Humoral response to linear B cell epitopes in the amino terminus of the hepatitis C virus envelope glycoprotein gp72 (E2): Role in protective immunity still unknown

Amy J. Weiner – 1 July 1995 – The hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of the putative second envelope glycoprotein (gp70) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) contains a sequence‐specific immunological B‐cell epitope that induces the production of antibodies restricted to the specific viral isolate, and anti‐HVR1 antibodies are involved in the genetic drift of HVR1 driven by immunoselection (N. Kato, H. Sekiya, Y. Ootsuyama, T. Nakazawa, M. Hijikata, S. Ohkoshi, and K. Shimotohno, J. Virol. 67:3923–3930, 1993).

High familial prevalence of gallstones in the first‐degree relatives of gallstone patients

Shiv K. Sarin, Vir S. Negi, Richa Dewan, Smailaja Sasan, Anoop Saraya – 1 July 1995 – Limited information is available on the prevalence of gallstones in the first‐degree relatives of gallstone patients. Three groups of subjects were studied by realtime ultrasound examination: group A, 105 index gallstone patients (male/female; 20:85); group B, 330 first‐degree relatives of index patients; group C, matched controls for group A (n = 105) and group B (n = 330) subjects. Dietary, anthropometric, and biochemical investigations were carried out.

Pathomorphologic characteristics of small hepatocellular carcinoma: A special reference to small hepatocellular carcinoma with indistinct margins

Osamu Nakashima, Shigetaka Sugihara, Masayoshi Kage, Masamici Kojiro – 1 July 1995 – Some surgically resected small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) up to 2 cm in diameter have indistinct margins, and it is sometimes difficult to identify the margins of the cancer nodule in the resected specimen. We classified such tumors as small HCC with indistinct margins and carried out a morphological study to define their characteristics in comparison with small HCC with distinct margins as a control group. We have encountered 27 examples among 86 tumors smaller than 2.0 cm in diameter.

Proliferation‐associated differences in the spatial and temporal expression of gap junction genes in rat liver

Mark J. Neveu, James R. Hully, Karlee L. Babcock, Jennifer Vaughan, Elliot L. Hertzberg, Bruce J. Nicholson, David L. Paul, Henry C. Pitot – 1 July 1995 – After a 70% partial hepatectomy (PH), the steady‐state levels of Connexin (Cx)32, Cx26, and Cx43 messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts each displayed unique patterns of temporal expression. Within 1 hour after surgical resection, increased expression of all three Cx mRNAs was observed. Subsequently, the level of Cx32 mRNA transcripts transiently decreased to a nadir at 12 hours.

A morphological study of differentiated hepatocytes in vitro

Linda M. Arterburn, Joanne Zurlo, James D. Yager, Regina M. Overton, Aaron H. Heifetz – 1 July 1995 – A problem traditionally encountered with primary hepatocyte cultures is their rapid dedifferentiation, which is reflected not only in decreased liver‐specific functions, but also in dedifferentiated morphology: the cells flatten, depolarize, and lose many of the surface characteristics of normal hepatocytes in vivo.

High plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide in preascitic cirrhosis: Indirect evidence of reduced natriuretic effectiveness of the peptide

Franco Trevisani, Alessandra Colantoni, Giuseppe Sica, Antonio Gasbarrini, Paola Emanuela D'Intino, Stefania De Notariis, Rosaria De Jaso, Annarita Barbieri, Antonello Morselli, Giovanni Gasbarrini, Mauro Bernardi – 1 July 1995 – Controversial results come from spot measurements of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in compensated cirrhotic patients. Moreover, either blunted or exaggerated natriuresis has been described after maneuvers increasing plasma ANP. This does not make it possible to delineate the ANP effectiveness.

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