M F Fromm, D Busse, H K Kroemer, M Eichelbaum – 1 October 1996 – Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, which metabolize numerous drugs, are expressed both in liver and in extrahepatic tissues. CYP3A4 for example is present and inducible by rifampin in epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract. It has been shown that such prehepatic metabolism contributes substantially to total clearance of CYP3A4 substrates (e.g., cyclosporine) before and even more pronounced during enzyme induction.

B Gil, M Casado, M A Pajares, L Bosca, J M Mato, P Martin‐Sanz, L Alvarez – 1 October 1996 – The pattern of expression of liver‐specific and extrahepatic S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthetase in developing rat liver was established by determining steady‐state levels of the respective messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and protein content. Levels of liver‐specific SAM synthetase mRNA increased progressively from day 20 of gestation, increased 10‐fold immediately after birth, and reached a peak at 10 days of age, decreasing slightly by adulthood.

T Poynard, V Leroy, M Cohard, T Thevenot, P Mathurin, P Opolon, J P Zarski – 1 October 1996 – The aims of this study were to evaluate the benefits of higher doses or of longer duration in comparison with a standard interferon regimen (3 MU three times per week for 6 months) in chronic hepatitis C, and to assess the efficacy of interferon in acute hepatitis C. Meta‐analysis made use of the Peto et al. and the Der Simonian and Laird methods, with heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses.

G Xu, G Salen, S Shefer, G C Ness, L B Nguyen, G S Tint, T S Parker, J Roberts, A K Batta, T S Chen, Z Zhao, X Kong – 1 October 1996 – The effect of bile acid depletion and replacement with glycodeoxycholic acid on plasma cholesterol concentrations, hepatic low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor binding and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, and hepatic activities and mRNA levels for 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA) reductase and cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase was investigated in 19 New Zealand white (NZW) and 15 Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits.

D Raddatz, M Henneken, T Armbrust, G Ramadori – 1 October 1996 – Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) distribution in isolated rat hepatocytes and nonparenchymal hepatic stellate cells, Kupffer cells, and liver fibroblasts with and without dexamethasone treatment was investigated by immunostaining and confocal laser scanning microscopy. In addition, human liver fibroblasts, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were investigated. Subcellular distribution of GR immunostaining was assessed semiquantitatively by digital image analysis.

P Ferenci, T C Gilliam, J D Gitlin, S Packman, M L Schilsky, R J Sokol, I Sternlieb – 1 October 1996

R V Pearline, Y Lin, K J Shen, E M Brunt, W M Bowling, D G Hafenrichter, S Kennedy, M W Flye, K P Ponder – 1 October 1996 – An understanding of how oncogenes affect differentiated liver functions might lead to improved treatments for liver cancer or other disorders where liver‐specific functions are compromised. A retroviral vector that coexpressed β‐galactosidase (β‐gal) and activated Ras genes (Ras‐gal) was transduced into a small fraction of adult rat hepatocytes in vivo.

J Greeve, J R Chowdhury, N R Chowdhury – 1 October 1996

J G DeLamatre, J T Schilleci, L H Hanson – 1 September 1996 – This study investigates the effects of either a high‐fat diet or endotoxin on peroxisome metabolism as assessed by measuring catalase activity, catalase mass, and peroxisomal β‐oxidation. Three mouse strains C3H/HeJ, BALB/c, and C57BL/6J were fed either a low‐fat or a high‐fat diet and injected intraperitoneally with 1 microg Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. These parameters were not different in C3H/HeJ mice fed a high‐fat diet compared with controls fed a low‐fat diet.

Michael Burt, Elizabeth Jazwinska, Stephen Lynch, Paul Kerlin, Devinder Gill, Charles Steadman, Julie Jonsson, Russell Strong, Elizabeth Powell – 1 September 1996 – The diagnosis of graft‐versus‐host disease following liver transplantation may be delayed because the clinical and pathological features are nonspecific. We report the use of microsatellites to support a diagnosis of GVHD in a patient who developed fever and a skin rash 28 days after liver transplantation.