Zejin Liu, Toshiki Sakamoto, Tsukasa Ezure, Shigeki Yokomuro, Noriko Murase, George Michalopoulos, Anthony J. Demetris – 30 December 2003 – The interleukin‐6 (IL‐6)/gp‐80 and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/met ligand/receptor systems have been shown to stimulate biliary epithelial cell (BEC) DNA synthesis in vitro. The mRNA and protein production of these two in vitro mitogens were mapped in vivo during the first week after bile duct ligation (BDL) when peak BEC DNA synthesis is seen.

Eric M. Webber, Jordi Bruix, Robert H. Pierce, Nelson Fausto – 30 December 2003 – Signaling through tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (TNFR‐1) using a pathway that involves nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and STAT3 is required for the initiation of liver regeneration. We have proposed that TNF primes hepatocytes to respond to the mitogenic effect of growth factors, but so far, there has been no experimental demonstration that TNF enhances growth factor responses of hepatocytes.

David V. Sangar, A. R. Carroll – 30 December 2003

Enrique Lara‐Pezzi, Pedro L. Majano, Marta Gómez‐Gonzalo, Carmelo García‐Monzón, Ricardo Moreno‐Otero, Massimo Levrero, Manuel López‐Cabrera – 30 December 2003 – Human hepatocytes infected by hepatitis B virus (HBV) produce the proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α). In this study, we explored the mechanism of induction of TNF‐α synthesis by HBV. We found that the stable HBV‐transfected hepatoma cell line, 2.2.15, expressed high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) TNF‐α mRNAs, which were absent in the parent HepG2 cells.

Judy A. Lawson, Michael A. Fisher, Carol A. Simmons, Anwar Farhood, Hartmut Jaeschke – 30 December 2003 – Endotoxin (ET) induces neutrophil sequestration in hepatic sinusoids, the activation of proinflammatory transcription factors (nuclear factor κB [NF‐κB]) with up‐regulation of adhesion molecules on sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes. However, if galactosamine (Gal) is co‐administered with ET, neutrophils transmigrate and attack parenchymal cells. This suggests that a signal from parenchymal cells triggers neutrophil transmigration.

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.