Kenneth M. Gibson, A. F. Hofmann, K. R. Palmerm – 1 July 1987

Bernard Langer – 1 July 1987 – In a serial analysis of splanchnic hemodynamics, we compared partial with total portal decompression in 16 alcoholic cirrhotic patients who underwent portacaval shunts for variceal hemorrhage. Partial decompression was achieved with 8 or 10 mm polytetrafluoroethylene portacaval H grafts and aggressive collateral ligation. Total decompression was achieved with larger diameter H grafts (12 or 14 mm).

Sheila Sherlock – 1 July 1987 – To compare the effect of diet, cirrhotic patients with ascites were randomised into two treatment groups: (1) a low sodium diet (21 mmol) per day or (2) an unrestricted sodium intake. Both groups received effective doses of diuretics (spironolactone or, if necessary, spironolactone and furosemide. One hundred and forty patients from 12 liver units were included according to well defined criteria (group 1: 76; group 2: 64). After an initial four to seven day period of bed rest and salt restriction (21 mmol sodium pd), randomisation was done in each centre.

Fumio Imazeki, Katsuyuki Yaginuma, Masao Omata, Kunio Okuda, Midori Kobayashi, Katsuro Koike – 1 July 1987 – The states of hepatitis B virus DNA, RNA transcripts and antigens (HBsAg and HBcAg) were studied in the liver with hepatocellular carcinoma by blot hybridization and immunohistological methods. We used whole hepatitis B virus DNA and gene specific probes (S, C and X genes) for hybridization. Integrated viral DNA was found in all five tumors, but episomal DNA was not detected in the neoplastic tissue.

Iraj Ghadiminejad, Harold Baum – 1 July 1987 – Studies with subfractions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtained by differential centrifugation showed only two primary biliary cirrhosis‐specific antigens. These antigenic species were shown, using preabsorption studies, to have determinants cross‐reactive with their mammalian counterpart

Georg Hess, Wolfram Gerlich, Guido Gerken, Michael Manns, Thomas H. Hütteroth, Karl‐Hermann Meyer Zum Büschenfelde – 1 July 1987 – The effect of α‐interferon treatment on serum levels of hepatitis B virus‐encoded proteins was analyzed in eight patients with chronic type B hepatitis who participated in a pilot study of interferon therapy. Three individuals became HBsAg‐negative, 4 lost HBeAg but remained HBsAg‐positive and 1 remained positive for both HBsAg and HBeAg.

Ghanshyam Lohiya, Laura Nichols, Dennis Hsieh, Sunita Lohiya, Hoan Nguyen – 1 July 1987 – During three seasons, 36 samples of foods served to mentally retarded clients with a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma were analyzed for aflatoxin. Aflatoxin was not detected (less than 5 ppb) by thinlayer liquid chromatography in 35 food samples containing peanuts, corn, wheat or milk. One peanut butter sample contained 20 ppb aflatoxin. Aflatoxin content of these foods was at or below the level permitted by the Food and Drug Administration.

Mark Doolittle, Roger Bohman, Andres Durstenfeld, Joseph Cascarano – 1 July 1987 – Our objective was to correlate biochemical or functional properties that could be measured by fluorescence to individual nonparenchymal cell types by the simultaneous detection of forward angle light scatter and fluorescence. Cells were released from liver following selective digestion of hepatocytes by Pronase perfusion. To fractionate the cells according to size, isolates were subjected to unit gravity sedimentation on a 1 to 5% sucrose gradient.

Alvaro N. A. Monteiro, Radovan Borojevic – 1 July 1987 – Interactions of liver connective tissue cells, skin fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells with collagen gels in vitro were studied and compared.

Julio Vorobioff, Eduardo Picabea, Roberto Villavicencio, Viviana Puccini, Oscar Rossi, Juan Bordato, Marcelo Audano – 1 July 1987 – Different and contradictory results concerning the use of propranolol in the treatment of portal hypertension have been reported. This study was designed to investigate the hemodynamic effects of short‐ and long‐term administration of propranolol in portal hypertensive patients.