Mark A. Kane – 1 July 1988 – In 1983, a comprehensive programme was introduced to halt the spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and to reduce mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Alaskan Natives, in whom the incidence of HBV infection was high. This programme includes: serological screening of all Alaskan Natives; immunization of susceptible persons, including all newborn babies, with hepatitis B vaccine; and testing HBsAg‐positive carriers twice a year for α‐fetoprotein (AFP) to detect HCC at an early stage.

Paul H. Edelstein, Bruce A. Runyon – 1 July 1988

Cho‐Il Kim, Maria Anna Leo, Nancy Lowe, Charles S. Lieber – 1 July 1988 – To study possible mechanisms whereby vitamin A and ethanol may affect liver plasma membranes, rats were fed liquid diets containing either 6 international units of vitamin A per kcal or 5 times more, with or without ethanol (36% of total energy as isocaloric substitution for carbohydrate).

Mario Chojkier, Kip D. Lyche, Michael Filip – 1 July 1988 – We have shown, using the proline:ornithine dual label method, that in normal rats, hepatocytes contribute in vivo about 80 to 90% of the newly synthesized hepatic collagen. In order to quantify the contribution of hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells to collagen synthesis in vivo in hepatic fibrogenesis, rats with CCl4‐induced liver fibrosis were given [53H]proline and [14C]ornithine intraperitoneally.

Laurence J. Wood, Denise Massie, Allan J. McLean, Francis J. Dudley – 1 July 1988 – Renal sodium handling, assessed by the response to acute saline loading, was investigated in 14 well‐compensated, nonascitic alcoholic cirrhotics and six normal controls. Urinary sodium excretion in cirrhotic patients (199 ± 141 μmoles per min) was significantly lower than in controls (387 ± 104 μmoles per min; p < 0.01) at 3 hr postinfusion. In contrast to controls, renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate did not increase in the cirrhotics in response to acute saline loading.

Bruce W. Trotman, C. Rajagopalan Nair, Seldon E. Bernstein – 1 July 1988 – The role of bilirubin conjugates in the formation of pigment gallstones is not known. In this study, we completely solubilized and then analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography specimens of black pigment gallstones from eight nb/nb mice with hereditary hemolytic anemia. Each dried gallstone specimen of about 200 μg was dissolved in 5 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide/0.15 M HCl/50 mM disodium‐EDTA (8:1:1 by volume) at room temperature.

Paul C. Adams, Lawrie W. Powell, June W. Halliday – 1 July 1988 – A human hepatic ferritin receptor has been isolated from human liver and has been purified using affinity chromatography. An affinity constant of 6.0 × 108 moles−1 liter was determined for the ferritin receptor. The molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 53,000 by gel electrophoresis. Binding of ferritin to the receptor coupled to a microparticulate support was specific for human liver ferritin with no binding of rat or porcine ferritin.

Miren Zuriñe Ibarra, Ignacio Mora, Juan Antonio Quiroga, Javier Bartolomé, Faustino La Banda, Juan Carlos Porres, Vicente Carreño – 1 July 1988 – Antibody directed against HBsAg carries idiotypic determinants that may induce an autoantiidiotype antibody response. We describe a solid‐phase radioimmunoassay which allows specific detection of either IgG or IgM antibody to antibody directed against HBsAg. Among 138 chronic hepatitis B virus carriers, IgG autoantiidiotype was detected in 98 (71%) and IgM autoantiidiotype in 110 (80%).

Jaime Bosch, Josep M. Bordas, Ricardo Mastai, David Kravetz, Miquel Navasa, Jaime Chesta, M. Pilar Pizcueta, Juan C. García‐Pagán, Joan Rodés – 1 July 1988 – The present study investigated to what extent measurements of wedged and free hepatic venous pressures adequately reflect the effects of vasopressin at the esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis.

Thierry Poynard, Jean‐Pierre Pignon, Sylvie Naveau, Jean‐Claude Chaput, Claire Infante‐Rivard, Jean‐Pierre Villeneuve – 1 July 1988