Chronic ethanol effects on cellular immune responses to hepatitis B virus envelope protein: An immunologic mechanism for induction of persistent viral infection in alcoholics

M Geissler, A Gesien, J R Wands – 30 December 2003 – Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is common in alcoholics and may result in chronic infection. Persistence of HBV infection could be partially caused by the effects of ethanol on the cellular and humoral immune response to viral structural proteins. The DNA‐based immunization approach was used to experimentally assess the effects of chronic ethanol feeding on immune responses directed against the middle envelope protein (MHBs) of HBV.

Transmission of a homogenous hepatitis B virus population of A1896‐containing strains leading to mild resolving acute hepatitis and seroconversion to hepatitis B e antigen antibodies in an adult

M J Mphahlele, A G Shattock, W Boner, J Quinn, P A McCormick, W F Carman – 30 December 2003 – The pre‐core variant, A1896, which switches off hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) production, is common in hepatitis B e antigen antibody (anti‐HBe)‐positive chronic hepatitis patients. It has been observed in occasional case reports of acute hepatitis. However, transmission in the absence of HBeAg‐producing strains, leading to acute nonfulminant hepatitis and clearance in adults, has not been reported.

Antibodies to single‐stranded and double‐stranded DNA in antinuclear antibody‐positive type 1‐autoimmune hepatitis

A J Czaja, S A Morshed, S Parveen, M Nishioka – 30 December 2003 – To determine the significance of antibodies to single‐stranded (anti‐ssDNA) and double‐stranded DNA (anti‐dsDNA) in antinuclear antibody (ANA)‐positive type 1 autoimmune hepatitis, sera from 53 patients were tested by enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence using the Crithidia luciliae substrate. Anti‐dsDNA were detected in 18 patients (34%) by ELISA and 12 patients (23%) by the Crithidia‐based assay.

Effect of maternal cholestasis on biliary lipid and bile acid secretion in the infant rat

M Y El‐Mir, M J Monte, A I Morales, M Arevalo, M A Serrano, J J Marin – 30 December 2003 – Partial and reversible impairment of bile formation has been reported to occur in the offspring of rats undergoing common bile duct ligation during the last third of pregnancy. This situation was defined as latent cholestasis of the neonate and was suggested to be related to the multilamellar bodies partially occupying the canalicular lumen. The current study was undertaken to investigate the presence of alterations in the secretion of biliary lipids in these infant rats.

The prediction of risk of recurrence and time to recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after orthotopic liver transplantation: A pilot study

J W Marsh, I Dvorchik, M Subotin, V Balan, J Rakela, E P Popechitelev, V Subbotin, A Casavilla, B I Carr, J J Fung, S Iwatsuki – 30 December 2003 – Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) in the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been complicated by high recurrence rates. The ability to determine the risk and timing of HCC recurrence on an individual basis would greatly aid in the candidate selection process resulting in a more efficient use of donated organs and allow the individualization and better evaluation of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Hepatic mitochondrial proliferation in rats with secondary biliary cirrhosis: Time course and mechanisms

M Forestier, M Solioz, F Isbeki, C Talos, J Reichen, S Krahenbuhl – 30 December 2003 – It is well known that the hepatic mitochondrial protein content is increased in rats 4 weeks after bile duct ligation. In the present study, we measured the time course of this increase and assessed the levels of selected mitochondrial messenger RNA (mRNA) species and the rate of mitochondrial protein synthesis by isolated mitochondria.

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