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Much progress has been made in delineating biochemical, physiologic and morpholigic events in liver regeneration and collagen synthesis. Pharmacologic agents have been purported to be helpful in facilitating repair and preventing fibrosis. Objective indices are now available to monitor their effectiveness in man.

Seventy-five patients with acute hepatic decompensation superimposed on chronic alcoholic cirrhosis were prospectively randomized for a blinded trial of the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. The control group received 4 g of enteral neomycin daily along with 25% dextrose by a central venous catheter. The experimental group received a placebo resembling neomycin and isocaloric dextrose plus a modified amino acid mixture enriched with branched-chain amino acids to 36% and deficient in aromatic amino acids and methionine. Thirty patients in the F080 group and 29 in the control group completed the trial. The group receiving the modified amino acid mixture demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in encephalopathy as compared to the neomycin group, while maintaining nitrogen equilibrium. Survival and discharge from the hospital were statistically greater in the group treated with the modified amino acid solution and hypertonic dextrose. Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in the presence of hepatic decompensation with an amino acid solution formulated for its treatment seems to produce faster, more complete recovery with improved capacity for nutritional support.

Alcoholic hepatitis is the precursor of cirrhosis. Susceptibility is independent of amount and duration of ethanol intake or of diet. Centrilobular hyalin, the key morphologic abnormality, sensitizes lymphocytes to secrete factors which may account (in part) for necrosis, liver cell destruction, increased collagen synthesis and development of cirrhosis. Diagnosis may be facilitated by detection of alcoholic hyalin antigen (AHAg) and antibody (AHAb) in serum of patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Treatment requires abstinence. Steroids have not reduced mortality rates. Measures to improve immunologic reactivity may be helpful. Persons unable to abstain should be enrolled in a surveillance group.

The mechanism of intrahepatic cholestasis in active liver disease has not yet been elucidated. Recent investigations in type II drug-induced hepatitis have suggested that lymphocytes produce a cholestatic factor. The authors' studies on lymphocyte cultures of patients with alcoholic hepatitis and acute viral hepatitis suggest that cellular immune phenomena may be of general significance in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis. Supernatants of cultured lymphocytes of patients with alcoholic and acute viral hepatitis reduced bile flow and bile acid excretion in a rat model, provided that the lymphocytes had been previously stimulated by the appropriate antigen. An identical cholestatic effect was seen using sera of these patients. The pathogenetic mechanism of this lymphocytic factor is still unknown.

A double blind, randomized, controlled trial has been conducted in 11 Veterans Administration hospitals during a 49-month period to compare the relative efficacies of immune serum globulin (ISG) and an albumin placebo for the prevention of post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH). A total of 2204 patients, of whom 1094 received ISG, participated in the study. The results indicate that ISG significantly reduced the incidence of icteric type non-B hepatitis only (inferred to be also type non-A hepatitis). Adverse reactions were rare, and the ISG did not significantly alter the incubation period or duration of the disease. The data suggest, however, that a similar reduction in type non-A, non-B hepatitis would have occurred had commercial blood been excluded from use. Analysis of the 241 patients who developed hepatitis indicates that type B hepatitis constituted less than 20% of the cases each year of the study. Furthermore, the efficacy of the ISG, manufactured in 1944, against apparent type non-A, non-B hepatitis suggests that this overlooked disease has existed from at least that time. Host- and transfusion-related factors that might have modified the development of PTH were examined. The use of commercial blood was observed to be the most important risk factor. It is concluded that the PTH incidence can be most effectively reduced by eliminating commercial donor blood, and continuing to screen volunteer donors for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by sensitive procedures. Of prime importance is the need to define the agent(s) responsible for type non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Alcoholic hyalin was prepared from postmortem livers of patients with alcoholic liver disease. Alcoholic hyalin was purified by discontinuous sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. The purified protein preparation contained about 12% reducing sugar, the remainder being protein. Gel filtration on Sephadex 4B column showed the presence of three peaks. Each peak material thus obtained contained acetylglucosamine, hexosamine, and deoxysugar (calculated as rhamnose). That these protein components followed by scanning the gels at 280 nm, and at 520 nm after staining the gels with periodic acid-Schiff base reagent for the presence of carbohydrate.

The conversion of alcoholic hepatitis into cirrhosis and the eventual development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been documented by serial biopsies in patients with uncomplicated alcoholism. Ethanol toxicity, nutritional deficiency and immunological abnormalities in a genetically predisposed individual appear to account for this sequence which can be accelerated by the hepatitis B virus and other noxious agents. Immune deficiency in malnourished alcoholics with liver disease diminishes response to the hepatitis B vaccine and may contribute to the development of HCC. Antigenic moieties in Mallory bodies appear to contribute directly to cytotoxicity and fibrosis in alcoholics, and may act like proto-oncogens. Available Mallory-body-specific monoclonal antibodies will hopefully facilitate diagnosis and treatment. Studies of DNA and collagen synthesis by in vitro perfusion of percutaneous liver biopsies provide information on precursor lesions of HCC. Abstinence, nutrient therapy and drug-induced anabolism lead to repair of liver damage and correction of immunological abnormalities, both of which may contribute to development of HCC in alcoholics with cirrhosis.

A randomized double blind clinical comparison of neomycin and lactulose was performed in 33 cirrhotic patients with chronic portal-systemic encephalopathy (PSE) at seven cooperating hospitals. In order to maintain double blindness, sorbitol syrup was used as a control solution along with neomycin and was compared with lactulose syrup and placebo tablets in a double drug protocol. Twenty-nine patients were studied in a crossover investigation in which each received both therapeutic regimens preceded and followed by control periods. Four additional patients received one or the other agent, but did not receive both. Serial, semiquantitative assessments were made in all patients of mental status, asterixis, and the trailmaking test (TMT) and electroencephalograms (EEG) and arterial ammonia levels. Both neomycin-sorbitol and lactulose were effective in the majority of patients (83 and 90%, respectively). Each of these parameters (mental state, asterixis, TMT, EEG, and NH3) was improved significantly by neomycin-sorbitol and lactulose. The post-treatment levels for each of these measures were similar in the neomycin and lactulose-treated groups. Mean stool pH was reduced by neomycinsorbitol to 6.1 and by lactulose to 5.5. This difference was highly significant statistically. Bowel activity was similar in the two groups. Both drugs were free of toxicity. These investigations demonstrate that both lactulose and neomycin-sorbitol are effective in the treatment of chronic portal-systemic encephalopathy.

Increasing evidence is accumulating which indicates that immunological abnormalities contribute to the development of liver disease and its signs and symptoms. Platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) levels were quantified in 42 patients with biopsy-proven liver disease of various etiologies to determine the relationship of thrombocytopenia to immunologic abnormalities in these disorders. Five of six nonthrombocytopenic patients with acute viral hepatitis B had elevated PAIgG. Six of ten patients with chronic active hepatitis had elevated PAIgG and thrombocytopenia. In contrast, only one of six patients with chronic persistent hepatitis had elevated PAIgG. Nine of ten patients with alcoholic hepatitis had elevated PAIgG; seven of the nine were thrombocytopenic. Seven of ten alcoholic patients with cirrhosis had elevated PAIgG; six of seven were thrombocytopenic. Thus the increase in PAIgG may be present without thrombocytopenia in acute liver injury, while patients with chronic persistent hepatitis do not usually exhibit this abnormality. Severe chronic active liver disease is accompanied by thrombocytopenia and an increase in PAIgG levels.

Studies were undertaken to evaluate the cytotoxicity of peripheral lymphocytes obtained from patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Lymphocyte cytotoxicity to Chang liver cells was investigated by a microcytotoxicity test, and that to autologous liver cells obtained by percutaneous liver biopsy was studied using a 51Cr release assay. Lymphocytes from patients with alcoholic hepatitis were found to be highly cytotoxic to Chang liver cells and autologous liver cells when compared to those of healthy subjects (P is less than 0.001). Cell-free supernatant fluid of lymphocytes from patients with alcoholic hepatitis incubated with purified alcoholic hyalin for 5 days was significantly cytotoxic to Chang liver cells (P is less than 0.01), indicating that a cytotoxic factor is elaborated by sensitized lymphocytes. A significant reduction in cytotoxicity was noted with disappearance of clinical features or direct addition of a purified isolate of alcoholic hyalin or its preincubation with lymphocytes. Preincubation of sensitized lymphocytes with acetaldehyde increased cytotoxicity for autologous liver beyond that obtained by the combined effects of lymphocytes alone and acetaldehyde alone (P is less than 0.001), interpreted as evidence that ethanol toxicity and hyperactivity of lymphocytes independently and collectively contribute to development of cirrhosis in patients with alcoholic hepatitis who continue to imbibe alcohol.

A Board of Concerned Citizens was organized in 1971 to facilitate the resolution of problems between the College of Medicne and Dentistry of New Jersey at Newark and the community in which it is located. The board has provided an orderly imput by consumers, representatives of community organizations and nonfaculty employees into decisions on policies and programs of the medical and dental schools. It has aided in the resolution of employee grievances and student problems, given support needed to assist the development of quality health care services, helped improve the climate for clinical research, and served as an intermediary between the community and college on issues of special concern to local residents. An opinion poll conducted 3 1/2 years after its organization shows c ontinued support by citizenry, nonfaculty employees, faculty, and students for a Board of Concerned Citizens. Experiences of the board indicate that investigations and recommendations of a properly organized and motivated group of community residents and leaders can provide an effective bridge between a community and a medical or dental school.

Thalidomide inhibits growth of some protozoa. This inhibition was counteracted by nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and vitamin K(1). The mechanism of toxicity may be an interference of cellular oxidation. A protozoan test system is useful for studying the potential "side actions" of drugs in higher animals and man.