Christoph Sarrazin, Ilka Kornetzky, Brigitte Rüster, Jung‐Hun Lee, Bernd Kronenberger, Katharina Bruch, W. Kurt Roth, Stefan Zeuzem – 30 December 2003 – Defined regions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope 2 (E2), PePHD, and nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein (PKR‐binding domain) have been shown to interact with interferon alfa (IFN‐α)–inducible double‐stranded RNA‐activated protein kinase (PKR) in vitro, suggesting a possible mechanism of HCV to evade antiviral effects of IFN‐α.

Shinji Shimoda, Minoru Nakamura, Hirohisa Shigematsu, Hironori Tanimoto, Toshihumi Gushima, M. Eric Gershwin, Hiromi Ishibashi – 30 December 2003 – The human PDC‐E2 163‐176 peptide (GDLLAEIETDKATI) is an immunodominant autoreactive T‐cell epitope in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), restricted by HLA DRB4*0101. We have previously reported that the ExDK sequence is essential for recognition of this epitope and identified 1 mimicry peptide, Escherichia coli PDC‐E2 peptide (EQSLITVEGDKASM), which can activate human PDC‐E2 163‐176 peptide‐reactive T‐cell clones.

Jérôme Gournay, Claude Masliah, Thierry Martin, Daniel Perrin, Jean‐Paul Galmiche – 30 December 2003 – The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of isosorbide‐5‐mononitrate (IM) as an adjunct to propranolol (PR) in the prevention of variceal rebleeding. Ninety‐five cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding were randomly assigned to treatment with PR + IM (46 patients) or PR alone (49 patients). Eighteen patients in the PR + IM group and 28 in the PR group had rebleeding during the 2 years after randomization.

Eduard Cabré, Pilar Rodríguez‐Iglesias, Joan Caballería, Joan C. Quer, José L. Sánchez‐Lombraña, Albert Parés, Michel Papo, Ramon Planas, Miquel A. Gassull – 30 December 2003 – Steroids are recommended in severe alcohol‐induced hepatitis, but some data suggest that artificial nutrition could also be effective. We conducted a randomized trial comparing the short‐ and long‐term effects of total enteral nutrition or steroids in these patients.

Derek G. Fong, Vandana Nehra, Keith D. Lindor, Alan L. Buchman – 30 December 2003

Gamze Ayata, Fredric D. Gordon, W. David Lewis, Elizabeth Pomfret, James J. Pomposelli, Roger L. Jenkins, Urmila Khettry – 30 December 2003 – Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) after liver transplantation (LT) may recur and is difficult to diagnose. Our aims were to define the histopathology of and factors related to AIH recurrence. Fourteen of 475 patients received LT for AIH; 2 died perioperatively. Liver specimens (native and post‐LT biopsies) from 12 other patients were reviewed and correlated with pre‐ and post‐LT clinical course and outcome.

Seyed Taghi Takyar, Dong‐sheng Li, Yong‐hong Wang, Rachel Trowbridge, Eric J. Gowans – 30 December 2003 – A full‐length complementary DNA (cDNA) clone of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome was used to prepare full‐length plus‐ and minus‐strand RNA. The minus‐strand RNA, which contains a polyA+ tract complementary to the polyU tract found in the plus strand (genomic) RNA, but not the plus strand RNA, was captured with a commercial polyA+‐tract isolation system. After elution, the minus strand was amplified by reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR).

Toru Nakamura, Ryuichiro Sakata, Takato Ueno, Michio Sata, Hikaru Ueno – 30 December 2003 – We investigated whether anti–transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β) molecular intervention can halt the progression of liver fibrosis in rats. To block TGF‐β action in a specific manner, we prepared an adenovirus expressing a truncated type II TGF‐β receptor (AdTβ‐TR), which specifically inhibits TGF‐β signaling as a dominant‐negative receptor. We also used an adenovirus expressing bacterial β‐galactosidase (AdLacZ) as a control adenovirus.

George Ka Lau, Manuel Tsiang, Jinlin Hou, Siu‐tsan Yuen, William F. Carman, Liang Zhang, Craig S. Gibbs, Shiu‐kum Lam – 30 December 2003 – In vitro studies have shown that lamivudine and penciclovir (the active metabolite of famciclovir) act synergistically to inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. We compared the effectiveness of HBV viral suppression by lamivudine monotherapy versus lamivudine plus famciclovir combination therapy in Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection.

Shawn J. Pelletier, Daniel P. Raymond, Traves D. Crabtree, Carl L. Berg, Julia C. Iezzoni, Young S. Hahn, Robert G. Sawyer, Timothy L. Pruett – 30 December 2003 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) allograft infection after liver transplantation follows a variable but accelerated course compared with the nontransplantation population. Predictors of outcome and mechanisms of reinfection remain elusive.