Gregory T. Everson, Ann Scherzinger, Nancy Berger‐Leff, Juerg Reichen, Dennis Lezotte, Michael Manco‐Johnson, Patricia Gabow – 1 November 1988 – Polycystic liver disease is a common manifestation of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. However, factors that regulate hepatic cystogenesis have not been defined, and the effect of cyst formation on hepatic parenchymal mass has not been studied.

M. Wayne Flye – 1 November 1988 – Patent distal splenorenal shunts (Warren shunt) have been reported to cause decreases in the portal perfusion pressure and the total hepatic blood flow. Such hemodynamic alterations could have adverse effects on the transplanted liver. The experience with hepatic replacement in four patients with patent Warren shunts is reported. Operative findings were phlebosclerotic portal veins of small size and diminished portal blood flows.

Howard L. Berman – 1 November 1988

Carmen Cabrero, Antonio Martin Duce, Pablo Ortiz, Susana Alemany, Jose M. Mato – 1 November 1988 – We have measured the activity of S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine synthetase, the ratio between the high‐ and low‐molecular‐weight forms of this enzyme and the concentration of S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine in liver biopsies from a group of controls (n = 6) and in six cirrhotics (five posthepatitic and one alcoholic). The total activity of S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine synthetase was markedly reduced in cirrhosis (37.5% of that found in the control group).

Samuel S. Lee, Richard Moreau, Antoine Hadengue, Raimondo Cerini, Abraham Koshy, Didier Lebrec – 1 November 1988 – To delineate the circulatory effects of glucagon in cirrhosis, we infused two moderately supraphysiological doses of this hormone into 19 patients with cirrhosis and determined hemodynamic responses. Patients were divided into a group with good liver function (Pugh Class A, n = 8) and poorer function (Pugh Class B and C, n = 11). All patients received glucagon at 10 ng per kg per min for 20 min, then 20 ng per kg per min for a further 20 min.

Gilles Pomier‐Layrargues, Pierre‐Michel Huet, Claire Infante‐Rivard, Jean‐Pierre Villeneuve, Denis Marleau, Lester Duguay, Serge Tanguay, Pierre Lavoie – 1 November 1988 – The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic value of spontaneous portosystemic shunting and liver function for survival and spontaneous hepatic encephalopathy after end‐to‐side portacaval shunt in cirrhotic patients. One hundred ninety‐eight patients with variceal hemorrhage as shown by endoscopy were evaluated.

Carol A. Sattler, Norimasa Sawada, Gerald L. Sattler, Henry C. Pitot – 1 November 1988 – Primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes in a serum‐free medium were observed by time lapse cinematography to proceed through mitotis and cytokinesis. An ultrastructural study of these cultures is presented with electron micrographs of each stage of mitosis and cytokinesis. The cultured hepatocytes begin to enter prophase about 48 hr after plating and proceed through mitosis in approximately 70 min not including cytokinesis.

Giacomo Laffi, Fabio Cominelli, Marco Ruggiero, Sandra Fedi, Vincenzo P. Chiarugi, Giorgio La Villa, Massimo Pinzani, Paolo Gentilini – 1 November 1988 – Hemorrhagic disorders are common in patients with liver cirrhosis and result from several factors including impaired platelet function. We evaluated platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid metabolism in response to standard agonists in platelet‐rich plasma from 12 cirrhotic patients with mild impairment of liver function (Child A), 12 patients with severe liver dysfunction (Child B and C) and 12 healthy subjects.

1 November 1988

Keith D. Lindor, Russell H. Wiesner, E. Rolland Dickson, Henry A. Homburger – 1 November 1988 – Blastogenesis of autoreactive T lymphocytes in the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction has been shown to be decreased in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, but the mechanisms underlying this abnormality are not known.