Qi‐Wei Xu, R. Brent Scott, Daimen T. M. Tan, Eldon A. Shaffer – 30 December 2003 – Impaired gallbladder motility and delayed intestinal transit contribute to cholesterol gallstone formation by impeding the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts and causing gallbladder stasis. The therapeutic value of erythromycin, a prokinetic motilin analog, was evaluated in an animal model of gallstone formation. Eighty ground squirrels were fed either a trace‐ (control) or a high‐ (1%) cholesterol diet.

Martin J. Schuster, George Y. Wu – 30 December 2003

Mónica Guevara, Pere Ginès, Juan Carlos Bandi, Rosa Gilabert, Pau Sort, Wladimiro Jiménez, Juan Carlos Garcia‐Pagán, Jaume Bosch, Vicente Arroyo, Juan Rodés – 30 December 2003 – Little information exists on the effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) in the management of cirrhotic patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). The current study was aimed to prospectively evaluate the effects of TIPS on renal function and vasoactive systems in patients with type I HRS.

Gin‐ho Lo, Kwok‐hung Lai, Jin‐shiung Cheng, Chiun‐ku Lin, Jia‐sheng Huang, Ping‐i Hsu, Hui‐chun Huang, Hung‐ting Chiang – 30 December 2003 – Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is a new technique designed to manage esophageal varices. The effect of sclerotherapy following repeated banding ligation remains unknown. Seventy‐two patients with a history of esophageal variceal bleeding received regular EVL until variceal disappearance or until left with residual small varices.

Aleta R. Crawford, Xi‐Zhang Lin, James M. Crawford – 30 December 2003 – In assessing adult human liver histology, questions remain concerning the normal number of portal tracts and bile ducts in a liver biopsy. We therefore reviewed liver biopsies obtained with use of a percutaneous Menghini cutting needle (14G, internal diameter 1.6 mm), from 16 patients undergoing liver biopsy for screening procedures (age 49 ± 14 years, ±SD) and found to be normal by histological examination.

Stefan Zeuzem, Jürgen M. Schmidt, Jung‐hun Lee, Michael von Wagner, Gerlinde Teuber, W. Kurt Roth – 30 December 2003 – Treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C with recombinant interferon alfa (rIFN‐α) can cause a decrease of serum transaminases and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. Recent trials evaluating combination therapy of IFN‐α and ribavirin suggested a potential synergistic effect.

Yoshinari Atarashi, Satoshi Yasumura, Shuji Nambu, Yukimatsu Yoshio, Jun Murakami, Terumi Takahara, Kiyohiro Higuchi, Akiharu Watanabe, Keizo Miyata, Masanari Kato – 30 December 2003 – Although treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has recently improved, most patients still relapse and die from this disease. The development of new therapeutic and preventive strategies for HCC is, therefore, required. A novel mutant protein (mutein) of human tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF‐α mutein F4614,1SSSRGDSD··· 29V ··· 155L) was developed to decrease several adverse effects of TNF‐α.

Arun J. Sanyal, Melissa J. Contos, Dorn Yager, Ya‐nan Zhu, Amy Willey, Martin F. Graham – 30 December 2003 – The clinical utility of transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunts (TIPS) is frequently complicated by the ingrowth of tissue into the stent lumen, causing stent stenosis. These studies were undertaken to define the cellular and matrix components of the pseudointima, define the phenotype and function of the mesenchymal cells in the pseudointima and maintain them in culture, and to study the differences between stenotic and nonstenosed stents. A total of 35 stents were evaluated.

Susanne Keiding – 30 December 2003

Marchelle I. Allen, Manon Deslauriers, C. Webster Andrews, Graham A. Tipples, Kathie‐Anne Walters, David L. Tyrrell, Nathaniel Brown, Lamivudine Clinical Investigation Group, Lynn D. Condreay – 30 December 2003 – Cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma occur as long‐term complications of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Antiviral therapy is potentially a successful approach for the treatment of patients with HBV infection, which includes the nucleoside analog, lamivudine [(‐)2′‐deoxy‐3′‐thiacytidine, 3TC].