Naoko Kamo, Bibo Ke, Amir A. Ghaffari, Xiu‐da Shen, Ronald W. Busuttil, Genhong Cheng, Jerzy W. Kupiec‐Weglinski – 13 February 2013 – Apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), an adaptor protein for inflammasome receptors, is essential for inducing caspase‐1 activation and the consequent secretion of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), which is associated with local inflammation during liver ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). However, little is known about the mechanisms by which the ASC/caspase‐1/IL‐1β axis exerts its function in hepatic IRI.

Joseph C. Yarze – 13 February 2013

Deepak Joshi, Siamak Salehi, Helen Brereton, Matthew Arno, Alberto Quaglia, Nigel Heaton, John O'Grady, Kosh Agarwal, Varuna Aluvihare – 13 February 2013 – Recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with accelerated fibrosis rates after liver transplantation (LT) and is the leading cause of graft failure. Furthermore, distinguishing recurrent HCV from acute cellular rejection (ACR) can be problematic, and this can lead to inappropriate treatments and adverse outcomes.

Mamatha Bhat, Nahum Sonenberg, Gregory J. Gores – 13 February 2013 – The mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays a critical role in cellular metabolism, growth, and proliferation and has been evaluated as a target for therapy in various malignancies. The mTOR pathway is a major tumor‐initiating pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma, with up‐regulation seen in up to 50% of tumors. Metformin, which represses mTOR signaling by activating adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase, has been shown to decrease liver carcinogenesis in population studies.

Mohamed Rela, Venugopal Kota, Vivekanandan Shanmugam, Hemant Vadeyar – 12 February 2013

Domingo Balderramo, Oriol Sendino, Rosa Miquel, Cristina Rodriguez de Miguel, Josep M. Bordas, Graciela Martinez‐Palli, Maria L. Leoz, Antoni Rimola, Miguel Navasa, Josep Llach, Andrés Cardenas – 12 February 2013 – In this descriptive study, we examined the role of single‐operator cholangioscopy (SOC) in the evaluation of biliary complications after liver transplantation (LT). We prospectively included adult recipients of deceased donor LT who were referred for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between June 2009 and July 2011.

Anping Chen, Youcai Tang, Victoria Davis, Fong‐Fu Hsu, Susan M. Kennedy, Haowei Song, John Turk, Elizabeth M. Brunt, Elizabeth P. Newberry, Nicholas O. Davidson – 11 February 2013 – Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is crucial to the development of fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Quiescent HSCs contain lipid droplets (LDs), whose depletion upon activation induces a fibrogenic gene program.

Marialena Mouzaki, Elena M. Comelli, Bianca M. Arendt, Julia Bonengel, Scott K. Fung, Sandra E. Fischer, Ian D. McGilvray, Johane P. Allard – 11 February 2013

Morris Sherman – 11 February 2013

Arne Dikkers, Jan Freak de Boer, Wijtske Annema, Albert K. Groen, Uwe J.F. Tietge – 11 February 2013 – Biliary lipid secretion plays an important role in gallstone disease and reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Using Sr‐bI/Abcg5 double knockout mice (dko), the present study investigated the differential contribution of two of the most relevant transporters: adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐binding cassette subfamily G member 5 and 8 (ABCG5/G8) and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR‐BI) to sterol metabolism and RCT.