Xavier Aldeguer, Fotini Debonera, Abraham Shaked, Alyssa M. Krasinkas, Andrew E. Gelman, Xingyi Que, Gideon A. Zamir, Shungo Hiroyasu, Kellen K. Kovalovich, Rebecca Taub, Kim M. Olthoff – 30 December 2003 – Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is required for normal liver regeneration, but the specific cellular source of this growth factor is unknown. We investigated whether this signal originates from the resident macrophage, the Kupffer cell.

Maura Dandri, Martin R. Burda, Alexander Bürkle, David M. Zuckerman, Hans Will, Charles E. Rogler, Heimer Greten, Joerg Petersen – 30 December 2003 – Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with an increased risk for the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although clonal HBV DNA integrations are detected in nearly all HCCs the role of these integrations in hepatocarcinogenesis is poorly understood. We have used a cloning protocol that allows studying the frequency and the natural history of HBV DNA integrations in cell culture.

Antonia Perelló, Juan Carlos García‐Pagán, Rosa Gilabert, Yanette Suárez, Eduardo Moitinho, Francisco Cervantes, Juan Carlos Reverter, Angels Escorsell, Jaume Bosch, Juan Rodés – 30 December 2003 – Patients with Budd‐Chiari syndrome (BCS) may require treatment with portal decompressive surgery or liver transplantation. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) represents a new treatment alternative, but its long‐term effect on BCS outcome has not been evaluated. Twenty‐one patients with BCS consecutively admitted to our unit were evaluated. The mean follow‐up was 4 ± 3 years.

Eduardo Ansorena, Elena R. García‐Trevijano, Maria L. Martínez‐Chantar, Zong‐Zhi Huang, Lixin Chen, José M. Mato, Maria Iraburu, Shelly C. Lu, Matías A. Avila – 30 December 2003 – S‐adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) is an essential compound in cellular transmethylation reactions and a precursor of polyamine and glutathione synthesis in the liver. In liver injury, the synthesis of AdoMet is impaired and its availability limited. AdoMet administration attenuates experimental liver damage, improves survival of alcoholic patients with cirrhosis, and prevents experimental hepatocarcinogenesis.

Ákos Zsembery, Wolfgang Jessner, Gerlinde Sitter, Carlo Spirlí, Mario Strazzabosco, Jürg Graf – 30 December 2003 – In view of the occurrence of hepatobiliary disorders in cystic fibrosis (CF) this study addresses the role of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and of Ca2+‐activated Cl− channels in promoting HCO secretion in bile ductular cells. Human cholangiocytes were isolated from control livers and from 1 patient with CF (ΔF508/G542X mutations).

Zhi Ming, Donald D. Smyth, W. Wayne Lautt – 30 December 2003 – The regulation of renal sodium and water excretion through a hepatorenal reflex activated by the changes in hemodynamics of the portal circulation has been suggested. We hypothesize that the changes in intrahepatic blood flow and flow‐related intrahepatic adenosine are involved in the control of renal water and sodium excretion by triggering a hepatorenal reflex. Anesthetized rats were instrumented to monitor the systemic, hepatic, and renal circulation.

Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, John McHutchison, Charles M. Rice – 30 December 2003

Seiji Adachi, Masataka Okuno, Rie Matsushima‐Nishiwaki, Yukihiko Takano, Soichi Kojima, Scott L. Friedman, Hisataka Moriwaki, Yukio Okano – 30 December 2003 – Retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) has emerged as an important nuclear receptor involved in hepatocarcinogenesis, because its ligand suppresses the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in both experimental and clinical studies. We have demonstrated that phosphorylation of RXRα at serine 260 interferes with its function and delays its degradation in cultured human HCC, leading to enhanced cellular proliferation.

Jenny Griffiths, Barry Nix – 30 December 2003 – Deuffic et al. developed a compartmentalized model that characterized the evolution and spread of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) within France. There were various parameters defining the age‐ and sex‐dependent transition probabilities between chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in need of determination to completely specify their model. These were estimated by means of a weighted least‐squares procedure that was executed numerically.

Yasuhiro Masubuchi, Shintaro Nakayama, Toshiharu Horie – 30 December 2003 – Hepatotoxicity of diclofenac has been known in experimental animals and humans but its mechanism has not been fully understood. The present study examined the role of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) in the pathogenesis of diclofenac‐induced hepatocyte injury by using isolated mitochondria and primary culture hepatocytes from rats.