Biochemical activity of a hybrid liver support system based on porcine liver cells was investigated in patients suffering from acute liver failure, coma stage III-IV. Patient plasma was drawn systemically and after circulation through the bioreactor at four hour intervals. A method is used that takes into account the rate of plasma flow and the differences in plasma concentration systemically and after circulation through the liver support system to determine the net release or uptake of metabolites such as ammonia, urea and glucose. Urea release (mean 2.28 ± 0.37 μmol/h/g cells) and ammonia uptake (mean 0.17 ± 0.11 μmol/h/g cells) was seen during treatment, an active role of the system in glucose metabolism was observed. All patients were bridged successfully to liver transplantation.
could be produced in rats by levels of exposure that were appreciably less than those that had previously occurred in industry.4 Steps were therefore quickly taken in the mid-1970s to reduce the extent to which individuals could be exposed from levels of the order of several hundred ppm to 5 ppm (13 x 106 ngm/m3) or less.5 This reduction followed
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