F A Rochling, W F Jones, K Chau, L DuCharme, L T Mimms, B Moore, J Scheffel, J A Cuthbert, D L Thiele – 30 December 2003 – Patients presenting with clinical and laboratory features consistent with a diagnosis of acute non‐A, non‐B hepatitis were evaluated for evidence of hepatitis C or hepatitis E infection and for evidence of severe or prolonged disease. Antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV) was detected in 75 of 108 (69%) patients, antibody to hepatitis E virus (anti‐HEV) in three patients (3%), and neither antibody in 31 (29%) patients. One patient had both anti‐HCV and anti‐HEV.

E A Jones, C Yurdaydin – 30 December 2003

D Jungst, R del Pozo, M H Dolu, S G Schneeweiss, E Frimberger – 30 December 2003 – Laparoscopic cholecystotomy (LCT) with subsequent extraction of gallstones and primary closure of the gallbladder has been introduced as an alternative therapy for patients with cholecystolithiasis and preserved gallbladder function. However, stone recurrence has to be considered as a major drawback that might be related to lithogenic factors of gallbladder bile or the composition of gallbladder stones.

N O Funaki, J Tanaka, S I Seto, T Kasamatsu, T Kaido, M Imamura – 30 December 2003 – To detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in the circulating peripheral blood, we previously designed a highly sensitive reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) method targeting α‐fetoprotein (AFP) messenger RNA (mRNA). Using this method, we analyzed peripheral blood of in‐ and out‐patients bearing HCC for 2 months consecutively and examined the outcome thereafter. All 11 patients with recurrence either in the liver alone or in both the liver and the lung were positive for AFP mRNA.

K Biden, J Young, R Buttenshaw, J Searle, G Cooksley, D B Xu, B Leggett – 30 December 2003 – The tumor suppressor gene CDKN2A (MTS1/p16), located on chromosome 9p21, is inactivated in a variety of tumors including melanomas and tumors of the biliary tract, pancreas, and stomach. The aim of the present study was to determine whether this gene is inactivated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Twenty‐three primary HCCs and four HCC cell lines were examined.

L Lambotte, A Saliez, S Triest, D Maiter, A Baranski, A Barker, B Li – 30 December 2003 – Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a mitogen in vitro for hepatocytes, produces in various cell lines changes similar to those observed very rapidly in hepatocytes after partial hepatectomy (PH). These changes include ion movements, membrane hyperpolarization and proto‐oncogene expression.

D Adawi, F B Kasravi, G Molin, B Jeppsson – 30 December 2003 – In acute liver failure following hepatitis, toxic insults, or after major liver surgery, there is an increased bacterial translocation from the gut. This may explain some of the infectious complications seen in these conditions. To elucidate mechanisms and find possible preventive measures, we investigated the effect of rectal administration of arginine and probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus spp.) on bacterial translocation and the extent of liver failure.

P Ricci, T M Therneau, M Malinchoc, J T Benson, J L Petz, G B Klintmalm, J S Crippin, R H Wiesner, J L Steers, J Rakela, T E Starzl, E R Dickson – 30 December 2003 – We studied the outcome of 436 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) who underwent orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) at three major liver transplant centers.

N Neveux, J De Bandt, C Charrueau, E Savier, J C Chaumeil, L Hannoun, J Giboudeau, L A Cynober – 30 December 2003 – Among the numerous components of the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution used for organ preservation, the usefulness of hydroxyethylstarch (HES), the colloido‐osmotic support of this solution, is controversial. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of HES on hepatic metabolism and intracellular hydration state during hypothermic preservation and after reperfusion in a model of isolated perfused rat liver.

H Segal, S Cottam, D Potter, B J Hunt – 30 December 2003 – Cirrhosis is associated with compromised hemostasis and coagulopathy during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). It has been suggested that hemostasis is better preserved during OLT in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) than other cirrhotic states. The aim of this study was to compare coagulation and fibrinolysis in 15 patients with PBC with 31 patients with other liver disease before and during OLT.