Nelson Fausto – 1 December 1993 – In previous studies hepatocytes undergoing cell death by apoptosis but not normal hepatocytes in rat liver showed immunostaining for transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1). Staining was much stronger with antibodies recognizing the pro‐region of TGF‐β1 than the mature peptide itself. Therefore we investigated the ability of both forms of TGF‐β1 to induce apoptosis in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Mature TGF‐β1 induced rounding up of the cells and fragmentation into multiple vesicles.

Robert K. Ockner – 1 December 1993

Frederick J. Suchy – 1 November 1993

1 November 1993

Kwang Hyub Han, F. Blaine Hollinger, Christine A. Noonan, Harvey Solomon, Goran B. G. Klintmalm, Robert M. Genta, Boris Yoffe – 1 November 1993 – To gain new insights into the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus–induced chronic liver disease, we have used nonisotopic in situ detection methods for the simultaneous analysis of hepatitis B virus DNA and antigens at the single‐cell level.

Kazunori Aoki, Kenichi Takayasu, Toshinobu Kawano, Yukio Muramatsu, Noriyuki Moriyama, Fumihiko Wakao, Junji Yamamoto, Kazuaki Shimada, Tadatoshi Takayama, Tomoo Kosuge, Susumu Yamasaki, Michiie Sakamoto, Setsuo Hirohashi – 1 November 1993 – Clinicoradiological features were studied in 20 patients with 22 mass lesions of combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinomas and findings of computed tomography in 12 of these patients with 14 hepatocellular carcinoma–cholangiocarcinomas. Five of these patients also had single overt hepatocellular carcinomas.

Roberto de Franchis, Paolo G. Arcidiacono, Luca Carpinelli, Bruno Andreoni, Lorenzo Cestari, Sergio Brunati, Alessandro Zambelli, Giorgio Battaglia, Pier M. Mannucci – 1 November 1993 – 1‐Deamino‐8‐D‐arginine vasopressin (DDAVP, desmopressin), a synthetic analog of the antidiuretic hormone L‐arginine vasopressin, improves hemostasis parameters in cirrhotic patients. Hence its use in combination with a vasoactive drug such as terlipressin might improve the performance of this drug in controlling variceal bleeding.

Arthur M. Magun – 1 November 1993

1 November 1993

Herbert Tilg, Wolfgang Vogel, Christian J. Wiedermann, Leland Shapiro, Manfred Herold, Gert Judmaier, Charles A. Dinarello – 1 November 1993 – The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin‐1 and tumor necrosis factor‐α are thought to play important roles in the pathophysiology of liver disease. Specific antagonists of these cytokines have been found in recent years. Interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist is a specific interleukin‐1 antagonist.