Giorgio Ballardini, Paolo Groff, Fabrizio Giostra, Raffaella Francesconi, Rita Miniero, Sabrina Ghetti, Daniela Zauli, Francesco B. Bianchi – 1 March 1995 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigens in liver biopsy have been detected by immunohistochemistry using both spontaneous human IgG and murine monoclonal or rabbit polyclonal monospecific reagents. Conflicting results have been obtained in different studies. This was probably because of the incapacity of single experimental antibodies, raised against synthetic or recombinant peptides, to recognize native tissue antigens.

Bing Lu, Sanjeev Gupta, Howard Federoff – 1 March 1995 – A defective amplicon herpes simplex virus‐1 (HSV‐1) vector, HSVlac, was used to transfer an E. coli lacZ reporter gene into primary hepatocytes. The lacZ gene was driven by the HSV immediate early (IE) 4/5 promoter. Use of the HSVlac vector resulted in highly efficient gene transfer. Because difficulties in culturing primary hepatocytes impose limitations in ex vivo gene therapy, we sought to determine whether use of the HSVlac vector could simplify gene transfer.

Larry Mimms – 1 March 1995 – Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was extracted from sera of six carriers with hepatitis B e antigen as well as antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and sequenced within the pre‐S regions and the S gene. HBV DNA clones from five of these carriers had point mutations in the S gene, resulting in conversion from IIe‐126 or Thr‐126 of the wild‐type virus to Ser‐126 or Asn‐126 in three carriers and conversion from Gly‐145 to Arg‐145 in three of them; clones with Asn‐126 or Arg‐145 were found in one carrier.

1 March 1995

Marilyn I. Steele, Candaca M. Marshall, Richard E. Lloyd, Vicki E. Randolph – 1 March 1995 – Reovirus type 3 has been implicated in the origin and pathogenesis of extrahepatic biliary atresia and idiopathic neonatal hepatitis, but routine detection of this virus in hepatobiliary tissues from affected infants by culture and histological techniques has been unsuccessful.

Alexander L. Gerbes, Søren Møller, Veit Gülberg, Jens H. Henriksen – 1 March 1995 – Increased as well as decreased plasma concentrations of the endothelins, endogenous vasoactive peptides, have been reported in cirrhosis. This might be caused by alterations of hepatic or renal clearance or release. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of splanchnic and renal passage and of liver function on plasma concentrations of endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) and endothelin‐3 (ET‐3) in patients with cirrhosis compared with controls.

Edward Frizell, Shu‐Ling Liu, Ann Abraham, Iwata Ozaki, Mahboubeh Eghbali, E. Helene Sage, Mark A. Zern – 1 March 1995 – SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine)—also known as osteonectin, BM‐40, and 43K glycoprotein—is secreted by endothelial cells and fibroblasts in response to culture shock. SPARC has been found in association with tissues undergoing cell proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix remodeling. We demonstrate that normal livers from humans, rats, and mice express substantial levels of SPARC messenger RNA (mRNA).

Robin Fraser, Bruce R. Dobbs, George W. T. Rogers – 1 March 1995 – The liver sieve, formed by the fenestrated hepatic sinusoidal endothelium, is a dynamic biofilter separating the hepatic blood from the plasma within the space of Disse. It filters macromolecules of differing sizes, especially lipoproteins. More specifically, it acts as a barrier to the large triglyceride‐rich parent chylomicrons, while permitting the smaller triglyceride‐depleted but cholesterol‐ and retinol‐rich remnants to enter the space of Disse.

Benjamin N. Smith – 1 March 1995

Raymond S. Koff – 1 March 1995