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Experiments were designed to elucidate the differences, if any, in the liver histology induced by aflatoxin B in newborn and adult animals. The transfer of toxic metabolites from pregnant rats to their litters was confirmed by thin layer chromatography of liver homogenates in the latter. Extensive cystic lesions of the biliary and hepatic type developed only in young animals. Multifocal hepatic necrosis, bile ductular proliferation, areas of altered hepatocytes, neoplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma constituted the total spectrum in both adult and newborn animals. Increased susceptibility to the toxins early in life appears to be responsible for this intriguing phenomenon. These aspects may have a bearing on the genesis of childhood liver disease.

Studies were undertaken to demonstrate the role of fetal antigens in tumor immunity. Viable fetal cells inoculation followed by challenge with transplanted methylcholanthrene induced tumor cells after 7, 14 and 21 days significantly delayed the time of appearance of tumors. Transfer of lymphoid cells from mice immunized with fetal cells followed by tumor challenge resulted in delayed appearance of tumors. Inoculation of viable tumor cells pre-treated in vitro with serum from mice immunized with fetal cells shortened the time of appearance of tumors in mice.

Jaundice was found in 27 of 95 patients with amebic liver abscess hospitalized over a 5-year period. Serum bilirubin levels ranged from 2 to 31 mg/100 ml. The conjugated fraction was invariably predominant. Patients with jaundice had on the average a shorter duration of illness at admission, more frequent error in their initial clinical diagnosis, a higher incidence of complications, and a higher mortality rate when compared to patients without jaundice. At necropsy these patients demonstrated abscesses that were either on the inferior surface of the liver where main bile duct tributaries emerge or were of such a dimension as to compress this region. It is concluded that jaundice is of cholestatic origin due to compression or destruction of main intrahepatic biliary channels. The importance of recognizing its not infrequent occurrence, an early diagnosis, and effective aspiration in patients with amebic liver abscess and jaundice is highlighted.

The present study is based on a retrospective analysis of 79 autopsy cases of hepatic amoebiasis. An attempt has been made to reconstruct the sequence of events starting from intestinal infection to invasion and transport of amoebae along the radicles of the portal veins, the formation of early Zahn's infarct and the proliferation of amoebae in such foci leading to the formation of small abscesses. The coalescence of small abscesses gives rise to the apparently large abscesses. Apart from direct contiguity, more distant extension leading to a satellite abscess is due to involvement of the hepatic and/or portal venous radicles. It seems that obstruction of the hepatic vein contributes substantially towards the enlargement of the liver and its exaggerated nutmeg appearance. Signs and symptoms of hepatic vein obstruction sometimes overshadow the abscess pathology. Thrombosis or pressure of a neighbouring abscess over the portal vein obstruction sometimes overshadow the abscess pathology. Thrombosis or pressure of a neighbouring abscess over the portal vein and bile-duct lead to development of portal hypertension and jaundice. Both cell-mediated and humoral immunity are depressed in fatal cases of hepatic amoebiasis.

The present study has been carried out mainly to study the sequential changes of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels with the evolution of experimental hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to correlate with the histology of the tumors. Rats fed with 0.06% of azodyes developed HCC by 8–24 months and on the basis of their capacity to synthesize AFP, the animals can be divided into two distinct major groups—“quick responders” and “slow responders”. In the first group the animals developed tumors by 8–10 months and mostly of poorly differentiated type with high serum AFP levels. The slow responders developed tumors only after 16 months and they were mostly of well differentiated with comparatively low AFP values. Both the groups showed biphasic response of AFP during the evolution of HCC. The animals in aflatoxin B 1 group did not show AFP levels more than 2 μ g/ml .

Summary Six cases are described of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) after medicinal herb ingestion. The herb Heliotropium eichwaldii, taken by three patients, was found to contain the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid, heliotrine. Two patients presented with fulminant hepatic failure while the other four patients had a clinical picture suggestive of decompensated cirrhosis. The medical use of this herb may possibly be responsible for a significant proportion of acute and chronic liver disease in India, making it of public health importance.

SOME well-known physico-chemical differences between human adult and fœtal haemoglobin prompted us to find if similar differences exist between haemoglobins from adult and new-born monkeys. The present communication describes the examination of the blood of 8 adult and 4 new-born monkeys (Macacus rhesus of North India) by the alkali resistance test and paper electrophoresis. Pregnant monkeys were obtained and were delivered in the cage to provide the new-born monkeys. Heart blood from the new-born and venous blood from the adult monkeys was collected in citrate solution. The alkali denaturation method of Singer et al. 1 was employed for determining the proportion of alkali-resistant haemoglobin. Electrophoresis was carried out in ‘Elphor’ apparatus using paper strip No. 2043 a Mg 1 at 250 V. for a period of 16 hr. in veronal buffer of pH 8.6 and ionic strength 0.05.

Clinical features of obstruction of the intrahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava were observed in five out of the 11 patients with the Budd-Chiari syndrome seen during the last four years. These patients apparently formed a distinct group from the remaining six and resembled in clinical course, biochemical features, haemodynamic findings, and radiological investigations the patients described as cases of membranous obliteration of the intrahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava. The present study reports five such patients diagnosed with the help of venous catheterization, percutaneous hepatography, and haemodynamic studies. The value of distinguishing these patients from those with obstruction due to hepatic vein occlusion is highlighted because of the difference in the prognosis and treatment.