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The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of testosterone propionate administration in the liver of rats. The rats were divided in the following groups: Initial control (SC), Aged control (SE) and Anabolic group (SA). Testosterone propionate was administered three times per week during 16 weeks. Using morphoquantitative techniques, we quantified the volume densities of lobular and non-lobular parenchyma, area and number of nuclei of hepatocytes. The data were analyzed statistically using mean and standard deviation, ANOVA one-way and level of significance about p0.05. Our results showed an increase in capillaries, perisinusoidal spaces and biliary ducts in SE group compared to SC. SA group showed a decrease in hepatic cells, non-lobular volume density and hepatocytes nuclei area, but also an increase in capillaries, perisinusoidal spaces, biliary ducts, number of hepatocytes and non-hepatocyte nuclei compared to SC. We conclude that a direct toxicity may have occurred, with consequent loss of the cells. El objetivo fue investigar el efecto de la administración de propionato de testosterona en el hígado de ratas. Las ratas se dividieron en los siguientes grupos: control inicial (CI), control de Edad (CE) y grupo anabólico (GA). El propionato de testosterona se administró tres veces por semana durante 16 semanas. Utilizando técnicas morfocuantitativas, determinamos las densidades de volumen del parénquima lobular y no lobular, área y número de núcleos de los hepatocitos. Los datos fueron analizados estadísticamente con la media y desviación estándar, la prueba de ANOVA de una vía y un nivel de significación p0,05. Nuestros resultados mostraron un aumento en los capilares, espacios perisinusoidales y conductos biliares en el grupo CE en comparación con CI. El GA mostró una disminución en las células hepáticas, la densidad de volumen no lobular y el área de los núcleos de hepatocitos, como también un aumento en los capilares, espacios perisinusoidales, conductos biliares, número de hepatocitos y núcleos no hepatocíticos en comparación AL CI. Concluimos que una toxicidad directa puede haber ocurrido, con la consiguiente pérdida de las células.

International audience; BACKGROUND: Transient elastography (TE) is widely used for non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in HIV-HCV co-infected patients. TE, however, cannot determine liver morphology. Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging is a novel procedure enabling assessment of liver fibrosis during a conventional ultrasonographic examination. This study evaluated the correlation between liver fibrosis measurements by TE and ARFI. METHODS: Each of 46 HIV-HCV patients underwent both ARFI and TE within 6 months. Patients were evaluated by the "equivalent METAVIR" scoring system, using previously established cut-off values. Agreements between the ARFI and TE scores were estimated by Kappa coefficients, with Kappa values ≥0.40, ≥0.60, and ≥0.80 defined as moderate, good and very good agreement, respectively. RESULTS: ARFI and TE yielded "Equivalent Metavir" fibrosis scores of F1 in 26 and 31 patients, respectively; F2 in nine and seven, respectively; F3 in three and two, respectively; and F4 in eight and six, respectively. The two methods showed very good agreement in predicting overall stages [Kappa = 0.82] and for F ≥3 [Kappa = 0.80] and moderate agreement in predicting significant fibrosis F ≥2 [Kappa = 0.50]. Morphologic ultrasound analysis concomitant to ARFI detected two hepatocarcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: ARFI showed promising results in the non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in HIV-HCV patients, with liver fibrosis staging similar to that of TE. Moreover, ARFI can assess morphology and fibrosis during the same session.

Histological examination of liver tissue originating from juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), fed experimental diets with a varying starch source displayed significant changes in general morphology and glycogen distribution. Fish fed diets containing a graded inclusion of a pea seed meal showed clear evidence of enhanced glycogen deposition in the liver compared to fish receiving a semi-purified starch source in the control diet. Lipid accumulation was also more evident in this group and the general architecture of the livers was noticeably different between the control fish and those fed diets with the pea seed meal at both levels. This was particularly relevant to the density and profile of hepatic sinusoids. The comparative features between the cultured seabass under laboratory conditions and the livers of wild fish are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spectrum of MR imaging features of primary sclerosing cholangitis.A retrospective review was performed of MR imaging findings including MR cholangiography and multiphasic contrast-enhanced dynamic sequences in 22 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. MR imaging analysis included abnormalities of intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, abnormalities of liver parenchyma, changes in liver morphology, and lymphadenopathy.Abnormal findings of bile ducts were seen in all 22 patients; the most common finding was intrahepatic bile duct dilatation (77%), followed by intrahepatic bile duct stenosis (64%), extrahepatic bile duct wall enhancement (67%), extrahepatic bile duct wall thickening (50%), extrahepatic bile duct stenosis (50%), and intrahepatic bile duct beading (36%). Increased enhancement of the liver parenchyma on dynamic arterial-phase images, predominantly in the peripheral areas of the liver, was identified in 56% of patients. Other findings included periportal lymphadenopathy (77%), periportal high signal intensity on T2-weighted images (68%), hypertrophy of the caudate lobe (68%), and abnormal hyperintensity of the liver parenchyma on T1-weighted images (23%).On MR imaging, primary sclerosing cholangitis showed several characteristic features, including bile duct abnormalities and increased enhancement of the liver parenchyma. MR cholangiography and contrast-enhanced dynamic MR techniques are useful for revealing intra- and extrahepatic signs of primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB), a mixture of esters of sucrose with a composition approximating the name sucrose diacetate hexaisobutyrate, has been used for over 30 yr in many countries as a 'weighting' or 'density-adjusting' agent in non-alcoholic carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. As part of the demonstration of safety of SAIB as a direct food additive in human diets, a program of toxicity testing was started in the late 1950s that culminated in extensive studies of SAIB in rodents, monkeys and humans over the last decade. This review summarizes the toxicity data, accrued up until 1988, that precede the safety studies published elsewhere in this issue. SAIB has been shown to have very low acute and chronic toxicities in rats, monkeys, and, except for effects on the liver, in dogs at feeding levels of up to 10% in the diet. Slight effects seen in rats and monkeys at levels of 10% in the diet are unlikely to be directly caused by exposure to SAIB. In dogs, however, SAIB causes decreases in bromosulfophthalein (BSP) and indocyanine green (ICG) elimination from the serum immediately following a single dose, indicative of interference with biliary excretion. On repeated feeding in dogs, SAIB caused increases in serum alkaline phosphatase levels, but enzymes indicative of toxic effects on the liver were unaffected. On prolonged feeding to dogs, SAIB caused changes in liver morphology revealed by electron microscopy. All of these effects were reversed when SAIB was withdrawn from the diet. The no-effect level for these effects in dogs was near 5 mg/kg body weight, but these effects were not seen in rats fed up to 4 g/kg body weight/day, monkeys fed up to 10 g/kg body weight/day, or humans fed up to 20 mg/kg body weight/day. The toxicity and pharmacological studies in dogs, rats and monkeys suggest that the effect of SAIB on biliary excretion and liver morphology in dogs is essentially pharmacological rather than toxicological in nature and that the difference between the effects in dogs at levels as low as 5 mg/kg body weight/day, and the lack of effects in rats or monkeys at levels up to 10 g/kg/day is not merely a quantitative difference between species, but an absolute qualitative difference.

Quantify steatosis, fibrosis, and focuses of extramedullary erythropoiesis (ER) in the liver and report it to the causes of death in the perinatal. Morphologic analysis of steatosis', percentage of fibrosis, and ER of 467 perinatal autopsies. Cases with hypoxia/perinatal anoxia and ascending infection showed higher percentage of fibrosis. The number of ER was significantly higher among premature infants and in cases with infection. Our results contribute to a better quality of perinatal care through clinical demonstration of which injuries are associated with them, what may help in early diagnosis of these alterations in children who survive.

This retrospective study of fatal passenger car crash victims in northern Sweden compares 396 multiple-vehicle (MV) and 201 single-vehicle (SV) fatalities from 1980 through 1989. Compared to MV fatalities, SV victims were more frequently males, were younger, were more often inebriated, had higher blood alcohol concentrations, had a higher frequency of fatty liver, and were less often restrained. The SV fatalities occurred most often from May through October, from Fridays through Sundays, and from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The road surface was usually dry, especially for drunken SV drivers. The SV drivers also more often lacked a valid driver's license. The study confirms that alcohol is one of the most important factors associated with traffic fatalities, particularly in SV crashes. More than half (56%) of the SV victims were inebriated by alcohol (MV, 11%), had a mean blood alcohol concentration of 1.9 g/l (MV, 1.6 g/l), and one-third had a fatty liver (MV, 20%). We also found a relation between fatty liver and increased blood alcohol concentrations, suggesting that studies regarding the role of alcohol in traffic fatalities should also include an evaluation of liver morphology.

Este estudio se realizo para evaluar la relacion y los efectos de la diabetes sobre la morfologia, arquitectura y la funcion del higado. Los efectos hepaticos de la diabetes se evaluaron in vivo utilizando estreptozotocina (STZ) para inducir diabetes en ratas como un modelo experimental. El grado de disfuncion hepatica se midio mediante el uso de parametros bioquimicos, como las transaminasas sericas (ALT y AST), fosfatasa alcalina (ALP) y pseudocolinesterasa (PChE), mientras que los estudios histopatologicos se llevaron a cabo para apoyar los parametros enzimaticos. El objetivo del estudio fue investigar la asociacion entre las complicaciones hepaticas diabeticas y la alteracion de enzimas hepaticas. Este estudio se realizo en el Departamento de Anatomia, Instituto de Ciencias Farmaceuticas y el Instituto de Diabetologia y Endocrinologia de la Baqai Medical University, Karachi. La diabetes fue inducida por una dosis unica de STZ (45 mg/kg de peso corporal) administrada por via intraperitoneal en tampon citrato de sodio a pH 4,5. Ochenta ratas albinas se dividieron en cinco grupos: control (A) y tratados con STZ (B, C, D y E), las que se sacrificaron a las 2, 4, 6 y 8 semanas despues del tratamiento. El examen histopatologico de higado mostro acumulacion de gotitas de lipidos, infiltracion linfocitica, aumento del contenido de fibras, dilatacion y congestion de los vasos portales, y la proliferacion de conductos biliares. Aumento de los niveles de aspartato aminotransferasa (AST), alanina aminotransferasa (ALT), ALP y PChE fueron observados en el higado. Parece que las complicaciones de la diabetes en el higado como la destruccion de los hepatocitos etc., son probablemente debido a alteraciones en los niveles de las enzimas.

The potential impact from exposure to high perfluorinated acid (PFA) levels (mean = 1280 ng g−1 wet weight; SD = 645; range = 114–3052; n = 57) was investigated on liver lesions as evidenced by the following parameters: Mononuclear cell infiltrations, lipid granulomas, steatosis, Ito cells, and bile duct hyperplasia/portal fibrosis in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Statistical analyses showed that prevalence of liver lesions was not significantly influenced by PFA concentrations. However, these findings are not unexpected as the PFA concentration was within a 4-fold range in all tissue samples. At present, it is not clear whether chronic exposure to PFA is associated with appearance of liver lesions in polar bears, however these hepatic lesions were similar to those produced by PFA under controlled lab conditions. It is conceivable that at sufficient concentrations in polar bears PFA might induce liver pathologic alterations.

Although the general liver morphology is similar in all mammals, there are some structural features in apparently healthy laboratory rodents. These peculiarities are known to be influenced by a great variety of endogenous and exogenous factors. Incidence, intensity, development and disappearance of such elements as extramedullary haemopoiesis, polyploidy, intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusions depend markedly upon genetics, age, hygienic condition, hormonal regulation and nutrition of the animals. It is concluded from this short review that the term "normal histology" should only be understood as being relative and that it may only be applied to a given, well defined animal population held under well defined conditions.

Residues of polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). extensively applied as flame retardants, are widely spread in the aquatic environment and biota. The present study investigates effects of the environmentally relevant lower brominated diphenylethers in two fish species in vivo under controlled laboratory conditions. Euryhaline flounder (Platichthys flesus) and freshwater zebrafish (Dunio rerio) were exposed to a range of concentrations of a commercial pentabromodiphenylether mixture, DE-71. Chemical analysis of exposed fish showed a pattern of PBDE congeners that was very similar to that in wild fish. The resulting range included environmentally relevant, as well as higher levels. Animals were investigated histopathologically with emphasis on endocrine and reproductive organs. In zebrafish, hatching of embryos and larval development were assessed. Biochemical parameters were investigated in flounder as markers for Suggested dioxin-like activity (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase = EROD), and activation of endogenous estrogen synthesis (gonad aromatase activity). Thyroid hormones were analyzed in plasma in both species. Benchmark analysis using internal PBDE concentrations showed a mild dose-dependent decrease of hepatic EROD and ovarian aromatase activities, and plasma thyroxin levels in flounder, and an increase of plasma thyroid hormone levels in zebrafish. These trends did not result in statistically significant differences from control fish, and major histopathological changes were not observed. Reproduction in zebrafish appeared to be the most sensitive parameter with statistically significantly reduced larval survival and non-significant indications for decreased egg production at internal levels that were more than 55 times the highest environmental recordings. The present results indicate limited risk for endocrine or reproductive effects of current environmental PBDE contamination in fish.

The plant Paulinia pinnata is traditionally used extensively in the treatment of leishmaniasis in some endemic communities in Nigeria with acclaimed success. The plant therefore needs to be evaluated for other beneficial and toxic effects while its antileishmanial activity is being studied. The aqueous leaf extract of the plant Paulinia pinnata Linn. (Sapindaceae) was tested for its diuretic and morphological effects in rats and its hypotensive effect in cat. These investigations revealed that the extract has considerable diuretic activity (P Key Words: Paulinia pinnata ; Diuretic; Hypotensive effect; Liver morphology; Kidney morphology. Journal of Pharmacy and Bioresources Vol.1(1) 2004: 12-16

The plant Paulinia pinnata is traditionally used extensively in the treatment of leishmaniasis in some endemic communities in Nigeria with acclaimed success. The plant therefore needs to be evaluated for other beneficial and toxic effects while its antileishmanial activity is being studied. The aqueous leaf extract of the plant Paulinia pinnata Linn. (Sapindaceae) was tested for its diuretic and morphological effects in rats and its hypotensive effect in cat. These investigations revealed that the extract has considerable diuretic activity (P

In the experiments we studied influence of inereased pressure of copper salts, magnesii cianide, chrome, lead on the white ratis liver. Was showed an essential breakes of microcirculation in this organ and destructive processes in liver cells. Chemical composition of liver was also changed cause of storing chemical elements, which come from the outside. Експериментальним шляхом досліджені зміни, що відбуваються у печінці щурів при підвищеному споживанні солей міді, марганцю, цинку, хрому і свинцю. Виявлені значні порушення мікроциркуляції в органі і дистрофічні та деструктивні процеси в печінкових клітинах. Під впливом досліджуваних хімічних елементів, що надходили ззовні, змінився хімічний склад печінки внаслідок їх накопичення в органі. При цитуванні документа, використовуйте посилання http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/282

With modern imaging technologies, including helical CT and MR imaging, the evaluation of liver morphology, blood flow and detection and characterization of liver neoplasms is possible in a noninvasive manner. Experiences in numerous institutions have established that both imaging methods are highly accurate in diagnosing hepatic pathology. Three-dimensional evaluation is feasible with fast imaging techniques such as multislice CT. With tissue-specific MR contrast agents such as SPIO, our capability is enhanced not only with respect to lesion detection but also lesion characterization.

The relationship between primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) and liver fibrosis is an emerging topic with many obscure aspects due to the rarity of the disorder. A recent paper reported that a six-month low-fat diet improved liver fibrosis. We report the case of a 17-year-old girl affected by PIL whose hepatic fibrosis progressively worsened within one year, despite dietetic support. This and the previous case report describe extraordinary events, which do not allow clear-cut clinical aspects to be established. Nevertheless, both cases suggest that in patients with PIL, it is necessary to closely monitor liver morphology with in-depth investigations including not only ultrasonography, but also elastography.

The aim of this chapter is to propose a computerized simulation of the parenchymal liver tissue formation process. The simulation program considers two anatomical structures: the hepatic vascular system and the parenchymal tissue made up by ephitelial hepatic cells, called hepatocytes. On the basis of previous theoretical rules, we have considered two dynamical mechanisms: the aggregation of the hepatic cells around the centrolobular vein of the vascular system and the self-replication of the hepatic cells. The simulation is able to furnish images very similar to those commonly seen, at microscopy level, by means of histological specimens. This simulated structure may be of help to reveal more information about the liver morphology, and it will be the basis for future simulations of the hepatic functionality and of viral pathologies.

The "Gnomes" are an international group of liver pathologists and clinicians interested in liver morphology. The group was founded 30 years ago in an attempt to clarify the confusing concepts of chronic hepatitis that were then prevalent. Its first slide circulation and meeting resulted in the 1968 classification of chronic hepatitis. Recognizing the potential fruitfulness of the group, the members continued to meet for 2 or 3 days each year to discuss a variety of topics. The group has published nine reports that include guidelines for pathologists on different aspects of liver disease. Its membership has changed over the years, but many of the founding members continue to take part in the annual discussions.

Although it has been known for many years that the liver receives a nerve supply, it is only with the advent of immunohistochemistry that this innervation has been analysed in depth. It is now appreciated not only that many different nerve types are present, but also that there are significant differences between species, especially in the degree of parenchymal innervation. This has stimulated more detailed investigation of the innervation of the human liver in both health and disease. At the same time, functional studies have been underlining the important roles that these nerves play in processes as diverse as osmoreception and liver regeneration. This article briefly reviews current understanding of the morphology and functions of the hepatic nerve supply.

Ethanol was administered to female and male Wistar rats by mixing it with their drinking water. Ethanol concentrations were gradually increased up to either 8% or 15%. Female rats receiving 8% ethanol in their drinking water consumed 5-13 g, males 4-10 g daily. The ethanol/total food caloric intake percentages were 13 to 20% and 9 to 15% for female and male rats, respectively. There was no difference in body weight and relative liver weight between treated rats and their controls. Female and male rats receiving 15% of ethanol in their drinking water consumed 8-14 g ethanol per kg body weight per day. The percentages of ethanol/total food caloric intake were stabilized at about 25% for both sexes. Growth of the rats differed only slightly from controls; a tendency for a higher increase of body weight of the control rats was found. No difference in relative liver weight between ethanol-treated and control rats was observed. Microscopic examinations revealed that the ethanol treatment resulted in fat accumulation in the liver cells. A proliferation of the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) was more marked in the 15% dosed rats than in the 8% dosed rats and more distinct in female rats than in male rats in both dosage groups.

9568 Background: T (ET-743) is a first-in-class compound that binds the minor groove of DNA. T has activity in soft tissue sarcoma and ovarian cancers with predictable, transient, non-cumulative and reversible hepatic toxicity, compatible with long term treatment. The combination of T and doxorubicin had preclinical synergistic activity. This study tested T + PLD in advanced malignancies. Methods: Eligibility included normal cardiac and liver functions, prior doxorubicin exposure 2. PLD 30 mg/m2 was administered iv 1-hour followed by 1 of 6 T doses (0.4 -1.3 mg/m2) iv 3 hours q 21 days. In select subjects (4 at pre/post cycle 1, 4 under long term treatment -cycle 14, 20, 30 and 30), liver biopsies were done with expert independent review. Results: Six dose levels of T were evaluated in 30 subjects. The DLTs were 1 grade 3 AST and 2 grade 4 ALT elevations seen at T 1.3 mg/m2. Grade 3–4 toxicities were: ALT elevation (4%), neutropenia (3%), hand-foot syndrome (2%), AST elevation (1%) and nausea/vomiting (1%). Liver biopsies were obtained from 8 subjects (1 in 0.6, 7 in 1.1 mg/m2 T dose cohorts), age 45–78 years, with sarcoma (4), and ovarian (2), uterine (1), and head and neck (1) cancers. T and PLD mean drug exposure for these subjects was 15 (2–36) and 12 (2–24) cycles, respectively. Mean total doses for T and PLD were 23.2 (3.4–39) and 597 (94–1296) mg, respectively. Findings included NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), severity ranging from minimal steatosis to moderate steatosis with fibrosis. Pre/post treatment biopsies showed no change in NASH pre/post in 3 cases, one subject had minimal post-treatment steatosis. No mitochondrial abnormalities or stellate cell activation were observed. Review concluded no evidence of persistent liver pathological abnormalities attributable to T. Conclusions: The MTD of T is 1.1 mg/m2 with 30 mg/m2 PLD q 21 days, and is well tolerated when both drugs are administered at near full therapeutic doses for prolonged periods. Liver biopsies did not demonstrate clinically relevant hepatic tissue toxicity. As reported previously, this is an active regimen which is being further evaluated in an ongoing Phase III study in relapsed ovarian cancer. [Table: see text]

The effects of 2 recently developed trypanocidal agents, Diamidinophenylindol (DAPI) and Diimidazolinophenylindol (DIPI) at doses of 10-30 micrograms/g intraperitoneally (i.p.) on serum GOT, GPT and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) levels and on liver morphology have been investigated in mice. Pentamidine served as reference drug. Both agents caused dose-dependent increases in serum transaminases and SDH, and discrete morphological changes of the liver, e.g., fatty degenerations, azinoperipheral vacuolisation and alterations of the nuclei, at least at the higher dosage.

Biliary excretion of xenobiotics is a complex process involving uptake into liver, intracellular sequestration and/or biotransformation, and transport into bile. A description of liver morphology is included to aid in the understanding of how chemical and physiological factors affect hepatic uptake and biliary excretion. Data will be presented with morphine and nalorphine that illustrate how efficient the intestinal and hepatobiliary system is in clearing drugs from the body. However, enterohepatic circulation can interfere with these processes.

Plasma fibronectin concentrations and liver morphology were investigated in 45 morbidly obese subjects (median overweight 88%) and in 42 normal weight controls, matched for sex and age. A significantly (P less than 0.01) raised plasma fibronectin concentration (median 464 mg/l, range 276-862 mg/l) was found in the obese subjects when compared with concentrations in the controls (median 348 mg/l, range 164-536 mg/l). Plasma fibronectin concentrations of the obese patients correlated significantly to their degree of overweight (r = 0.33, P less than 0.05) as well as to the degree of fatty change found in their liver biopsies (r = 0.33, P less than 0.05). Significantly (P less than 0.05) elevated plasma fibronectin concentrations even in obese subjects without hepatic fatty change indicate that liver fat accumulation is no prerequisite of the obesity-related elevation of plasma fibronectin. Raised plasma fibronectin concentration in obesity may more readily be explained by an increased fibronectin formation by lipocytes.

Summary In liver biopsy specimens from patients with normal liver morphology (n = 11), fatty liver (n = 9), chronic hepatitis (n = 12) or cirrhosis (n = 3) the total glutathione and GSH-S-transferase activities towards an aryl and an epoxide substrate were measured. As compared to livers without pathomorphological changes there was a tendency to higher values for glutathione in the groups with definite liver diseases. Lower activities were seen in these pathological groups for the aryl transferase whereas epoxide transferase activity was only detectable in 7 out of 35 specimens. In post-mortem specimens (n = 58) of human livers with and without histopathological alterations no clearcut differences were found for glutathione and GSH-S-transferases except that there was a tendency to lower aryl transferase activities in livers with tumour metastases, whereas the epoxide transferase activities seemed to be higher.

Four types of liver functional images were obtained by calculating for each point on an image matrix the local uptake rate, the local uptake transit time, the point's own maximum and the time necessary to attain the maximum. The study was based on 52 cases: 21 controls and 31 cases of hepatic disease. The controls showed a homogeneous spread of colloidal substance on the images of local uptake rate and local transit time, despite variations in liver tissue thickness. In the cases of parenchymal lesions revealed by deficient uptake on standard images, local variations of uptake rate were almost always shown even in instances where the standard images showed minimal variation. This technique therefore would seem to bring additional diagnostic assistance by permitting a better appreciation of liver morphology and function and the processing time required (approx. 1.5 min.) does not necessitate an increase in overall examination time.

1. 1. Morphological changes were found in livers of rats and chicks after acute poisoning with ethylene dibromide (EDB). 2. 2. In rats, EDB induced sinusoidal dilations and centrilobular necrosis, beginning from 8 hr after poisoning. 3. 3. In chicks the central areas were almost unchanged and portal areas were found to be affected by EDB; the concentration of eosinophilic granulocytes was much greater in EDB-treated livers than in controls.

Five hundred consecutive healthy blood donors were tested for serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and 44 (8.8%) had increased levels. Donors with and without raised ALT were compared in several aspects but only weight (expressed as percentage of ideal body weight) and sex differed significantly (119.1 +/- 14.5 and 106.3 +/- 12.8%, respectively; p less than 0.001 and males 97.7 and 77.1%, respectively; p less than 0.01). The 44 donors with raised ALT were followed up and in 13 out of 15 donors with persistently raised ALT without obvious reason, a liver biopsy was performed. Ten donors had various degrees of liver steatosis, 2 had normal liver morphology and in 1 donor chronic hepatitis could not be ruled out. If ALT screening is introduced as a surrogate test for non-A, non-B hepatitis in Swedish blood donors, we suggest that a correction for overweight must be considered in order to minimize donor loss.

Eghoje, K. N. & Juhl, E. Factors determining liver damage in chronic alcoholics. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1973, 8, 505-512.Among patients in a consecutive series comprising 347 chronic alcoholics who i...

Ten patients were treated for obesity with jejunoileal shunt operation. Liver biopsies were performed in seven both during and 10 to 27 months after operation. The degree of fatty infiltration showed no distinct trend. Steatosis increased in three, decreased in three and remained unchanged in one. Two liver specimens were entirely normal at follow-up examination. Serum aspartate transaminase and sulfobromophthalein retention tests showed a transient deterioration after surgery, but later improved as compared with preoperative values. Prothrombin values decreased, but remained within normal limits. All other liver-function tests were unchanged. The present investigation does not support the contention that jejunoileal shunt for obesity should be abandoned for fear of severe liver damage.

Rats receiving 100 ppm, p,p′-DDT in their drinking water for a period of 45 days show reduced basophilia of the centrilobular liver cells. The basophilic fragments are scattered throughout the cytoplasm in most of these cells. The animals receiving 100 ppm PTU in their drinking water show similar morphological changes. The animals receiving p,p′-DDT plus PTU exhibit advanced changes involving almost all the cells of the inner two-thirds of the hepatic lobule. The ergastoplasm is reduced to a few small fragments located near the cell membrane. The remainder of the cytoplasm is very clear and foamy in appearance. It is considered that the changes in the liver induced by p,p′-DDT are potentiated by the effect of PTU on the hypophyso-thyroid system. This view is supported by our previous findings in the liver of surgically thyroidectomized p,p′DDT-receiving rats.

Rats exposed eight hours daily to vinyl chloride at concentrations of 2% for three months and 5% for 19 days exhibited changes in liver and spleen weight and in red and white cell counts. Except in the case of liver, tissue alterations did not accompany these changes. The alterations in liver morphology were within the normal range and were not pathologic in character. Because other facets of the animals' response, such as rate of growth, serum transaminase and hemoglobin, were unchanged, it is suggested that the present threshold limit value of 0.05% need not be lowered.

For the rapid and simultaneous determination of several vitally important parameters of the state of liver tissue the vital dye neutral red was injected into the portal vein. The morphological state of the tissue, the adsorptive power of the liver cells, the efficiency of the microcirculation of the blood, and the pH shift were determined in histological sections cut from part of the piece of liver taken for investigation. From the other part of the piece of liver tissue the dye was extracted and the total quantity of dye adsorbed was determined.