Reversal of the behavioral and electrophysiological abnormalities of an animal model of hepatic encephalopathy by benzodiazepine receptor ligands

Sergio H. Gammal, Anthony S. Basile, David Geller, Phil Skolnick, E. Anthony Jones – 1 March 1990 – Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence implicating the GABA‐benzodiazepine receptor complex in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy was obtained using an improved rat model of hepatic encephalopathy caused by thioacetamide‐induced fulminant hepatic failure. After the administration of thioacetamide together with supportive therapy, acute hepatocellular failure developed in rats as a result of massive hepatocellular necrosis without evidence of renal failure or hypoglycemia.

Hyperprolinemia and lactatemia in alcoholic liver disease: Relationships to abstinence and histological findings

Marcos Rojking – 1 March 1990 – It has not yet been established whether serum proline and blood lactate levels are increased in alcoholic liver disease. We measured serum proline and blood lactate in controls and in patients with different stages of alcoholic liver disease in the absence of hepatic failure. Samplings were done in both abstinent and drinking alcoholics. Compared to controls, there was a striking increase in serum proline levels in 52 abstinent alcoholics with little or no hepatic fibrosis by histological assessment (0.10 ± 0.01 vs. 0.155 ± 0.008; p < 0.005).

The pathology of liver allograft surving longer than one year

Raouf E. Nakhleh, Sarah J. Schwarzenberg, Joseph Bloomer, William Payne, Dale C. Snover – 1 March 1990 – Although prolonged survival after liver transplantation is now common, the condition of allografts after prolonged survival has not been widely discussed. We reviewed 86 biopsy samples from 38 patients. The samples were obtained between 366 and 1,622 days after transplant. Thirteen patients' biopsy samples were normal or showed minor changes. Six patients' samples showed rejection. Four patients, including two with rejection, demonstrated ischemic change.

Epidemiology of primary biliary cirrhosis in a defined rural population in the northern part of Sweden

Äke Danielsson, Lennart Boqvist, Per Uddenfeldt – 1 March 1990 – The northern part of Sweden is sparsely populated and must be regarded as a rural region. An investigation into the incidence and prevalence of primary biliary cirhosis was conducted and the course of the disease was followed. In total, 111 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were identified for the 10‐yr period 1973 to 1982 in the northern health region of Sweden. The mean annual incidence amounted to 13.3 per million and the point prevalence was 151 per million, which is the highest reported so far.

Early involvement of hepatic parenchymal cells in erythrohepatic protoporphyria? An ultrastructural study of patients with and without overt liver disease and the effect of chenodeoxycholic acid treatement

Louk H. P. M. Raedemakers, Maud I. Cleton, Carole Kooliman, Harold Baart de La Fajlle, Jan van Hattum – 1 March 1990 – Liver biopsy specimens obtained from two groups of erythrohepatic protoporphyria patients were studied histopathologically and ultrastructurally. Group 1 comprised seven erythrohepatic protoporphyria patients with a normal liver histology; from two patients liver biopsy specimens were available before and after 1 yr of chenodeoxycholic acid treatment.

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