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.

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.

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.

Fibronectin in human bile fluid for diagnosis of malignant biliary diseases

T Körner, J Kropf, R Hackler, A Brenzel, A M Gressner – 1 March 1996 – In a preliminary study, we demonstrated a strong association between the concentration of the glycoprotein fibronectin (FN) in human bile fluid and the presence of malignant biliary diseases. We now present the results of measurements of total FN (tFN) and cellular FN (cFN) within a larger group of 71 patients. Bile fluid was collected during routine endoscopic retrograde cholangiography or by transhepatic puncture, respectively, from patients admitted for examination/treatment of biliary obstruction.

Regenerative changes in hepatic morphology and enhanced expression of CYP2B10 and CYP3A during daily administration of cocaine

P Pellinen, F Stenback, A Kojo, P Honkakoski, H V Gelboin, M Pasanen – 1 March 1996 – The effects of daily cocaine administration for up to 14 days were studied in terms of hepatic morphology and the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the mouse liver. Daily intraperitoneal doses of 60 mg/kg of cocaine for 3 days induced severe hepatocellular necrosis in the pericentral zone and decreased activities of CYP1A2, CYP2A4/5, and CYP2Cx.

Carbon tetrachloride‐induced cirrhosis in rats: Influence of the acute effects of the toxin on glucose metabolism

F Mion, A Géloén, E Agosto, Y Minaire – 1 March 1996 – In animal models, conflicting results on the effect of cirrhosis on glucose metabolism have been reported. The use of various toxins as well as differences in experimental protocols may be responsible for these controversial data. However, differences may be also be explained by the fact that glucose metabolism has been evaluated following different time intervals after cessation of the toxic injury.

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