Alfred L. Baker, Patricia S. Krager, Alvin N. Kotake, Dale A. Schoeller – 1 May 1987 – To determine whether the aminopyrine breath test can be used to document the presence of cirrhosis in patients with cholestatic liver disease, 19 patients (13 primary biliary cirrhosis, 4 sclerosing cholangitis and 2 chronic extrahepatic bile duct obstruction) underwent clinical and biochemical evaluations, liver biopsies and an aminopyrine breath test. Results were compared with those in 10 patients with biopsy‐proven chronic active hepatitis with bridging and/or cirrhosis and in 22 healthy subjects.

Carmen De Lemos‐Chiarandini, Fernando Alvarez, Olivier Bernard, Jean Claude Homberg, Gert Kreibich – 1 May 1987 – Human sera, containing anti‐liver‐kidney microsome antibody as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence, were obtained from a subgroup of young patients with autoimmune chronic hepatitis. The anti‐liver‐kidney microsome antibody‐positive sera were used to study the localization of the liver‐kidney microsome antigen in hepatocytes.

Sum P. Lee, Cliff Tasman‐Jones, Valerie F. Carlisle – 1 May 1987 – Rabbits fed a diet rich in oleic acid develop gallstones consisting of calcium salts of (5α)‐glyco‐allodeoxycholic acid. To study the metabolic pathway of oleic acid, we followed the changes in plasma, hepatic and biliary lip‐ids in this animal model. In addition, to also determine the role played by intestinal microflora on biliary lipid metabolism, we added kanamycin to the oleic acid diet. Oleic acid‐fed rabbits rapidly developed hypercholes‐terolemia.

Kazuhiko Koike, Shiro Iino, Kiyohiko Kurai, Keiji Mitamura, Yasuo Endo, Hiroshi Oka – 1 May 1987 – IgM anti‐HBc was measured by radioimmunoassay in serially collected serum samples during 20 acute exacerbations which developed in 14 patients with anti‐HBe positive chronic type B hepatitis. IgM anti‐HBc became positive in 12 of the 14 (86%) patients and in 18 of the 20 (90%) exacerbations, and elevation of IgM anti‐HBc which was believed to be significant was also observed in the remaining two patients.

Marvin A. Lipsky, John L. Gollan – 1 May 1987

George J. Brewer – 1 May 1987

Natalia Ulloa, Jorge Garrido, Flavio Nervi – 1 March 1987 – We have utilized ultracentrifugation of native bile‐Metrizamide density gradients to isolate a vesicular transport system or biliary lipids in both man and rat. We identified vesicular structures by electron microscopy. Fresh bile specimens were obtained from bile fistula rats (unsaturated bile) and from patients 1 week after bile duct surgery (supersaturated bile). Metrizamide was dissolved in bile (33% w/v), and continuous density gradients were performed with undiluted bile (density limits = 1.020 to 1.300 gm per ml).

Theresa C. Peterson, C. Noel Williams – 1 March 1987 – Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was detectable in cultured macrophage monolayers of peripheral blood monocyte origin. Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from patients with biopsy‐confirmed liver disease and healthy volunteers. Macrophage monolayers were prepared and incubated at 37°C. After 24 hr, the aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity and cellular protein concentration were assayed on cell homogenates.

S. Boccia, N. Stabellini, F. Macario, F. Ghinelli – 1 March 1987

Anil Gautam, Oi‐Cheng Ng, James L. Boyer – 1 March 1987 – Studies of canalicular bile secretion have been limited due to lack of direct access to the canalicular lumen. Isolated rat hepatocyte couplets, consisting of two hepatocytes enclosing a canalicular space, have been proposed as a primary secretory unit that may be useful for direct studies of unmodified canalicular bile secretion. The present study examines their structural characteristics and plasma membrane reorganization.