Hideki Hagiwara, Norio Hayashi, Eiji Mita, Masafumi Naito, Akinori Kasahara, Hideyuki Fusamoto, Takenobu Kamada – 1 April 1993 – We describe a method for quantifying hepatitis C virus RNA in serum. This competitive assay combines reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction and is based on coamplification of the target RNA with known amounts of synthetic mutated RNA.
Jean‐François Mosnier, Claude Degott, Patrick Marcellin, Dominique Hénin, Serge Erlincer, Jean‐Pierre Benhamou – 1 March 1993 – Intraportal lymphoid nodules have been observed in liver biopsy specimens from patients with autoimmune liver disease and chronic active hepatitis C. They are characterized by a nodular lymphocyte aggregate with a germinal center. The purpose of this in situ immunophenotyping study was to determine immunohistochemically the phenotype of immunocompetent cells in and around intraportal lymphoid nodules in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Theresa C. Peterson – 1 March 1993 – Liver fibrosis is a complex process characterized by two major events: fibroproliferation and increased collagen synthesis. The exact role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis remains to be established, but platelet‐derived growth factor clearly stimulates proliferation of fibroblasts and increases collagen synthesis. In in vitro studies, pentoxifylline, a methylxanthine, significantly reduced platelet‐derived growth factor–driven proliferation of fibroblasts.
Junichi Shoda, Anders Toll, Magnus Axelson, Fritz Pieper, Kjell Wikvall, Jan Sjövall – 1 March 1993 – In a search for enzymes involved in the formation of bile acids from 27‐hydroxycholesterol in humans, the metabolism of this and other side‐chain oxygenated steroids was studied in human liver microsomes and mitochondria. The microsomal fraction contained enzyme(s) catalyzing 7α‐hydroxylation of 27‐hydroxycholesterol and 3β‐hydroxy‐5‐cholestenoic acid, whereas the 7α‐hydroxylation of cholesterol and 3β‐hydroxy‐5‐cholenoic acid was low.
Luisa García‐Buey, Miguel López‐Botet, Asunción García‐Sánchez, María A. Balboa, José Aramburu, Carmelo García‐Monzón, Agustín Acevedo, Ricardo Moreno‐Otero – 1 March 1993 – Cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes recognize viral antigens in the context of human leukocyte antigen class I molecule coexpression by target cells. Analysis of β2‐microglobulin reactivity is useful in evaluating changes in human leukocyte antigen class I antigen distribution.
M. R. Antillon, Bruce A. Runyon – 1 March 1993
Maria H. Sjogren – 1 March 1993 – Background: Although inactivated hepatitis A vaccine is known to be well tolerated and immunogenic in healthy children and adults, its efficacy has yet to be established.
Hans‐Peter Buscher, Inge Meder, Sabine Macnelly, Wolfgang Gerok – 1 March 1993 – The liver has a great reserve capacity for hepatobiliary bile salt transport. This study was performed to elucidate the significance of this capacity in ethinyl estradiol–induced cholestasis by direct visualization of the zonal involvement in taurocholate transport. The acinar distribution of [3H]taurocholate was determined by histoautoradiographical study of cryopreserved liver slices in normal rats and rats treated with ethinyl estradiol for 5 days.
Stefan Jäckle, Franz Rinninger, Thomas Lorenzen, Heiner Greten, Eberhard Windler – 1 March 1993 – The trafficking of apolipoprotein E–deficient highdensity lipoprotein particles and of their component cholesteryl esters in rat hepatocytes was studied. Human high‐density lipoprotein 3, labeled with two nondegradable, intracellularly trapped tracers in their apolipoprotein A–I and their cholesteryl esters, were injected into rats, and five subcellular hepatocytic fractions were isolated at various time intervals.
Martin J. Smit, Folkert Kuipers, Roel J. Vonk, Arno M. Temmerman, Stefan Jäckle, Eberhard E. T. Windler – 1 March 1993 – We have studied the coupling between hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnant cholesteryl ester and biliary excretion of cholesterol and bile acids in rats, after feeding them a cholesterol‐free (control) or a high‐cholesterol diet (1% wt/wt) for 2 wk. We equipped rats with permanent catheters in the bile duct, duodenum and heart to allow experiments in unanesthetized, unrestrained animals.