Judy Van De Water, M. Eric Gershwin – 1 October 1994 – Background/Aims: A strong association exists between ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Previously, the presence of a unique epitope shared by colon and biliary epithelial cells was shown by using the novel monoclonal antibody (MAb) 7E12H12 developed against a colonic epithelial protein. In the present study, the presence of circulating autoantibody in PSC against this peptide was examined.

Yoshikazu Murawaki, Yujiro Ikuta, Masahiko Koda, Hironaka Kawasaki – 1 October 1994 – To assess the clinical value of serum biochemical markers, the aminoterminal peptide of type III procollagen, type IV collagen 7S domain, the central triplehelix of type IV collagen and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases, as a marker of hepatic fibrosis, we measured these four serum markers in 132 patients with chronic viral liver disease and compared these serum markers with liver histological findings.

Olivier Le Moine, Arnaud Marchhant, François Durand, Brigitte Ickx, Olrvier Pradier, Jacques Belghiti, Daniel Abramowicz, Michel Gelin, Michel Goldman, Jacques Devière – 1 October 1994 – Experimental and clinical observations indicate that the liver allograft is less immunogenic than other organ transplants and can promote immune tolerance. Because interleukin‐10 recently emerged as a macrophage and T‐cell‐derived cytokine with potent immunosuppressive properties, we studied its production in 28 patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.

Luisa Schiaffonati, Lorenza Tacchini, Carmela Pappalardo – 1 October 1994 – Heat shock response in cultured cells has been studied extensively; however few data are available on heat shock response in an intact organ of a living animal. In this study we analyzed the kinetics of expression of the heat shock protein 70 gene family (heat shock protein 70, heat shock cognate protein 73 and glucose‐regulated protein 78) in the liver of the thermally stressed rat.

Akihiko Kimura, Ryoichi Yamakawa, Kosuke Ushijima, Takuji Fujisawa, Norikazu Kuriya, Hirohisa Kato, Takahiro Inokuchi, Reijiro Mahara, Takao Kurosawa, Masahiko Tohma – 1 October 1994 – Fetal bile acids (1β‐hydroxylated, 6α‐hydroxylated and unsaturated bile acids), especially 1β,3α,7α, 12α‐tetrahydroxy‐5β‐cholan‐24‐oic acid (CA‐1β‐ol), have been detected in urine and feces early in life.

Neville R. Pimstone, Robert C. Stadalnik, David R. Vera, Dusan P. Hutak, Walter L. Trudeau – 1 October 1994 – We have developed a quantitative functional imaging study of the liver using a radiolabeled asialoglycoprotein analog, Tc‐galactosyl‐neoglycoalbumin. Heart and liver time‐activity data can be transformed by automated kinetic analysis into asialoglycoprotein hepatocyte receptor concentration. Twenty‐eight healthy controls, 46 patients with noncholestatic chronic liver injury and 11 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were studied.

Edward Weir, Qiuyan Chen, Marie C. Defrances, Aaron Bell, Rebecca Taub, Reza Zarnegar – 1 October 1994 – Liver regeneration factor belongs to the leucinezipper family of transcription factors. It was originally cloned and characterized through differential screening of a regenerating rat liver cDNA library. The mRNA for liver regeneration factor‐1 is barely detectable in normal rat liver but is dramatically induced after two‐thirds hepatectomy, with a peak 1 to 3 hr after surgery. The nature of the signaling molecule(s) for this rapid induction is not known.

Hirosumi Oide, Ronald G. Thurman – 1 October 1994 – Ito cells (fat‐storing cells) have been implicated in mechanisms of liver fibrosis, and transforming growth factor‐β1 is a key factor that stimulates collagen production by Ito cells. Moreover, Ito cells are reported to possess contractile proteins and to contract with ligands. We recently reported the presence of L‐type voltage‐operated Ca2+ channels in Kupffer cells. In this study, we examined whether Ito cells contain Ca2+ channels and also evaluated the effect of transforming growth factor‐β1 on Ca2+ channels.

Raymond S. Koff – 1 October 1994

Albert Maroto, Angels Ginès, Joan Saló, Joan Clària, Pere Ginès, Luis Anibarro, Wladimiro Jiménez, Vicente Arroyo, Juan Rodés – 1 October 1994 – Time‐velocity wave‐form analysis of Doppler signals from small intrarenal arteries allows estimation of intrarenal arteriolar vascular resistance. Among the various indexes proposed, the resistive index is the most widely used for this estimation.