Andreas Dällenbach, Ulrich Marti, Eberhard L. Renner – 1 May 1994 – In hepatocytes in vitro, Na+/H+ exchange, an important regulator of intracellular pH, is activated by epidermal growth factor, but its activity during liver regeneration in vivo is unknown. We therefore compared activity and regulation of Na+/H+ exchange in hepatocytes isolated after two‐thirds partial hepatectomy or sham surgery, respectively, by measuring intracellular pH (fluorimetry) and steady state Na+/H+ exchange mRNA levels (Northern blotting).

Howard S. Kaufman, Thomas H. Magnuson, Henry A. Pitt, Peter Frasca, Keith D. Lillemoe – 1 May 1994 – Calcium bilirubinate, palmitate, carbonate and phosphate have been identified in the cores of cholesterol and pigment gallstones, suggesting a role for precipitated calcium salts in the early events of gallstone formation. Previous studies that compared the calcium salt contents of cholesterol and pigment stones required destruction of gallstone structure.

Hiroki Sakaguchi, Shuichi Seki, Hirohito Tsubouchi, Yasushi Daikuhara, Yoshiyuki Niitani, Kenzo Kobayashi – 1 May 1994 – Human hepatocyte growth factor has been purified from the plasma of patients with fulminant liver failure, but where this factor is produced in organs or cells of subjects with liver diseases is unknown. Therefore, we used a monoclonal antibody to human hepatocyte growth factor to stain cells in three normal and 29 diseased liver tissues by immunohistochemical techniques.

Raymond S. Koff – 1 May 1994

Masaru Murata, Morito Monden, Koji Umeshita, Hiroshi Nakano, Toshio Kanai, Mitsukazu Gotoh, Takesada Mori – 1 May 1994 – The mechanisms of hepatocyte injury caused by exogenous superoxide were investigated with the use of cultured rat hepatocytes. Cell viability, cytosolic free calcium concentration and cell surface structure were observed. Superoxide was produced by adding hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase to the buffer. Cytosolic free calcium concentration was calculated by means of ratio imaging of fura 2 fluorescence with multiparameter digitized microscopy.

1 May 1994

Juan Carlos García‐Pagán, Juan Manuel Salmerón, Faust Feu, Angelo Luca, Pere Ginés, Pilar Pizcueta, Juan Claria, Carlos Piera, Vicente Arroyo, Jaume Bosch, Juan Rodés – 1 May 1994 – The aim of this study was to investigate the hemodynamic effects of spironolactone associated with a low‐sodium diet (n=14) or a low‐sodium diet alone (n=9) in patients with compensated cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Spironolactone significantly reduced the plasma volume.

Franz Rinninger, May Brundert, Stefan Jäckle, Peter R. Galle, Christoph Busch, Jakob R. Izbicki, Xavier Rogiers, Doris Henne‐Bruns, Bernd Kremer, Christoph E. Broelsch, Heiner Greten – 1 May 1994 – High‐density lipoprotein cholesteryl esters are taken up by many cells without simultaneous uptake of high‐density lipoprotein apolipoproteins. This selective uptake was investigated in human hepatocytes in primary culture.

Norbert Köbsel, Giuliano Ramadori – 1 May 1994 – Plasma lysozyme levels are elevated in several different pathological conditions. In our study we show that well differentiated human hepatoma cells Hep3B and HepG2 are active synthesis sites of lysozyme and that this synthesis can be modulated by acute phase mediators. The production and modulation of lysozyme synthesis was studied by means of Northern‐blot analysis, sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a specific bioassay after treatment of the cells with interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α.

Karlheinz Beckh, Susanne Kneip, Rudolf Arnold – 1 May 1994 – Prostaglandins have been postulated to act as mediators of intercellular communication between liver cell populations in the regulation of liver carbohydrate metabolism. Their role in the regulation of bile secretion is rather unclear. The action of prostaglandins on bile flow and bile acid secretion was studied in the in situ perfused rat liver. Infusion of prostaglandin F2α resulted in reduction of bile flow and bile acid secretion. In addition, portal flow was diminished and glucose output was increased.