Gary Sanders, Robert P. Perrillo – 1 September 1982 – We have observed the disappearance of rosette inhibitory factor (RIF) from the serum of 19 patients with acute hepatitis B virus infection. This occurred at a time coinciding with the detection of anti‐HBs. In addition, levels of RIF activity were significantly greater (p < 0.001) in 35 HBsAg carriers who lacked anti‐HBs when compared to 15 carriers who regularly demonstrated this antibody. In all instances, RIF effect was partial affecting some, but not all, T‐lymphocytes from forming erythrocyte rosettes.

Michael D. Levitt, William Doizaki, Allen S. Levine – 1 September 1982 – Incubation of human fecal homogenates with ethanol (0.078 gm per dl) resulted in accumulation of increased quantities of higher alcohols and other unidentified metabolites when compared with homogenates incubated without ethanol. Studies in rats demonstrated nearly perfect equilibration between blood and colonic luminal ethanol suggesting that the colonic flora in alcoholics is chronically exposed to ethanol concentrations in the range used in the homogenate experiments.

R. James St. Hilaire, Albert L. Jones – 1 September 1982

1 September 1982

1 September 1982

Didier Lebrec, Patrick Hillon, Cristina MuńOz, Gerard Goldfarb, Olivier Nouel, Jean‐Pierre Benhamou – 1 September 1982 – The gradient between wedged and free hepatic venous pressures was measured in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis before and 1, 3, and 9 months after continuous oral administration of propranolol at doses reducing the heart rate by 25% or after administration of a placebo. The gradient between wedged and free hepatic venous pressures decreased throughout the duration of propranolol administration, and it did not significantly change in the patients receiving placebo.

Patrick Hillon, Didier Lebrec, Cristina Muńoz, Michel Jungers, Gerard Goldfarb, Jean‐Pierre Benhamou – 1 September 1982 – The effects on cardiac output and portal venous pressure of atenolol, a cardioselective β‐blocker, and propranolol, a nonselective β‐blocker, were compared in patients with portal hypertension due to cirrhosis. One hour after p.o. administration of 100 mg of atenolol, cardiac output decreased by 32%, and portal venous pressure by 16%; the decrease in cardiac output and the decrease in portal venous pressure were significantly correlated. One hour after p.o.

Hyman J. Zimmerman, Kamal G. Ishak – 1 September 1982 – Analyses of 23 fatal instances of hepatic injury in patients taking valproic acid reveals that all but three were less than 20 years old, and all but four had been taking the drugs for more than 1 month. Convulsions, facial edema, lassitude, and vomiting were prominent clinical features. Hypoglycemia was recorded in six patients. Rash and eosinophilia were not seen. Values for transaminases were modestly elevated in most patients. Most levels of SGOT were below 500 IU, and SGPT levels were below 200 IU.

Irwin H. Rosenberg – 1 September 1982

Richard J. Grand – 1 September 1982