P Harrison, J Wendon, R Williams – 1 May 1996 – Patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) have a severe microcirculatory disturbance causing tissue hypoxia. Infusion of acetylcysteine improves survival and reduces the incidence of multiorgan failure by enhancing tissue oxygenation. Because the observed circulatory effects of acetylcysteine in FHF are similar to and synergistic with those produced by the microcirculatory vasodilator prostacyclin, we postulated that acetylcysteine might potentiate an endogenous vasodilator.

S Moller, U Becker, A Juul, N E Skakkebaek, E Christensen – 1 May 1996 – Insulinlike growth factor I (IGF‐I) is a single‐polypeptide chain with important anabolic and endocrine activities. The liver is the major source of IGF‐I and its binding protein, IGFBP‐3. Circulating concentrations of IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 are decreased in patients with chronic liver disease and correlate with the severity. The aim of this study was to assess the additional prognostic value of IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 in patients entered in a large multicenter study (EMALD).

F Salerno, G Borroni, E Lorenzano, D Solenghi, M Cazzaniga, F Bissoli, R Ceriani, R deFranchis – 1 May 1996 – Isosorbide‐5‐mononitrate (Is‐5‐Mn), alone or combined with β‐ blockers, has been proposed for prophylaxis of variceal bleeding in cirrhosis. However, renal insufficiency, might be an important undesirable effect of this therapy, especially in patients with ascites. We assessed the changes in renal function induced in 26 cirrhotic patients by acute or chronic administration of Is‐5‐Mn.

M J Monte, A I Morales, M Arevalo, I Alvaro, R I Macias, J J Marin – 1 May 1996 – The effect of total blockage of maternal biliary excretion during the last third of the pregnancy on the maturation of hepatobiliary function was investigated in neonatal rats. Extrahepatic obstruction of the common bile duct on day 14 of pregnancy induced a marked enhancement in serum bilirubin–mainly conjugated bilirubin–and bile acid concentrations as compared with sham‐operated pregnant rats.

N Yuki, N Hayashi, A Kasahara, H Hagiwara, E Mita, K Ohkawa, K Katayama, H Fusamoto, T Kamada – 1 May 1996 – The significance of circulating antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoprotein 2 (E2)/nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) glycoprotein was studied in 83 patients with chronic HCV infection diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). E2/NS1 antibody was quantitatively examined by a passive hemagglutination test using recombinant E2/NS1 glycoprotein encompassing amino acids 388 to 664 of the HCV‐H strain.

A Steffan, M Lafon, J Gendrault, B Smedsrod, H Nonnenmacher, F Koehren, J Gut, M de Monte, J Martin, C Royer, A Kirn – 1 May 1996 – Given the similarities between the two viruses, the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is becoming an interesting animal model for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) studies. To explore the still controversial role of the liver in the development of HIV infection, sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) were isolated, and primary cultures were infected with the FIV Villefranche IFFA strain.

E B Martins, A K Graham, R W Chapman, K A Fleming – 1 May 1996 – Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease that is possibly an autoimmune disease. Although γδ T cells represent a small proportion of the total T‐cell population in healthy individuals, there is evidence to suggest a role for these cells in autoimmunity. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the population of γδ T cells in patients with PSC, compared with other chronic liver diseases.

M Delhaye, H Louis, C Degraef, O Le Moine, J Deviere, B Gulbis, D Jacobovitz, M Adler, P Galand – 1 May 1996 – Hepatocyte proliferative activity is elevated in cirrhotic patients who develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and decreased in alcohol‐induced hepatitis patients with poor outcome. Hepatocyte proliferative activity has not been evaluated in an unselected population of cirrhotic patients regarding the severity of the disease.

K Chayama, A Tsubota, M Kobayashi, M Hashimoto, Y Miyano, H Koike, M Kobayashi, I Koida, Y Arase, S Saitoh, N Murashima, K Ikeda, H Kumada – 1 May 1996 – Interferon treatment reduces the serum level of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and improves inflammatory activity, but relapse is frequently observed. In an attempt to develop a new therapeutic strategy that may reduce relapse and cure the disease, we evaluated the effect of corticosteroid priming on lymphoblastoid interferon alfa in an open randomized clinical trial.

E L Cancado, L S Vilas‐Boas, C P Abrantes‐Lemos, N F Novo, G Porta, L C Da Silva, A A Laudanna – 1 May 1996 – In autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), the smooth‐muscle antibody is specific for polymerized actin. Detection of antiactin antibody (AAA) has been hampered by technical problems. We have investigated AAA in 30 sera from patients with liver diseases and smooth‐muscle antibody. AAA was detected by indirect immunofluorescence in 1:40, 1:80, and 1:160 dilutions.