O Bruña‐Romero, J J Lasarte, G Wilkinson, K Grace, B Clarke, F Borrás‐Cuesta, J Prieto – 30 December 2003 – A replication‐defective recombinant adenovirus (RAd), RAdCMV‐CE1, containing core and E1 genes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was constructed. RAdCMV‐CE1 was able to express core and E1 proteins both in mice and human cells. Immunization of BALB/c mice with RAdCMV‐CE1 induced a specific cytotoxic T‐cell response against the two HCV proteins.

W A Marsman, R H Wiesner, K P Batts, J J Poterucha, M K Porayko, H G Niesters, P E Zondervan, R A Krom – 30 December 2003 – Liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related liver disease is complicated by HBV recurrence and, consequently, poor patient and graft survival. Patients transplanted for hepatitis delta virus (HDV)‐ related cirrhosis are reported to have a diminished incidence of HBV recurrence and improved graft survival. However, only a few reported HDV‐infected patients had active HBV replicative disease before liver transplantation.

O Yasui, N Miura, K Terada, Y Kawarada, K Koyama, T Sugiyama – 30 December 2003 – Oval cells function as compensatory cells in severe liver injury and are thought to be equivalent to liver stem/progenitor cells. We isolated oval cells from the liver of Long‐Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats by isopyknic centrifugation in a Percoll gradient. The cells were gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP)‐positive, alpha‐fetoprotein‐positive, and cytokeratin (CK) 18‐ and CK 19‐positive, but albumin‐negative in the cells. When oval cells were transplanted to the liver, they were transformed into hepatocytes.

J L Rosa, J X Pérez, M Detheux, E Van Schaftingen, R Bartrons – 30 December 2003 – The activity and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of glucokinase, and the concentration and mRNA levels of its regulatory protein, were analyzed during liver regeneration. The activity of glucokinase and the concentration of its regulatory protein decreased to 30% and 50%, respectively, after liver resection, remaining low after 1 week. No significant variations in the level of these proteins were found in sham‐operated animals.

C D Gove, R D Hughes, R J Ede, R Williams – 30 December 2003 – The pathogenesis of cerebral edema, which is a major complication of fulminant hepatic failure, is poorly understood. In previous studies, increased regional brain water content was observed in rats at an early stage of acute liver failure caused by galactosamine. At a later stage when the animals had developed deep coma, brain water content was reduced, possibly as a result of generalized dehydration.

M. D. Stegall, G. T. Everson, G. Schroter, F. Karrer, B. Bilir, T. Sternberg, R. Shrestha, M. Wachs, I. Kam – 30 December 2003 – We prospectively withdrew prednisone in 28 adult patients who had stable graft function more than 2 years after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) and had been on 5 mg/d prednisone for at least 6 months. Prednisone was decreased from 5 mg/d to 2.5 mg/d for 1 month then stopped completely. Cyclosporine monotherapy was maintained at a level of approximately 200 ng/mL (TDX). Nineteen patients had prednisone withdrawn without complications.

H. Barle, B. Nyberg, P. Essén, K. Andersson, M. A. McNurlan, J. Wernerman, P. J. Garlick – 30 December 2003 – Although the metabolism of liver‐derived plasma proteins such as albumin has been extensively studied, human hepatic protein synthesis as a whole has not been well characterized, because a reproducible model for obtaining human liver tissue has not been available. In this study, the fractional synthesis rates of total liver protein and albumin in vivo were determined simultaneously in nine subjects undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

I. M. Zeid, S. F. Bronk, P. J. Fesmier, G. J. Gores – 30 December 2003 – Toxic bile salts cause hepatocyte necrosis at high concentrations and apoptosis at lower concentrations. Although fructose prevents bile salt‐ induced necrosis, the effect of fructose on bile salt‐induced apoptosis is unclear. Our aim was to determine if fructose also protects against bile salt‐induced apoptosis. Fructose inhibited glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC)‐induced apoptosis in a concentration‐dependent manner with a maximum inhibition of 72% ± 10% at 10 mmol/L.

Eric M. Yoshida, Christopher H. Sherlock – 30 December 2003

Amadeo Marcos, John M. Ham, Robert A. Fisher, Ann T. Olzinski, Marc P. Posner – 30 December 2003 – The first adult‐to‐adult living donor liver transplant using the right hepatic lobe in the United States was performed only 2 years ago. Although initial reports were encouraging, continuous review of the results and appropriate modifications in patient management will be necessary to minimize donor risk and optimize recipient outcome. The results of 40 such transplantations were analyzed and are summarized. Recipients were listed for transplantation according to the usual criteria.