M R Kilmurry, E J Heathcote, K Cauch‐Dudek, K O'Rourke, R J Bailey, L M Blendis, C N Ghent, G Y Minuk, S C Pappas, L J Scully, U P Steinbrecher, L R Sutherland, C N Williams, L J Worobetz – 1 May 1996 – Treatment of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) using ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) leads to a reduction in serum bilirubin. The first objective of this study was to assess the performance of certain prognostic indicators for PBC after the introduction of treatment with UDCA.

K D Lindor, C Bru, R A Jorgensen, J Rakela, J M Bordas, J B Gross, J Rodes, D B McGill, C C Reading, E M James, J W Charboneau, J Ludwig, K P Batts, A R Zinsmeister – 1 May 1996 – The risk of complications from percutaneous liver biopsy is low, but discomfort is common and complications require hospitalization in approximately 4% of patients. The optimal method of performing these biopsies is unknown.

G A Kullak‐Ublick, U Beuers, G Paumgartner – 1 May 1996 – Bile acids are taken up into human liver by Na+‐dependent and Na+‐independent transport mechanisms. In hepatocarcinogenesis, numerous liver‐specific functions are lost and the uptake of organic anions is markedly reduced. We have investigated the molecular and functional derangements of bile acid transport in the human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2. Uptake of [3H]‐taurocholic acid was saturable and entirely Na+ independent, with the kinetic characteristics of the human liver organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP).

M Merli, O Riggio, L Dally – 1 May 1996 – A total of 1,053 cirrhotic patients were included in a prospective study to determine whether malnutrition is a risk factor for mortality in cirrhotic patients. Child‐Pugh classification as well as clinical and biochemical variables were used to assess the severity of cirrhosis. Nutritional status was evaluated both by anthropometric and clinical measurements. Patients were defined as malnourished when midarm muscle area (MAMA) and/or midarm fat area (MAFA) were below the 5th percentile of an age‐ and sex‐matched population.

M Bolognesi, D Sacerdoti, C Merkel, G Gerunda, A Maffei‐Faccioli, P Angeli, R M Jemmolo, G Bombonato, A Gatta – 1 May 1996 – The spleen plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and maintenance of portal hypertension. Few data exist about splenic hemodynamics evaluated by duplex sonography in this condition. Twenty‐six normal subjects, 207 patients with portal hypertension of various causes, and in different splenoportal hemodynamic conditions, and 31 patients with liver transplantation were evaluated.

L K Schluger, P A Sheiner, S N Thung, J Y Lau, A Min, D C Wolf, I Fiel, D Zhang, M A Gerber, C M Miller, H C Bodenheimer – 1 May 1996 – Recurrent infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is almost universal following orthotopic liver transplantation although clinical severity varies. Data on 135 patients who underwent transplantation for hepatitis C cirrhosis were reviewed. We describe a progressive, severe cholestatic form of hepatitis occurring in a subgroup of patients with recurrent hepatitis C.

S Mondro – 1 April 1996

H P Friedman, J D Goldberg – 1 April 1996

S Langouet, F Morel, D J Meyer, O Fardel, L Corcos, B Ketterer, A Guillouzo – 1 April 1996 – Recently, we used human hepatocytes in primary culture to study the effects of inducers of glutathione‐S‐transferases (GSTs) in the expectation that information obtained can be used to predict the value of particular inducers for use in the chemoprevention of cancer and other toxicities. However, in vitro human studies cannot readily be confirmed by studies in vivo. This problem does not arise in experimental animals.

I Sakaida, Y Matsumura, M Kubota, K Kayano, K Takenaka, K Okita – 1 April 1996 – No effective therapy has yet developed for liver fibrosis by directory inhibiting the accumulation of extracellular matrix. The effect of a newly synthesized prolyl4‐hydroxylase (PH) inhibitor, HOE 077 (pyridine‐ 2, 4‐di‐carboxylic‐di(2‐methoxyethyl)amide), was examined using the model of choline‐deficient L‐amino acid (CDAA) defined diet‐induced liver fibrosis in 16‐week‐old male Wistar rats.