Nancy L. Ascher – 1 July 1996 – In a 6 month open label, randomized, multi‐center trial, we compared the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) with high dose intravenous steroids (IVS) for the treatment of refractory, acute cellular rejection in recipients of first or second cadaveric or living‐donor renal allografts. A total of 150 patients were enrolled and randomized in a 1‐to‐1 ratio to receive oral MMF 1.5 g twice daily (n = 77) or i.v.

C Leveille‐Webster – 1 July 1996

F Kuipers, J M van Ree, M H Hofker, H Wolters, G I Veld, R Havinga, R J Vonk, H M Princen, L M Havekes – 1 July 1996 – Adaptation of cholesterol and bile acid synthesis and of biliary cholesterol secretion represent key metabolic responses to maintain cholesterol homeostasis and have been suggested to be influenced by apolipoprotein E (apoE) phenotype in humans. We have investigated hepatic metabolism and secretion of cholesterol into bile in homozygous apoE‐deficient (apoE ‐/‐) mice fed normal lab chow.

A G Johansson, T Lövdal, K Magnusson, T Berg, T Skogh – 1 July 1996 – Immune complexes were formed between dinitrophenylated human serum albumin (DNP‐HSA) and polyclonal rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti‐DNP antibodies at antibody excess. The antigen was labelled with isotope (125I‐tyramine‐cellobiose) or fluorochrome, (6‐[fluorescein‐5‐(and‐6)‐carboxamido] hexanoic‐acid, succinimidyl ester). The radiolabelled antigen, native or antibody complexed, was given intravenously to rats. Radioactivity was measured in various organs at 1 hour following injection.

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).