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.

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).

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.

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%.

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.

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

Stephen C. Wright – 1 July 1991

1 July 1991

Juan Antonio Quiroga, María Luz Campillo, Inmaculada Catillo, Javier Bartolomé, Juan Carlos Porres, Vicente Carreño – 1 July 1991 – To assess possible role of testing for IgM‐specific antibody in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with hepatitis C, we tested sera from 14 patients with acute and 97 patients with chronic non‐A, non‐B hepatitis for IgG and IgM antibody to hepatitis C virus. IgG antibody to hepatitis C virus was detected in 93% of acute cases and 91% of chronic cases. Of the 101 patients with IgG antibody to hepatitis C virus, 57% had IgM antibody to hepatitis C virus.

Yolanta T. Kruszynska, Philip D. Home, Neil McIntyre – 1 July 1991 – Hepatic insulin extraction is difficult to measure in humans; as a result, the interrelationship between defective insulin secretion and insulin insensitivity in the pathogenesis of glucose intolerance in cirrhosis remains unclear. To reassess this we used recombinant human C‐peptide to measure C‐peptide clearance in cirrhotic patients and controls and thus derive C‐peptide and insulin secretion rates after a 75‐gm oral glucose load and during a 10 mmol/L hyperglycemic clamp.