Caroline R. Taylor – 1 July 1989 – The accuracy of ultrasound assessment of portal vein patency has been defined by comparing it with the results of arterial portography in 115 cases. The accuracy of arterial portography was confirmed in 21 cases where orthotopic liver transplantation was performed and used as a “benchmark” against which to assess the ultrasound findings. Ultrasound correctly assessed portal vein patency in 87.5% of patients. It was more accurate in assessing patency (90%) than occlusion (68%).

Hervé Emonard, Jean‐Alexis Grimaud – 1 July 1989 – In schistosomiasis mansoni, eggs trapped in portal venules of the liver induce a granulomatous inflammatory reaction and subsequently fibrosis. Upon specific schistosomicidal treatment, however, fibrosis undergoes a marked reversal. The features of this process as regards collagen metabolism were examined in mice using praziquantel as the schistosomicidal drug, which was given 68 days after infection.

Stefano Milani, Hermann Herbst, Detlef Schuppan, Eckhart G. Hahn, Harald Stein – 1 July 1989 – The expression of α2(I), α1(III) and α1(IV) procollagen mRNA was analyzed in normal and CCl4‐induced fibrotic rat liver by in situ hybridization using RNA probes. In normal liver, moderate amounts of α2(I) and α1(III) procollagen transcripts were found in sinusoidal cells, in stromal cells of the portal tracts and in the vicinity of central veins, whereas a1(IV) procollagen gene expression was below the threshold of detection.

Vladimir R. Babaev, Vladimir A. Kosykh, Vladimir P. Tsibulsky, Vadim O. Ivanov, Vadim S. Repin, Vladimir N. Smirnov – 1 July 1989 – The binding and uptake of native low‐density lipoproteins and malondialdehyde‐treated low density lipoproteins by human hepatocytes in primary culture has been analyzed. Experiments with 125I‐labeled malondialdehyde‐treated low‐density lipoproteins showed that cultured liver cells took up and degraded malondialdehyde‐treated low‐density lipoproteins, but the cell type(s) responsible for this action remain unclear.

Kenneth K. Wang, Albert J. Czaja, Sandra J. Beaver, Vay L. W. Go – 1 July 1989 – To determine the frequency, predisposing factors and consequences of extrahepatic malignancy following long‐term immunosuppressive therapy of severe HBsAg‐negative chronic active hepatitis, 149 patients who had received prednisone (20 mg daily) or prednisone (10 mg daily) in combination with azathioprine (50 mg daily) for at least 6 months were evaluated systematically for 109 ± 5 months (range: 7 to 223 months).

Ellen Kahn, James Markowitz, Harvey Aiges, Fredric Daum – 1 July 1989 – Paucity of interlobular bile ducts is a common feature of cholestatic liver disease in premature infants. Whereas a bile duct to portal space ratio of 0.9 to 1.8 is cited by Alagille as the norm for children, there are no data regarding the normal bile duct to portal space ratio in preterm infants. In this study, by examining liver tissue obtained from autopsied fetuses and infants, we have determined that the bile duct to portal space ratio increases as a function of postconceptional age.

James G. Corasanti, Neil D. Smith, Ellen R. Gordon, James L. Boyer – 1 July 1989 – The role of hormones in the regulation of bile secretion is not known; however vasoactive agents, which act via the phosphoinositide signal transduction pathway, may mediate changes in bile flow by altering the hepatic microvasculature.

Erik Christensen – 1 July 1989

Takashi Kanematsu, Toshiya Furuta, Kenji Takenaka, Takashi Matsumata, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Takashi Nishizaki, Kanehiro Hasuo, Keizo Sugimachi – 1 July 1989 – Between 1982 and 1987, selective regional cancer chemotherapy using Lipiodol plus an anticancer drug (lipiodolization) was prescribed for 200 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. One hundred forty‐nine patients were given lipiodolization alone, and the remaining 51 underwent hepatic resection following lipiodolization.

Hans‐Georg Leser, Axel Holstege, Wolfgang Gerok – 1 July 1989 – Adenosine‐degrading enzymes within the liver lobule can modulate both vascular and metabolic effects of circulating adenosine in the liver. Since it has not been fully established whether nonparenchymal cells participate in the elimination of sinusoidal purines, isolated Kupffer cells and endothelial cells were tested for their capacity to degrade extracellular purines. After perfusion and digestion of rat livers by collagenase, the resulting mixed cell population was separated by centrifugal elutriation.