Zhuhui Cai, Zhiqing Shi, Morris Sherman, Anthony M. Sun – 1 November 1989 – To determine the in vitro function of microencapsulated hepatocytes, viable hepatocytes were isolated from rats and encapsulated within biocompatible alginatepolylysine membranes for in vitro studies. Urea formation, prothrombin and cholinesterase activity, the incorporation of tritiated leucine into intracellular proteins and the immunolocation of synthesized albumin were monitored in culture.

Francisco Guarner, John L. Wallace, Wallace K. Macnaughton, Geoffrey C. Ibbotson, Vicente Arroyo, Joan Rodés – 1 November 1989 – Systemic endotoxemia has been observed in patients with acute and chronic liver failure, and bacterial endotoxin is known to increase vascular permeability. We investigated in the normal rat the effects of intraportal endotoxin administration and the possible mediation of these effects by platelet‐activating factor.

Mark J. Czaja, Francis R. Weiner, Shizuko Takahashi, Marie‐Adele Giambrone, Peter H. Der Van Meide, Huub Schellekens, Luis Biempica, Mark A. Zern – 1 November 1989 – Since interferons have been shown to affect the synthesis of matrix proteins such as collagen in several in vitro systems, the potential role of γ‐interferon in inhibiting hepatic fibrosis was investigated. Hepatic cells, consisting primarily of hepatocytes, were treated with recombinant γ‐interferon for 24 hr.

Michael A. Gerber – 1 November 1989

Kentaro Yoshioka, Shinichi Kakumu, Motohiro Arao, Yasuhiko Tsutsumi, Masaki Inoue – 1 November 1989 – We investigated the production of tumor necrosis factor α by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic liver disease and its association with hepatitis activity. Tumor necrosis factor α production was measured with an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Tateo Kawase, Shinzo Kato, Charles S. Lieber – 1 November 1989 – The effects of chronic ethanol feeding on hepatic lipid peroxidation, ascorbic acid, glutathione and vitamin E levels were investigated in rats fed low or adequate amounts of dietary vitamin E. Hepatic lipid peroxidation was significantly increased after chronic ethanol feeding in rats receiving a low‐vitamin E diet, indicating that dietary vitamin E is an important determinant of hepatic lipid peroxidation induced by chronic ethanol feeding.

Alexander L. Gerbes – 1 November 1989 – The effects of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on splanchnic hemodynamics and renal function in portal hypertensive models are described incompletely. Furthermore, ANF‐induced vasodilatation and hypotension may limit the assessment of its own renal physiological effects. We infused ANF (human ANF 102‐126) to anesthetized portal vein‐ligated rats, a model with prehepatic portal hypertension. Arterial pressure was reduced by 17%, but portal pressure was unaffected.

Nina R. Dhurandhar – 1 November 1989

Fang Xian‐Jun, Armand Keating, Jean de Villiers, Morris Sherman – 1 November 1989 – In preparation for studies using gene transfer, we have identified transcriptional control elements which are active in primary rat hepatocytes. We used plasmids which were constructed so that the promoter or enhancer of interest initiated transcription of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene.

Jean C. Emond, Peter F. Whitington, J. Richard Thistlethwaite, Estella M. Alonso, Christoph E. Broelsch – 1 November 1989 – Reducing the size of a liver for use in a recipient smaller than the donor is one way to reduce mortality before orthotopic liver transplantation in children because of the scarcity of pediatric organ donors. In this report, we review the results of this approach over the past 2 years, during which we have used reduced‐size orthotopic liver transplantation routinely in small children.