Arie J. Zuckerman – 1 February 1990 – A random‐primed complementary DNA library was constructed from plasma containing the uncharacterized non‐A, non‐B hepatitis (NANBH) agent and screened with serum from a patient diagnosed with NANBH. A complementary DNA clone was isolated that was shown to encode an antigen associated specifically with NANBH infections. This clone is not derived from host DNA but from an RNA molecule present in NANBH infections that consists of at least 10,000 nucleotides and that is positive‐stranded with respect to the encoded NANBH antigen.

Fernando Corrales, Carmen Cabrero, Maria A. Pajares, Pablo Ortiz, Antonio Martin‐Duce, Jose M. Mato – 1 February 1990 – Catalytically active human and rat liver S‐adenosylmethionine synthetase exists mainly in tetramer and dimer form. In liver biopsy samples from cirrhotic patients a marked reduction in total S‐adenosylmethionine synthetase activity and a specific loss of the tetrameric form of the enzyme exist. We have investigated the possible role of sulfhydryl groups in maintaining the structure and activity of S‐adenosylmethionine synthetase.

Masaki Matsuoka, Martin Y. Zhang, Hidekazu Tsukamoto – 1 February 1990 – A high‐fat diet has previously been shown to be a key factor for induction of alcoholic liver fibrosis in a rat model of intragastric ethanol infusion. To explore a possible mechanism by which the high‐fat diet facilitated such an effect, the present study examined how the high‐fat diet with or without ethanol affected proliferation and collagen formation of hepatic lipocytes, perisinusoidal cells that have been suggested to be involved in liver fibrogenesis.

Ramesh A. Bhat, Paul P. Ulrich, Girish N. Vyas – 1 February 1990 – Based on the diversity of nucleotide sequences of cloned hepatitis B virus DNA genomes, we have predicted possible replication of genetic variants of human hepatitis B virus. This prediction is exemplified by studies of a chronic carrier of HBsAg/adw2, who lacked anti‐HBc but carried exceedingly high levels of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum.

Prakash N. Rao, Thomas R. Walsh, Leonard Makowka, Randy S. Rubin, Thomas Weber, James T. Snyder, Thomas E. Starzl – 1 February 1990 – The effect of ischemia and reperfusion on purine nucleoside phosphorylase was studied in an isolated perfused rat liver model. This enzyme is localized primarily in the cytoplasm of the endothelial and Kupffer cells; some activity is associated with the parenchymal cells. Levels of this enzyme accurately predicted the extent of ischemia and reperfusion damage to the microvascular endothelial cell of the liver.

Paul Calabresi, Gregory Curt – 1 January 1990 – Fourteen patients received 5‐iodo‐2 ‐deoxyuridine (IdUrd) before surgery for placement of a hepatic arterial catheter. Biopsy specimens were obtained at the time of surgery and the incorporation of IdUrd into DNA in tumor and normal hepatic tissue was measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography and used as an index of drug selectivity. Over a 3‐day intravenous infusion of IdUrd at 1,000 mg/m2/day, substitution for thymidine in tumor DNA averaged 3.1%. Normal hepatic DNA contained <1% substitution by IdUrd.

Tsung‐Sheng Su, Ting‐Fen Tsai, Chin‐Wen Chi, Shou‐Hwa Han, Chen‐Kung Chou – 1 January 1990 – Complementary DNA of a rat brain glucose transporter gene was used to examine the expression of glucose‐transporter messenger RNA in paired human hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent nontumorous liver tissues, as well as in human hepatoma cell lines and human fetal liver samples. High expression of a major 2.8‐kilobase glucose‐transporter transcript was seen in all hepatoma cell lines and fetal liver samples examined, whereas a much lower level of expression was observed in liver tissues.

Samuel A. Ockner, Elizabeth M. Brunt, Steven M. Cohn, Elaine S. Krul, Douglas W. Hanto, Marion G. Peters – 1 January 1990 – A previously healthy 35‐year‐old woman was seen at 37 weeks' gestation with a 10‐day history of fever, vomiting, diarrhea and malaise. Serum laboratory findings included elevation of serum bilirubin and AST, prolongation of serum prothrombin time and a positive monospot. A tentative diagnosis of acute fatty liver of pregnancy was made, and a healthy male infant was delivered by emergency cesarean section because of fetal distress.

Francis R. Weiner, Marie‐Adele Giambrone, Mark J. Czaja, Anish Shah, Giorgio Annoni, Shizuko Takahashi, Mahboubeh Eghbali, Mark A. Zern – 1 January 1990 – Ito cells are perisinusoidal cells thought to be a major source of collagen in normal and fibrotic livers. These cells appear to have features similar to several cell types but when cultured assume a fibroblast‐like morphology. In this study we evaluated the phenotype of both freshly isolated and cultured Ito cells by examining their gene expression.

Daisaku Muno, Eiki Kominami, Hideo Ishii, Koh Usui, Koji Saifuku, Yuji Sakakibara, Toshihiko Namihisa – 1 January 1990 – Most of the sera from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis contains antimitochondrial antibodies, which react with four proteins of the mitochondrial inner membrane. We reported in a previous paper that when beef heart mitochondrial inner membrane proteins were digested by trypsin, a new reactive 36 kDa fragment with antimitochondrial antibody was obtained.