Jorge J. Gumucio, Paolo Gentilini – 1 May 1991 – Plasma levels of canrenone and androgen receptoractive materials (ARM) were determined during long‐term oral K‐canrenoate or spironolactone therapy in cirrhotics with chronic recurrent ascites. Mean plasma canrenone level was approximately 3 times higher under K‐canrenoate than under spironolactone treatment; moreover, the levels were not dose related. Either type of treatment did not affect plasma aldosterone and testosterone concentrations.

Faust Feu, Josep M. Bordas, Joan C. Garcia‐Pagán, Jaime Bosch, Joan Rodés – 1 May 1991 – This study was aimed at investigating the effects of propranolol on esophageal variceal pressure in patients with portal hypertension.

Thierry Poynard, Alain Aubert, Yasmina Lazizi, Pierre Bedossa, Bernard Hamelin, Benoit Terris, Sylvie Naveau, Pascal Dubreuil, Jacques Pillot, Jean‐Claude Chaput – 1 May 1991 – The aim of this study was to assess whether markers of hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection are independent risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma in drinkers after adjustment for three known risk factors: cirrhosis, age and male sex. Among 2,015 consecutive drinkers admitted, hepatitis C virus antibodies were found by sensitive radioimmunoassay in 1,259.

Francesco William Guglielmi, Francesco Contento, Lucia Laddaga, Carmine Panella, Antonio Francavilla – 1 May 1991 – Bioelectric impedance analysis is a new, convenient and portable method used to estimate total body water and to assess body composition in healthy people. We used the tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analysis method in 58 cirrhotic patients to assess its clinical applicability. Whole‐body resistance, reactance and impedance were measured and compared with those of 30 healthy volunteers matched for age and sex.

Deborah K. Freese, Dale C. Snover, Harvey L. Sharp, Cynthia R. Gross, S. Kay Savick, William D. Payne – 1 May 1991 – In an effort to better understand chronic liver transplant rejection, we studied 110 children and adults who survived for at least 2 mo after the transplant procedure. Chronic rejection was defined using a combination of clinical and histopathological criteria and was diagnosed in 10 of the 110 patients for an incidence of 9.1%. All 10 patients were children with the mean age 3.4 yr vs. 21.7 yr for patients without chronic rejection (p <.001).

1 May 1991

Mahmoud F. Sakr, Giorgio M. Zetti, Tarek I. Hassanein, Hassan Farghali, Michael A. Nalesnik, Judith S. Gavaler, Thomas E. Starzl, David H. Van Thiel – 1 May 1991 – The effect of FK 506 on regeneration of the liver was studied in rats after a two‐thirds partial hepatectomy after 60 min of ischemia of the unresected liver. The animals were divided into three distinct groups of 10 rats each. Group 1 (controls) received 0.5 ml saline solution intravenously 30 min after the induction of ischemia.

Hai‐Jiang Cai, Chong‐Lun Xie, Qi Chen, Xiu‐Ying Chen, Yue‐Hua Chen – 1 May 1991 – We found that the binding of 125I‐low‐density lipoprotein to fetal liver low‐density lipoprotein receptor rose progressively with the increase in fetal age. During this period, total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol levels in fetal serum declined significantly. The correlation coefficients between fetal age and concentration of serum total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were −0.80 (p < 0.001) and −0.77 (p < 0.001), respectively.

Walid E. Khalbuss, Robert Wondergem – 1 May 1991 – This study examined the role of hepatocyte calcium and cytoskeleton in activation of hyposmotic stress‐induced increases in hepatocyte transmembrane potential and control of cell volume. Hepatocyte transmembrane potential was measured by glass microelectrodes in mouse liver slices before and after exposure to hyposmotic medium. Hepatocytes were loaded with tetramethylammonium by briefly exposing liver slices to nystatin, a cation poreforming antibiotic.

Sadhana Prakash, Arnold E. Postlethwaite, David J. Wyler – 1 May 1991 – Schistosomiasis is the main cause of hepatic fibrosis worldwide, yet its pathogenesis remains unknown. We previously reported that conditioned medium from cultures of hepatic egg granulomas (isolated from mice acutely infected with Schistosoma mansoni) can stimulate fibroblast proliferation and matrix production in vitro. We have proposed that initiation of hepatic fibrosis in this infection might be under the control of granuloma‐derived cytokines.