Combined hepatitis B immune globulin and vaccine for postexposure prophylaxis of accidental hepatitis B virus infection in hemodialysis staff members: Comparison with immune globulin without vaccine in historical controls

Takehiro Mitsui, Keiko Iwano, Shigeru Suzuki, Chikao Yamazaki, Kazuo Masuko, Fumio Tsuda, Shinobu Aihara, Yoshihiro Akahane, Yuzo Miyakawa, Makoto Mayumi – 1 September 1989 – Twenty‐three staff members serving in a hemodi‐alysis unit were exposed accidentally to needlestick contaminated with blood containing hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e antigen, as well as high levels of DNA polymerase activity (< 100 cpm).

Detection of antibodies against hepatitis B virus polymerase antigen in hepatitis B virus‐infected patients

Lung‐Ji Chang, Jules Dienstag, Don Ganem, Harold Varmus – 1 September 1989 – By the use of a truncated recombinant hepatitis B virus polymerase antigen, we have characterized a series of patient sera for anti‐hepatitis B virus polymerase antibodies. Seven of 54 (13%) had antipolymerase antibodies detectable by Western blot analysis, and no close correlation was apparent between the disease status and patient's immune response against hepatitis B virus polymerase antigen.

Lack of effects of isosorbide‐5‐mononitrate on hepatic hemodynamics in HBsAg‐positive cirrhosis

Yang‐Te Tsai, Fa‐Yauh Lee, Han‐Chieh Lin, Ting‐Tsung Chang, Chii‐Shyan Lay, Sun‐Sang Wang, Chi‐Woon Kong, Shou‐Dong Lee, Kwang‐Juei Lo – 1 September 1989 – We conducted a randomized controlled hemodynamic study to evaluate the effect of placebo and 20 mg isosorbide‐5‐mononitrate, a long‐acting organic nitrate, in 19 patients with HBsAg‐positive cirrhosis by the simultaneous measurement of portal venous pressure and wedged hepatic venous pressure. Baseline values for the two groups were similar.

Randomized controlled trial of adenine arabinoside 5′‐monophosphate in chronic active hepatitis B: Comparison of the efficacy in heterosexual and homosexual patients

Patrick Marcellin, Denis Ouzan, Françoise Degos, Christian Brechot, Etienne‐Henri Metman, Claude Degott, Michelle Chevalier, Pierre Berthelot, Christian Trepo, Jean‐Pierre Benhamou – 1 September 1989 – Twenty‐two heterosexuals and 21 homosexuals with chronic active hepatitis B and who had HBsAg, HBeAg and hepatitis B virus DNA in serum were randomized separately to receive adenine arabinoside monophos‐phate or placebo. In the 10 heterosexuals and nine homosexuals who received placebo, no change in hepatitis B virus DNA level and HBeAg was observed.

Sensitivity of human tissue heme oxygenase to a new synthetic metalloporphyrin

Richard J. Chernick, Pavel Martasek, Richard D. Levere, Raimund Margreiter, Nader G. Abraham – 1 September 1989 – Heme oxygenase, the rate‐limiting enzyme for heme degradation, can be inhibited by several new synthetic metalloporphyrins. Under certain conditions, a depression in heme oxygenase activity has important clinical significance in the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia, and, in this regard, tin‐protoporphyrin has been shown to decrease the production of bilirubin in vitro as well as in vivo.

Balloon tamponade vs. endoscopic sclerotherapy in the management of active variceal hemorrhage

Josep Terés – 1 September 1989 – Sengstaken‐Blakemore tamponade is used for the initial control of bleeding esophageal varices (BEV), although it is known to be potentially dangerous. Sclerotherapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of BEV. This trial has been designed to evaluate comparatively the effectiveness of both procedures in the initial control of the hemorrhage.

β‐Blockade with propranolol and hepatic artery blood flow in patients with cirrhosis

Ricardo Mastai, Jaime Bosch, Jordi Bruix, Miguel Navasa, David Kravetz, Juan Rodés – 1 September 1989 – In patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, propranolol administration reduces heart rate and cardiac output and diminishes portal pressure and collateral eral blood flow. However, there is little information on the possible effects of propranolol on hepatic artery blood flow. The present study addressed this question in 12 cirrhotic patients with end‐to‐side portacaval shunt, in whom all of the liver blood flow represents the hepatic artery blood flow.

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