduction of c‐Jun phosphorylation, AP‐1 DNA binding activity, and c‐jun messenger RNA (mRNA) expression.

Gerald Soff – 30 December 2003

Pierre Pradat, Alfredo Alberti, Christian Tepo – 30 December 2003

Pere Ginès, Rolando Ortega, Dara de las Heras, Mónica Guevara, Vicente Arroyo – 30 December 2003

Rosario F. Velázquez, Manuel Rodríguez, Carmen A. Navascués, Antonio Linares, Ramón Pérez, Nieves G. Sotorríos, Isabel Martínez, Luis Rodrigo – 30 December 2003 – Better knowledge of the risk factors associated with the appearance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) could improve the efficacy of surveillance programs. A total of 463 patients aged 40 to 65 years with liver cirrhosis in Child‐Pugh class A or B were included in a program of early diagnosis. The predictive value of different risk factors was evaluated using the Kaplan‐Meier method and Cox regression model.

Michael D. Norenberg – 30 December 2003

Min Kyung Cho, Sang Geon Kim – 30 December 2003 – Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a ligand of c‐Met receptor, stimulates activation of cellular kinases via phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3‐kinase). CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) controls cell cycle progression. The present study was designed to determine whether HGF activates C/EBP in association with the S‐phase entrance for cell replication and whether PI3‐kinase contributes to the activation of C/EBP.

G. Aravinda Upadhya, Stefan A. Topp, Richard S. Hotchkiss, John Anagli, Steven M. Strasberg – 30 December 2003 – This study was performed to determine the role of intracellular calcium concentration and calpain activity on the cellular events that occur in rat sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) in the cold. Intracellular calcium concentrations were measured in isolated cold preserved rat SEC. Dantrolene or 1,2‐bis(o‐Aminophenoxy)ethane‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid tetra(acetoxymethyl) ester (BAPTA‐AM) was added in some studies.