S Zeuzem, J M Schmidt, J Lee, B Ruster, W K Roth – 1 February 1996 – In about 30% to 40% of patients with chronic hepatitis C, treatment with recombinant interferon alfa (r‐IFNα) causes a decrease of serum aminotransferases and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. The antiviral mechanism of interferon alfa (IFNα) in vivo is unknown. From serial measurements of serum HCV‐RNA concentrations following IFNα induced perturbation of the balance between virus production and clearance, we obtained kinetic information on the pretreatment steady‐state of HCV.

J Prieto, J R Yuste, O Beloqui, M P Civeira, J I Riezu, B Aguirre, B Sangro – 1 February 1996 – Antiphospholipid antibodies are a type of autoantibodies that have been implicated in the occurrence of thrombocytopenia and thrombotic events and have been described in autoimmune disorders and diverse viral diseases. In this study anticardiolipin antibodies (immunoglobulin G [IgG] isotype) were determined in serum from 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 52 healthy controls.

J Wu, H Soderbergh, K Karlsson, Å Danielsson – 1 February 1996 – The protective effect of S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine (SAMe) on bromobenzene (BB)‐ or D‐galactosamine (GalN)‐induced damage to isolated rat hepatocytes and its effect on cellular glutathione (GSH) levels were investigated. SAMe at concentrations of 0.5 to 3.0 mmol/L significantly reduced lactate dehydrogenase leakage from cells exposed to 1.6 mmol/L BB (P < .05 to .001) during 2 hours' incubation.

Y Lin, R Havinga, H J Verkade, H Moshage, M J Slooff, R J Vonk, F Kuipers – 1 February 1996 – The existence of a relationship between bile acid and triacylglycerol metabolism in humans has been established, but the underlying mechanism and its physiological relevance have remained unclear. We have studied the effects of bile acids on the secretion of very‐low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL)‐associated triacylglycerol, using [3H]glycerol labeling technique, and apolipoprotein B (apoB) in human hepatocytes in primary culture.

C M Walton, G Y Wu, C A Petruff, S H Clark, A C Lichtler, C H Wu – 1 February 1996 – Type I collagen synthesis and deposition is generally indicative of irreversible damage in alcohol‐induced cirrhosis in humans. However, in rodents, ethanol alone does not readily cause hepatic fibrosis. To determine whether this is because of a lack of ethanol‐responsive elements, an artificial enhancer construct controlling rat type I collagen gene transcription was prepared in transgenic mice.

S Murakami, J F Bernardo, R A Branch, R Sabra – 1 February 1996 – This study was conducted to assess the role of adenosine in the peripheral vasodilation and sodium retention that occurs after partial portal vein ligation (PVL) in the rat. The experiment was performed on day 1 after surgery when transient maximal sodium retention developed and day 7 when rats returned to sodium balance. Hemodynamic studies were conducted under anesthesia in portal hypertensive rats with sodium retention and in sham‐operated controls.

Y Pirson, N Lannoy, D Peters, A Geubel, J Gigot, M Breuning, C Verellen‐Dumoulin – 1 February 1996 – Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is proven to occur either sporadically or in association with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), whereas the existence of an isolated (i.e., without any kidney cyst) familial form is disputed. We describe a family with definitely isolated PLD transmitted through three generations and exclude the linkage of the disease to the genetic markers of PKD1 and PKD2, the two main loci responsible for ADPKD.

C Barriault, J Petit, M Gascon‐Barre, P Huet, I M Yousef, B Tuchweber – 1 February 1996 – In this study, the possible role of the hepatic microcirculation in phalloidin‐induced cholestasis and hepatotoxicity was examined in isolated perfused rat livers (IPRL). Administration of a phalloidin bolus (1 mg/kg body weight) through the portal vein induced an immediate reduction of bile flow. In 16.9 minutes, bile flow was 50% lower than basal values.

T Matsuda, H Morita, H Hosomi, M Okada – 1 February 1996 – Hepatic sensory systems are thought to play an important role in the response of renal nerve activity and natriuresis to oral NaCl load. In this study, responses of renal nerve activity and urinary Na+ and Cl− excretions to a high‐NaCl food intake (20 g/kg boiled rice containing 0.4 g/kg NaCl) were examined in sham‐operated dogs (n = 12) and dogs with chronic bile duct ligation (CBDL; n = 10).

K V Kowdley, A S Tavill – 1 February 1996