Alastair J. Strain – 1 July 1992 – Incubation of fetal rat hepatocytes (FRH) with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) resulted in growth arrest and a biphasic effect on epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. After 2 h of exposure, EGF receptor (EGFR) was reduced by 43%. From 6 to 24 h, TGF‐β1 exposure resulted in progressive increase in EGFR up to 74% over control. The increased binding was due to increase in high affinity EGF binding sites. FRH grown in medium containing EGF exhibited down‐regulated EGFR with loss of high affinity EGF binding sites.

Giuseppe Torgano, Maurizio Vecchi, Eliana Arosio, Daniela Santambrogio, Guido Ronchi, Giorgio Annoni, Maurizio Tomasini, Ettore Contessini, Roberto De Franchis – 1 July 1992 – Little is known about the distribution of IgG‐bearing cell subpopulations in normal liver and their possible changes in disease conditions. We developed an immunohistochemical method that proved suitable and accurate for the identification and characterization of IgG‐bearing cells and their subpopulations in liver specimens. The method uses specific monoclonal antibodies on serial mirror liver sections.

Professor Giulio Marchesini, Elisabetta Bugianesi, Giampaolo Bianchi, Andrea Fabbri, Elisabetta Marchi, Marco Zoli, Emilio Pisi – 1 July 1992 – A block in the transsulfuration pathway has previously been suggested in cirrhosis on the basis of increased fasting methionine concentrations, decreased methionine elimination and low levels of methionine end products. To date, methionine elimination has never been studied under controlled steady‐state conditions, and the relation of the severity of liver disease to impaired methionine metabolism has not been clarified.

Elliott Larson – 1 July 1992

Maria Cascales, Paloma Martin‐Sanz, Alberto Alvarez, Miguel Sanchez‐Pérez, Carmen Diez Fernández, Lisardo Boscá – 1 July 1992 – Hepatocytes isolated from the liver of rats after a necrotizing dose of thioacetamide (6.6 mmol/kg) were used to study the postnecrotic process of liver regeneration. Flow cytometry analysis revealed populations of dedifferentiated hepatocytes exhibiting physical properties (size and fluorescence emission at 530 nm) similar to those found in fetal (22 days old) liver cells.

Greg Fitz – 1 July 1992 – In rat hepatocytes, basolateral Na+‐H+ exchange and Na+‐HCO3− cotransport function as acid extruders. To assess mechanisms of acid loading, intracellular pH (pHi) recovery from an alkaline load was analyzed in short‐term cultured rat hepatocyte monolayers using the pH‐sensitive dye BCECF. Electrophysiological techniques were also used to assess the role of the membrane potential (Vm). Cells were alkaline loaded by suddenly reducing external CO2 and HCO3− (from 10% and 50 mM, respectively, to 5% and 25 mM) at constant pH.

1 July 1992

Steven D. Lidofsky, Nathan M. Bass, Marie C. Prager, Denna E. Washington, Alexandra E. Read, Teresa L. Wright, Nancy L. Ascher, John P. Roberts, Bruce F. Scharschmidt, John R. Lake – 1 July 1992 – Cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension, commonly present in fulminant hepatic failure, may lead to brainstem herniation and limit the survival of comatose patients awaiting liver transplantation before a donor organ becomes available. Also, they are likely responsible for postoperative neurological morbidity and mortality.

Peter M. Price, Ranjit Banerjee, Alan M. Jeffrey, George Acs – 1 July 1992 – The carbocyclic analog of deoxyguanosine inhibits hepatitis B virus replication by greater than 95% in the hepatitis B virus‐producing cell line (2.2.15) as monitored by decreases of secreted hepatitis B virus DNA, hepatitis B virus polymerase activity and intracellular episomal hepatitis B virus DNA. Transcription of hepatitis B virus RNA from chromosomally integrated hepatitis B virus DNA was unaffected.

Marlies Otter, PETRA Žočková, Johan Kuiper, Theo J. C. Van Berkel, Marrie M. Barrett‐Bergshoeff, Dingeman C. Rijken – 1 July 1992 – Various studies have shown that mannose receptors rapidly eliminate glycoproteins and microorganisms bearing high mannose–type carbohydrate chains from the blood circulation. The purpose of this study was to characterize the mannose receptor in the liver, which in vivo is involved in the rapid clearance of tissue‐type plasminogen activator from the circulation.