Expression of E‐selectin and E‐selectin ligands in human liver inflammation

D H Adams, S G Hubscher, N C Fisher, A Williams, M Robinson – 1 September 1996 – Lymphocyte recruitment to tissue is regulated by homing molecules expressed on subsets of leukocytes that bind to endothelial adhesion molecules termed addressins in target tissues. The addressins and homing molecules involved in recruiting lymphocytes to inflamed human liver are not known.

Apolipoprotein E4 genotype and gallbladder motility influence speed of gallstone clearance and risk of recurrence after extracorporeal shock‐wave lithotripsy

P Portincasa, K J van Erpecum, P C van de Meeberg, G M Dallinga‐Thie, T W A de Bruin, G P van Berge‐Henegouwen – 1 September 1996 – Extracorporeal shock‐wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is an effective treatment in selected gallstone patients, but stone recurrence is a major drawback. Factors potentially influencing gallstone clearance and recurrence were studied in 84 patients in whom stone dissolution was diagnosed after ESWL plus bile salt therapy for initial solitary (n = 55) or multiple (n = 29) radiolucent stones.

Stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis in cultured liver cells by CCl4

D E Johnston, C Kroening – 1 September 1996 – The contribution of hepatocytes to liver prostaglandin synthesis is controversial, partly because hepatocytes of varying purity have been studied. In this study, prostaglandin synthesis was examined in conventional and ricin‐purified rat hepatocytes that were incubated with gaseous carbon tetrachloride as a model stimulus for lipid peroxidation and prostaglandin synthesis. Hepatocytes that were incubated for 2 hours with 1 ml, of liquid CCl4/5 L gas volume showed no evidence of cell death or injury.

Hepatitis B virus mutations in the pre‐S genome before and after liver transplantatio

C Trautwein, H Schrem, H L Tillmann, S Kubicka, D Walker, K H Böker, H J Maschek, R Pichlmayr, M P Manns – 1 September 1996 – Mutational changes in the pre‐S region of hepatitis B virus (HBV) were analyzed in 20 patients who experienced HBV reinfection after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). HBV DNA was extracted from patient sera before and after OLT. The pre‐S sequence was amplified via polymerase chain reaction, subcloned, sequenced, and analyzed.

Receptor‐mediated delivery of hepatitis B virus DNA and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to avian liver cells

J Madon, H E Blum – 1 September 1996 – A highly efficient receptor‐mediated delivery system for DNA and oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) to avian liver cells has been established, using complexes of nonmodified human adenovirus particles and a protein conjugate consisting of N‐acetyl‐glucosamine‐modified bovine serum albumin, streptavidin, and Poly‐L‐lysine. The newly developed method of protein‐conjugate preparation and purification yielded highly stable complexes with high DNA delivery efficiency for constructs expressing the lacZ gene, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, and ODNs.

The diagnosis of subclinical hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis using neuropsychological tests and automated electroencephalogram analysis

J C Quero, I J Hartmann, J Meulstee, W C Hop, S W Schalm – 1 September 1996 – Neuropsychological tests used for the assessment of subclinical hepatic encephalopathy (SHE) may overdiagnose SHE because scores are usually not corrected for age. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of SHE using two easy administrable psychometric tests (Number Connection Test part A [NCT‐A], Symbol Digit Test [SDT]) with age‐related normal values. In addition, spectral electroencephalogram (EEG) was used, which is the in‐house electrophysiological method for quantifying encephalopathy.

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