William S. Mason, John Cullen, Jeff Saputelli, Tsung‐Teh Wu, Chen Liu, W. Thomas London, Edward Lustbader, Priscilla Schaffer, Anna P. O'Connell, Isabelle Fourel, Carol E. Aldrich, Allison R. Jilbert – 1 February 1994 – This study was carried out to evaluate benefits and limitations of long‐term therapy of hepatitis B virus infections with a nucleoside analog inhibitor of virus replication. The model we used was the domestic duck chronically infected with duck hepatitis B virus by in ovo infection. 2′ Carbodeoxyguanosine was used as an inhibitor of viral DNA synthesis.

Eric M. Webber, Paul J. Godowski, Nelson Fausto – 1 February 1994 – Although growth factor effects have been studied in cultured hepatocytes, little information exists as to whether these factors can trigger hepatocyte replication in vivo. In this study we infused epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor‐α and hepatocyte growth factor directly into the portal vein of rats for 24 hr to see whether they could induce DNA synthesis in normal livers or in livers subjected to one‐third hepatectomy.

Fenton Schaffner, Swan N. Thung – 1 February 1994

Stephen A. Geller, W. Stephen Nichols, Sungsook Kim, Tanya Tolmachoff, Stephen Lee, Mark J. Dycaico, Katherine Felts, Joseph A. Sorge – 1 February 1994 – Z mutant–associated α1‐antitrypsin deficiency in human beings leads to hepatitis and, in some cases, hepatocellular carcinoma. To begin to delineate the molecular basis for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in α1‐antitrypsin deficiency, we previously developed transgenic mice using human α1‐antitrypsin M and Z genomic clones.

Dominic J. Nompleggi, Herbert L. Bonkovsky – 1 February 1994

Axel Holstege, Pierre Bedossa, Thierry Poynard, Michael Kollinger, Jean Claude Chaput, Karl Houglum, Mario Chojkier – 1 February 1994 – Acetaldehyde, the first product of ethanol oxidation, has been shown to stimulate collagen gene expression and to form protein‐acetaldehyde adducts. Because little is known about these adducts in human liver tissue, we assessed, with an immunohistochemical procedure, the presence and location of acetaldehyde‐protein adducts in liver biopsy specimens of alcoholic patients.

Stephan Krähenbühl, Christine Talos, Sven Fischer, Jürg Reichen – 1 February 1994 – The toxicity of hydrophilic (cholate) and lipophilic (deoxycholate, chenodeoxycholate, and lithocholate) bile acids on the function of the electron transport chain was investigated in intact and disrupted rat liver mitochondria.

Ion V. Deaciuc, Gregory J. Bagby, Michael R. Niesman, Nebojsa Skrepnik, John J. Spitzer – 1 February 1994 – We tested the hypothesis that Kupffer cells modulate sinusoidal endothelial cell function in the liver. Rats were treated with Kupffer cell–depleting agents (gadolinium chloride and liposome‐encapsulated dichloromethylene diphosphonate) or with inhibitors of phospholipase A2 or leukotriene A4 synthase (dexamethasone and diethylcarbamazine, respectively).

Albert Parés,*, James J. Potter, Lynda Rennie, Esteban Mezey – 1 February 1994 – The mechanism whereby ethanol ingestion results in hepatic fibrosis remains unknown. Acetaldehyde has been shown to increase α1(I) collagen gene transcription in human fibroblasts and in rat myofibroblastlike cells (Ito cells) in culture. In this study, the effect of acetaldehyde was determined on the activation of the α2(I) collagen promoter.

Olle Reichard, Ulla Foberg, Aril Frydén, Lars Mattsson, Gunnar Norkrans, Anders Sönnerborg, Rune Wejstål, Zhi‐Bing Yun, Ola Weiland – 1 February 1994 – To evaluate the effect of prolonged interferon‐α treatment on serum aminotransferase levels and hepatitis C virus RNA in serum, 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection were treated with 3 MU interferon‐α2b thrice weekly for 60 wk. Before treatment all patients had elevated serum ALT levels for at least 1 yr, antibodies to HCV by second‐generation tests and liver histological findings consistent with chronic hepatitis C.