摘要:

AbstractRat livers were perfused with 0.5% Triton X‐100 for 30 to 60 min and studied by scanning electron microscope. Three‐dimensional filamentous networks were visualized in the cytoplasm of hepatocytesin situ.Branching and end‐to‐side contacts of intermediate filaments, and intermediate filaments which were connected with microtubules and microfilaments were noted. Numerous filaments were observed in the perinuclear region and at the cell border. Filaments were attached to polyribosomes and nuclei. No differences were observed in the cytoplasmic cytoskeleton after treatment of the sample at 4°C. These results support the concept that intermediate filaments mechanically integrate the cytoplasm

ISSN:0270-9139    

DOI:10.1002/hep.1840050102

出版商:W.B. Saunders    

年代:1985

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe prevalence of intrahepatic delta antigen and/or anti‐delta antibody was retrospectively investigated in 102 children with chronic HBsAg‐positive hepatitis who were seen consecutively in three medical institutions between 1974 and 1982. Delta infection markers were found in 13 patients (12.7%) who exhibited high serum titers of anti‐delta antibody; intrahepatic delta antigen was detected in ten. Eleven of the 13 children had severe progressive liver disease associated in all but one with absence of hepatitis B virus replication as evaluated by analysis of serum hepatitis B virus DNA. The factors which seem to increase the risk of delta infection in children who are hepatitis B virus carriers are geographic origin, a history of exposure to blood derivatives and age. A further 37 of 102 children had chronic active hepatitis (20 patients) or cirrhosis (17 patients) without evidence of delta infection. These results indicate that delta infection occurs in children with chronic hepatitis. This possibility should be considered in investigation of children with HBsAg‐positive chronic liver disease. Although the delta agent is an important cause of progressive liver disease in children who are chronic HBsAg carriers, severe liver injury and especially cirrhosis can occur without evidence of delta in

ISSN:0270-9139    

DOI:10.1002/hep.1840050103

出版商:W.B. Saunders    

年代:1985

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractSera from 77 consecutive patients with acute type B hepatitis were examined for hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) by a spot hybridization method. The median follow‐up time was 8 months (range, 1 week to 3 years). HBV DNA was detected in 26 (34%) patients on admission to the hospital. A significant positive correlation was found between short duration of symptoms and the presence of HBV DNA (p<0.025). Twenty‐four (46%) of 52 HBeAg‐positive patients were HBV DNA positive compared to 2 HBV DNA‐positive patients of 25 HBeAg‐negative patients (8%) (p<0.001). Four HBeAg‐negative patients had serum HBV DNA initially or during follow‐up; three had anti‐HBe. Six of 77 patients with acute type B hepatitis (8%) became chronic HBsAg carriers, and HBV DNA was detectable from 5 months to more than 3 years after onset of symptoms. The presence of serum HBV DNA for more than 8 weeks after initial symptoms may predict development of a chronic HBsAg carrier state. In none of the chronic carriers was serum HBV DNA present after cl

ISSN:0270-9139    

DOI:10.1002/hep.1840050104

出版商:W.B. Saunders    

年代:1985

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractTo further our studies on collagen gene expression, we have evaluated the molecular basis for the finding that steroids decrease collagen synthesis in cultured hepatocytes. We studied the effects of dexamethasone on primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes grown on tissue culture plastic in either serum‐supplemented medium or a serum‐free hormonally defined medium. Cells were plated and allowed to attach for 24 hr in a mixture of serum‐supplemented medium + hormonally defined medium. Cultures were then fed every 24 hr for 4 days under 1 of 4 conditions: serum‐supplemented medium, serum‐supplemented medium + dexamethasone, hormonally defined medium or hormonally defined medium + dexamethasone. On the fifth day, RNA was extracted. Dexamethasone did not affect the amount of RNA isolated; nor did it influence the quantitative translation of the mRNA in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate mRNA‐dependent system. Employing hybridization analysis, dexamethasone resulted in increased albumin mRNA content in hepatocytes grown in serum‐supplemented medium but had no affect on hormonally defined medium, and decreased type I in collagen mRNA content in cells grown in either serum‐supplemented medium or hormonally defined medium. In cells cultured in hormonally defined medium, the β‐actin and procollagen mRNA levels were lower than those in serum‐supplemented medium, but albumin mRNA levels were higher, and in fact equivalent to thosein vivo.β‐Actin mRNA levels were not affected by dexamethasone in either serum‐supplemented medium or hormonally defined medium. These results suggest that hormonally defined medium improves the expression of tissue‐specific functions in hepatocytes, and dexamethasone reduces Type I collagen mRNA content in hepatocytes as well as mesenchymal cells. It is presently not clear whether the changes in albumin and collagen steady state mRNA levels are due to transcriptional and/or po

ISSN:0270-9139    

DOI:10.1002/hep.1840050105

出版商:W.B. Saunders    

年代:1985

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractFemale Hartley guinea pigs fed a 0.5% cholesterol‐supplemented diet were found to form pigmented gallstones after 6 weeks (17/23) and 12 weeks (11/11), while only 2 of 44 animals fed a trace cholesterol diet formed gallstones over a comparable period. The light brown stones consisted primarily of aggregates of fine granular crystals, morphologically similar to calcium bilirubinate crystals. The stones were soluble in 0.1Nsodium hydroxide and were found to contain a substance which co‐migrated with unconjugated bilirubin during thin‐layer chromatography.Despite hypercholesterolemia (202 ± 34 vs. 59 ± 22 mg per dl in controls, p<0.05) and fatty infiltration of the liver, cholesterol‐fed animals had a lithogenic index of only 0.22 ± 0.04 in gallbladder bile as compared to a lithogenic index of 0.02 ± 0.01 in animals fed the trace cholesterol diet. Accordingly, no cholesterol monohydrate crystals were found in any animals. Hematocrits among cholesterol‐fed animals (47.6 ± 1.2%) were lower than those of controls (54.8 ± 1.3%, p<0.05) probably as a result of the cholesterol‐induced hemolytic anemia which has been reported by others in this species.Fasting gallbladder volume was greater in cholesterol‐fed animals (2.4 ± 0.18 ml) than in controls (1.7 ± 0.11, p<0.0025), and a comparable increase in gallbladder dry tissue mass was found. There was no evidence of biliary obstruction, however, and the gallbladder contractile response to octapeptide cholecystokinin was comparable in both groups. The increase in gallbladder volume appeared to result from: (a) an increase in hepatic bile salt secretion with an associated increase in bile flow and (b) a decrease in the capacity of the gallbladder to absorb fluid from hepatic bile (6.0 ± 1.4 mg fluid per hr per mg tissue with cholesterol diet vs. 12.9 ± 0.9 in controls, p<0.0005). Total bile salt concentration was also decreased in gallbladder bile of cholesterol‐fed animals (13.79 ± 0.51 vs. 18.56 ± 2.19 mmoles per liter in controls, p<0.05), probably as a result of increased hepatic bile flow and decreased gallbladder absorption. The absence of cholesterol gallstones in this model is consistent with the failure to supersaturate bile with cholesterol. The reasons for pigment gallstone formation are less clear but their occurrence may be the result of a cholester

ISSN:0270-9139    

DOI:10.1002/hep.1840050106

出版商:W.B. Saunders    

年代:1985

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractFour injections of subcoma doses of ammonium acetate, octanoic acid or dimethyl disulfide during the first 24 hr after two‐lobe hepatectomy in normal rats markedly depressed DNA synthesis as reflected by liver thymidine kinase activity or the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into hepatic DNA. Recovery from the depressant effects of the three toxins took 16 to 28 hr. Similar doses of the same toxins injected hourly for 3 or 5 hr after the two‐lobe hepatectomy had similar depressant effects on the early peak of ornithine decarboxylase activity measured at 4 or 6 hr. Recovery occurred within 3 hr perhaps because of the very short half‐life of ornithine decarboxylase and its rapid regeneration time. These observations may have implications for the lack of regeneration observed in many patients with fulminant hepatic failure who have accumulated sufficient ammonia, methanethiol and fatty acids over periods of days or weeks to become encephalop

ISSN:0270-9139    

DOI:10.1002/hep.1840050107

出版商:W.B. Saunders    

年代:1985

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) in the liver is important in host resistance to shock. Fibronectin is a large molecular weight glycoprotein which influences particulate uptake by phagocytic cells. This study addressed the effect of repeated low‐dose endotoxin challenge on immunoreactive fibronectin and reticuloendothelial phagocytic function in rats. IntravenousEscherichia coliendotoxin increased circulating immunoreactive fibronectin by 100% within 24 hr; normalization was within 96 hr. Elevated fibronectin levels at 48 hr were associated with increased plasma opsonic activity as tested by liver slice phagocytic assay and RES stimulation, andin vitrouptake of gelatinized target particles by Kupffer cells in liver slices from endotoxin treated rats was significantly increased. Endotoxin tolerance was produced by repeated low dose challenge with endotoxin for 7 days and was associated with RES stimulation, even though the circulating fibronectin concentrations had returned to normal. By immunofluorescence, insoluble fibronectin was widely distributed in the liver in a pattern analogous to the sinusoidal vascular network. We suggest that increased RES phagocytic activity after low dose endotoxin challenge is due to early elevation of plasma fibronectin and cellular stimulation of phagocytic function followed by a sustained stimulation of Kupffer cells in the presence of normal fibronectin levels. Both cellular and humoral factors may contribute to increased Kupffer cell phagocytic activity during endotoxin toleranc

ISSN:0270-9139    

DOI:10.1002/hep.1840050108

出版商:W.B. Saunders    

年代:1985

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractRecent studies suggest that the serum level of Type III procollagen (PC‐III) could be a valuable, noninvasive monitor of hepatic fibrogenesis. We have developed a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for PC‐III procollagen isolated and purified from fetal goat skin which shows high cross‐reaction for human PC‐III. In a double‐blind study, serum samples taken from 8 normal volunteers and 50 patients at the time of liver biopsy were assayed for PC‐III. Each biopsy was reviewed without knowledge of the radioimmunoassay results, and old or active fibrosis was graded on a 0 to 3 (none, minimal, moderate, severe) scale. There was a significant difference between serum concentrations of PC‐III in normals (mean ± S.D. = 72 ng per ml ± 8) as compared to patients with biopsy evidence of active fibrosis (mean ± S.D. = 153 ng per ml ± 12; p<0.001). The serum concentration of PC‐III showed a good correlation (r = 0.58; p<0.001) with the histological grade of active lobular fibrosis. Measurement of PC‐III is a noninvasive test for detection of active

ISSN:0270-9139    

DOI:10.1002/hep.1840050109

出版商:W.B. Saunders    

年代:1985

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractInvestigations were undertaken to determine effectiveness of 16,16‐dimethyl prostaglandin E2(dmPGE2) in overcoming the suppressive effects of ethanol and/or indomethacin on hepatic DNA synthesis. Adult litter mate Sprague‐Dawley rats were subjected to sham operation or partial hepatectomy. Immediately after partial hepatectomy, and at 8‐hr intervals for 24 hr, the rats were given: (a) ethanol with and without dmPGE2or (b) indomethacin with and without ethanol and/or dmPGE2. DmPGE2produced a significant increase in DNA synthesis in sham‐operated (p<0.001) and untreated partially hepatectomized animals (p<0.025). Ethanol and indomethacin caused a 6‐ and 18‐fold reduction, respectively, in hepatic DNA synthesis following partial hepatectomy. DmPGE2overcame the inhibitory effect of ethanol (p<0.005) and indomethacin (p<0.0005) in partially hepatectomized animals. Mitoses were decreased concomitantly with ethanol and/or indomethacin‐induced reduction in DNA synthesis and increased with administration of dmPGE2.It is concluded that dmPGE2increases hepatic DNA synthesis and regeneration in normal rat liver and overcomes their inhibition when ethanol and/or indomethacin is given after partial hepatectomy. Timing of dmPGEz administration is crucial. When given 30 min before ethanol, it completely inhibits suppression of regenerative activity; omission of this “priming” dmPGE2dose results in only 44% of DNA synthesis obtained i

ISSN:0270-9139    

DOI:10.1002/hep.1840050110

出版商:W.B. Saunders    

年代:1985

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractIn a randomized clinical trial in 148 patients of azathioprine vs. prednisone treatment of chronic aggressive hepatitis and/or nonalcoholic cirrhosis, 20 were HBsAg positive on entry. In this subgroup sequential serum samples were investigated for HBs and HBe markers by radioimmunoassay. At the time of evaluation, 13 patients were still alive; their median age was 53 years (25 to 72) and median follow‐up time was 46 months (23 to 82).Of 16 patients with cirrhosis, 5 of 7 with persistence of HBeAg died, compared with 2 of 9 with anti‐HBe. In three patients with anti‐HBe, HBeAg reappeared several times with simultaneous rise in transaminase values.The overall survival was 65% after 5 years. The prognosis of HBsAg‐positive chronic liver disease seemed to depend on the presence of cirrhosis and HBeAg rather than on improvement in biochemical activity during immunosuppressive tr

ISSN:0270-9139    

DOI:10.1002/hep.1840050111

出版商:W.B. Saunders    

年代:1985

数据来源: WILEY