Sabine J. Presser, Guido Schumacher, Ruth Neuhaus, Peter Thuss‐Patience, Jens Stieler, Peter Neuhaus – 22 February 2007 – The purpose of the study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, treatment, and influence on survival of patients with de novo esophageal cancer after liver transplantation (LT). From 1988 to 2006, 1,926 patients underwent LT in our institution. A total of 9 patients (0.5%) developed a de novo esophageal cancer and 1 patient a cancer of the cardia (0.05%).

Rajeshwar P. Mookerjee, R. Neil Dalton, Nathan A. Davies, Stephen J. Hodges, Charles Turner, Roger Williams, Rajiv Jalan – 22 February 2007 – Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by rapid progressive organ failure and poor outcome. The pathophysiology of multiorgan dysfunction in ALF remains unclear but increased systemic inflammatory response is believed to be an important determining factor. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, results from proteolysis and the liver is a major site for its metabolism.

22 February 2007

Nam‐Joon Yi, Kyung‐Suk Suh, Jai Young Cho, Choon Hyuck Kwon, Kwang‐Woong Lee, Jae Won Joh, Suk‐Koo Lee, Soon Il Kim, Kuhn Uk Lee – 22 February 2007 – The incidence of hepatitis B (HB) recurrence after a liver transplantation has been reduced by prophylaxis with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and lamivudine. However, the long‐term incidence of recurrence is <10%, and the factors associated with HB recurrence are unclear. This study analyzed the factors associated with HB recurrence in 203 recipients who underwent liver transplantation for HB in 3 major centers in Korea over 4 years.

Panco Georgiev, Pierre A. Clavien, Gregory J. Gores – 22 February 2007

Myron Schwartz, Ana Carolina del Pozo, Patricia Lopez – 22 February 2007

Kristin L. Mekeel, Max R. Langham, Regino Gonzalez‐Perralta, Alan Reed, Alan W. Hemming – 22 February 2007 – Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited genetic defect in epithelial chloride transport that results a multisystem disease affecting the sweat glands and the pulmonary and digestive systems. Although pulmonary disease remains the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients, up to 8% may develop focal biliary cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Liver transplantation is an accepted therapy for these patients.

Stephen N. Wong, Chi‐Jen Chu, Chun‐Tao Wai, Terese Howell, Charles Moore, Robert J. Fontana, Anna S.F. Lok – 22 February 2007 – Hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence rates of 0‐16% had been reported in patients maintained on nucleoside analogues (NA) after hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) discontinuation after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, follow‐up in most studies was short. We aimed to determine the long‐term risk of HBV recurrence using this strategy.

Niel C. Hoglen, Dean M. Anselmo, Masamichi Katori, Marian Kaldas, Xiu‐Da Shen, Karen L. Valentino, Charles Lassman, Ronald W. Busuttil, Jerzy W. Kupiec‐Weglinski, Douglas G. Farmer – 22 February 2007 – This study examined the efficacy of the caspase inhibitor, IDN‐6556, in a rat model of liver ischemia‐reperfusion injury. Livers from male Sprague‐Dawley rats were reperfused for 120 minutes after 24 hours of 4°C cold storage in University of Wisconsin solution.

Michael Green, Steven A. Webber – 22 February 2007