James M. Crawford, John L. Gollan – 1 July 1991

Jose J. G. Marin, Pilar Bravo, Fernando Perez Barriocanal, Mohamad Y. El‐Mir, Gloria R. Villanueva – 1 July 1991 – In a previous report we showed that cholestasis in diabetic rats is due in part to hyperglycemia. To gain information about the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon, bile flow was studied in isolated perfused rat livers. The perfusion media were modified erythrocyte‐free Krebs‐Henseleit solutions.

Joanne C. Wilton, Delyth E. Williams, Alastair J. Strain, Rosemary A. Parslow, J. Kevin Chipman, Roger Coleman – 1 July 1991 – An initial preparation of rat hepatocytes containing approximately 30% couplets was enriched by centrifugal elutriation. Of the couplets loaded onto the elutriator, 87% were eluted at medium flow rates of 60 to 80 ml/min at a rotor speed of 1,100 rpm; cells eluted in this range maintained a viability of more than 95%. Peak fractions were enriched in couplets to 84.5% ± 2.5%.

Johnson Y. N. Lau, Nick Sheron, Kayhan T. Nouri‐Aria, Graeme J. M. Alexander, Roger Williams – 1 July 1991 – Production of the antiviral cytokine, tumor necrosis factor‐α is increased in chronic hepatitis B virus infection, and clinical studies of tumor necrosis factor‐α have indicated a proviral effect at higher doses.

Steven F. Bronk, Gregory J. Gores – 1 July 1991 – The purposes of this study were to determine the pH dependence of lethal endothelial cell injury during oxidative stress and the pH dependence of those cellular mechanisms proposed to result in endothelial cell killing. Oxidative stress was produced in rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells with H2O2 (5 mmol/L). Cell survival was dependent on the extracellular pH. Indeed, after 180 min of incubation with H2O2, cell survival was only 27% at pH 7.4,45% at pH 6.8 (p <0.05) and 62% at pH 6.4 (p <0.05).

Hubert E. Blum, T. Jake Liang, Eithan Galun, Jack R. Wands – 1 July 1991 – Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a major medical problem worldwide. Apart from HBsAg carriers, hepatitis B virus has also been identified in some HBsAg—individuals with or without antibodies to viral antigens. The molecular mechanisms underlying hepatitis B virus persistence in HBsAg—individuals are unresolved, however. To identify a possible genetic basis for viral persistence, we cloned the viral genome from the liver of a patient serologically immune to hepatitis B virus infection.

Javier Ariza, Xavier Xiol, Maria Esteve, Fernando Fernández Bañeres, Josefina Liñares, Teresa Alonso, Francisco Gudiol – 1 July 1991 – Aztreonam and cefotaxime were compared in 44 cirrhotic patients who had 52 episodes of gramnegative spontaneous peritonitis. Patients were randomized into two therapeutic groups of similar characteristics. Group A (28 episodes) received 0.5 gm of aztreonam every 8 hr, and group B (24 episodes) received 1 gm of cefotaxime every 6 hr, for a planned 14‐day period.

John L. Gerin – 1 July 1991

Marek Rudnicki, David W. McFadden, Josef E. Fischer – 1 July 1991 – A simple method of biliary‐enteric anastomosis, without the use of surgical microscopy, is described. There were no signs of cholestasis after 3 mo of follow‐up. A modified procedure using a silicone elastomer catheter as a stent for the biliary‐enteric anastomosis resulted in biliary obstruction within 3 wk after surgery. Our experimental bile duct implantation technique is a simple and useful experimental method for the investigation of chronic biliary diversion and biliary physiology.

Winston L. Hutchinson, Yvette S. White, Elizabeth A. Fagan, Philip J. Johnson, Roger Williams – 1 July 1991 – To determine the factors underlying the apparent reduction in binding ability of thyroxine‐binding globulin in hepatocellular carcinoma, hormonebinding characteristics were further examined in patients with this disease and in control subjects. No differences in affinity constants with respect to triiodothyronine or serum thyroxine‐binding globulin from hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhotic and normal subjects were found.