Stefano Milani, Cecilia Grappone, Giulia Pellegrini, Detlef Schuppan, Hermann Herbst, Antonio Calabró, Alessandro Casini, Massimo Pinzani, Calogero Surrenti – 1 October 1994 – We have analyzed the distribution, gene expression and cellular origin of undulin, a large extracellular matrix glycoprotein associated with mature collagen fibrils, in human liver by immunohistochemistry, Northern‐blot analysis and in situ hybridization. In normal liver, undulin was distributed as densely packed fibers in portal tract stroma, and as fine fibers along sinusoids, and around central veins.

Steven M. Strasberg, Todd K. Howard, Ernesto P. Molmenti, Martin Hertl – 1 October 1994 – Initial poor function and primary nonfunction are important problems in clinical transplantation. The incidence of primary nonfunction is about 6% and that of initial poor function is about 15%. Grafts with initial poor function have a higher graft failure rate in the first 3 mo after transplantation. Severe steatosis and cold preservation in University of Wisconsin solution for over 30 hr will alone cause primary nonfunction.

Qin Su, Yan‐Fang Liu, Jin‐Feng Zhang, Sui‐Xiang Zhang, De‐Fang Li, Jia‐Ji Yang – 1 October 1994 – Expression of insulin‐like growth factor II in two human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and in hepatitis B, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in 419 cases were investigated, and its relationship with the expression of hepatitis B virus x gene was studied by means of immunohistochemical and electron microscopic techniques. The results demonstrated that hepatocellular carcinoma cells (SMMC 7721 and QGY 7703) in culture could express insulin‐like growth factor II.

1 October 1994

Neus Agell, Maria Jesus Pujol, Antonia López‐Girona, Marta Bosch, Jose Luis Rosa, Oriol Bachs – 1 October 1994 – We have investigated the messenger RNAs expressed from the three calmodulin genes during rat liver regeneration. The results revealed that all the calmodulin transcripts increased from 8 hr after a partial hepatectomy, although differences in the timing and the level of expression from the three genes were observed. Calmodulin I transcripts peaked at 16 hr, whereas calmodulin II and calmodulin III progressively increased from 8 to 24 hr.

Albert Maroto, Angels Ginès, Joan Saló, Joan Clària, Pere Ginès, Luis Anibarro, Wladimiro Jiménez, Vicente Arroyo, Juan Rodés – 1 October 1994 – Time‐velocity wave‐form analysis of Doppler signals from small intrarenal arteries allows estimation of intrarenal arteriolar vascular resistance. Among the various indexes proposed, the resistive index is the most widely used for this estimation.

Raymond S. Koff – 1 October 1994

Hirosumi Oide, Ronald G. Thurman – 1 October 1994 – Ito cells (fat‐storing cells) have been implicated in mechanisms of liver fibrosis, and transforming growth factor‐β1 is a key factor that stimulates collagen production by Ito cells. Moreover, Ito cells are reported to possess contractile proteins and to contract with ligands. We recently reported the presence of L‐type voltage‐operated Ca2+ channels in Kupffer cells. In this study, we examined whether Ito cells contain Ca2+ channels and also evaluated the effect of transforming growth factor‐β1 on Ca2+ channels.

Edward Weir, Qiuyan Chen, Marie C. Defrances, Aaron Bell, Rebecca Taub, Reza Zarnegar – 1 October 1994 – Liver regeneration factor belongs to the leucinezipper family of transcription factors. It was originally cloned and characterized through differential screening of a regenerating rat liver cDNA library. The mRNA for liver regeneration factor‐1 is barely detectable in normal rat liver but is dramatically induced after two‐thirds hepatectomy, with a peak 1 to 3 hr after surgery. The nature of the signaling molecule(s) for this rapid induction is not known.

Neville R. Pimstone, Robert C. Stadalnik, David R. Vera, Dusan P. Hutak, Walter L. Trudeau – 1 October 1994 – We have developed a quantitative functional imaging study of the liver using a radiolabeled asialoglycoprotein analog, Tc‐galactosyl‐neoglycoalbumin. Heart and liver time‐activity data can be transformed by automated kinetic analysis into asialoglycoprotein hepatocyte receptor concentration. Twenty‐eight healthy controls, 46 patients with noncholestatic chronic liver injury and 11 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were studied.