A comparison of the effect of inducers on the expression of glutathione‐S‐transferases in the liver of the intact rat and in hepatocytes in primary culture

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.

The prolyl 4‐hydroxylase inhibitor HOE 077 prevents activation of Ito cells, reducing procollagen gene expression in rat liver fibrosis induced by choline‐deficient L‐amino acid‐defined diet

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.

Hepatitis C in human immunodeficiency virus‐coinfected patients: Increased variability in the hypervariable envelope coding domain

K E Sherman, C Andreatta, J O'Brien, A Gutierrez, R Harris – 1 April 1996 – Patients coinfected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were studied with regard to nucleotide sequence variability in the E2/NS1 first hypervariable region of the HCV genome. The nucleotide variability within individual patients was compared to patients infected only with HCV. The proportion of predicted synonymous and nonsynonymous amino acid changes, and the relationship to putative high‐antigenicity sites, were evaluated in the hypervariable envelope domain.

Assessment of microchimerism in rat liver transplantation by polymerase chain reaction

H Tashiro, Y Fukuda, A Kimura, S Hoshino, H Ito, K Dohi – 1 April 1996 – Mixed chimerism has been demonstrated in organ transplant recipients surviving over a long period. However, little is known about the fate and movements of donor cells following liver transplantation. In this study, using rat male‐to‐female liver transplantation, we assessed microchimerism by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A PCR specific for the Y‐chromosome (sex‐determining region Y [Sry]) allowed the distinction of small amounts of male cells in a large excess of female cells.

Kupffer cell inactivation prevents lipopolysaccharide‐induced structural changes in the rat liver sinusoid: An electron‐microscopic study

T G Sarphie, N B D'Souza, I V Deaciuc – 1 April 1996 – Scanning and transmission electron‐microscopic examination of the rat liver sinusoid was performed in this study after in vivo treatment of rats with gram‐negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/Kg(‐1) body weight), with or without pretreatment with gadolinium chloride (GdCl3 10 mg/Kg−1 body weight).

Prospective assessment of donor blood screening for antibody to hepatitis C virus by first‐ and second‐generation assays as a means of preventing posttransfusion hepatitis

S Takano, K Nakamura, S Kawai, O Yokosuka, Y Satomura, M Omata – 1 April 1996 – In November 1989, the Japanese Red Cross began screening blood donors for the hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV) by first‐generation assay and high‐titer hepatitis B virus core antigen antibody. A significant reduction in the incidence of acute posttransfusion hepatitis was reported; however, the incidence still ranged from 2% to 4%. The Red Cross changed to the second‐generation assay in February 1992, the objective being the complete elimination of potential posttransfusion hepatitis.

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