Hao Yang, Feng Fang, Ruimin Chang, Lianyue Yang – 11 February 2013 – By comparing the expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in different hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) subtypes, we identified miR‐140‐5p as an HCC‐related miRNA. We found that miR‐140‐5p was significantly decreased in HCC tissues and all of six liver cancer cell lines examined and its expression levels were correlated with multiple nodules, vein invasion, capsular formation, and differentiation, as well as overall and disease‐free survival of HCC.

Wim Laleman, Macarena Simon‐Talero, Geert Maleux, Mercedes Perez, Koen Ameloot, German Soriano, Jordi Villalba, Juan‐Carlos Garcia‐Pagan, Marta Barrufet, Rajiv Jalan, Jocelyn Brookes, Evangelos Thalassinos, Andrew K. Burroughs, Juan Cordoba, Frederik Nevens, on behalf of the EASL‐CLIF‐Consortium – 7 February 2013 – Refractory hepatic encephalopathy (HE) remains a major cause of morbidity in cirrhosis patients. Large spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSSs) have been previously suggested to sustain HE in these patients.

Neil Kaplowitz – 6 February 2013

Aurore Besnard, Boris Julien, Emmanuel Gonzales, Thierry Tordjmann – 6 February 2013

Xin Yang, Lei Liang, Xiao‐Fei Zhang, Hu‐Liang Jia, Yi Qin, Xu‐Chao Zhu, Xiao‐Mei Gao, Peng Qiao, Yan Zheng, Yuan‐Yuan Sheng, Jin‐Wang Wei, Hai‐Jun Zhou, Ning Ren, Qing‐Hai Ye, Qiong‐Zhu Dong, Lun‐Xiu Qin – 6 February 2013 – Down‐regulation of microRNA‐26a (miR‐26a) is associated with poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its functional mechanism in HCC remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the roles of miR‐26a in tumor growth and metastasis of HCC and found that miR‐26a was frequently down‐regulated in HCC tissues.

Shubham Shrivastava, Jessica Petrone, Robert Steele, Georg M. Lauer, Adrian M. Bisceglie, Ratna B. Ray – 6 February 2013 – Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major causes of liver fibrosis and liver transplantation in the United States. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in the blood are emerging as biomarkers for pathological conditions. In the present study we performed a systematic screening approach to identify up‐regulated miRNAs in the plasma/serum of HCV‐infected patients with different stages of hepatic histological disease severity.

Miriam B. Vos, Joel E. Lavine – 6 February 2013 – Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in adults and children. A number of genetic and environmental factors are known to predispose individuals to NAFLD. Certain dietary sugars, particularly fructose, are suspected to contribute to the development of NAFLD and its progression. The increasing quantity of fructose in the diet comes from sugar additives (most commonly sucrose and high fructose corn syrup) in beverages and processed foods.

Daniel J. Antoine, James W. Dear, Philip Starkey Lewis, Vivien Platt, Judy Coyle, Moyra Masson, Ruben H. Thanacoody, Alasdair J. Gray, David J. Webb, Jonathan G. Moggs, D. Nicholas Bateman, Christopher E. Goldring, B. Kevin Park – 6 February 2013 – Acetaminophen overdose is a common reason for hospital admission and the most frequent cause of hepatotoxicity in the Western world. Early identification would facilitate patient‐individualized treatment strategies.

Grace Lai‐Hung Wong, Henry Lik‐Yuen Chan, Christy Wing‐Hin Mak, Stanley King‐Yeung Lee, Zoe Man‐Yi Ip, Andrew Ting‐Ho Lam, Henry Wing‐Hang Iu, Joyce May‐Sum Leung, Jennifer Wing‐Yan Lai, Angeline Oi‐Shan Lo, Hoi‐Yun Chan, Vincent Wai‐Sun Wong – 6 February 2013 – Entecavir is a potent antiviral agent with high genetic barrier to resistance, hence it is currently recommended as first‐line antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of entecavir on clinical outcomes and deaths.

Yao‐Chun Hsu, Hsiu J. Ho, Ming‐Shiang Wu, Jaw‐Town Lin, Chun‐Ying Wu – 6 February 2013 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) frequently recurs after surgical resection. This population‐based research aimed to investigate the association between postoperative antiviral treatment and risk of recurrent HCC in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. By analyzing the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we initially screened a total of 100,938 patients diagnosed with HCC for the first time between October 2003 and December 2010.