Ann M. Kools, James G. Straka, Hazel D. Hill, Dorothy I. Whitmer, Ralph T. Holman, Joseph R. Bloomer – 1 April 1989 – Ferrochelatase is an enzyme bound to the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is important in heme biosynthesis. Activity of purified ferrochelatase is affected by the presence of certain fatty acids. In the present study, we examined whether the activity of ferrochelatase is altered by dietary manipulation of the composition of mitochondrial membrane phospholipid fatty acylgroups.

Peter A. Vincent, Eshin Cho, Thomas M. Saba – 1 April 1989 – Repetitive low‐dose endotoxin, at a dose which will result in endotoxin tolerance, produces a marked but transient 2‐ to 3‐day increase in plasma fibronectin. This elevation of fibronectin appears to contribute to increased hepatic Kupffer cell phagocytic function observed with repetitive low‐dose endotoxin administration. Although numerous cell types synthesize fibronectin, hepatocytes are believed to be the major cell source of fibronectin in the plasma.

Wilhelm W. Just, Karin Gorgas, Franz‐Ulrich Hartl, Petra Heinemann, Manfred Salzer, Hans Schimassek – 1 April 1989 – Rats were treated for 5 to 14 days with perfluoroacetate, perfluorobutyrate and perfluorooctanoate. Alterations in hepatic morphology with special reference to the peroxisomal compartment were investigated by light and electron microscopy following cytochemical staining of catalase activity with the alkaline 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine medium. All three compounds induced hepatomegaly and peroxisome proliferation.

Norman D. Grace – 1 April 1989 – There is preliminary evidence that colchicine, an inhibitor of collagen synthesis, may be beneficial in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver. To evaluate the use of colchicine (1 mg per day, five days per week) in the treatment of hepatic cirrhosis, we performed a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in which 100 patients were followed for up to 14 years. Forty‐five patients had alcoholic cirrhosis, 41 had posthepatitic cirrhosis, and the remaining 14 had cirrhosis with various other causes.

1 April 1989

Felix J. Frey, Heinz J. Schaad, Eberhard L. Renner, Fritz F. Horber, Brigitte M. Frey, Rudolf Preisig – 1 April 1989 – Hepatic failure as a cause of death is increased in stable renal allograft recipients when compared with patients on dialysis. In order to assess the magnitude and the natural history of the hepatic functional derangement, the kinetics of xenobiotics which are metabolized by cytosolic (galactose) or microsomal (prednisolone, cyclosporine A) enzymes were determined in 28 consecutive stable kidney transplant patients 1 month and 1 year after transplantation.

A. Brian West – 1 April 1989

Valerie Keegan‐Rogers, George Y. Wu – 1 April 1989

Subramanian Ranganathan, Bruce A. Kottke – 1 April 1989 – The uptake and degradation of low‐density lipoproteins and the esterification and synthesis of cholesterol were poorly down‐regulated by low‐density lipoproteins in HepG2 cells. Addition of low‐density lipoproteins to the cells increased the free and esterified cholesterol in the cells. The heavier fraction of high‐density lipoproteins enhanced the degradation of low‐density lipoproteins and cholesterol synthesis and decreased acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity.

Andrew Macfadyen, Kang‐Jey Ho – 1 April 1989 – This experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that orally administered D‐glucaro‐1,4‐lactone might be excreted in the bile and thus suppress the activity of biliary β‐glucuronidase, which is believed to play a key role in the development of pigment gallstones. D‐Glucaro‐1,4‐lactone, 50 to 2,600 μmoles, was fed to adult Sprague‐Dawley rats which had a bile fistula and were kept in metabolic cages for bile and urine collection. A total of 21 feeding experiments were carried out.