Ulrich Stölzel, Erich Köstler, Christiane Koszka, Maricka Stöffler‐Meilicke, Detlef Schuppan, Rajan Somasundaram, Manfred O. Doss, Karl O. Habermehl, Ernst O. Riecken – 1 June 1995 – Previous studies from Spain, Italy, and France have demonstrated a high prevalence (71% to 91%) of antibodies against hepatitis C virus in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). To determine the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in PCT in Germany, we have assessed the prevalence of antibodies against HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 106 patients (mean age, 60 ± 14 years) with the disease.

Karin Blakolmer, Kasimirsz Jaskiewicz, Harold A. Dunsford, Simon C. Robson – 1 June 1995 – The identification of ductal plate cells as likely progenitors for bile duct epithelium and hepatocytes and their possible reappearance as oval cells in the regenerating liver have generated much interest in their pluri‐potential capacities. We have examined the distribution of three hematopoietic stem cell markers, c‐kit, CD34, and CD33 in addition to laminin, the standard cytokera‐tin markers CAM 5.2, CK 18, and CK 7 and the oval cell marker OV‐6 in fetal liver during various stages of development.

1 June 1995

Pietro Andreone, Carmela Cursaro, Annagiulia Gramenzi, Maria Silvia Guidetti, Frederico Bardazzi, Antonella Tosti, Rita Miniero, Silvia Fargion – 1 June 1995

Raymond S. Koff – 1 June 1995

Josef E. Fischer – 1 June 1995

Wendy M. Mars, Meng‐Lun Liu, Richard P. Kitson, Ronald H. Goldfarb, Megan K. Gabauer, George K. Michalopoulos – 1 June 1995 – Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), also known as scatter factor, is believed to play a primary role in liver regeneration. HGF is produced in an inactive single‐chain form that can be cleaved in vitro to the active two‐chain form by tissue‐type and urokinase‐type plasminogen (PLG) activators (tPA and uPA).

Clifford A. Brass, Arnold Kooij, Wilma M. Frederiks, Cornelis J. F. Van Noorden – 1 June 1995

Randall G. Lee – 1 June 1995 – Background/Aims: In the past, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis has been described mostly in obese women with diabetes. The aim of this study was to describe a series of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis with a different clinical profile. Methods: The clinical, biochemical, and histological features of 33 patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis seen from July 1990 to June 1993 were analyzed. Results: The mean age was 47 years. All patients were antibody to hepatitis C virus‐negative.

Frank A. Anania, James J. Potter, Lynda Rennie‐Tankersley, Esteban Mezey – 1 June 1995 – Acetaldehyde has been shown to increase collagen production in cultured rat myofibroblastlike cells and to activate the mouse α2(I) collagen promoter in transfected NIH 3T3 cells. Nuclear factor I (NF‐I), a CCAAT binding transcription factor, is known to bind and activate the α(I) and α2(I) collagen genes. Activation of the α2(I) collagen promoter was not observed when the NF‐I binding site of the promoter was deleted.