Minimizing risk associated with elderly liver donors by matching to preferred recipients

Dorry L. Segev, Warren R. Maley, Christopher E. Simpkins, Jayme E. Locke, Geoffrey C. Nguyen, Robert A. Montgomery, Paul J. Thuluvath – 28 November 2007 – Elderly liver donors (ELDs) represent a possible expansion of the donor pool, although there is great reluctance to use ELDs because of reports that increasing donor age predicts graft loss and patient death. The goal of this study was to identify a subgroup of recipients who would be least affected by increased donor age and thus best suited to receive grafts from ELDs.

Laminin‐5 stimulates hepatocellular carcinoma growth through a different function of α6β4 and α3β1 integrins

Carlo Bergamini, Concetta Sgarra, Paolo Trerotoli, Luigi Lupo, Amalia Azzariti, Salvatore Antonaci, Gianluigi Giannelli – 28 November 2007 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth severely affects prognosis. Ki‐67, a known marker of cell proliferation, is a negative prognostic factor in HCC. Growth factors such as the epidermal growth factor (EGF) induce HCC cell proliferation but do not explain the great heterogeneity of HCC growth. Laminin‐5 (Ln‐5) is an extracellular matrix protein (ECM) present in the tissue microenvironment of HCC.

Alloimmunization to red blood cell antigens affects clinical outcomes in liver transplant patients

Scott D. Boyd, Fabien Stenard, Donald K.K. Lee, Lawrence T. Goodnough, Carlos O. Esquivel, Magali J. Fontaine – 28 November 2007 – Transfusion therapy of liver transplant patients remains a challenge. High volumes of intraoperative blood transfusion have been shown to increase the risk of poor graft or patient survival. We conducted a retrospective study of 209 consecutive liver transplant cases at our institution. Only patients receiving their first liver transplant, with no other simultaneous organ transplants, were included.

Venous outflow obstruction in liver transplantation is associated with the anastomotic technique

James D. Perkins – 28 November 2007 – The outflow venovenous anastomosis represent a crucial aspect during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) with inferior vena cava (IVC) preservation. The modified Belghiti liver hanging maneuver applied to the last phase of hepatectomy, lifting the liver, provides a better exposure of the suprahepatic region and allows easier orthogonal clamping of the three suprahepatic veins with a minimal portion of IVC occlusion.

Toll‐like receptor‐mediated control of HBV replication by nonparenchymal liver cells in mice

Jun Wu, Mengji Lu, Zhongji Meng, Martin Trippler, Ruth Broering, Agnes Szczeponek, Frank Krux, Ulf Dittmer, Michael Roggendorf, Guido Gerken, Joerg F. Schlaak – 28 November 2007 – Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most frequent causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Because recent studies have suggested that Toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐based therapies may be a promising approach in the treatment of HBV infection, we studied the role of the local innate immune system of the liver as a possible mediator of this effect.

Biliary complications and outcomes of liver transplantation from donors after cardiac death

Anurag Maheshwari, Warren Maley, Zhiping Li, Paul J. Thuluvath – 28 November 2007 – Biliary complications after liver transplantation (LT) using organs retrieved from donors after cardiac death are not well characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the severity of biliary complications and outcomes after donation after cardiac death liver transplantation (DCD‐LT). A retrospective evaluation of 20 DCD‐LTs from 1997–2006 was performed. The recipient age was 53 ± 8.7, and the donor age was 35 ± 11 years.

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