Continuous development of arrhythmia is observed in swedish transplant patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (amyloidogenic transthyretin Val30Met variant)

Sadahisa Okamoto, Rolf Hörnsten, Konen Obayashi, Priyantha Wijayatunga, Ole B. Suhr – 7 September 2010 – In patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP), heart complications are prognostic factors for mortality and morbidity after liver transplantation (LT). However, only a few studies have analyzed the development of arrhythmia in transplant patients with FAP. We investigated the development of arrhythmia requiring pacemaker insertion (PMI) in Swedish transplant patients with FAP, and we related the findings to gender, age at disease onset, and survival.

Critical role of the liver in the induction of systemic inflammation in rats with preascitic cirrhosis

María Úbeda, Leticia Muñoz, María‐José Borrero, David Díaz, Rubén Francés, Jorge Monserrat, Margaret Lario, Lourdes Lledó, José Such, Melchor Álvarez‐Mon, Agustín Albillos – 7 September 2010 – Systemic activation of the inflammatory immune system contributes to the progression of cirrhosis with ascites. Immune cells become activated after interacting at the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) with bacteria translocated from the gut, and thereafter reach the bloodstream through recirculation.

Deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest to aid in the management of suprahepatic vena cava stenosis after liver transplantation

Ganesh Gunasekaran, Kalman Bencsath, Vera Hupertz, John J. Fung, Gosta Pettersson, Charles Miller – 7 September 2010 – Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for many liver diseases in the pediatric population. Complications involving late suprahepatic vena cava obstructions after liver transplantation are not common, but they tend to be more frequently seen in pediatric recipients. When such complications have occurred, approaches involving direct abdominal surgery or interventional radiology guidance have been used with satisfactory results.

Unconjugated bile salts shuttle through hepatocyte peroxisomes for taurine conjugation

Krzysztof P. Rembacz, Jannes Woudenberg, Mark Hoekstra, Elles Z. Jonkers, Fiona A.J. van den Heuvel, Manon Buist‐Homan, Titia E. Woudenberg‐Vrenken, Jana Rohacova, M. Luisa Marin, Miguel A. Miranda, Han Moshage, Frans Stellaard, Klaas Nico Faber – 1 September 2010 – Bile acid‐CoA:amino acid N‐acyltransferase (BAAT) conjugates bile salts to glycine or taurine, which is the final step in bile salt biosynthesis. In addition, BAAT is required for reconjugation of bile salts in the enterohepatic circulation.

B7‐H4 mediates inhibition of T cell responses by activated murine hepatic stellate cells

Raghavan Chinnadurai, Arash Grakoui – 1 September 2010 – Liver fibrosis is mediated by the transformation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) from a quiescent to an activated state. To understand the role of HSC in liver immunity, we investigated the effect of this transition on T cell stimulation in vitro. Unlike quiescent HSC, activated HSC did not induce proliferation of antigen‐specific T cells. Phenotypic analysis of quiescent and activated HSC revealed that activated HSC expressed the coinhibitory molecule B7‐H4.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), emtricitabine/TDF, and entecavir in patients with decompensated chronic hepatitis B liver disease

Yun‐Fan Liaw, I‐Shyan Sheen, Chuan‐Mo Lee, Ulus Salih Akarca, George V. Papatheodoridis, Florence Suet‐Hing Wong, Ting‐Tsung Chang, Andrzej Horban, Chia Wang, Peter Kwan, Maria Buti, Martin Prieto, Thomas Berg, Kathryn Kitrinos, Ken Peschell, Elsa Mondou, David Frederick, Franck Rousseau, Eugene R. Schiff – 1 September 2010 – Data are limited on the safety and effectiveness of oral antivirals other than lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil for treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in patients with decompensated liver disease.

Reply:

Michael P. Manns, Albert J. Czaja, James D. Gorham, Edward L. Krawitt, Giorgina Mieli‐Vergani, Diego Vergani, John M. Vierling – 1 September 2010

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