Susumu Takano, Masao Omata, Masao Oht, Yoichi Satomura – 1 August 1993 – Since December 1989, the Japan Red Cross Blood Bureau has screened blood donors for hepatitis C virus antibody on the basis of enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and high titers of antibody to HBc antigen. To elucidate the effectiveness of the new screening tests in preventing posttransfusion hepatitis, the incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis after the introduction of the new tests (December 1989 to December 1990) was compared with the incidence before their introduction (January 1982 to December 1988).

James E. Parker – 1 August 1993

Hirohisa Yano, Akihiro Iemura, Kazunori Fukuda, Atsushi Mizoguchi, Makoto Haramaki, Masamichi Kojiro – 1 August 1993 – Hepatocellular carcinomas often contain tumor cells of more than one histological grade. The clonal relationship and biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in histologically heterogeneous areas have not been fully explored. We established two distinct human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HAK‐1A and 1B) from a single nodule showing a three‐layered structure with a different histological grade in each layer.

Tomoaki Tomiya, Kenji Fujiwara – 1 August 1993 – A sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for measuring serum transforming growth factor‐α levels was developed with monoclonal IgM and polyclonal IgG antihuman transforming growth factor‐α antibodies and a system to amplify the activity of the conjugated enzyme. The assay detected serum transforming growth factor‐α levels as low as 5 pg/ml. Serum transforming growth factor‐α levels were below the detection limit of the assay in 19% of healthy adults, with a mean (± S.D.) detectable level of 22.0 ± 16.7 pg/ml.

Jorge J. Gumucio, James L. Watkins, Thelma E. Wiley, Thomas J. Layden – 1 August 1993 – Many cases of gallstones can be explained in terms of the established risk factors, especially obesity. However, gallstones develop in some women who are not obese, and the causes are unknown. Biochemical studies have shown that slow intestinal transit is associated with lithogenic bile. We have tested the hypothesis that intestinal transit is abnormally slow in normal‐weight women with gallstones.

Mercedes Fernández, Pilar Pizcueta, Juan Carlos García‐Pagán, Faust Feu, Isabel Cirera, Jaime Bosch, Joan Rodés – 1 August 1993 – This study investigated the short‐term effects of ritanserin, a selective and specific S2‐serotonergic antagonist, in an experimental model of cirrhosis and intrahepatic portal hypertension caused by long‐term bile duct ligation and division and in normal control rats.

Iwao Kurose, Shinzo Kato, Hiromasa Ishii, Dai Fukumura, Soichiro Miura, Makoto Suematsu, Masaharu Tsuchiy – 1 August 1993 – The influence of endogenous nitric oxide, which is generated by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, on the mitochondrial energization of rat hepatocytes was investigated in vitro and ex vivo.

Fernando Vidal‐Vanaclocha, Marian Rocha, Aintzane Asumendi, Emilio Barberá‐Guillem – 1 August 1993 – Similar to the well‐recognized phenotypical heterogeneity of hepatocytes, in situ sublobular variations have recently been detected in the cell structure, fenestration patterns, filtrating efficiency, surface glycosylation, scavenger function and pathological responses of the sinusoidal lining endothelium.

Su Kong Lo, Roger W. Chapman, Kenneth A. Fleming, Peter A. Berg, Reinhild Klein – 1 August 1993

1 August 1993