Iris Sawitza, Claus Kordes, Sven Reister, Dieter Häussinger – 29 October 2009 – It is well‐accepted that hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) can develop into myofibroblast‐like cells that synthesize extracellular matrix proteins and contribute to liver fibrosis. Recently, molecular markers of stem/progenitor cells were discovered in HSCs of rats. Moreover, the cells displayed the capacity to differentiate and to participate in liver regeneration.
Gakuhei Son, Ian N. Hines, Jeff Lindquist, Laura W. Schrum, Richard A. Rippe – 29 October 2009 – The hepatic stellate cell (HSC) is the primary cell type in the liver responsible for excess collagen deposition during fibrosis. Following a fibrogenic stimulus the cell changes from a quiescent vitamin A–storing cell to an activated cell type associated with increased extracellular matrix synthesis and increased cell proliferation.
Gideon M. Hirschfield, Katherine A. Siminovitch – 29 October 2009
Toshihiko Ikegami, Yuichi Masuda, Yasunari Ohno, Atsushi Mita, Akira Kobayashi, Koichi Urata, Yuichi Nakazawa, Shirou Miwa, Yasuhiko Hashikura, Shinichi Miyagawa – 28 October 2009 – We have previously reported that a graft volume (GV) > 30% of the recipient's standard liver volume (SLV) can meet the recipient's metabolic demands. Here we report our experience with adult‐to‐adult living donor liver transplantation using left side grafts < 35% of the recipient's SLV.
Avnish Kumar Seth, Pradhi Nambiar, Ajay Joshi, Ramanathan Ramprasad, Rajendra Choubey, Pankaj Puri, Mandapaka Murthy, Sudeep Naidu, Anupam Saha, Harjinder Bhatoe – 28 October 2009 – Organ donation following brain stem death is infrequent in India. There is no prospective study on prevalence of brain stem death and causes of non‐donation. Consecutive patients admitted to intensive care unit from Sep 2006 to Sep 2008 were studied prospectively. Families of those with brain stem death were approached for organ donation by transplant coordinator. Extensive awareness drive was launched.
Seong H. Ra, Jeffrey B. Kaplan, Charles R. Lassman – 28 October 2009 – Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) has been well characterized in native livers, but to our knowledge, no cases of FNH have been described in liver allografts. We review the clinicopathological features of 6 FNHs identified in 4 patients after orthotopic liver transplantation. There were 3 male patients and 1 female patient ranging in age from 2 to 63 years. The time from transplant to a diagnosis of FNH ranged from 15 to 118 months. Two patients presented with an incidental solitary liver nodule.
Alejandra Otero, Evaristo Varo, Jorge Ortiz de Urbina, Rafael Martín‐Vivaldi, Valentin Cuervas‐Mons, Ignacio González‐Pinto, Antoni Rimola, Angel Bernardos, Santiago Otero, Jorge Maldonado, Jose I. Herrero, Elena Barrao, Rosa Domínguez‐Granados – 28 October 2009 – This open‐label, randomized study compared the efficacy of a regimen of corticosteroids and tacrolimus (standard therapy group, n = 79) with a regimen of daclizumab induction therapy in combination with mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus (modified therapy group, n = 78) in primary liver transplant recipients.
Wei‐Ting Kuo, Cheng‐Yuan Hsia, Che‐Chuan Loong, Chin‐Su Liu, Hsin‐Lin Tsai, Hsiou‐Shan Tseng, Rheun‐Chuan Lee, Mei‐Yung Tsou, Chew‐Wun Wu, Wing‐Yiu Lui – 28 October 2009 – Foreign residents seeking liver transplantation in China are not uncommon. The outcomes of these people have not been well reported, and the results remain unclear. A total of 64 adults [26 with end‐stage liver disease (ESLD) and 38 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)] who underwent donation after cardiac death (DCD) liver transplantation in China during a 5‐year period were reviewed.
Michael G. Hughes, Hugo R. Rosen – 28 October 2009 – Hepatitis C is a leading etiology of liver cancer and a leading reason for liver transplantation. Although new therapies have improved the rates of sustained response, a large proportion of patients (∼50%) fail to respond to antiviral treatment, thus remaining at risk for disease progression. Although chimpanzees have been used to study hepatitis C virus biology and treatments, their cost is quite high, and their use is strictly regulated; indeed, the National Institutes of Health no longer supports the breeding of chimpanzees for study.
Kazutoyo Morita, Akinobu Taketomi, Yuji Soejima, Toru Ikegami, Takasuke Fukuhara, Tomohiro Iguchi, Shigeyuki Nagata, Keishi Sugimachi, Tomonobu Gion, Ken Shirabe, Yoshihiko Maehara – 28 October 2009 – The occurrence of de novo hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT) for advanced HCCs has been extremely limited. In this article, a case of de novo HCC in a liver graft with sustained hepatitis C virus clearance after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for multiple HCCs and hepatitis C cirrhosis is reported.