Katharine Secunda, Elisa J. Gordon, Min W. Sohn, Laura A. Shinkunas, Lauris C. Kaldjian, Michael D. Voigt, Josh Levitsky – 29 November 2012 – Candidate selection for liver transplantation presents challenging ethical issues that require balancing the principles of justice and utility. The goal of this study was to assess the opinions of US transplant providers regarding the ways in which controversial medical and psychosocial characteristics influence patient eligibility for liver transplantation.

Marina Berenguer, Geoffrey McCaughan – 29 November 2012

Thomas Mone, John Heldens, Claus U. Niemann – 29 November 2012

Kenichi Harada, Junko Hirohara, Yoshiyuki Ueno, Toshiaki Nakano, Yuko Kakuda, Hirohito Tsubouchi, Takafumi Ichida, Yasuni Nakanuma – 29 November 2012 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) primarily affects females and is rarely complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although the HCC incidence in PBC patients is low, several characteristics and risk factors associated with its development have been reported. In this study, national data concerning the current status of carcinogenesis in PBC patients in Japan are reviewed.

George N. Ioannou, Christopher L. Bryson, Noel S. Weiss, John D. Scott, Edward J. Boyko – 29 November 2012

Jay H. Hoofnagle, Jose Serrano, James E. Knoben, Victor J. Navarro – 29 November 2012

Ana M. Tormos, Alessandro Arduini, Raquel Talens‐Visconti, Ivan del Barco Barrantes, Angel R. Nebreda, Juan Sastre – 29 November 2012 – p38α mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) may be essential in the up‐regulation of proinflammatory cytokines and can be activated by transforming growth factor β, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β, and oxidative stress. p38 MAPK activation results in hepatocyte growth arrest, whereas increased proliferation has been considered a hallmark of p38α‐deficient cells.

Tsan‐Shiun Lin, Chao‐Long Chen, Allan M. Concejero, Anthony Q. Yap, Yu‐Hung Lin, Chun‐Yi Liu, Yuan‐Cheng Chiang, Chih‐Chi Wang, Shih‐Ho Wang, Chih‐Che Lin, Chee‐Chien Yong, Yu‐Fan Cheng – 29 November 2012 – We describe our early and long‐term experience with routine biliary reconstruction via a microsurgical technique in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). One hundred seventy‐seven grafts (including 3 dual grafts) were primarily transplanted into 174 recipients. The minimum follow‐up was 44 months.

Vincenzo La Mura, Marcos Pasarín, Cintia Z. Meireles, Rosa Miquel, Aina Rodríguez‐Vilarrupla, Diana Hide, Jorge Gracia‐Sancho, Juan Carlos García‐Pagán, Jaime Bosch, Juan G. Abraldes – 26 November 2012 – Endothelial dysfunction drives vascular derangement and organ failure associated with sepsis. However, the consequences of sepsis on liver sinusoidal endothelial function are largely unknown. Statins might improve microvascular dysfunction in sepsis. The present study explores liver vascular abnormalities and the effects of statins in a rat model of endotoxemia.

Richy C.Y. Chen, Phornnop Naiyanetr, Shang‐An Shu, Jinjun Wang, Guo‐Xiang Yang, Thomas P. Kenny, Kathryn C. Guggenheim, Jeffrey D. Butler, Christopher Bowlus, Mi‐Hua Tao, Mark J. Kurth, Aftab A. Ansari, Marshall Kaplan, Ross L. Coppel, Ana Lleo, M. Eric Gershwin, Patrick S.C. Leung – 26 November 2012 – Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) directed against the lipoyl domain of the E2 subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDC‐E2) are detected in 95% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and are present before the onset of clinical disease.