Wolf‐Bernhard Offensperger, Silke Offensperger, Barbara Stoll, Wolfgang Gerok, Dieter Häussinger – 1 July 1994 – In cultured hepatocytes from in vivo duck hepatitis B virus‐infected ducks the effect of medium osmolarity on viral replication was studied. A 10‐day exposure to hypotonic media (277 mOsm/L due to removal of 26 mmol/L NaCl) lowered the duck hepatitis B virus DNA content of cells and of the medium by about 50%, whereas hyperosmotic exposure (421 mOsm/L by addition of 46 mmol/L NaCl) increased it about four‐fold compared with normotonic standard incubation medium (329 mOsm/L).

Karin Vanderkerken, Luc Bouwens, Peter Kuppen, Wilfried De Neve, Kit Van Den Berg, Marijke Baekeland, Eddie Wisse – 1 June 1994 – The rat liver contains a population of natural killer cells consisting of two morphologically and functionally different subsets, a low‐density and a high‐density fraction. In this work we describe the influence of low‐dose radiation on hepatic natural killer activity.

Arnold Kooij, Henry J. Schiller, Martin Schijns, Cornelis J. F. Van Noorden, Wilma M. Frederiks – 1 June 1994 – The aim of this study was to test whether conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase into xanthine oxidase as induced by fasting, ischemia of the liver or both is an in vivo process or only occurs in vitro in homogenates. For this purpose, the conversion rate of xanthine dehydrogenase into xanthine oxidase was studied in liver homogenates obtained from rats after normal feeding or 24 hr of fasting followed or not by 2 hr of ischemia of the liver.

Masayoshi Kobune, Yutaka Kohgo, Junji Kato, Etsu Miyazaki, Yoshiro Niitsu – 1 June 1994 – To explore a mechanism of interleukin (IL)‐6–induced hypoferremia in rats, iron metabolism was investigated both in vivo and in vitro. Recombinant IL‐6 was intraperitoneally administered to male Wistar rats and the serial change of parameters related to iron metabolism was examined. After administration of IL‐6, plasma IL‐6 concentration increased rapidly, reached its maximum in 1 hr and thereafter decreased quickly.

Leon J. Reinstein, Steven N. Lichtman, Robert T. Currin, Jian Wang, Ronald G. Thurman, John J. Lemasters – 1 June 1994 – In liver grafts that will fail as a result of storage injury, reperfusion activates Kupffer cells. Overproduction of tumor necrosis factor by activated Kupffer cells may cause primary graft nonfunction, multiple organ failure and, eventually, death of graft recipients. Carolina rinse solution, adenosine, nisoldipine, pentoxifylline and prostaglandin E1 reduce graft failure from storage/reperfusion injury.

Hirofumi Takahashi, Toshiji Saibara, Shinichi Iwamura, Akira Tomita, Takashi Maeda, Saburo Onishi, Yasutake Yamamoto, Hideaki Enzan – 1 June 1994 – The serum level of α‐L‐fucosidase activity has been suggested as a useful marker in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, although the precise mechanism behind the elevation of this parameter has not been determined.

Timothy M. McCashland, Jeremiah P. Donovan, Andree Amelsberg, Steven S. Rossi, Alan F. Hofmann, Byers W. Shaw, Eamonn M. M. Quigley – 1 June 1994 – Bile acid metabolism and biliary secretion were characterized in the first 2 wk after orthotopic liver transplantation in 15 patients receiving cyclosporine and in five patients receiving FK 506. Analyses were performed on hepatic bile obtained by T‐tube drainage; values obtained were compared with literature values for bile samples obtained in patients who had undergone cholecystectomy.

Ruth E. Joplin, Gerald D. Johnson, John B. Matthews, John Hamburger, J. Gordon Lindsay, Stefan G. Hubscher, Alastair J. Strain, James M. Neuberger – 1 June 1994 – Previous studies in which quantitative immunofluorescence was used have shown that certain biliary epithelial cells in liver with primary biliary cirrhosis show increased levels of pyruvate dehydrogenase dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase compared with controls.

Naoki Hiramatsu, Norio Hayashi, Kazuhiro Katayama, Kiyoshi Mochizuki, Yuko Kawanishi, Akinori Kasahara, Hideyuki Fusamoto, Takenobu Kamada – 1 June 1994 – Apoptosis is a type of cell death that occurs in acute or chronic hepatitis. It has been suggested to be mediated through Fas antigen. To evaluate the role of apoptosis on liver injury of chronic hepatitis C, we studied the expressions of Fas antigen and hepatitis C virus antigen (core antigen) immunohistochemically.

Takeshi Tanaka, Kyoko Tsukiyama‐Kohara, Kenjiro Yamaguchi, Shintaro Yagi, Satoshi Tanaka, Akira Hasegawa, Yohsuke Ohta, Nobu Hattori, Michinori Kohara – 1 June 1994 – Group I and II hepatitis C virus genotypes were determined by a newly developed serological genotyping assay. This assay detected antibodies against group‐specific recombinant proteins in the putative NS4 protein region (amino acid no. 1676–1760) by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.