Harold O. Conn, Johan Fevery – 1 September 1987

1 September 1987

Claire Infante‐Rivard, Santiago Esnaola, Jean‐Pierre Villeneuve – 1 July 1987 – The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic validity of Child‐Turcotte classification with regard to short‐term (1‐year) survival. The Child‐Turcotte classification, as modified by Pugh et al., was recorded on admission in 177 cirrhotic patients. The variables that comprise the Pugh modification are ascites, encephalopathy, serum albumin, serum bilirubin and prothrombin time.

Peter Van Der Sluijs, Bart Postema, Dirk K. F. Meijer – 1 July 1987 – Two types of models have recently been proposed to describe hepatic uptake kinetics of protein bound drugs: a model in which dissociation from plasma protein is rate limiting the process, and a model in which an interaction between protein and hepatocyte surface is thought to promote dissociation and uptake of the drug. This study was designed to investigate several aspects of both models, using lactosylated albumin as a binding protein that can interact with the Ashwell receptor abundantly present on the hepatocyte.

Wolfgang Hagmann, Anne‐Marie Steffan, André Kirn, Dietrich Keppler – 1 July 1987 – The role of leukotrienes was investigated in frog virus 3‐induced hepatitis in rats. Frog virus 3 elicited an enhanced generation of cysteinyl leukotrienes in vivo as monitored by measurement of N‐acetyl‐leukotriene E4 as the major endogenous metabolite of cysteinyl leukotrienes secreted into rat bile. N‐Acetyl‐leukotriene E4 concentrations were elevated for more than 4 hr after frog virus 3 injection.

Allan W. Wolkoff – 1 July 1987

Ronald L. Koretz, Harold O. Conn – 1 July 1987 – The effect of peritoneovenous shunting on body composition has been studied in 7 cirrhotic patients undergoing a successful shunt and 3 patients in whom the shunt was unsuccessful. In the 7 patients with functioning shunts, their weight had decreased by a mean of 9 kg (p < 0.001) by 6 wk after initial diuresis, natriuresis, and kaliuresis, and was associated with a decrease in total body potassium (TBK) but not total body nitrogen (TBN).

I. M. Murray‐Lyon – 1 July 1987 – The accidental finding of raised levels of serum aminotransferase levels may lead to extensive investigations of the liver in apparently healthy people. To identify diagnostic groups and their need for investigations, we have evaluated the results of all investigative procedures carried out in 149 asymptomatic patients with persistently raised serum levels of aminotransferases. Fatty liver was found in 64%. These patients often had a high body weight. A high alcohol intake and diabetes mellitus were also noted.

Jill E. Maddison, Peter R. Dodd, Murray Morrison, Graham A. R. Johnston, Geoffrey C. Farrell – 1 July 1987 – Plasma γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐like activity, plasma GABA and the brain GABA‐benzodiazepine receptor complex were studied in rats with chronic hepatic encephalopathy. Portal vein ligation (after prior subcutaneous transposition of the spleen) results in complete portal bypass of splanchnic blood. In addition, significant hepatocellular damage was superimposed on this model of portosystemic shunting by ligation of the common bile duct.

Stephan Schäfer, Ottwin Zerbe, Axel M. Gressner – 1 July 1987 – Fat‐storing cells (perisinusoidal stellate cells) were isolated by enzymatic digestion of rat liver and purified by a single‐step Nycodenz ® gradient to yield 11.4·106 cells per liver, with a purity of 74% and a viability of 76%. Monolayer cultures of fat‐storing cells incorporated both [35S]sulfate and [3H]glucosamine into glycosaminoglycans; the rate of incorporation increased with culture time (3‐fold between the third and eighth days in culture). About 80% of newly formed glycosaminoglycans were secreted into the medium.