Joseph C. Kolars – 1 September 1992 – Aflatoxin is believed to be a major causative agent in the high incidence of primary liver cancer seen in certain regions of the world. In Fujian Province, an aflatoxin‐endemic region of China, we compared the cigarette smoking habits of 200 primary hepatoma patients with those of 200 matched nonhepatoma controls. We excluded from our study all individuals with evidence of hepatitis B virus serum antigen and/or alcoholic cirrhosis. Interestingly, two groups of hepatoma patients could be discerned.

Juan Ruiz, Bruno Sangro, José I. Cuende, Oscar Beloqui, JosBé I. Riezu‐Boj, JOSé I. Herrero, Jesús Prieto – 1 September 1992 – The prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections was studied in 70 patients diagnosed as having hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition to viral serological markers, serum hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis C virus RNA were determined with a nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Twelve patients (17%) were HBsAg positive, 26 (37%) had antibodies to HBs, HBc or both and 32 (46%) were negative for all hepatitis B virus serological markers.

Ibrahim Kassissia, Colin P. Rose, Carl A. Goresky, Andreas J. Schwab, Glen G. Bach, Suzette Guirguis – 1 September 1992 – We used the multiple‐indicator dilution technique to examine the kinetics of tracer oxygen distribution and uptake in the rat liver perfused in a nonrecirculating fashion with blood. 51Cr‐labeled 18O2‐saturated erythrocytes, labeled albumin, sucrose and water (the tracers for oxygen and vascular, interstitial and cellular references) were injected simultaneously into the portal vein.

Frank Iber – 1 September 1992

1 September 1992

Ulrich Beuers, Ulrich Spengler, Wolfgang Kruis, ülker Aydemir, Baldur Wiebecke, Walter Heldwein, Marlene Weinzierl, Gerd R. Pape, Tilman Sauerbruch, Gustav Paumgartner – 1 September 1992 – The efficacy and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid for the treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis were evaluated in a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Fourteen patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis documented by cholestatic serum enzyme pattern, liver histological appearance and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography were included in the trial.

Don C. Rockey, Jacquelyn J. Maher, William R. Jarnagin, Giulio Gabbiani, Scott L. Friedman – 1 September 1992 – Hepatic lipocytes (perisinusoidal, Ito cells) are the primary matrix‐producing cells in liver fibrosis. During liver injury they undergo activation, a process characterized by cell proliferation and increased fibrogenesis. We and others have established a culture model in which in vivo features of lipocyte activation can be mimicked by cells grown on plastic.

Michael A. E. Ramsay, A. W. Paulsen, Thomas H. Swygert – 1 September 1992

G. Michael Taylor, Robert D. Goldin, Peter Karayiannis, Howard C. Thomas – 1 September 1992 – An in situ hybridization method using radiolabeled oligonucleotide probes was developed to study primary sites of hepatitis A virus replication in an experimental animal model of infection. Hepatitis A genomic sequences were demonstrated in hepatocytes of four marmosets with acute hepatitis A by use of antisense probes. In two of these animals, staining was also found when a sense probe was used, which is consistent with active replication in the hepatocytes.

Adrian M. di Bisceglie, Michiko Shindo, Tse‐Ling Fong, Michael W. Fried, Mark G. Swain, Nora V. Bergasa, Constantine A. Axiotis, Jeanne G. Waggoner, Yoon Park, Jay H. Hoofnagle – 1 September 1992 – Interferon‐α therapy is of proven efficacy in chronic hepatitis C, but it is not universally effective and may be associated with intolerable side effects. Ribavirin is a nucleoside analog with a broad spectrum of antiviral action. We conducted an uncontrolled pilot study of ribavirin therapy in 13 patients with chronic hepatitis C.