G Sauter, F Berr, U Beuers, S Fischer, G Paumgartner – 1 July 1996 – Serum concentrations of 7α‐hydroxy‐4‐cholesten‐3‐one (α‐HC) have recently been shown to reflect the activity of cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase in humans. To evaluate the relationship between α‐HC in serum and bile acid synthesis, serum concentrations of α‐HC, and rates of bile acid synthesis, as measured by the isotope dilution technique using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry, were determined simultaneously.

H Nakatsukasa, K Ashida, T Higashi, S Ohguchi, S Tsuboi, N Hino, K Nouso, Y Urabe, N Kinugasa, K Yoshida, S Uematsu, M Ishizaki, Y Kobayashi, T Tsuji – 1 July 1996 – The cellular distribution of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)‐1, and TIMP‐2 was studied by using in situ hybridization in surgically removed human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and cholangiocellular carcinomas (CCCs). The purpose of this study was to characterize the protein involvement of TIMPs in the development of HCCs and CCCs. All HCCs and CCCs expressed TIMPs.

T Masaki, M Tokuda, M Ohnishi, S Watanabe, T Fujimura, K Miyamoto, T Itano, H Matsui, K Arima, M Shirai, T Maeba, K Sogawa, R Konishi, K Taniguchi, Y Hatanaka, O Hatase, M Nishioka – 1 July 1996 – Annexin (AX) constitutes a new family of Ca2+‐dependent membrane‐binding proteins; 13 of them have been described. Among these, annexin‐1 (AX‐I) has displayed many biological functions in vitro. Its actual role in vivo, however, remains unknown. We already reported that AX‐I was expressed in proliferating (regenerating) hepatocytes at both protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels.

W M Lee, M F Sorrell – 1 July 1996

S Ogasawara, H Yano, A Iemura, T Hisaka, M Kojiro – 1 July 1996 – On six human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines (KIM‐1, KYN‐1, KYN‐2, KYN‐3, HAK‐1A, and HAK‐1B), we examined expressions and functions of the proteins and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and its receptor, i.e., fibroblast growth factor receptor‐1 (FGFR‐1), as well as mRNA expressions of FGFR‐2 approximately 4. All six cell lines expressed the proteins and mRNAs of bFGF and FGFR‐1, and at least one of FGFR‐2 approximately 4 mRNAs.

E Shmueli, J P Miell, M Stewart, K G Alberti, C O Record – 1 July 1996 – Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps were performed on six patients with compensated alcoholic cirrhosis and on six normal comparison subjects. As in previous studies, glucose uptake in the cirrhotic patients was only 21% of the comparison value. The cirrhotic patients had high growth hormone (GH) and low insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) levels, with low insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein (IGFBP)‐3 levels, but surprisingly high IGFBP‐I levels (26.8 ± 8.4 microgH vs. 3.2 ± 0.2 microm/L, P < .001).

L Racine‐Samson, J Scoazec, A D'Errico, M Fiorentino, L Christa, A Moreau, C Roda, W F Grigioni, G Feldmann – 1 July 1996 – Little is known about the alterations of metabolic organization of the human liver tissue in chronic liver diseases.

T V Cacciarelli, O M Martinez, R G Gish, J C Villanueva, S M Krams – 1 July 1996 – T lymphocytes and immunoregulatory cytokines may be important in the host response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. T‐helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines (interleukin [IL]‐2, interferon gamma [IFN‐gamma]) are required for host antiviral immune responses, including cytotoxic T‐cell generation and natural killer cell activation, while T‐helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines (IL‐4,IL‐10) can inhibit the development of these effector mechanisms.

1 July 1996

Kynan C. Trail, Timothy M. McCashland, Jennifer L. Larsen, Thomas G. Heffron, Robert J. Stratta, Alan N. Langnas, Ira J. Fox, Rowen K. Zetterman, Jeremiah P. Donovan, Michael F. Sorrell, Todd J. Pillen, Elizabeth I. Ruby, Byers W. Shaw – 1 July 1996 – It is not well understood whether posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) alters postoperative morbidity. This study was designed to evaluate this question.