Ferruccio Bonino, Maurizia Rossana Brunetto – 1 August 1995 – Patients with chronic hepatitis D often have liver‐kidney microsomal antibodies type 3 (LKM‐3). These antibodies react with several microsomal antigens that have a molecular weight of 55 HDa and an isoelectric point of about 8. We studied the molecular nature of the antigen and, by immunoscreening a human liver cDNA expression library with KM‐3 sera, found that uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) appeared as candidate antigens.

Lilia M. Maglova, Angela M. Jackson, Xue‐Jun Meng, Michael W. Carruth, Claudio D. Schteingart, Huong‐Thu Ton‐Nu, Alan F. Hofmann, Steven A. Weinman – 1 August 1995 – The transport properties of three different synthetically prepared fluorescent conjugated bile acid analogs (FBA), all with the fluorophore on the side chain, were determined using isolated rat hepatocytes and hepatocyte couplets. The compounds studied were cholylglycylamidofluorescein (CGamF), cholyl‐(Nϵ‐nitrobenzoxadiazolyl [NBD])‐lysine (C‐NBD‐L), and chenodeoxycholyl‐(Nϵ‐NBD)‐lysine (CDC‐NBD‐L).

Kofi N. W. Oppong, Kim Bartlett, Christopher O. Record, Hanan Al Mardini – 1 August 1995 – Dysfunction of excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the cause of hepatic encephalopathy. Brain microdialysis studies in various animal models of portal systemic encephalopathy (PSE) and encephalopathy associated with acute liver failure, have established that an increase in extracellular glutamate occurs but the mechanisms of this are unclear.

Søren Møller, Lars Søndergaard, Jens Møgelvang, Ole Henriksen, Jens H. Henriksen – 1 August 1995 – Whether the central blood volume is reduced or expanded in cirrhosis is still under debate. Accordingly, the current study was undertaken to assess the volume of the heart cavities. Ten cirrhotic patients and matched controls had their right and left ventricular end‐diastolic volumes (RVDV and LVDV), and end‐systolic volumes (RVSV and LVSV) determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RVDV (122 vs. control 166 mL, P < .02), RVSV (41 vs. 80 mL, P < .02) and right atrial volume (47 vs.

John B. Watkins – 1 August 1995

Thuy‐Anh Tran‐Thi, Karl Decker, Patrick A. Baeuerle – 1 August 1995 – Liver macrophages (Kupffer cells) respond to many stimulations with the production of bioactive substances including cytokines, eicosanoids, and inorganic radicals. In this study the activation of transcription factors by substances inducing cytokine gene expression or superoxide formation in rat Kupffer cells was examined.

Marc Espeel, Hanna Mandel, Florence Poggi, Jan A. M. Smeitink, Ronald J. A. Wanders, Ingrid Kerckaert, Rudolf B. H. Schutgens, Jean‐Marie Saudubray, Bwee‐Tien Poll‐The, Frank Roels – 1 August 1995 – Peroxisomal deficiency disorders, which are genetically transmitted, are assumed to be expressed in all cells, and the use of cultured skin fibroblasts for diagnosis and research is based on this assumption. We describe three patients with clinical, biochemical, and microscopic evidence of a peroxisomal disorder.

Joan Saló, Angels Ginès, Luis Anibarro, Wladimiro Jiménez, Ramón Bataller, Joan Clària, Pere Ginès, Francisca Rirvera, Vicente Arroyo, Juan Rodés – 1 August 1995 – It is well known that sodium retention occurs in a significant proportion of patients with cirrhosis despite normal supine plasma levels of renin, aldosterone (ALDO), and norepinephrine (NE). The current study was performed to assess whether this subset of patients also present normal activity of the renin‐aldosterone and sympathetic nervous systems during upright posture in sitting position and moderate physical exercise.

Maria Antonietta Freni, Domenica Artuso, Guido Gerken, Cesarina Spanti, Teresa Marafioti, Nunziata Alessi, Aldo Spadaro, Antonino Ajello, Oscar Ferrau – 1 August 1995 – Intrahepatic lymphocytic aggregates are observed in chronic hepatitis C as well as in autoimmune chronic hepatitis. Autoantibodies and autoimmune manifestations may occur in hepatitis C. It has been suggested that the lymphocytic aggregates play a role in the liver injury of chronic hepatitis C by an immune‐mediated mechanism.

K. Sandy Pang, Ford Barker, Andre Simard, Andreas J. Schwab, Carl A. Goresky – 1 July 1995 – Acetaminophen uptake and conversion in the perfused rat liver to acetaminophen sulfate was studied with the multiple indicator dilution technique (MID).