P Sauer, L Theilmann, S Herrmann, T Bruckner, T Roeren, G Richter, W Stremmel, A Stiehl – 1 December 1996 – Development of stenosis or occlusion of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS) is one of the major limiting factors in the long‐term viability of this procedure. The efficacy of anticoagulation with heparin which is used in different centers is still unclear.

M Pirlich, O Selberg, K Boker, M Schwarze, M J Muller – 1 December 1996 – The creatinine‐method to estimate muscle mass is frequently used in clinical studies, although the validity of this approach is uncertain in patients with cirrhosis. In this study 102 patients with cirrhosis differing in cause, clinical state, liver, and renal function were investigated to determine whether reduced liver or renal function may explain in part the low levels of urinary creatinine excretion frequently observed in these patients.

J S McMillan, D S Bowden, P W Angus, G W McCaughan, S A Locarnini – 1 December 1996 – Recurrent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major problem in patients undergoing liver transplantation. Previously, we reported that infection with HBV strains containing a mutation in the precore region (G‐to‐A at nucleotide 1896) was associated with severe recurrent disease posttransplantation. In this study we investigated other mutations in the precore/core gene and core promoter which may be associated with this severe recurrence.

C Tibbs, P Donaldson, J Underhill, L Thomson, K Manabe, R Williams – 1 December 1996 – In the search for factors which may influence susceptibility to and outcome from chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, few studies have considered the influence of host genes. In the present investigation we have performed HLA DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, and DPB1 genotyping on 104 northern European patients with chronic HCV infection and 177 racially and geographically matched controls.

Gian Luca Grazi, Alighieri Mazziotti, Claudia Sama, Elio Jovine, Francesco Stefanini, Rolando Paladini, Roberto Rossi, Antonino Cavallari – 1 November 1996 – The presence of a positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has been considered a highly questionable indication for orthotopic liver transplantation. We report our experience in the treatment of HBsAg‐positive HBV‐DNA—negative cirrhotics with liver transplantation, whether or not followed by passive prophylaxis with specific immunoglobulins.

A A Demetriou – 1 November 1996

I Wéry, M Kaouass, P Deloyer, J Buts, H Barbason, G Dandrifosse – 1 November 1996 – In the present study, we investigated the effects of spermine on postnatal liver maturation in suckling rats. The animals were given spermine either per os (8 μmol) or by intraperitoneal injection (1 μmol), once daily for three or five days. The percentage of liver cells in different cell cycle phases and of diploid cells in the parenchyma was estimated.

J Sastre, F V Pallardó, R Plá, A Pellín, G Juan, J E O'Connor, J M Estrela, J Miquel, J Viña – 1 November 1996 – Mitochondrial damage may be a major cause of cellular aging. So far, this hypothesis had only been tested using isolated mitochondria. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of mitochondria in aging using whole liver cells and not isolated mitochondria only.

A Hayasaka, N Suzuki, N Fujimoto, S Iwama, E Fukuyama, Y Kanda, H Saisho – 1 November 1996 – Background: Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP‐9), a 92‐kd gelatinase/type IV collagenase, has been implicated as playing an important role in cancer invasion and metastasis. A previous study showed that serum type IV collagenase activity correlated with metastasis by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aims of this study were to determine the plasma levels of immunoreactive MMP‐9 in patients with HCC and to compare the levels with the clinical features including vascular invasion.

J C Cutrin, D Cantino, F Biasi, E Chiarpotto, M Salizzoni, E Andorno, G Massano, G Lanfranco, M Rizzetto, A Boveris, G Poli – 1 November 1996 – In 19 patients who have undergone orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), the trend and degree of cholestasis was statistically monitored in terms of plasma levels of L‐gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT) and total bilirubin. In addition, the ultrastructure of the bile canaliculus was examined during the entire OLT procedure, i.e., during explantation, cold ischemia, and after 60 to 90 minutes of organ reperfusion.