Nora B. Krull, Thomas Zimmermann, Axel M. Gressner – 1 September 1993 – Expression of the proteoglycans biglycan and decorin and of transforming growth factor‐α1 at various stages of liver fibrosis induced experimentally in rats by oral administration of thioacetamide was examined. Using in situ hybridization combined with immunocytochemical staining for cell‐type characteristic markers, we demonstrate spatial and temporal expression patterns specific for each of the genes.

1 September 1993

Ke‐Qin Hu, Chang‐Hong Yu, John M. Vierling – 1 August 1993 – Although detection of hepatitis C virus RNA with polymerase chain reaction has become the standard for diagnosis, extensive application has been thwarted by polymerase chain reaction's labor intensiveness, risk of false‐positive results through contamination and time required for individual assays. To minimize these limitations, we developed and validated a one‐step hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase chain reaction assay.

Bruno Sangro, Ignacio Bilbao, Ignacio Herrero, Carmen Corella, Jesus Longo, Oscar Beloqui, Juan Ruiz, Jose M. Zozaya, Jorge Quirog, Jesus Priet – 1 August 1993 – Hypersplenism is of great relevance in the management of cirrhosis because of the widespread use of myelodepressant drugs such as interferon or antineoplastic agents. Because no standard therapy exists for this complication, we have evaluated the efficacy and risks of splenic embolization in the treatment of hypersplenism in cirrhosis.

Yoshinobu Sato, Kazuhiro Tsukada, Yoh Matsumot, Toru Ab – 1 August 1993 – The effects of interferon‐γ and interleukin‐2 on liver regeneration after 70% hepatectomy in rats was studied immunohistologically, with special attention paid to major histocompatibility complex class II antigen expression. Liver regeneration 2 days after partial hepatectomy as assessed on the basis of bromodeoxyuridine labeling index revealed that regeneration was inhibited significantly in rats given a single dose of interleukin‐2 or interferon‐γ compared with rats that underwent only partial hepatectomy.

Jorge A. Bezerra, David P. Witte, Bruce J. Arono, Sandra J. Friezner – 1 August 1993 – We have cloned and characterized the gene and complementary DNA for a new kringle‐containing protein. Although the function of this protein is not known, it has been called hepatocyte growth factor–like protein because it shares the same structural domains as hepatocyte growth factor, with four kringle structures followed by a region homologous to serine proteases.

M. Sawkat Anwer – 1 August 1993 – Calcium ionophores such as ionomycin and A23187 are often used to determine the role of intracellular Ca+ + in cellular processes. Ionomycin but not Ca+ +‐mobilizing agonists increases basal intracellular pH in hepatocytes. To explain this difference in effects of agents that increase intracellular Ca+ + concentration, the mechanism of ionomycin‐induced increases in basal intracellular pH in isolated rat hepatocytes was studied.

Raymond S. Koff, Jean‐Francois Dufour, Irwin M. Arias – 1 August 1993

Alexander S. Petrides, Dirk Schulze‐Berge, Christoph Vogt, Dwight E. Matthews, Georg Strohmeye – 1 August 1993 – Insulin resistance is a characteristic feature of glucose‐intolerant and diabetic cirrhotic patients. The pathogenic factors, however, that are responsible for the development of impaired glucose tolerance in cirrhosis, remain unclear.

Anna Castro, Wladimiro Jiménez, Joan Clária, Josefa Ros, Josep Maria Martínez, Marta Bosch, Vicente Arroyo, Jaume Piulats, Francisca River, Joan Rodés – 1 August 1993 – Impaired vascular responsiveness to angiotensin II is a common feature in human cirrhosis with ascites. The aim of this study was to investigate whether vascular reactivity to angiotensin II is also decreased in rats with carbon tetrachloride–induced cirrhosis and ascites and to assess the role of endogenous nitric oxide in this abnormality.