Peter A. Ward – 1 December 1990

Toni Andreani, Reneé E. Poupon, Beverley J. Balkau, Jean‐Claude Trinchet, Jean‐Didier Grange, Nicolas Peigney, Michel Beaugrand, Raoul Poupon – 1 December 1990 – Propranolol and endoscopic sclerosis of esophageal varices are the two approaches currently used in prophylaxis of the first gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the cirrhotic patient. One hundred twenty‐six cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices and no histories of bleeding were included in the trial regardless of the gravity of the cirrhosis or the size of the esophageal varices.

De Feng Wu, Liviu Clejan, Barry Potter, Arthur I. Cederbaum – 1 December 1990 – Studies were conducted to evaluate the possible induction or the maintenance of cytochrome P‐450IIE1 in primary hepatocyte cultures by the inducing agent 4‐methylpyrazole. Hepatocytes were isolated from control (noninduced) rats and from rats treated in vivo with either pyrazole or 4‐methylpyrazole to induce P‐450IIE1. The content of P‐450IIE1 was determined by Western blots with antipyrazole P‐450 IgG, and catalytic activity was assessed by assays of dimethyl‐nitrosamine demethylase activity.

Philippe Mavier, Jean Rosenbaum, Anne‐Marie Preaux, Ariane Mallat, Daniel Dhumeaux – 1 December 1990 – We have recently demonstrated that polymorphonuclear neutrophils were toxic to hepatocytes through a protease‐mediated mechanism. Since synthesis of antiproteases is markedly increased during acute inflammatory reaction, the aim of this work was to investigate the toxicity of neutrophils against normal vs. inflammatory rat hepatocytes. Acute inflammatory reaction was induced by subcutaneous injection of turpentine 24 hr before the experiments.

Ruben Kier – 1 December 1990 – The diagnostic efficacy of magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) for detection and quantification of hepatic iron was assessed in a series of patients under investigation for clinical or biochemical evidence of hepatic iron overload. Thirty patients underwent MR imaging (SE 30,60/1000 or SE 30,60/2000) at 0.5 Tesla with calculation of hepatic T2 and liver to paraspinous muscles signal intensity ratios. Twenty‐nine patients also had measurement of hepatic attenuation on noncontrast CT images.

Tsuneo Kitamura, Zenaida Gatmaitan, Irwin M. Arias – 1 December 1990 – To characterize the poorly understood mechanisms of intracellular transport of bile acids, fluorescein isothiocyanate—glycocholate was synthesized and its ring‐OH—linked structure established by fast atom bombardment, mass spectroscopy and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance.

Agata Budkowska, Pascal Dubreuil, Patrick Maillard, Thierry Poynard, Jacques Pillot – 1 December 1990 – The clinical relevance of the immune response to the translation products of the pre‐S1 and pre‐S2 regions of hepatitis B virus was examined by testing sequential serum samples from 17 patients with acute self‐limited hepatitis B and from two patients in whom chronic liver disease developed. Anti‐pre‐S antibodies were determined by enzyme immunoassays based on the inhibition of binding of monoclonal antibodies to epitopes in the pre‐S1 and pre‐S2 sequence.

Anna Suk‐Fong Lok, Ching‐Lung Lai, Elsie Kit‐Yee Leung – 1 December 1990 – In a randomized controlled trial of recombinant α‐2a interferon for chronic hepatitis B, interferon antibodies developed in 21 (39%) of 54 Chinese adults who received IFN. No correlation was observed between sex, age, pretreatment serum ALT level or liver histological findings and the development of interferon antibodies. Antibodies were significantly more likely to develop in patients who received lower doses (2.5 or 5 MU/m2) of α‐2a interferon than in those who received a higher dose (10 MU/m2): 53% vs.

P.‐Michel Huet, Ricardo Mastai, Michel Dagenais, Jean Cǒté, Hector Orrego, Laurence M. Blendis, Yedy Israel – 1 December 1990

Jaime Bosch – 1 December 1990 – Systemic, femoral and renal hemodynamics were evaluated in 7 control subjects and 20 cirrhotic patients with ascites, 14 of them without (group A) and 6 with (group B) functional renal failure. Hyperdynamic systemic circulation, increased plasma volume, and hyperreninism were present in groups A and B. These changes were more severe in group B, which showed, as compared with group A, lower total vascular resistances and mean arterial pressure together with increased cardiac index and plasma renin activity.