J P Zoetewij, B van de Water, H J de Bont, J F Nagelkerke – 1 April 1996 – Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATPo) (0.4 mmol/L), a P2‐purinergic receptor agonist, induces cytolysis in several cell types including isolated rat hepatocytes. In this study, we investigated the P2‐receptor involved in ATPo‐induced, Ca2+‐dependent cytotoxicity in hepatocytes. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with oxidized ATP, a P2z‐receptor antagonist, or complexation of ATP4− (the agonist for the P2z‐receptor) with an excess of Mg2+, prevented ATPo‐induced cell death.

1 April 1996

M T Cerenzia, L Fiume, W De Bernardi Venon, B Lavezzo, M R Brunetto, A Ponzetto, G Di Stefano, C Busi, A Mattioli, G B Gervasi, F Bonino, G Verme – 1 April 1996 – A conjugate of adenine arabinoside monophosphate (ara‐AMP) with the liver‐targeting molecule lactosaminated human serum albumin (L‐HSA) was administered by intravenous infusion for 28 days to eight patients with chronic type B hepatitis. The daily dose varied among the patients, ranging from 34 mg/kg to 53 mg/kg (equal to 1.5 and 2.3 mg/kg ara‐AMP, respectively).

S Takano, K Nakamura, S Kawai, O Yokosuka, Y Satomura, M Omata – 1 April 1996 – In November 1989, the Japanese Red Cross began screening blood donors for the hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV) by first‐generation assay and high‐titer hepatitis B virus core antigen antibody. A significant reduction in the incidence of acute posttransfusion hepatitis was reported; however, the incidence still ranged from 2% to 4%. The Red Cross changed to the second‐generation assay in February 1992, the objective being the complete elimination of potential posttransfusion hepatitis.

T G Sarphie, N B D'Souza, I V Deaciuc – 1 April 1996 – Scanning and transmission electron‐microscopic examination of the rat liver sinusoid was performed in this study after in vivo treatment of rats with gram‐negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/Kg(‐1) body weight), with or without pretreatment with gadolinium chloride (GdCl3 10 mg/Kg−1 body weight).

H Tashiro, Y Fukuda, A Kimura, S Hoshino, H Ito, K Dohi – 1 April 1996 – Mixed chimerism has been demonstrated in organ transplant recipients surviving over a long period. However, little is known about the fate and movements of donor cells following liver transplantation. In this study, using rat male‐to‐female liver transplantation, we assessed microchimerism by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A PCR specific for the Y‐chromosome (sex‐determining region Y [Sry]) allowed the distinction of small amounts of male cells in a large excess of female cells.

M Peters – 1 April 1996

X Xiol, J Ariza – 1 April 1996

K E Sherman, C Andreatta, J O'Brien, A Gutierrez, R Harris – 1 April 1996 – Patients coinfected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were studied with regard to nucleotide sequence variability in the E2/NS1 first hypervariable region of the HCV genome. The nucleotide variability within individual patients was compared to patients infected only with HCV. The proportion of predicted synonymous and nonsynonymous amino acid changes, and the relationship to putative high‐antigenicity sites, were evaluated in the hypervariable envelope domain.

I Sakaida, Y Matsumura, M Kubota, K Kayano, K Takenaka, K Okita – 1 April 1996 – No effective therapy has yet developed for liver fibrosis by directory inhibiting the accumulation of extracellular matrix. The effect of a newly synthesized prolyl4‐hydroxylase (PH) inhibitor, HOE 077 (pyridine‐ 2, 4‐di‐carboxylic‐di(2‐methoxyethyl)amide), was examined using the model of choline‐deficient L‐amino acid (CDAA) defined diet‐induced liver fibrosis in 16‐week‐old male Wistar rats.