Health‐related quality of life and survival in liver transplant candidates

Rajasekhar Tanikella, Steven M. Kawut, Robert S. Brown, Michael J. Krowka, Jenna Reinen, Chandrasekhar R. Dinasarapu, James F. Trotter, Kari E. Roberts, Mustafa A. Mohd, Donna K. Arnett, Michael B. Fallon – 26 January 2010 – Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important measure of the effects of chronic liver disease in affected patients that helps guide interventions to improve well‐being. However, the relationship between HRQOL and survival in liver transplant candidates remains unclear.

Monitoring peripheral blood CD4+ Adenosine triphosphate activity in recurrent hepatitis C and its correlation to fibrosis progression

Naim Alkhouri, Ibrahim A. Hanouneh, Rocio Lopez, Nizar N. Zein – 26 January 2010 – The recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is often associated with rapid fibrosis progression attributed to the state of impaired cellular immunity. At present, there are no means to predict those at risk for progression. Peripheral blood CD4+ adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release (the ImmuKnow assay) correlates with immunoreactivity and has been used to monitor global cellular immune function in transplant recipients.

Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: Implications for treatment and surgical management

Juliet A. Emamaullee, Ryan Edgar, Christian Toso, Aducio Thiesen, Vincent Bain, David Bigam, Norman Kneteman, A. M. James Shapiro – 26 January 2010 – Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a low‐grade, malignant vascular tumor that most commonly presents within the liver. Patients with hepatic EHE are often candidates for liver transplantation as the disease is usually multifocal at diagnosis.

Rapamycin inhibits cholangiocyte regeneration by blocking interleukin‐6–induced activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 after liver transplantation

Li‐Ping Chen, Qi‐Hao Zhang, Geng Chen, Ye‐Yong Qian, Bing‐Yi Shi, Jia‐Hong Dong – 26 January 2010 – Cholangiocyte proliferation is necessary for biliary recovery from cold ischemia and reperfusion injury (CIRI), but there are few studies on its intracellular mechanism. In this process, the role of rapamycin, a new immunosuppressant used in liver transplantation, is still unknown.

Minimal but significant improvement in survival for non–hepatitis C–related adult liver transplant patients beyond the one‐year posttransplant mark

Geoffrey W. McCaughan, Nicholas A. Shackel, Simone I. Strasser, Pamela Dilworth, Patrick Tang – 26 January 2010 – Although 1‐year survival rates following liver transplantation over the last 20 years may have improved, there is doubt about improvement in long‐term survival. We examined survival with and without initial 12‐month mortality in adult liver transplant recipients over a 20‐year period. Patient and allograft survival for 3 different time periods was compared: 1986‐1994 (group 1, n = 547), 1995‐2000 (group 2, n = 735), and 2000‐2005 (group 3, n = 749).

Scoring short‐term mortality after liver transplantation

Chung‐Shun Wong, Wei‐Chen Lee, Chang‐Chyi Jenq, Ya‐Chung Tian, Ming‐Yang Chang, Chan‐Yu Lin, Ji‐Tseng Fang, Chih‐Wei Yang, Ming‐Hung Tsai, Hsin‐Chin Shih, Yung‐Chang Chen – 26 January 2010 – Liver transplantation can prolong survival and improve the quality of life of patients with end‐stage liver disease. This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 149 patients who had received liver transplants in a tertiary care university hospital from January 2000 to December 2007. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables were recorded.

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