Chronic alcoholism enhances hepatocarcinogenicity of diethylnitrosamine in rats fed a marginally methyl‐deficient diet

Eduardo A. Porta, Nalani Markell, Russell D. Dorado – 1 November 1985 – To determine whether the chronic consumption of ethanol was capable of enhancing the hepatocarcinogenic activity of diethylnitrosamine per se, or through the accentuation of a methyl deficiency, two groups (A and B) of Sprague‐Dawley female rats were fed for 10 months either a 20% casein basal diet marginally deficient in methyl, or the same diet supplemented with choline (1 gm per 100 gm) and folic acid (0.54 mg per 100 gm).

Transformation of bile acids into iso‐bile acids by clostridium perfringens: Possible transport of 3β‐hydrogen via the coenzyme

Ashok K. Batta, Gerald Salen, Sarah Shefer – 1 November 1985 – We have examined the mechanism for the bacterial transformation of chenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid into the corresponding 3β‐hydroxy epimers with the use of 3α‐ and 3β‐tritiated bile acids. The 3‐oxo bile acids were transformed into the 3α‐ (85%) and 3β‐ (15%) hydroxy bile acids after 20‐hr incubation with Clostridium perfringens.

A prospective clinical trial of D‐penicillamine in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis

Henry C. Bodenheimer, Fenton Schaffner, Irmin Sternlieb, Franklin M. Klion, Salvatore Vernace, John Pezzullo – 1 November 1985 – We conducted a prospective clinical trial to assess the relative efficacy and safety of high‐ vs. low‐dose D‐penicillamine in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Following clinical tests and liver biopsy diagnostic of primary biliary cirrhosis, 56 patients were randomized to receive either 250 or 750 mg D‐penicillamine daily. Patients were monitored with clinical tests and annual liver biopsy.

Intracellular processing of human vs. rat immunoglobulin A in the rat liver

Albert L. Jones, Gary T. Hradek, Douglas L. Schmucker – 1 November 1985 – It is well established that in the rat, rat dimeric IgA is transported from blood to bile across rat liver parenchymal cells via a series of minute smooth membrane‐limited vesicles. This pathway is unique from that taken by a number of other ligands, which are internalized for degradation, in that there appears to be little involvement of coated vesicles, multivesicular bodies and lysosomes.

Detection of an IgM antiidiotype directed against anti‐HBs in hepatitis B patients

Catherine L. Troisi, F. Blaine Hollinger – 1 September 1985 – An IgM‐specific anti‐[anti‐HBs] antibody was detected by radioimmunoassay using anti‐IgM‐coated beads and 125I‐labeled anti‐HBs. This antiidiotype was found only in the sera of hepatitis B virus‐infected patients, both acute and chronic. However, not all HBsAg‐positive patients exhibited this reaction, and activity was correlated with the presence of HBeAg. Approximately 93% of sera that contained antiidiotype activity also contained HBeAg. Conversely, 70% of the sera positive for HBeAg reacted in the IgM assay.

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