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.

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

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.

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.

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).

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

Nicholas J. Talley – 1 July 1987

Misael Uribe, Octavio Campollo, Florencia Vargas, Gian Paolo Ravelli, Fernando Mundo, Laura Zapata, Sofia Gil, Guillermo Garcia‐Ramos – 1 July 1987 – A double‐blind, controlled trial to study the efficacy of acidifying enemas of lactitol, a new galactoside‐sorbitol disaccharide, and lactose vs. nonacidifying tapwater enemas was performed in 45 episodes of acute portal‐systemic encephalopathy. At the time of randomization, all patients had encephalopathy of at least Grade 2+ severity, delay in the performance of number connection tests and hyperammonemia.

Charles J. Lightdale – 1 July 1987 – Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is an effective means of treatment in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, in many cases of HCC the tumor recurs after treatment. In an attempt to obtain complete tumor necrosis, the authors studied the clinical and histologic effect of simultaneous embolization of both the hepatic artery and portal vein in ten patients with HCC.

1 July 1987