1 June 1989

Ronald P. J. Oude Elferink, Jan de Haan, Karel J. Lambert, Lee R. Hagey, Alan F. Hofmann, Peter L. M. Jansen – 1 June 1989 – Canalicular transport of bilirubin diglucuronide, dibromosulfophthalein and several glutathione conjugates is deficient in mutant TR− rats. In contrast, transport of cholyltaurine (taurocholate), a conjugated bile acid, is normal. Previous studies using normal rats have shown that C23 nor‐dihydroxy bile acids are conjugated with sulfate or glucuronide during hepatic transport in contrast to the natural C24 bile acids, which are amidated with glycine or taurine.

Jacquelyn J. Maher – 1 June 1989 – To differentiate cultured rat liver myofibroblasts, fat‐storing cells, aortic smooth muscle cells and skin fibroblasts from each other, desmin and vimentin stainings were undertaken by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies. In myofibroblasts, the reaction with antibodies to vimentin was positive but that with antibodies to desmin was virtually negative. In primary cultures as well as subsequent passage of fat‐storing cells, reactions with antibodies to both desmin and vimentin were positive.

Hirohito Tsubouchi, Shuichi Hirono, Eiichi Gohda, Hiroyuki Nakayama, Kozo Takahashi, Osami Sakiyama, Hiroomi Miyazaki, Junichi Sugihara, Eiichi Tomita, Yasutoshi Muto, Yasushi Daikuhara, Shuji Hashimoto – 1 June 1989 – We have recently found the presence of human hepa‐tocyte growth factor in sera of patients with fulminant hepatic failure and have purified human hepatocyte growth factor from plasma of a patient with fulminant hepatic failure. In this paper, we report the clinical significance of human hepatocyte growth factor in blood from patients with fulminant hepatic failure.

J. Fred Dice – 1 June 1989

Isaac B. Weisfuse, Stephen C. Hadler, Howard A. Fields, Miriam J. Alter, Paul M. O'Malley, Franklyn N. Judson, David G. Ostrow, Norman L. Altman – 1 June 1989 – To assess the incidence and prevalence of delta hepatitis in homosexual men, we tested serum specimens for delta markers in participants in two previous studies: a hepatitis B vaccine trial among homosexual men conducted in the early 1980′s and the Centers for Disease Control sentinel counties hepatitis study for 1983–1984.

Harold O. Conn – 1 June 1989 – We conducted a prospective study of 321 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and esophageal varices with no history of bleeding to see whether a comprehensive analysis of their clinical features and of the endoscopic appearances of their varices could help to identify those at highest risk for bleeding. Varices were classified endoscopically as suggested by the Japanese Research Society for Portal Hypertension. Patients were followed for 1 to 38 months (median, 23), during which 85 patients (26.5 percent) bled.

Andrew K. Burroughs, Guerrino Mezzanotte, Andrew Phillips, P. Aiden McCormick, Neil McIntyre – 1 June 1989 – The importance of variable time of entry for analysis of survival following variceal bleeding has recently been disputed. In a study of 194 cirrhotic patients with bleeding esophageal varices in whom 2‐day mortality was 3%, statistically significant differences in both survival and rebleeding rates were obtained by shifting the starting point for analysis of survival by 2 weeks following admission to hospital or by 5 days for the analysis of rebleeding.

Stefano Gaiani, Luigi Bolondi, Silvia Li Bassi, Vittorio Santi, Gianni Zironi, Luigi Barbara – 1 June 1989 – The effect of a standard Italian meal on portal hemodynamics was evaluated in 12 normal subjects, in 11 patients with chronic active hepatitis and in 11 patients with liver cirrhosis using duplex Doppler ultrasound, which allows a noninvasive assessment of portal blood flow.

Leslie Zieve – 1 June 1989