Leonard B. Seeff – 1 November 1988 – The authors tested, by molecular hybridization, for hepatitis B virus DNA in serum specimens of 182 asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) Greek carriers who were heterosexual partners of patients with acute hepatitis B (group A: 96 cases) or healthy subjects who were susceptible to hepatitis B (group B: 86 cases). The mean age (34.1 ± 10.4 vs. 33.9 ± 8.4 years) and the mean duration of sexual contact (6.9 ± 8.9 vs. 7.2 ± 6.3 years) were similar in the two groups of carriers.

Akio Shimizu, Kazuo Tarao, Shouji Takemiya, Masaoki Harada, Tohru Inoue, Tetsuo Ono – 1 November 1988 – Using a monoclonal antibody to bromodeoxyuridine, we studied the cell kinetics of human hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis and alcoholic liver fibrosis. Specimens were taken either by biopsy or surgery and immediately incubated with 0.1% bromodeoxyuridine solution at 37°C for 45 min.

Eric Martini, Nisen Abuaf, Florence Cavalli, VÉRonique Durand, Catherine Johanet, Jean‐Claude Homberg – 1 November 1988 – A new autoantibody was detected by immunoprecipitation in the serum of 21 patients with chronic active hepatitis. The antibody reacted against a soluble cytosolic antigen in liver. The antibody was organ specific but not species specific and was therefore called antiliver cytosol antibody Type 1 (anti‐LC1). In seven of 21 cases, no other autoantibody was found; the remaining 14 cases had anti‐liver/kidney microsome antibody Type 1 (anti‐LKM1).

Layton F. Rikkers – 1 November 1988

Makoto Hashizume, Seigo Kitano, Keizo Sugimachi, Katsuo Sueishi – 1 November 1988 – The venous anatomy of the lower esophagus and upper stomach was studied in nine patients with portal hypertension and in five without, following infusion of a silicon rubber compound into vessels of the excised organs within whole tissues made transparent with methyl salicylate. Four venous channels were identified in normal tissues: intraepithelial, subepithelial superficial, deep submucosal and adventitial veins.

Sanford S. Singer, Mark R. Palmert, Michael D. Redman, Diane M. Leahy, Theresa C. Feeser, Mark J. Lucarelli, Linda S. Volkwein, Margie Bruns – 1 November 1988 – Here we describe the dopamine sulfotransferase activity of rat liver cytosol. With cytosol, 3′‐phosphoadeno‐sine‐5′‐phosphosulfate and dopamine Km values were 17.2 ± 4.1 and 22.4 ± 3.5 μM. Females possessed 23 to 37% of dopamine sulfotransferase levels, per gm liver, in males. DEAE‐Sephadex A‐50 chromatography resolved dopamine sulfotransferase activity to dopamine sulfotransferase I and dopamine sulfotransferase II.

Eben S. Fox, Peter Thomas, Selwyn A. Broitman – 1 November 1988 – While it is generally believed that hepatic clearance of lipopolysaccharide involves Kupffer cells, the mechanism involved has not been fully elucidated. This study assesses this phenomenon in terms of in vitro uptake and post‐uptake modification experiments with an 125I‐labeled Salmonella minnesota lipopolysaccharide. 125I‐Lipopolysaccharide was added to Kupffer cells in suspension cultures under a variety of conditions. In vitro uptake of 125I‐Lipopolysaccharide was not saturable up to concentrations of 33.33 μg per ml.

Victor Plourde, Marielle Gascon‐Barré, Bernard Willems, P.‐Michel Huet – 1 November 1988 – The role of the liver as a contributory factor in the vitamin D deficiency of cholestatic liver disease has been studied in vivo in dogs with chronic bile duct ligation, whereas controls underwent diversion of the bile flow through the urinary bladder via a choledococystostomy anastomosis.

J. Gerald Kenna, James Neuberger, Roger Williams – 1 November 1988 – Previous investigations have shown that antibodies in sera from patients with halothane hepatitis recognize neoantigens, expressed in livers of halothane‐exposed rabbits and rats, which consist of a halothane metabolite bound covalently to specific microsomal proteins. These studies have suggested that the patients' antibodies may play a role in the pathogenesis of the hepatitis.

Giovanna Fattovich, Lucio Brollo, Alfredo Alberti, Patrizia Pontisso, Giuliano Giustina, Giuseppe Realdi – 1 November 1988 – Twenty‐eight patients with chronic active hepatitis without cirrhosis who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to hepatitis B e antigen were followed for 1 to 15 years (mean 6.6 years) and underwent follow‐up biopsy.