Impact of pretransplant rifaximin therapy on early post–liver transplant infections

Jamak Modaresi Esfeh, Ibrahim A. Hanouneh, Christine E. Koval, Christopher Kovacs, Deepan S. Dalal, Kianoush Ansari‐Gilani, Bradley D. Confer, Bijan Eghtesad, Nizar N. Zein, K. V. Narayanan Menon – 3 February 2014 – Bacterial and fungal infections are major causes of morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation (LT). The role of intestinal decontamination in the prevention of post‐LT infections is controversial. Rifaximin is widely used for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. The effect of rifaximin on post‐LT infections is unknown.

Conversion from twice daily tacrolimus capsules to once daily extended‐release tacrolimus (LCP‐Tacro): Phase 2 trial of stable liver transplant recipients

Rita R. Alloway, Devin E. Eckhoff, W. Kenneth Washburn, Lewis W. Teperman – 3 February 2014 – LCP‐Tacro is an extended‐release formulation of tacrolimus designed for once‐daily dosing. Studies in renal transplantation demonstrate greater bioavailability with similar safety and efficacy vs. twice‐daily tacrolimus capsules.

Long noncoding RNA in liver diseases

Kenji Takahashi, Irene Yan, Hiroaki Haga, Tushar Patel – 3 February 2014 – The identification of the presence of large RNA transcripts that do not code for proteins but that may have biological functions has provided an important new perspective in gene regulation. These long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are being increasingly recognized to contribute to many biological processes through diverse mechanisms. The roles of these emerging genes are being recognized across kingdoms.

Mesodermal mesenchymal cells give rise to myofibroblasts, but not epithelial cells, in mouse liver injury

Ingrid Lua, David James, Jiaohong Wang, Kasper S. Wang, Kinji Asahina – 1 February 2014 – Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and portal fibroblasts (PFs) are believed to be the major source of myofibroblasts that participate in fibrogenesis by way of synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrices. Previous lineage tracing studies using MesP1Cre and Rosa26lacZflox mice demonstrated that MesP1+ mesoderm gives rise to mesothelial cells (MCs), which differentiate into HSCs and PFs during liver development.

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