Zuo‐Liang Xiao, Piero Biancani, Martin C. Carey, Jose Behar – 30 December 2003 – The pathogenesis of acute cholecystitis (AC) is controversial. Bile acids may be involved in the pathogenesis of AC because the hydrophobic chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) reproduced in vitro the muscle dysfunction observed in AC and was prevented by the hydrophilic ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). The present study examined the in vivo effects of UDCA or CDCA on gallbladder muscle dysfunction caused by AC.

Mark J. Czaja, Hailing Liu, Yongjun Wang – 30 December 2003 – Oxidative stress has been implicated as a mechanism for a variety of forms of liver injury. Although reactive oxygen species (ROS) may damage cellular macromolecules directly, oxidant‐induced cell death may result from redox effects on signal transduction pathways. To understand the mechanisms of hepatocyte death from oxidative stress, the functions of the mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were determined during oxidant‐induced hepatocyte injury from menadione.

Nicola Magnavita, Ivo Iavicoli, Roberta Anna Placentino, Angelo Sacco, Vincenzo Puro – 30 December 2003

Hanako Yamamoto, Gary Quinn, Akira Asari, Hiroko Yamanokuchi, Takumi Teratani, Masaaki Terada, Takahiro Ochiya – 30 December 2003 – Embryonic stem (ES) cells provide a unique source for tissue regeneration. We examined whether mouse ES cells can efficiently differentiate into transplantable hepatocytes. ES cells were implanted into mouse livers 24 hours after carbon tetrachloride intoxication; ES‐derived cells with several hepatocyte‐cell‐markers were generated.

Michael Gale – 30 December 2003

Axel Ulsenheimer, J. Tilman Gerlach, Norbert H. Gruener, Maria‐Christina Jung, Carl‐Albrecht Schirren, Winfried Schraut, Reinhart Zachoval, Gerd R. Pape, Helmut M. Diepolder – 30 December 2003 – Chronic hepatitis C is characterized by a weak or absent hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐specific CD4+ T‐cell response in terms of antigen‐specific proliferation or interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) secretion.

Chung Mau Lo – 30 December 2003

Georgia Kostopanagiotou, Christina Routsi, Vassilios Smyrniotis, Marilena E. Lekka, Eirini Kitsiouli, Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, George Nakos – 30 December 2003 – The objective of this controlled experimental animal study was to evaluate whether acute hepatic failure (AHF) can cause acute lung injury (ALI) and to investigate possible pathophysiologic mechanisms. Seventeen domestic pigs were randomly assigned to AHF and sham groups. AHF was induced by surgical devascularization of liver in 10 animals. Seven animals were sham operated.

Nam‐On Ku, Roy M. Soetikno, M. Bishr Omary – 30 December 2003 – Hepatocytes express keratins 8 and 18 (K8/18) as their only cytoskeletal intermediate filament (IF) proteins, and K8/18 mutations predispose their carriers to liver cirrhosis. Transgenic mice that overexpress mutant human K18 (Arg89→Cys [R89C]) develop mild chronic hepatitis, hepatocyte fragility, keratin filament disruption, and increased susceptibility to drug‐induced liver injury.

Michele Barone, Eugenio Maiorano, Roberta Ladisa, Rosario Cuomo, Antonia Pece, Pasquale Berloco, Maria Lucia Caruso, Anna Maria Valentini, Achille Iolascon, Antonio Francavilla, Alfredo Di Leo, Enzo Ierardi – 30 December 2003 – Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice (official designation, Tg [Alb‐1 HBV] Bri 44) invariably develop macroscopically evident tumors within the 20th month of life. Sustained proliferative activity seems to play an important role in the development of these lesions.