Faust Feu, Josep María Bordas, Angelo Luca, Joan Carles García‐Pagán, Angels Escorsell, Jaume Bosch, Joan Rodes – 1 November 1993 – This study investigated the correlation between changes in hepatic hemodynamics and esophageal variceal pressure–measured with a noninvasive, pressure‐sensitive endoscopic gauge–in 37 portal‐hypertensive cirrhotic patients receiving propranolol (0.15 mg/kg, intravenously; n = 21) or placebo (n = 16) under strict double‐blind conditions. Placebo administration had no effect on hepatic venous pressure gradient, azygos blood flow or variceal pressure.

Alan H. Lockwood, Brian W. Murphy, Kerry Z. Donnelly, Thomas C. Mahl, Sean Perini – 1 November 1993 – Many patients with compensated cirrhosis without overt hepatic encephalopathy have deficits in visualspatial perception, a condition we call minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Five patients with alcohol‐induced cirrhosis and nine control subjects underwent positron‐emission tomographic imaging of the brain with 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose. Patients also underwent neuropsychological and clinical chemistry tests.

Hiroto Kita, Takashi Moriyama, Takashi Kaneko, Ichiro Harase, Masayuki Nomura, Hideaki Miura, Ikuo Nakamura, Yoshio Yazaki, Michio Imawari – 1 November 1993 – Cytotoxic T lymphocytes have been reported to be involved in the immune clearance of virus‐infected cells and in the pathogenesis of viral infection. We studied the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to the putative nucleocapsid protein of hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Raymond S. Koff – 1 November 1993

Marie Lindholm, Anders Eklund – 1 November 1993 – In this investigation we studied the influence of two gastrin fragments, pentagastrin and nonsulfated heptadecagastrin, and two cholecystokinin fragments, sulfated and desulfated cholecystokinin 26–33, on intracellular and secreted triacylglycerol in isolated hepatocyte cultures. Both gastrin fragments inhibited triacylglycerol release in a biphasic manner, exhibiting maximal effect at 0.1 nmol/L (nonsulfated heptadecagastrin) and 0.3 nmol/L (pentagastrin).

Chiharu Tohyama, Junko Sayato Suzuki, Jack Hemelraad, Noriko Nishimura, Hisao Nishimura – 1 November 1993 – Metallothioneins, a group of cysteine‐rich heavymetal binding proteins, are induced in the regenerating rat liver in response to the stimuli evoked by partial hepatectomy. We have investigated the expression of metallothionein genes and proto‐oncogenes (c‐fos, c‐jun and c‐myc), as well as specific localization of metallothionein in the liver cells after partial hepatectomy. Metallothionein mRNA was detected as early as 3 hr and reached a maximal level by 6 hr.

Ynthia C. Daugherty, Kenneth D. R. Setchell, James E. Heubi, William F. Ballstreri – 1 November 1993 – Identical male twins and their brother, cholestatic from birth, with Δ4‐3‐oxosteroid 5δ‐reductase deficiency, were studied by serial liver biopsy. Spectrometry documented defective primary bile acid synthesis and markedly increased levels of atypical oxo and allo bile acids in urine and serum. Hepatocellular cholestásis and giant‐cell transformation resolved in parallel with clinical and biochemical recovery during oral bile acid administration.

Arturo D. Jorge, Arturo O. Stati, Laura Vargas Roig, Guillermo Ponce, Oliver A. Jorge, Daniel R. Ciocca – 1 November 1993 – Primary biliary cirrhosis has a definite female preponderance. Increased estrogen levels have been found in patients with this disease; however no studies indicate the status of sex hormone steroid receptors in primary biliary cirrhosis patients.

Hau Tim Chung, Joseph Sai Kit Lee, Anna Suk Fong Lok – 1 November 1993 – Screening of blood donors by testing for antibody to HBcAg and antibody to hepatitis C virus is commonly done. However, the applicability of these screening tests may vary depending on the prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection in various populations.

Christine Egenhofer, Kathrin Alsdorff, Karin Fehsel, Victoria Kolb‐Bachofen – 1 November 1993 – We could recently show that rat liver macrophages (Kupffer cells) express a membrane‐bound form of C‐reactive protein on their surface. Because it is removed by washing the cells in buffers containing Ca++‐chelators, membrane‐bound C‐reactive protein is a peripheral protein rather than an integral part of the Kupffer cell membrane. This Kupffer cell membrane‐bound C‐reactive protein is identical to the galactose‐specific particle receptor previously characterized.