Steven A. Weinman – 1 December 1994 – Using expression cloning in Xenopus laevis oocytes, we have isolated a cDNA encoding a rat liver organic anion‐transporting polypeptide (oatp). The cloned oatp mediated Na+‐independent uptake of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) which was Cl−‐dependent in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at low BSP concentrations (e.g., 2 μM). Addition of increasing amounts of BSA had no effects on the maximal velocity of initial BSP uptake, but it increased the Km value from 1.5 μM (no BSA) to 24 μM (BSA/BSP molar ratio, 3.7) and 35 μM (BSA/BSP ratio, 18.4).

Stelios Karatapanis, P. Aiden McCormickM.D.MRCP, Shilpa Kakad, Jason K. T. Chin, Mohammed Islam, Jamie Jeremy, David Harry, Neil McIntyre, Andrew K. Burroughs, Michael Jacobs – 1 December 1994 – It has been suggested that increased production of nitric oxide by an inducible nitric oxide synthase isoenzyme is important in the pathogenesis of the vascular abnormalities seen in human beings and animals with portal hypertension. We investigated this hypothesis by studying the in vitro vascular reactivity of isolated aortic rings from portal vein—constricted and sham‐operated rats.

1 December 1994

Lesley Helyar, Daniela S. Bundschuh, Jeffrey D. Laskin, Debra L. Laskin – 1 December 1994 – Nitric oxide is a highly reactive mediator released in the liver by hepatocytes, Kupffer cells and endothelial cells during endotoxin‐induced inflammation. In this study we determined whether Ito cells also produce nitric oxide after exposure to endotoxin. For induction of endotoxemia, rats were injected intravenously with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (2.5 mg/kg).

Thomas D. Boyer, Dennis D. Kokenes, Gary Hertzler, Michael H. Kutner, J. Michael Henderson – 1 December 1994 – Distal splenorenal shunt is known to effectively control bleeding from esophageal and gastric varices; however, the effect of this selective shunt on liver function is less well understood. We examined retrospectively the effect of distal splenorenal shunt on the survival of 19 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis subjected to surgery for bleeding varices over a 20‐yr period and had been followed for at least 1 yr.

Antonio Chedid, Kurmanadha R. Chadalawada, Timothy R. Morgan, Thomas E. Moritz, Charles L. Mendenhall, James B. Hammond, Peter W. Emblad, Doris C. Cifuentes, Joanne W. H. Kwak, Alice Gilman‐Sachs, Kenneth D. Beaman – 1 December 1994 – Alcoholic liver injury has been reported to be directed preferentially against the proteins of the cell membrane, sparing the phospholipids. However, antiphospholipid antibodies against certain cell membrane phospholipids are known to be associated with a variety of diseases.

Marielle Cohard, Thierry Poynard, Philippe Mathurin, Jean Pierre Zarski – 1 December 1994 – The aim of this study was to review all published randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of a combination of prednisone and interferon in treatment of chronic hepatitis B and to subject these studies to metanalysis. Two types of metanalyses were carried out: direct metanalysis, comparing the prednisone‐interferon combination with interferon on its own; and indirect metanalysis, comparing the treatment efficacy of prednisone‐interferon and of interferon with control results.

Hanns Löhr, Christopher Nagel, Hans‐Peter Dienes, Barry Simpson, Gerd Michel, Bernd Goergen, Karl‐Hermann Meyer Zum Büschenfelde, Guido Gerken – 1 December 1994 – Hepatitis C virus antibodies are found in the serum of most patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, the significance of the humoral response is still uncertain. In this study, in vitro IgG and IgM anti‐hepatitis C virus secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic hepatitis C was analyzed.

Franklin M. Klion – 1 December 1994

Brian Burchell B.Sc. Ph.D. MCRPath., Michael W. H. Coughtrie, Peter L. M. Jansen – 1 December 1994