M C Kew – 1 September 1996

Victor L. Scott, Andre M. De Wolf, Yoogoo Kang, Bella T. Altura, Mohamed A. Virji, D. Ryan Cook, Burton M. Altura – 1 September 1996 – Using a new ion‐selective electrode, plasma concentration of ionized magnesium was measured in nine adult patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. Baseline plasma ionized magnesium (IMg2+) concentration (0.49 ± 0.07 mmol/L) was slightly below normal values (0.55–0.66 mmol/L, 95% CI): Six patients had ionized hypomagnesemia and two of these had total hypomagnesemia.

O. Jurim, P. Martin, D. J. Winston, C. Shackleton, C. Holt, J. Feller, M. Csete, A. Shaked, D. Imagawa, K. Olthoff, J. Y. N. Lau, R. W. Busuttil – 1 September 1996 – The effect of ganciclovir prophylaxis on reinfection of hepatic allografts by hepatitis B virus (HBV) was studied in 26 patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for decompensated cirrhosis due to HBV.

Gerrit Krupski, Xavier Rogiers, Volkmar Nicolas, Rainer Maas, Massimo Malagó, Christoph E. Broelsch, Egon Bücheler – 1 September 1996 – Computed tomography (CT) has proven to be of great value and preciseness in the assessment of the segmental volume, e.g., in living related liver transplantation. The incisions of the falciform ligament and the left hepatic vein are used as landmarks of the proposed dissection plane when procurement of the left lateral lobe is planned.

G V Gregorio, H Jones, K Choudhuri, A Vegnente, F Bortolotti, G Mieli‐Vergani, D Vergani – 1 September 1996 – The most effective treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is interferon alfa (IFN‐α), a potentially severe side effect of which is the induction of autoimmunity. To assess whether IFN‐ α causes clinical or serological autoimmune manifestations, we studied 61 children randomized to receive 5 MU/m2 of IFN‐α three times per week for 12 weeks, with or without steroid priming or no treatment.

T Roskams, J Rosenbaum, R De Vos, G David, V Desmet – 1 September 1996 – The mechanism of bile ductular reaction and accompanying fibrogenesis depends on interactions of ductular cells with the matrix and growth factors. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are essential cofactors in cell‐matrix adhesion processes, in cell‐cell recognition systems, and in receptor‐growth factor interactions.

R L Gebhard, W F Prigge, H J Ansel, L Schlasner, S R Ketover, D Sande, K Holtmeier, F J Peterson – 1 September 1996 – Obese persons are at risk for cholesterol gallstones because their bile is saturated with cholesterol. The risk increases during rapid weight loss by means of certain very‐low‐calorie diets or gastric bypass surgery. Gallstone risk factors during rapid weight loss include increased bile cholesterol saturation index and gallbladder stasis.

M P Leon, M F Bassendine, J L Wilson, S Ali, M Thick, J A Kirby – 1 September 1996 – The intrahepatic biliary epithelium is susceptible to extensive T‐cell‐ mediated damage during primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and hepatic allograft rejection. During these processes, human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (HIBEC) become activated and express high levels of the lymphocyte adhesion molecules, intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and lymphocyte‐associated antigen (LFA)‐3, and of class II MHC antigens.

Mukunda B. Ray, Timothy Schroeder, Scott E. Michaels, Douglas W. Hanto – 1 September 1996 – Detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen is useful for the study of proliferative activity of neoplastic and non‐neoplastic lymphoid, parenchymal, and mesenchymal cells. Allograft rejection is associated with the recruitment of circulating cells and their proliferation in the graft.

Nancy L. Ascher – 1 September 1996 – Recombinant adenovirus vectors are efficient at transferring genes into somatic tissues but are limited for use in clinical gene therapy by immunologic factors that result in the rapid loss of gene expression and inhibit secondary gene transfer. This study demonstrates that systemic coadministration of recombinant adenovirus with soluble CTLA4lg, which is known to block co‐stimulatory signals between T cells and antigen presenting cells, leads to persistent adenovirus gene expression in mice without long‐term immunosuppression.