Hiroto Kita, Takashi Moriyama, Takashi Kaneko, Ichiro Harase, Masayuki Nomura, Hideaki Miura, Ikuo Nakamura, Yoshio Yazaki, Michio Imawari – 1 November 1993 – Cytotoxic T lymphocytes have been reported to be involved in the immune clearance of virus‐infected cells and in the pathogenesis of viral infection. We studied the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to the putative nucleocapsid protein of hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Alan H. Lockwood, Brian W. Murphy, Kerry Z. Donnelly, Thomas C. Mahl, Sean Perini – 1 November 1993 – Many patients with compensated cirrhosis without overt hepatic encephalopathy have deficits in visualspatial perception, a condition we call minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Five patients with alcohol‐induced cirrhosis and nine control subjects underwent positron‐emission tomographic imaging of the brain with 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose. Patients also underwent neuropsychological and clinical chemistry tests.

Faust Feu, Josep María Bordas, Angelo Luca, Joan Carles García‐Pagán, Angels Escorsell, Jaume Bosch, Joan Rodes – 1 November 1993 – This study investigated the correlation between changes in hepatic hemodynamics and esophageal variceal pressure–measured with a noninvasive, pressure‐sensitive endoscopic gauge–in 37 portal‐hypertensive cirrhotic patients receiving propranolol (0.15 mg/kg, intravenously; n = 21) or placebo (n = 16) under strict double‐blind conditions. Placebo administration had no effect on hepatic venous pressure gradient, azygos blood flow or variceal pressure.

Antoni Castells, Jordi Bruix, Concepció Bru, Josep Fuster, Ramon Vilana, Miquel Navasa, Carmen Ayuso, Loreto Boix, Josep Visa, Joan Rodés – 1 November 1993 – This study was intended to compare the survival rates of two contemporary cohorts of patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinomas ≤ 4 cm subjected to surgical resection (n = 33) or percutaneous ethanol injection (n = 30). Outcomes in a third cohort, 21 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation, were also assessed.

Gerry T. M. Wagenaar, Robert A. F. M. Chamuleau, Jan G. de Haan, Martinus A. W. Maas, Piet A. J. de Boer, Frans Marx, Antoon F. M. Moorman, Wilma M. Frederiks, Wouter H. Lamers – 1 November 1993 – Many enzymes are distributed heterogeneously within the liver lobule. The factors that play a determining role in the establishment and maintenance of these heterogeneous expression patterns have not yet been identified.

Urs A. Boelsterli, Armin Wolf, Christian Göldlin – 1 November 1993 – Cocaine ethyl ester (“cocaethylene”) is a cocaine metabolite formed by hepatic carboxylesterases in the presence of ethanol. In the human liver, this pharmacologically active cocaine analog may reach concentrations similar to those of cocaine.

Kevin M. Man, Anne Drejet, Emmet B. Keeffe, Richard Garcia‐Kennedy, Joanne C. Imperial, Carlos O. Esquivel – 1 November 1993 – Three patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and Hodgkin's disease, a previously unrecognized association, are reported. All three patients were men, and one patient had Crohn's disease of the colon. Primary sclerosing cholangitis was diagnosed 2, 11 and 17 yr before diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease in the three patients, and all three had advanced biliary cirrhosis prompting referral for liver transplantation.

Erin G. Schuetz, John D. Schuetz, Stephen C. Strom, Melissa T. Thompson, Robert A. Fisher, David T. Molowa, Donna Li, Philip S. Guzelian – 1 November 1993 – The cytochrome P‐450 3A gene family comprises the dominant forms of cytochrome P‐450 found in human liver.

Keith S. Henley – 1 November 1993

Haim Schupper, Paul Hayashi, James Scheffel, Sherri Acettuno, Teresa Paglieroni, Paul V. Holland, Jerome B. Zeldis – 1 November 1993 – Peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferative responses in vitro to recombinant yeast or Escherichia coli hepatitis C virus fusion proteins were evaluated in 20 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were reactive for antibody to hepatitis C virus (on enzyme immunoassay, version 2.0, and a four‐antigen recombinant immunoblot assay). Twenty age‐matched, healthy individuals negative for antibody to hepatitis C virus were used as a control group.