Hepatic injury induced by bile salts: Correlation between biochemical and morphological events

Douglas L. Schmucker, Minoru Ohta, Setsuko Kanai, Yuko Sato, Kenichi Kitani – 1 November 1990 – Continuous intravenous infusion of taurochenodeoxycholate at a rate of 0.4 μmol · min−1 · 100 gm−1 for only 30 min in rats caused threefold to tenfold greater release of proteins (alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and albumin) into bile in comparison with animals infused with tauroursodeoxycholate at much higher rates (1.8 μmol · min−1 · 100 gm−1) for 2 hr.

Alcohol content of various beverages: All booze is created equal

Harold O. Conn – 1 November 1990 – After consuming comparable amounts of ethanol, women have higher blood ethanol concentrations than men, even with allowance for differences in size, and are more susceptible to alcoholic liver disease. Recently, we documented significant “first pass metabolism” of ethanol due to its oxidation by gastric tissue. We report a study of the possible contribution of this metabolism to the sex‐related difference in blood alcohol concentrations in 20 men and 23 women. Six in each group were alcoholics.

Effect of lactulose on the metabolism of short‐chain fatty acids

Misael Uribe, Octavio Campollo, Christiane Cote – 1 November 1990 – Short‐chain (C2C5) fatty acids account for 60%–70% of the anions in the colon. Acetate (C2) is nontoxic in contrast to C(3)4C5 fatty acids (propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, valerate, and isovalerate), which induce coma in animals and may be important in the pathogenesis of hepatic coma in humans. An in‐vitro fecal incubation system was used to map out short‐chain fatty acid production in the presence of lactulose, amino acids, albumin, or blood. Albumin and blood increased production of all C2C5 fatty acids.

31Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: What does it tell us about alcohol‐induced liver disease?

R. A. Willson – 1 November 1990 – 1.Patients with a history of alcohol abuse were studied by 31P n.m.r. spectroscopy of the liver in vivo, and the results were related to the pattern of disease assessed by standard biochemical and histological techniques.2.The ratios of metabolites measured from the 31P n.m.r. spectra were abnormal in patients with alcoholic hepatitis but not in those with fatty change or cirrhosis in the absence of hepatitis. In particular, the levels of phosphomonoesters were raised, with respect either to Pv, or to adenosine 5′‐triphosphate.

Selective intestinal decontamination increases serum and ascitic fluid C3 levels in cirrhosis

Jose Such, Carlos Guarner, German Soriano, Montserrat Teixidó, José Barrios, Francisco Tena, Carmen Méndez, Jaime Enríquez, José Luis Rodríguez, Francisco Vilardell – 1 November 1990 – Selective intestinal decontamination for 7 days with norfloxacin was performed in 14 cirrhotic patients with ascites and low ascitic fluid total protein. Variations in serum and ascitic fluid of C3 and C4 and ascitic fluid total protein after therapy were compared with those of a control group of 14 untreated patients with similar characteristics.

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