D Luo, K Vanderkerken, L Bouwens, P J Kuppen, M Baekeland, C Seynaeve, E Wisse – 1 December 1996 – Previous studies showed that blood large granular lymphocytes (LGL), which possess natural killer (NK) activity, develop within rat liver sinusoids into high‐density (HD) and subsequently into low‐density (LD) pit cells which show an increasing level and spectrum of tumor cytotoxicity. In this study, we investigated the role of adhesion molecules, such as CD2, CD11a, CD18, and CD54 in the recruitment of pit cells to the liver.

J Salo, W Jimenez, M Kuhn, A Gines, P Gines, G Fernandez‐Esparrach, P Angeli, J Claria, R Bataller, V Arroyo, W Forssmann, J Rodes – 1 December 1996 – Cirrhotic patients with ascites show increased plasma levels of natriuretic peptides from cardiac origin (i.e., atrial natriuretic peptide [ANP] and brain natriuretic peptide [BNP]). Urodilatin is a unique member of the natriuretic peptide family because it is exclusively synthesized in the kidney acting on a paracrine fashion in the regulation of sodium excretion.

T Dorner, E Feist, C Held, K Conrad, G R Burmester, F Hiepe – 1 December 1996 – Antibodies against the 52‐kd Ro(SS‐A) protein are significantly associated with the primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). A small proportion of patients suffering from primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) with secondary Sjogren's syndrome (PBC/SS) who are serologically characterized by antimitochondrial type 2 antibodies also express anti‐52‐kd Ro(SS‐A) antibodies.

1 December 1996

K G Benner – 1 December 1996

M L Shiffman – 1 December 1996

M Van de Castelle, G Van Roey, F Nevens, J Fevery – 1 December 1996 – The optimal dose of spironolactone to reduce portal vein pressure, alone or in combination with isosorbide‐5‐mononitrate (IsMn), has not been identified. We studied the effects of 8 days oral treatment with spironolactone, IsMn or both on portal pressure, plasma volume and renal sodium handling in rats with partial portal vein ligation. At daily doses of 0.33; 0.50; 1, and 1.50 mg/kg, spironolactone reduced portal pressure (all P < .05) as compared with placebo.

U Schimanski, D Krieger, M Horn, W Stremmel, B Wermuth, L Theilmann – 1 December 1996 – Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency shows X‐linked inheritance. Typically, symptomatic females (who constitute 15%‐20% of all carriers) have markedly reduced enzyme activity and show first symptoms in late infancy or early childhood. Here we present the case of a previously asymptomatic 24‐year‐old woman who died of severe hyperammonemia associated with orotic aciduria but normal OTC activity in the fourth month of pregnancy.

F Trevisani, G Sica, M Bernardi – 1 December 1996

A R Thompson, M A Kay – 1 December 1996