Valerie Paradis, Ingrid Laurendeau, Michel Vidaud, Pierre Bedossa, The METAVIR Group – 30 December 2003 – Several arguments suggest that most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) occurring in human cirrhotic livers arise from large hepatocellular nodules or macronodules. Except for nodules with obvious features of HCC, there exist no consistent criteria enabling the differentiation between benign regenerative and neoplastic, potentially malignant macronodules. Surrogate markers able to accurately discriminate those lesions that will evolve toward a HCC are required.

Patrice Taourel, Pierre Blanc, Michel Dauzat, Myriam Chabre, Jean Pradel, Benoit Gallix, Dominique Larrey, Jean‐Michel Bruel – 30 December 2003 – To determine the relationship between quantitative Doppler parameters of portal, hepatic, and splanchnic circulation and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), variceal size, and Child–Pugh class in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, we studied forty patients with proved alcoholic cirrhosis who underwent Doppler ultrasonography, hepatic vein catheterization, and esophagoscopy.

Ákos Zsembery, Carlo Spirlì, Anna Granato, Nicholas F. LaRusso, Lajos Okolicsanyi, Gaetano Crepaldi, Mario Strazzabosco – 30 December 2003 – Biliary epithelial cells (cholangiocytes) are responsible for rapid regulation of bile volume and alkalinity. Secretin and other hormones raising intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations promote biliary HCO3 secretion by stimulating apical Cl− channels and Cl−/HCO3− exchange (AE2).

Stanley M. Lemon, Francis V. Chisari, Michael M. C. Lai, Kusuya Nishioka, Shunji Mishiro, Leslye Johnson – 30 December 2003

Michael Charlton, Eric Seaberg, Russell Wiesner, James Everhart, Rowen Zetterman, John Lake, Katherine Detre, Jay Hoofnagle – 30 December 2003 – End‐stage liver disease secondary to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States. Recurrence of HCV infection is nearly universal.

Wayne W. LaMorte, Michael L. Booker, Susannah Kay – 30 December 2003 – Certain phosphatidylcholine (PC) molecular species appear to be secreted into bile preferentially, but the mechanism for this selection remains obscure. We used multivariate analysis to examine the relationship between PC structure and the odds of secretion for individual PC species secreted into bile. PC was isolated from Folch extracts of bile and liver from rats, and individual molecular species of PC were quantified with reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Thomas D. Boyer – 30 December 2003

Norah A. Terrault, Shuan Zhou, Robert W. McCory, Timothy L. Pruett, John R. Lake, John P. Roberts, Nancy L. Ascher, Teresa L. Wright – 30 December 2003 – Mutations in the “a” determinant of the surface gene have been associated with failure of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) prophylaxis.

Yasuhiro Asahina, Yoshinori Ito, Catherine H. Wu, George Y. Wu – 30 December 2003 – DNA ribonucleases directed against direct repeat 1 (DR1) and polyadenylation signal regions of hepatitis B virus (HBV) messages were prepared with phosphorothioate modifications and varying arm lengths. DNA ribonucleases modified throughout the entire molecule and in the target binding arms were completely protected from degradation after incubation with serum. DNA ribonuclease modified only at the 5′ and 3′ termini remained 92.9% intact after incubation.

Simona Berardi, Bruno Stieger, Sandra Wächter, Brigitte O'Neill, Stephan Krähenbühl – 30 December 2003 – Butyrobetaine transport into the liver was studied using isolated rat hepatocyte plasma membrane vesicles. In the presence of a sodium chloride gradient, an overshoot could be observed, indicating active sodium‐dependent transport. A similar overshoot was recorded in the presence of lithium, but not of potassium, cesium, or choline chloride.