Mary J. Ruwart, Bob D. Rush, Karen F. Snyder, Ken M. Peters, Henry D. Appelman, Keith S. Henley – 1 January 1988 – Chronic nutritional injury was induced in rats by a high‐fat, lipotrope‐deficient diet. The hepatoprotective effect of 16,16‐dimethyl prostaglandin E2 on the deposition of collagen and fat was assessed by histological evaluation and measurement of hydroxyproline. Dose‐response studies established that optimal protection was achieved by the twice daily administration of 16,16‐dimethyl prostaglandin E2 at 100 μg per kg (subcutaneous) or 250 μg per kg (oral).

John Dich, Constance Vind, Niels Grunnet – 1 January 1988 – (i) Hepatocytes isolated from adult rats were cultured for 2 to 3 weeks on collagen in a modified, serum‐free Waymouth medium containing fatty acids and varying concentrations of glucocorticoid, insulin and glucagon. (ii) In the presence of all three hormones, it was possible to maintain the content of DNA, the activity of glucokinase, pyruvate kinase, hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase at initial levels for 2 to 3 weeks. The activity of glucokinase and pyruvate kinase was affected by the concentration of insulin.

Dominique Valla, Catherine Girod, Samuel S. Lee, Alain Braillon, Didier Lebrec – 1 January 1988 – Due to the marked effects of hemorrhage on cardiac output and splanchnic hemodynamics, the circulatory actions of vasopressin may differ during bleeding as opposed to stable conditions. We evaluated this hypothesis in conscious rats with portal hypertension due to chronic portal vein stenosis, by comparing the effects of a vasopressin infusion (0.02 IU per kg per min) to those of a control saline infusion, during and after a hypoten‐sive hemorrhage (25 ml per kg).

Oliver E. Owen – 1 November 1987 – The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of interleukin 1 (IL 1) on glucocorticoid‐regulated hepatic metabolism. Steroid binding in liver cytosol, plasma glucose, plasma corticoster‐one, and phosphenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activity were assayed in C3H/HeJ mice after IL 1 administration. Mice received 5 pyrogenic U (PU) of rabbit IL 1 i.p. and were sacrificed 4 hr later.

Marshall J. Orloff – 1 November 1987 – Nine patients with Budd‐Chiari syndrome (BCS) were treated by a portal systemic shunt. One had thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and another had complete obstruction of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava (IVC). All other patients had a marked stenosis of the retrohepatic IVC with caval pressure ranging from 12 to 24 mmHg (mean: 17 mmHg). Seven patients had an interprosition mesocaval shunt using an autologous jugular vein. The patient with a thrombosed SMV had a portoartial shunt.

Jean‐Pierre Villeneuve, Claire Infante‐Rivard, Serge Erlinger, Didier Lebrec – 1 November 1987

Haim Matzkin – 1 November 1987 – Large‐scale epidemics of non‐B (HBsAg‐negative) hepatitis have occurred in the Israel Defense Forces prior to post‐ and preexposure immune serum globulin administration. Presently, hepatitis morbidity rates have stabilized around 1 to 2 per 1,000. Several years after vaccine initiation, a comparison of epidemiological features was made in order to redefine risk groups.

Marsha Y. Morgan, Katherine E. Hawley – 1 November 1987 – Lactitol (β‐galactosido‐sorbitol) is a nonabsorbable disaccharide available as a powder which, in open comparison, is as effective as lactulose in the treatment of chronic hepatic encephalopathy, but is better tolerated. Twenty‐five cirrhotic patients experiencing 28 episodes of acute hepatic encephalopathy were randomized blindly to treatment with either lactitol (n = 15) or lactulose (n = 13).

Masao Yamada, William S. Blaner, Dianne Robert Soprano, Joseph L. Dixon, Hild M. Kjeldbye, Dewitt S. Goodman – 1 November 1987 – Hepatic stellate cells play a quantitatively important role in hepatic retinoid metabolism and storage in rats maintained under normal nutritional conditions. Studies were conducted to further explore the biochemical characteristics of hepatic stellate cells. Stellate cells were isolated in high purity and yield from the livers of normal rats.

Santos Soberon, Mary P. Pauley, Richard Duplantier, Angelita Fan, Charles H. Halsted – 1 November 1987 – The etiology of malnutrition and the metabolic effect of aggressive nutritional support by enteral feeding were evaluated in patients with moderately severe alcoholic hepatitis.