James J. Crawford – 1 February 1993 – The vectorial nature of hepatocyte receptor‐mediated endocytosis (RME) and its susceptibility to cytoskeletal disruptors has suggested that a polarized network of microtubules plays a vital role in directed movement during sorting. Using as markers a wellknown ligand, asialoorosomucoid, and its receptor, we have isolated endocytic vesicles that bind directly to and interact with stabilized endogenous hepatocyte microtubules at specific times during a synchronous, experimentally initiated, single wave of RME.

Fuchu He, Chutse Wu, Qiang Tu, Guichun Xing – 1 February 1993 – Cloning of human hepatic stimulator substance requires clarification of whether the substance is the product of gene expression of liver cells. In this article the translation experiment in Xenopus laevis oocytes indicates that poly (A)+ messenger RNA of human fetal liver cells could conduct the biosynthesis of human hepatic stimulator substance.

Joseph M. Romeo, Paul P. Ulrich, Michael P. Busch, Girish N. Vyas – 1 February 1993 – A novel reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay has been developed that uses drop‐in–drop‐out primers for the heminested amplification of hepatitis C virus complementary DNA. This assay has been used for analysis of the prevalence of hepatitis C virus RNA in a set of 53 plasma specimens from blood donations that were repeatedly reactive for hepatitis C virus antibodies with the first‐generation enzyme immunoassay.

Raymond S. Koff – 1 February 1993

Kenneth S. Lown – 1 February 1993 – Mutations at amino acid positions 67, 70, 215, and 219 in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) pol gene correlate with the emergence of resistance to zidovudine (AZT). These four positions were monitored in viral RNA extracted from infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and viral stocks obtained after coculture with uninfected lymphocytes. Genotype determinations were made using the selfsustained sequence replication (3SR) and differential bead‐based sandwich hybridization (BBSH) assay.

Jorge J. Gumucio, Dale Bachwich, Jules Dienstag – 1 February 1993 – Objective. – To test the hypothesis that the rare, often fatal, syndrome of hepatitis‐associated aplasia is associated with hepatitis C virus infection.

Ethel L. Macintosh, Tony Gauthier, Norman M. Pettigrew, Gerald Y. Minuk – 1 February 1993 – Liver regeneration is an essential component of the recovery period after partial hepatectomy. Unfortunately, tests that accurately predict regenerative activity in the postoperative period have yet to be described. This study was designed to determine whether the extent of hepatic fibrosis correlates with liver regeneration activity after partial hepatectomy in rats with carbon tetrachloride–induced liver disease.

Jany Vassy, Jean Paul Rigaut, Dominique Briane, Michel Kraemer – 1 February 1993 – Immunolocalization of desmin in fetal rat livers shows that on day 12 of gestation a high number of liver cells express desmin. This number decreases from day 14 onward. On day 20 about the same density of desmin‐containing cells is found in fetal rat livers as is found in adult rat livers.

Etienne Marc Sokal, Elizabeth Collette, Jean Paul Buts – 1 February 1993 – To determine the zonal distribution of alcohol dehydrogenase in normal and cirrhotic human livers, we measured activities of this enzyme by quantitative cytochemical analysis along the liver cell plate in liver specimens from 10 normal organ donors and from 7 children with extrahepatic biliary atresia cirrhosis.

Liliana Chemello, Daniela Cavalletto, Patrizia Pontisso, Flavia Bortolotti, Carlo Donada, Valter Donadon, Mario Frezza, Pietro Casarin, Alfredo Alberti – 1 February 1993 – Patients with hepatitis C virus infection may have circulating antibodies to various structural and nonstructural antigens of the virus.