Leticia Muñoz, María José Borrero, María Ubeda, Margaret Lario, David Díaz, Rubén Francés, Jorge Monserrat, Óscar Pastor, Elia Aguado‐Fraile, José Such, Melchor Álvarez‐Mon, Agustín Albillos – 21 May 2012 – Cirrhosis with ascites is associated with a high rate of gut bacterial translocation (GBT) and spontaneous bacterial infections of enteric origin. We addressed the activation state and role of intestinal dendritic cells (DCs) in experimental ascitic cirrhosis and their relationship with GBT. Cirrhosis with ascites was CCl4 induced in rats.

Yun Shin Chun, Julien Calderaro, Jessica Zucman‐Rossi – 21 May 2012

James E. Nelson, Elizabeth M. Brunt, Kris V. Kowdley, for the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network – 21 May 2012 – Hepcidin regulation is linked to both iron and inflammatory signals and may influence iron loading in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among HFE genotype, serum hepcidin level, hepatic iron deposition, and histology in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Maximilian Heeg, Robert Thimme – 21 May 2012

Gila Kahila Bar‐Gal, Myeung Ju Kim, Athalia Klein, Dong Hoon Shin, Chang Seok Oh, Jong Wan Kim, Tae‐Hyun Kim, Seok Bae Kim, Paul R. Grant, Orit Pappo, Mark Spigelman, Daniel Shouval – 21 May 2012 – A rare find of a mummified child from the 16th century AD, in Korea, with relatively preserved organs, enabled a search for ancient hepatitis B virus (aHBV) DNA sequences from laparoscopic‐derived liver biopsies.

Natalia Serrano, Isabel Cortegano, Carolina Ruiz, Mario Alía, Belén de Andrés, María Teresa Rejas, Miguel A.R. Marcos, María Luisa Gaspar – 21 May 2012 – In the mouse embryo, hematopoietic progenitor cells migrate to the fetal liver (FL) between gestational days (E) 9.5 and 10.5, where they rapidly expand to form the main fetal reservoir of hematopoietic cells. The embryonic megakaryocyte progenitors (MKPs) in the E11.5 FL were identified as CD49fHCD41H (and c‐KitDKDR+CD42+CD9++CD31+) cells, expressing several hepato‐specific proteins.

Qiang Zhao, Liang Peng, Weijun Huang, Qibin Li, Yuanyuan Pei, Ping Yuan, Lingyan Zheng, Yongling Zhang, Jia Deng, Cheng Zhong, Bin Hu, Hongke Ding, Wei Fang, Ru Li, Qijun Liao, Chaoshuang Lin, Weiping Deng, Huijun Yan, Jinghui Hou, Qiuliang Wu, Tingting Xu, Jinsong Liu, Longbo Hu, Tao Peng, Suqing Chen, Kar N. Lai, Man‐Fung Yuen, Yue Wang, Mala K. Maini, Caixia Li, Miaoxin Li, Jian Wang, Xiuqing Zhang, Pak‐Chung Sham, Jun Wang, Zhi‐Liang Gao, Yiming Wang – 18 May 2012 – Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a major global health issue.

Wai‐Lung Lai, Wing‐Yan Hung, Leo Lap‐Yan Wong, Yuan Zhou, Veronica Yee‐Law Leong, Joyce Man‐Fong Lee, Irene Oi‐Lin Ng, Dong‐Yan Jin, Yick‐Pang Ching – 18 May 2012 – Deregulation of cellular‐signaling pathways by the inactivation of tumor‐suppressor genes is one of the major causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we identified Tax1 binding protein 2 (TAX1BP2) as a novel tumor‐suppressor gene in HCC.

David E.J. Jones – 18 May 2012

Mar Coll, Sarai Rodriguez, Imma Raurell, Nahia Ezkurdia, Astrid Brull, Salvador Augustin, Jaime Guardia, Rafael Esteban, María Martell, Joan Genescà – 18 May 2012 – We aimed to evaluate the effects of droxidopa (an oral synthetic precursor of norepinephrine) on the hemodynamic and renal alterations of portal hypertensive rats. Sham, portal vein‐ligated (PVL), and 4‐week biliary duct‐ligated (BDL) rats received a single oral dose of droxidopa (25‐50 mg/kg) or vehicle and hemodynamic parameters were monitored for 2 hours.