Cholesterol‐lowering effect of ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Renée E. Poupon, Khadija Ouguerram, Yves Chrétien, Claudine Verneau, Eveline Eschwège, Thierry Magot, Raoul Poupon – 1 April 1993 – We have previously shown in a 2‐yr controlled trial that hypercholesterolemia, frequent in primary biliary cirrhosis, is lowered by ursodeoxycholic acid (13 to 15 mg daily). To further investigate this effect, we analyzed the influence of long‐term ursodeoxycholic acid administration on serum lipids, lipoproteins and bile acids.

Hepatitis B virus DNA in serum and liver is commonly found in chinese patients with chronic liver disease despite the presence of antibodies to HBsAg

Yong‐Yuan Zhang, Bengt Göran Hansson, Lin Sheng Kuo, Anders Widell, Erik Nordenfelt – 1 April 1993 – Sera from 410 patients from the Wuhan area in the central part of China with the diagnosis of chronic liver disease were analyzed for markers of hepatitis B, C and D virus infections. All sera, plus liver biopsy specimens from 188 of the patients, were also tested for hepatitis B virus DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Sixty‐eight percent were HBsAg positive in serum, whereas 29% showed markers of past hepatitis B virus infection.

Effect of hypoxia on the hepatic metabolism of lidocaine in the isolated perfused pig liver

Berend Mets, Rosemary Hickman, Rosemary Allin, Jean van Dyk, Zoe Lotz – 1 April 1993 – The metabolism of lidocaine to monoethylglycinexylidide has been found useful as an indicator of liver function in association with liver transplantation. It has been postulated that this is due to the common effect of hypoxic damage on liver function and lidocaine metabolism. The effects of hypoxia on the elimination of lidocaine and the formation of mono‐ethylglycinexylidide and on indexes of liver function were investigated with the isolated perfused pig liver preparation.

Diagnostic features and clinical outcome of ischemic‐type biliary complications after liver transplantation

Luis Sanchez‐Urdazpal, Gregory J. Gores, Ellen M. Ward, Timothy P. Maus, Erwin G. Buckel, Jeffrey L. Steers, Russell H. Wiesner, Ruud A. F. Krom – 1 April 1993 – The clinical significance and outcome of nonanastomotic strictures and dilatations involving only the biliary tree of the graft with a radiological appearance of biliary ischemia is unknown. Therefore we analyzed the grafts of 128 patients to evaluate the biochemical, radiological and histological features that prompted the diagnosis of ischemic‐type biliary stricture and the clinical outcome of this complication.

Effects of thyroxine on the expression of alcohol dehydrogenase in rat liver and kidney

Katrina M. Dipple, Mona Qulali, Ruth Ann Ross, David W. Crabb – 1 April 1993 – We studied the effect of thyroxine on alcohol dehydrogenase activity, immunoreactive protein levels and messenger RNA levels in the livers of thyroidectomized and sham‐operated male rats. Effects on kidney alcohol dehydrogenase activity were also examined. Shamoperated rats injected with 100 μg thyroxine/kg/day, which induced hyperthyroidism, showed a 30% decrease in liver and a 40% decrease in kidney alcohol dehydrogenase activity compared with sham‐operated rats injected with vehicle.

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