Daryl Daugherty – 1 April 1992 – The nucleotide sequence of the RNA genome of the human hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been determined from overlapping cDNA clones. The sequence (9379 nucleotides) has a single large open reading frame that could encode a viral polyprotein precursor of 3011 amino acids. While there is little overall amino acid and nucleotide sequence homology with other viruses, the 5′ HCV nucleotide sequence upstream of this large open reading frame has substantial similarity to the 5′ termini of pestiviral genomes.

Lucian Saucan, George E. Palade – 1 April 1992 – We carried out a comparative investigation on the effects of colchicine (25 μmoles/100 gm body wt) on the intracellular transport, processing and discharge by secretion or proteolytic processing of a membrane protein (i.e., the polymeric IgA receptor) and a secretory protein (i.e., albumin) in rat hepatocytes.

Kenji Abe, Genevieve Inchauspe, Toshio Shikata, Alfred M. Prince – 1 April 1992 – The relationship between hepatitis C virus RNA and hepatitis C virus‐associated antibodies (antibody against the putative capsid protein and C‐100 antibody) was determined by nested polymerase chain reaction and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in serial serum samples obtained from eight chimpanzees experimentally infected with hepatitis C virus.

Paolo Angeli, Erica De Bei, Manuela Dalla Pria, Lorenza Caregaro, Giulio Ceolotto, Grazia Albino, Angelo Gatta – 1 April 1992 – The reliability of lithium clearance as an index of distal fluid delivery in cirrhosis with ascites and in other clinical conditions characterized by low fractional sodium excretion has not yet been proven. In particular, lithium reabsorption in the amiloridesensitive segment of the distal tubule, as evidenced in experimental studies, has not been excluded in such clinical conditions.

Beryl A. Koblin, Patricia E. Taylor, Pablo Rubinstein, Cladd E. Stevens – 1 April 1992 – This study examined the effect of duration of hepatitis B virus infection on the association between human immunodeficiency virus type‐1 infection and hepatitis B viral replication. Twenty‐five chronic HBsAg carriers were studied.

Raymond S. Koff – 1 April 1992

Francesco Violi, Domenico Ferro, Stefania Basili, Claudio Quintarelli, Mirella Saliola, Cesare Alessandri, Corrado Cordova, Francesco Balsano – 1 April 1992 – Sixty‐one patients with different degrees of liver failure, 23 with Child‐Pugh class B and 38 with Child‐Pugh class C, were studied and observed for 3 yr. Coagulation index analysis showed significantly lower values of prothrombin activity, more prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, higher bilirubin and fibrinogen degradation products values in class C patients.

Ann Duthie, Derek G. Doherty, Carolyn Williams, Robert Scott‐Jupp, J. O. Warner, M. Stuart Tanner, Robert Williamson, Alex P. Mowat – 1 April 1992 – Genetic factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of liver disease in cystic fibrosis. To investigate whether liver disease is associated with particular mutations of the defective gene in cystic fibrosis, we have determined the frequencies of three mutations – ΔF508, G551D and R553X – in 111 children and young adults with cystic fibrosis by analysis of genomic DNA segments amplified by the polymerase chain reaction.

P. Aiden McCormick, Graham L. Kaye, Lynda Greenslade, Fabrizio Cardin, Kenneth E. F. Hobbs, Neil McIntyre, Andrew K. Burroughs – 1 March 1992 – It is not clear which therapy should be used in patients with bleeding esophageal varices that are not controlled by emergency sclerotherapy. This is a high‐risk group with reported mortality rates of between 70% and 90%. We report our 7‐yr experience with staple transection of the esophagus in this patient group. Of 168 patients (280 bleeding episodes) treated with sclerotherapy, 22 had emergency staple transection for failure to control bleeding.

Patricia Sheiner, Wilfred de Majo, Gary A. Levy – 1 March 1992 – Background. When administered early after an overdose of acetaminophen, intravenous acetylcysteine prevents hepatic necrosis by replenishing reduced stores of glutathione. How acetylcysteine improves the survival of patients with established liver damage induced by acetaminophen, however, is unknown. This study was undertaken to determine whether the beneficial effect of acetylcysteine under such circumstances could be due to enhancement of oxygen delivery and consumption.