Satoshi Shakado, Shotaro Sakisaka, Kazunori Noguchi, Masao Yoshitake, Masaru Harada, Yoshihiro Mimura, Michio Sata, Kyuichi Tanikawa – 1 September 1995 – To determine the effects of extracellular matrices on the function and morphology of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells, isolated rat hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells were cultured in three‐dimensional fashion on collagen gel containing various extracellular matrix components. Cells cultured on type I collagen gel with or without type IV collagen formed a cobblestone appearance on the surface of the gel.

Yuman Fong, Howard J. Federoff, Michael Brownlee, David Blumberg, Leslie H. Blumgart, Murray F. Brennan – 1 September 1995 – Retroviral vectors have been widely studied as vehicles for hepatocyte gene therapy, but they are limited by an inability to infect nondividing cells and the need for prolonged cell culture. Two replication deficient herpes simplex viral vectors (HSV) were constructed with the marker genes lac‐Z/β‐galactosidase (HSVlac) or human‐growth hormone (HSVhGH) to determine the efficiency of HSV gene transfer into adult human hepatocytes.

Angelo Luca, Juan C. García‐Pagán, Jaume Bosch, Faust Feu, Wladimiro Jiménez, Angels Ginés, Mercedes Fernández, Angels Escorsell, Vicente Arroyo, Joan Rodés – 1 September 1995 – The study investigated the hemodynamic and neuro‐humoral effects of albumin infusion after total paracentesis in 18 patients with cirrhosis and tense ascites. Measurements of systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics, and vasoactive neurohumoral systems were performed before and immediately after total paracentesis.

Hyman J. Zimmerman, Willis C. Maddrey – 1 September 1995 – Hepatic injury in alcoholics due to intake of acetaminophen (APAP or acetylparaaminophenol) with therapeutic intent has been reported, but the extent of the phenomenon is not clear, pertinent details of the association remain insufficiently clarified, and the importance of the phenomenon is not widely appreciated. The present report describes 67 patients who developed hepatic injury after ingestion of APAP with therapeutic intent. All were regular users of alcohol.

Masato Yamamoto, Norio Hayashi, Yasuhide Miyamoto, Tetsuo Takehara, Eiji Mita, Makoto Seki, Hideyuki Fusamoto, Takenobu Kamada – 1 September 1995 – An in vivo model of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is needed to enable investigation of the mechanism of the liver injury that it causes. In this study, we used asialoglycoprotein receptor mediated gene delivery to obtain expression of the complementary DNA (cDNA) coding the core and part of the envelope 1 protein of HCV because selective delivery to the hepatocytes has been reported to be attained with this method.

Ian R. Wanless, International Working Party – 1 September 1995

Pierre Blanc, Jacques Liautard, Jölle Greuet, Jean Pierre Daures, Jean‐Michel Fabre, Dominique Larrey, Henri Michel, Patrick Maurel – 1 September 1995 – The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of four H2 receptor antagonists, cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, nizatidine, and of two proton pump inhibitors, omeprazole and lansoprazole, on the mitotic response of human hepatocytes in primary culture. After plating at subconfluent density, cells were exposed to 0.2 to 20 μmol/L of these drugs for 48 hours, either in the absence or in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF).

Josefa Ros, Joan Clària, Wladimiro Jiménez, Marta Bosch‐Marcé, Paolo Angeli, Vicente Arroyo, Francisca Rivera, Joan Rodés – 1 September 1995 – Nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2) are two important modulators of renal function under normal conditions; however, little is known on their contributory role in cirrhosis with ascites. In this study, mean arterial pressure, renal hemodynamics, and sodium excretion were measured in 15 rats with cirrhosis and ascites and 16 control rats.

Takahiro Sanzen, Kazuharu Yoshida, Motoko Sasaki, Tadashi Terada, Yasuni Nakanuma – 1 September 1995 – We investigated the expression of carbohydrate residues on the developing intrahepatic bile ducts of rats. At 17 days of gestation, immature biliary cells around the portal vein close to the hepatic hilum assumed one of the following forms: slitlike lumen, incomplete, or complete bile ductule–like structures. These immature biliary elements then rapidly spread throughout the liver along with development. At birth, a few mature interlobular bile ducts became visible in the portal tracts.

Paul B. Watkins – 1 September 1995 – Immunosuppression therapy with cyclosporine is often hampered by significant interindividual variability in the metabolic clearance of the drug. It has been suggested that much of the variability in cyclosporine clearance is due to differences in the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) content in the liver and intestinal mucosa. A study was conducted in liver transplant recipients to characterize hepatic CYP3A4 variability during the first 10 days after surgery. The formation of 1′‐hydroxymidazolam (1′‐OH MDZ) was followed in the plasma after i.v.