I‐Shyan Sheen, Yun‐Fan Liaw – 1 April 1989 – To investigate the prevalence and incidence of cholecystolithiasis in hepatitis B surface antigen‐positive chronic liver diseases, a prospective study using hepatobiliary ultrasonography was conducted in 933 “healthy” persons and four groups of HBsAg‐positive patients: 226 asymptomatic carriers, 73 patients with chronic active hepatitis, 77 patients with early liver cirrhosis and 124 patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or alcoholism were excluded.

Ronald J. Sokol – 1 April 1989

Josef E. Fischer – 1 April 1989

Charles M. A. Bijleveld, Roel J. Vonk, Folkert Kuipers, Rick Havinga, John Fernandes – 1 April 1989 – Two brothers with benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis were studied over a period of 6 years. During this period, 11 episodes of cholestasis were observed, with a mean duration of 2.6 months (range: 2 weeks to 6 months). Once, both brothers developed cholestasis simultaneously. There was a prevalence for episodes of cholestasis in wintertime.

Ann M. Kools, James G. Straka, Hazel D. Hill, Dorothy I. Whitmer, Ralph T. Holman, Joseph R. Bloomer – 1 April 1989 – Ferrochelatase is an enzyme bound to the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is important in heme biosynthesis. Activity of purified ferrochelatase is affected by the presence of certain fatty acids. In the present study, we examined whether the activity of ferrochelatase is altered by dietary manipulation of the composition of mitochondrial membrane phospholipid fatty acylgroups.

Peter A. Vincent, Eshin Cho, Thomas M. Saba – 1 April 1989 – Repetitive low‐dose endotoxin, at a dose which will result in endotoxin tolerance, produces a marked but transient 2‐ to 3‐day increase in plasma fibronectin. This elevation of fibronectin appears to contribute to increased hepatic Kupffer cell phagocytic function observed with repetitive low‐dose endotoxin administration. Although numerous cell types synthesize fibronectin, hepatocytes are believed to be the major cell source of fibronectin in the plasma.

Wilhelm W. Just, Karin Gorgas, Franz‐Ulrich Hartl, Petra Heinemann, Manfred Salzer, Hans Schimassek – 1 April 1989 – Rats were treated for 5 to 14 days with perfluoroacetate, perfluorobutyrate and perfluorooctanoate. Alterations in hepatic morphology with special reference to the peroxisomal compartment were investigated by light and electron microscopy following cytochemical staining of catalase activity with the alkaline 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine medium. All three compounds induced hepatomegaly and peroxisome proliferation.

Norman D. Grace – 1 April 1989 – There is preliminary evidence that colchicine, an inhibitor of collagen synthesis, may be beneficial in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver. To evaluate the use of colchicine (1 mg per day, five days per week) in the treatment of hepatic cirrhosis, we performed a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in which 100 patients were followed for up to 14 years. Forty‐five patients had alcoholic cirrhosis, 41 had posthepatitic cirrhosis, and the remaining 14 had cirrhosis with various other causes.

1 April 1989

Felix J. Frey, Heinz J. Schaad, Eberhard L. Renner, Fritz F. Horber, Brigitte M. Frey, Rudolf Preisig – 1 April 1989 – Hepatic failure as a cause of death is increased in stable renal allograft recipients when compared with patients on dialysis. In order to assess the magnitude and the natural history of the hepatic functional derangement, the kinetics of xenobiotics which are metabolized by cytosolic (galactose) or microsomal (prednisolone, cyclosporine A) enzymes were determined in 28 consecutive stable kidney transplant patients 1 month and 1 year after transplantation.