Julia M. Potter, Michael Oellerich – 1 May 1996 – The hepatic metabolism of lidocaine to monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) is the basis of a dynamic test of liver function. To understand its potential value in liver transplantation, the latter has been considered in the following three separate stages: pretransplantation assessment of potential candidates, potential liver donors, and the transplant recipient. In pretransplantation patients, data support its role in assessing risk of morbidity and mortality.

Nancy L. Ascher – 1 May 1996 – T tubes are commonly used to splint biliary anastomoses after liver transplantation. Although several advantages are claimed for this approach, there is undoubtedly some iatrogenic morbidity associated with the use of T tubes in this situation. We have evaluated 120 consecutively biliary reconstructions after liver transplant, the majority of which are unsplinted end to end bile duct anastomoses. We have shown that biliary leakage and stricture rates are not significantly affected by T tubes.

William M. Lee – 1 May 1996

M J Gomez‐Lechon, I Guillen, X Ponsoda, R Fabra, R Trullenque, T Nakamura, J V Castell – 1 May 1996 – Human hepatocytes stimulated with human recombinant hepatocyte growth factor (h‐rHGF) (10 ng/mL) displayed a characteristic lag period before entering into the S phase. The duration of this delay was dependent on the timing of h‐rHGF addition to cultures. The highest peak of DNA synthesis was observed at 120 hours of culture when hepatocytes were stimulated with h‐rHGF at 72 hours of culture.

O Bandin, J Courvalin, R Poupon, L Dubel, J Homberg, C Johanet – 1 May 1996 – Between 10% and 42% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) have been reported to have autoantibodies directed against a restricted epitope of gp210, a glycoprotein of the nuclear pore membrane. The prevalence and specificity of these antibodies was studied in a French series of 285 patients with PBC and 497 control individuals affected with other liver or autoimmune diseases.

M Tsutsumi, D Sakamuro, A Takada, S Zang, T Furukawa, N Taniguchi – 1 May 1996 – Many studies concerning γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have suggested that changes in hepatic GGTP expression may be closely related to the development of HCC. However, its mechanisms are not well known, and genomic analysis of the specific GGTP to HCC is also lacking. Recently, the human GGTP complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences from fetal liver, placenta, and HepG2 cells have been published.

N Ganne‐Carrie, C Chastang, F Chapel, C Munz, D Pateron, M Sibony, P Deny, J Trinchet, P Callard, C Guettier, M Beaugrand – 1 May 1996 – The aim of this study was to identify high‐risk patients for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among 151 patients with histologically proven cirrhosis hospitalized from 1987 to 1990 and prospectively followed‐up until June 1994, 31 developed HCC. We assessed the predictive value of 22 variables recorded at enrollment for HCC occurrence by the log rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model.

F Wong, P Liu, Y Allidina, L Blendis – 1 May 1996 – The status of the central blood volume in cirrhosis is controversial. A combination of sodium restriction and upright posture, which redistributes intravascular volume to dependent parts of the body should further aggravate a contracted central blood volume reduction. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of upright posture and sodium restriction on central blood volume (CBV) in preascitic cirrhotic patients, compared with controls.

N Van Rooijen, A Sanders – 1 May 1996 – Macrophages such as Kupffer cells in the liver are multifunctional cells. They are involved in host defense mechanisms and have a regulatory role in many biomedical processes. Their selective depletion, using liposome‐encapsulated drugs, forms a widely accepted approach to studying their functional aspects in vivo. We have compared the Kupffer cell‐depleting activities of liposome‐encapsulated clodronate, propamidine, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for this purpose.

P Van der Linden, O Le Moine, M Ghysels, M Ortinez, J Deviere – 1 May 1996 – The short‐ and mid‐term hemodynamic effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) were studied in 16 sedated cirrhotic patients. Indications included relapsing variceal bleeding (n = 10) and refractory ascites (n = 6).