Gilles A. Morali, Sheldon W. Tobe, Karl L. Skorecki, Laurence M. Blendis – 1 July 1992 – We have previously shown that unresponsiveness to atrial natriuretic factor is a marker of the severity of ascites. The tubular mechanisms are unknown, but it seems that increased reabsorption of sodium proximal to the main site of action of atrial natriuretic factor (i.e., the inner medullary collecting duct) plays an important role. We attempted to decrease the proximal reabsorption of sodium with mannitol in patients unresponsive to atrial natriuretic factor.

Shigeru Yotsumoto, Mineo Kojima, Isao Shoji, Kayoko Yamamoto, Hiroaki Okamoto, Shunji Mishiro – 1 July 1992 – A precore defective variant of hepatitis B virus has been indicated to cause fulminant hepatitis in various instances such as intrahospital outbreaks or motherto‐child transmission of hepatitis B virus.

Daniel S. Camara – 1 July 1992

Giorgio La Villa, Roberto Giulio Romanelli, Vincenzo Casini Raggi, Cristina Tosti‐Guerra, Maria Laura De Feo, Fabio Marra, Giacomo Laffi, Paolo Geñtilini – 1 July 1992 – Plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide, a recently identified cardiac hormone with natriuretic activity, were measured in 11 healthy subjects, 13 cirrhotic patients without ascites, 18 nonazotemic cirrhotic patients with ascites and 6 patients with cirrhosis, ascites and functional kidney failure.

Wei Liao, Claes‐Henrik Florén – 1 July 1992 – The effects of endotoxins on the uptake and degradation of low‐density lipoproteins in Hep G2, a welldifferentiated human hepatoma cell line, were studied. The results showed that incubation of Hep G2 cells with125I‐labeled low‐density lipoprotein in the presence of endotoxins caused decreased uptake and degradation of125I‐labeled low‐density lipoprotein. The inhibitory effects of endotoxins on the uptake and degradation of125I‐labeled low‐density lipoprotein were dose and time dependent.

Leena Ala‐Kokko, Volkmar Günzler, Jan B. Hoek, Emanuel Rubin, Darwin J. Prockop – 1 July 1992 – Liver fibrosis was induced in rats both with carbon tetrachloride and dimethylnitrosamine. Assays were performed on steady‐state levels of messenger RNAs in the liver for several collagens and basement membrane components. The results indicated marked increases in the steady‐state levels of messenger RNA for type I collagen, type III collagen, type IV collagen and the B2 component of laminin.

Jae‐Hag Lee, Teresa G. Paglieroni, Paul V. Holland, Jerome B. Zeldis – 1 July 1992 – Viral sequence and host immune response were investigated in an unusual, asymptomatic chronic hepatitis B virus carrier (human leukocyte antigen type A24, Bw61, Bw62, Bw6, DRw11, DRw52, DQw7) who was consistently nonreactive for antibody to HBc and had a normal ALT level over a 5‐yr study period. The precore and core region DNA sequences of virus isolated from his serum had seven silent mutations that resulted in no changes in the amino acid sequence of the adr HBsAg subtype.

Carl A. Goresky, K. Sandy Pang, Andreas J. Schwab, Ford Barker Iii, Wendy F. Cherry, Glen G. Bach – 1 July 1992 – The hepatocytic entry of acetaminophen sulfate conjugate was examined in the rat liver, perfused with red cells with and without albumin, by use of the multiple‐indicator dilution technique.

Oscar L. Lopez, Conrado Estol, Immaculada Colina, Jorge Quiroga, Oscar C. Imvertarza, David H. Van Thiel – 1 July 1992 – Postoperative neurological complications in 185 patients who underwent two or more orthotopic liver transplantations were reviewed. The most common neurological complications were alteration of mental status (84%), seizures (33%) and focal motor deficits (15%). The frequency of neurological complications after a second orthotopic liver transplantation was significantly greater than that after a single orthotopic liver transplantation.

Jean‐Michel Pawlotsky, Chantal Andre, Jean‐Michel Metreau, Michel Beaugrand, Elie‐Serge Zafrani, Daniel Dhumeaux – 1 July 1992 – Multiple nuclear dots antinuclear antibodies display a specific immunofluorescence pattern on HEp‐2 cells. They have been reported to be strongly associated with primary biliary cirrhosis, especially when sicca syndrome was present.