High prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in a prospective series of patients with chronic hepatitis C before interferon therapy

Albert Tran, Jean François Quaranta, Sylvia Benzaken, Valerie Thiers, Hoang Trong Chau, Patrick Hastier, Daniel Regnier, Gilles Dreyfus, Christian Pradier, Jean‐Louis Sadoul, Xavier Hebutern, Patrick Rampa – 1 August 1993 – After describing two cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis associated with chronic hepatitis C, we set up a prospective study to assessthe prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies (thyroglobulin and thyroid microsomal autoantibodies) in 72 chronic hepatitis C patients (43 men and 29 women; mean age = 51 ± 2.1 yr) before interferon therapy admitted between January and December 199

Adoptive transfer of immunity to hepatitis B virus after T cell–depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Yaron Ilan, Arnon Nagler, Ruth Adler, Elizabeth Naparstek, Reuven Or, Shimon Slavin, Chaim Brautba, Daniel Shouva – 1 August 1993 – Recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation are pancytopenic for several weeks and immunosuppressed for many months as a result of myeloablative therapy required to eliminate the basic disease and to prevent allograft rejection. After bone marrow transplantation, these patients remain profoundly immunosuppressed by the chemotherapy and immunotherapy used as prophylaxis against graft‐vs.‐host disease, treatment of established disease or both.

Prospective assessment of donor blood screening for antibody to hepatitis C virus and high‐titer antibody to HBcAg as a means of preventing posttransfusion hepatitis

Susumu Takano, Masao Omata, Masao Oht, Yoichi Satomura – 1 August 1993 – Since December 1989, the Japan Red Cross Blood Bureau has screened blood donors for hepatitis C virus antibody on the basis of enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and high titers of antibody to HBc antigen. To elucidate the effectiveness of the new screening tests in preventing posttransfusion hepatitis, the incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis after the introduction of the new tests (December 1989 to December 1990) was compared with the incidence before their introduction (January 1982 to December 1988).

Establishment of two distinct human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines from a single nodule showing clonal dedifferentiation of cancer cells

Hirohisa Yano, Akihiro Iemura, Kazunori Fukuda, Atsushi Mizoguchi, Makoto Haramaki, Masamichi Kojiro – 1 August 1993 – Hepatocellular carcinomas often contain tumor cells of more than one histological grade. The clonal relationship and biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in histologically heterogeneous areas have not been fully explored. We established two distinct human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HAK‐1A and 1B) from a single nodule showing a three‐layered structure with a different histological grade in each layer.

Serum levels of transforming growth factor‐α in patients after partial hepatectomy as determined with an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay

Tomoaki Tomiya, Kenji Fujiwara – 1 August 1993 – A sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for measuring serum transforming growth factor‐α levels was developed with monoclonal IgM and polyclonal IgG antihuman transforming growth factor‐α antibodies and a system to amplify the activity of the conjugated enzyme. The assay detected serum transforming growth factor‐α levels as low as 5 pg/ml. Serum transforming growth factor‐α levels were below the detection limit of the assay in 19% of healthy adults, with a mean (± S.D.) detectable level of 22.0 ± 16.7 pg/ml.

Constipation: Is it a risk factor for cholesterol gallstones?

Jorge J. Gumucio, James L. Watkins, Thelma E. Wiley, Thomas J. Layden – 1 August 1993 – Many cases of gallstones can be explained in terms of the established risk factors, especially obesity. However, gallstones develop in some women who are not obese, and the causes are unknown. Biochemical studies have shown that slow intestinal transit is associated with lithogenic bile. We have tested the hypothesis that intestinal transit is abnormally slow in normal‐weight women with gallstones.

Effects of ritanserin, a selective and specific S2‐serotonergic antagonist, on portal pressure and splanchnic hemodynamics in rats with long‐term bile duct ligation

Mercedes Fernández, Pilar Pizcueta, Juan Carlos García‐Pagán, Faust Feu, Isabel Cirera, Jaime Bosch, Joan Rodés – 1 August 1993 – This study investigated the short‐term effects of ritanserin, a selective and specific S2‐serotonergic antagonist, in an experimental model of cirrhosis and intrahepatic portal hypertension caused by long‐term bile duct ligation and division and in normal control rats.

Nitric oxide mediates lipopolysaccharide‐induced alteration of mitochondrial function in cultured hepatocytes and isolated perfused liver

Iwao Kurose, Shinzo Kato, Hiromasa Ishii, Dai Fukumura, Soichiro Miura, Makoto Suematsu, Masaharu Tsuchiy – 1 August 1993 – The influence of endogenous nitric oxide, which is generated by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, on the mitochondrial energization of rat hepatocytes was investigated in vitro and ex vivo.

Isolation and enrichment of two sublobular compartment‐specific endothelial cell subpopulations from liver sinusoids

Fernando Vidal‐Vanaclocha, Marian Rocha, Aintzane Asumendi, Emilio Barberá‐Guillem – 1 August 1993 – Similar to the well‐recognized phenotypical heterogeneity of hepatocytes, in situ sublobular variations have recently been detected in the cell structure, fenestration patterns, filtrating efficiency, surface glycosylation, scavenger function and pathological responses of the sinusoidal lining endothelium.

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