Patrick Arbuthnot, Marie‐Pierre Bralet, Helene Thomassin, Jean‐Louis Danan, Christian Bréchot, Nicolas Ferry – 1 December 1995 – To target gene expression to malignant hepatic cells, we have constructed recombinant retroviral vectors containing a reporter gene encoding nuclear β‐galactosidase (nls‐LacZ) under transcriptional control of regulatory sequences from the rat α‐fetoprotein (AFP) or human insulinlike growth factor II (IGFII) genes. The AFP and IGFII P3 promoters activate transcription during fetal development and are often reactivated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Shigeki Kuriyama, Toshiya Nakatani, Kazuhiro Masui, Takemi Sakamoto, Kentarou Tominaga, Masahide Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Fukui, Kazuhiro Ikenaka, Tadasu Tsujii – 1 December 1995 – In the field of gene therapy using retroviral vectors, it appears impossible to introduce a foreign gene into all target cells. Therefore adjacent cell killing, the socalled bystander effect, caused by genetically modified cells provides therapeutic advantages for gene therapy against cancers.

Francisco Rodriguez‐Frias, Maria Buti, Rosendo Jardi, Montserrat Cotrina, Luis Viladomiu, Rafael Esteban, Jaime Guardia – 1 December 1995 – The precore‐core gene of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was directly sequenced from serum samples of 42 patients with chronic B hepatitis (19 hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg]+ and 23 anti‐HBe+). Viral genotypes were determined by comparison with 11 reference sequences and by restriction analysis. Genotype A was identified in 16 cases, genotype D in 24 cases, and other genotypes in 2 cases.

David Sacerdoti, Massimo Bolognesi, Giancarlo Bombonato, Angelo Gatta – 1 December 1995 – Doppler sonographic portal vein parameters are used for the noninvasive evaluation of portal hypertension in cirrhosis. The patency of a paraumbilical vein is a rather frequent finding in cirrhosis, which may affect hepatic hemodynamics and function. We evaluated portal and hepatic arterial parameters in 184 cirrhotic patients with and without a patent paraumbilical vein and the relationships with paraumbilical blood flow. A patent paraumbilical vein was found in 33.7% of patients.

Alan N. Langnas, Rodney S. Markin, Mark S. Cattral, Stanley J. Naides – 1 December 1995 – We recently observed that more than one third of pediatric patients who presented with non‐A, non‐B fulminant liver failure (FLF) also developed aplastic anemia (AA) either before or shortly after liver transplantation. Factors involved in the suppression of bone marrow could be the same as those causing hepatic failure. We considered parvovirus B19 a candidate etiologic agent because of the known tropism of B19 for erythroid precursors.

Salvatore Badalamenti, Francesco Salerno, Elettra Lorenzano, Gianni Paone, Giovanna Como, Silvia Finazzi, Anna Cristina Sacchetta, Antoni Rimola, Giorgio Graziani, Dinangelo Galmarini, Claudio Ponticelli – 1 December 1995 – Nephrotoxicity is the main untoward effect of cyclosporine (CsA) treatment. Experimental and clinical data suggest that dietary supplementation with fish oil may lessen cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, possibly by lowering renal thromboxane (Tx) production.

Mara Massimi, Laura Conti Devirgiliis, Victoria Kolb‐Bachofen, Luciana Dini – 1 December 1995 – The expression of galactose‐specific receptors on liver cells from rats at the end of pregnancy and from estrogen‐treated animals was studied. The number and distribution of binding sites were estimated on hepatocytes and Kupffer and endothelial cells in vitro as well as in situ by means of protein‐gold complexes.

Ines Bohlinger, Marcel Leist, Johannes Barsig, Tefan Uhlig, Gisa Tiegs, Albrecht Wendel – 1 December 1995 – Mice sensitized with D‐galactosamine (GalN) and challenged with recombinant murine tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) developed severe apoptotic and secondary necrotic liver injury as assessed by histology, measurement of cytosolic DNA fragments, and determination of liver specific enzymes in plasma. Pretreatment with recombinant human interleukin‐1β (IL‐1) rendered mice insensitive to this TNFα toxicity.

Raymond S. Koff, Leonard B. Seeff – 1 December 1995

Rosina T. Lis – 1 December 1995