Ariane Mallat, Anne‐Marie Preaux, Sylvie Blazejewski, Jean Rosenbaum, Daniel Dhumeaux, Philippe Mavier – 1 April 1995 – During the course of ongoing liver fibrogenesis, Ito cells acquire myofibroblastic features, proliferate, and synthesize increased amounts of extracellular matrix components. Interferon (IFN) alfa and IFN gamma have been shown to elicit antiproliferative and/or antifibrogenic effects in various cell cultures of mesenchymal origin.

Daniell B. Hill, Jack Schmidt, Steven I. Shedlofsky, Donald A. Cohen, Craig J. McClain – 1 April 1995 – Tumor necrosis factor‐α(TNF‐α) is a mediator of liver injury. The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro model of TNF‐mediated liver cell injury using the Hep G2 cell line. Hep G2 cells normally are insensitive to TNF cytotoxicity, but they were rendered susceptible, or sensitized, to TNF cytotoxicity by inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis.

Robert S. Britton, Kyle E. Brown – 1 April 1995 – Hereditary haemochromatosis is characterised by iron overload that may lead to tissue damage. Free iron is a potent promoter of hydroxyl radical formation that can cause increased lipid peroxidation and depletion of chain‐breaking antioxidants. We have therefore assessed lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in 15 subjects with hereditary haemochromatosis and age/sex matched controls. Subjects with haemochromatosis had increased serum iron (24.8 (19.1–30.5) vs. 17.8 (16.1–19.5) μmol/L, P = 0.021) and % saturation (51.8 (42.0–61.6) vs.

Raymond S. Koff – 1 April 1995

Raymond S. Koff – 1 April 1995

Hitoshi Ikeda, Kenji Fujiwara – 1 April 1995 – Ito cells are the primary matrix‐producing cells in the liver. In hepatic fibrosis in vivo or culture on plastic, these cells undergo activation, a process characterized by cell proliferation, fibrogenesis, and smooth muscle α‐actin expression. The cytosolic‐binding proteins of cyclosporin A (CsA) and FK506 accelerate folding of various proteins including collagen and become inactivated by binding to those agents. CsA is shown to inhibit collagen synthesis in cultured fibroblasts.

1 April 1995

David E. J. Jones, Jeremy M. Palmer, Oliver F. W. James, Stephen J. Yeaman, Margaret F. Bassendine, Austin G. Diamond – 1 April 1995 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune condition that results in destruction of the intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells and is characterized by autoantibodies to pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC).

Marshall J. Orloff, Mark S. Orloff, Susan L. Orloff, Kevin S. Haynes – 1 April 1995 – Portal hypertensive gastropathy is a vascular disorder of the gastric mucosa distinguished by ectasia of the mucosal capillaries and submucosal veins without inflammation. During 1988 to 1993, 12 patients with biopsyproven cirrhosis (10 alcoholic, 2 posthepatitic) were evaluated and treated prospectively by portacaval shunt for active bleeding from severe portal hypertensive gastropathy.

Debra L. Laskin, Carol R. Gardner, Veronica F. Price, David J. Jollow – 1 April 1995 – Acetaminophen is a mild analgesic and antipyretic agent that is safe and effective when taken in therapeutic doses. Ingestion of overdoses, however, may lead to acute liver failure accompanied by centrilobular degeneration and necrosis.