Bruce R. Bacon – 27 August 2009

Dhiraj Tripathi, James W. Ferguson, Narendra Kochar, Joanna A. Leithead, George Therapondos, Norma C. Mcavoy, Adrian J. Stanley, Ewan H. Forrest, William S. Hislop, Peter R. Mills, Peter C. Hayes – 27 August 2009 – Current therapy for preventing the first variceal bleed includes beta‐blocker and variceal band ligation (VBL). VBL has lower bleeding rates, with no differences in survival, whereas beta‐blocker therapy can be limited by side effects.

Ester Vanni, Maria Lorena Abate, Elena Gentilcore, Ingrid Hickman, Roberto Gambino, Maurizio Cassader, Antonina Smedile, Ele Ferrannini, Mario Rizzetto, Giulio Marchesini, Amalia Gastaldelli, Elisabetta Bugianesi – 27 August 2009 – Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has been associated with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, but the extent of impairment in insulin action, the target pathways involved, and the role of the virus per se have not been defined.

Geir I. Nedredal, Kjetil Elvevold, Lars M. Ytrebø, Ole‐Martin Fuskevåg, Ingvild Pettersen, Peter A. G. McCourt, Kjell Bertheussen, Bård Smedsrød, Arthur Revhaug – 27 August 2009 – Ammonia metabolism in the liver has been largely credited to hepatocytes (HCs). We have shown that liver nonparenchymal cells that include liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) produce ammonia.

Yves Benhamou, Nezam H. Afdhal, David R. Nelson, Mitchell L. Shiffman, Deanine G. Halliman, Jamie Heise, Eric Chun, Paul J. Pockros – 27 August 2009 – Pegylated interferon (peg‐IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) are effective in eradicating the hepatitis C virus in more than half of patients. However, anemia arising from RBV‐induced hemolysis can prompt dose reductions and lower sustained virologic response (SVR) rates.

Haeryoung Kim, Bong‐Kyeong Oh, Massimo Roncalli, Chanil Park, So‐Mi Yoon, Jeong Eun Yoo, Young Nyun Park – 27 August 2009 – Large liver cell change (LLCC) refers to microscopic lesions often found in various chronic liver diseases; however, its nature is still controversial. Thirty‐four formalin‐fixed and 19 fresh frozen hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related cirrhosis samples were examined for the presence of LLCC, small liver cell change (SLCC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Rui Xiang Lei, Hong Shi, Xiao Mou Peng, Yin Hong Zhu, Jie Cheng, Gui Hua Chen – 27 August 2009 – Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) is a viral strategy of immune response evasion associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistence. Spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion is usually accompanied by liver disease remission. Unfortunately, this goal is difficult to achieve and requires expensive and time‐consuming treatment. Furin, a proprotein convertase, is involved in HBeAg maturation and is therefore a potential therapeutic target or indicator for predicting disease progression and antiviral response.

Dipanjan Chanda, Chul Ho Lee, Yong‐Hoon Kim, Jung‐Ran Noh, Don‐Kyu Kim, Ji‐Hoon Park, Jung Hwan Hwang, Mi‐Ran Lee, Kyeong‐Hoon Jeong, In‐Kyu Lee, Gi Ryang Kweon, Minho Shong, Goo‐Taeg Oh, John Y. L. Chiang, Hueng‐Sik Choi – 27 August 2009 – Plasminogen activator inhibitor type I (PAI‐1) is a marker of the fibrinolytic system and serves as a possible predictor for hepatic metabolic syndromes. Fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α (PPARα) agonist, is a drug used for treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Alan Wigg, Mahinda De Silva, Marcus Teo, Anthony Thomas, Shaun Fowler, John Chen – 29 July 2009

Inmaculada Fernández, Esperanza Ulloa, Francisco Colina, Manuel Abradelo, Carlos Jiménez, Alberto Gimeno, Juan Carlos Meneu, Carlos Lumbreras, José Antonio Solís‐Herruzo, Enrique Moreno – 29 July 2009 – Antiviral therapy for recurrent hepatitis C in liver transplantation has been associated with the development of chronic rejection. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, evolution, and risk factors associated with the development of chronic rejection during posttransplant hepatitis C virus antiviral therapy.