Felix J. Frey – 27 September 2006 – Exaggerated renal sodium retention with concomitant potassium loss is a hallmark of cirrhosis and contributes to the accumulation of fluid as ascites, pleural effusion, or edema. This apparent mineralocorticoid effect is only partially explained by increased aldosterone concentrations. I present evidence supporting the hypothesis that cortisol confers mineralocorticoid action in cirrhosis.

Joanna W. Y. Ho, Roberta W. C. Pang, Cecilia Lau, Chris K. Sun, Wan Ching Yu, Sheung Tat Fan, Ronnie T. P. Poon – 27 September 2006 – This study evaluated the significance of circulating bone marrow‐derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a solid tumor with rich neovasculature. Eighty patients with HCC were recruited for the study, and 16 patients with liver cirrhosis and 14 healthy subjects were also included for comparison. Blood samples were taken before treatment.

Andrew L. Mason – 27 September 2006 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease with a strong genetic component characterized by biliary ductular inflammation with eventual liver cirrhosis. The serologic hallmark of PBC is antimitochondrial antibodies that react with the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, targeting the inner lipoyl domain of the E2 subunit (anti‐PDC‐E2). Herein we demonstrate that NOD.c3c4 mice congenically derived from the non‐obese diabetic strain develop an autoimmune biliary disease (ABD) that models human PBC.

Mitsuteru Kitade, Hitoshi Yoshiji, Hideyuki Kojima, Yasuhide Ikenaka, Ryuichi Noguchi, Kosuke Kaji, Junichi Yoshii, Koji Yanase, Tadashi Namisaki, Kiyoshi Asada, Masaharu Yamazaki, Tatsuhiro Tsujimoto, Takemi Akahane, Masahito Uemura, Hiroshi Fukui – 27 September 2006 – Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may cause fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the exact mechanism of disease progression is not fully understood. Angiogenesis has been shown to play an important role in the progression of chronic liver disease.

Judy Wai Ping Yam, Frankie Chi Fat Ko, Chung‐Yiu Chan, Tai‐On Yau, Edmund Kwok Kwan Tung, Thomas Ho‐Yin Leung, Dong‐Yan Jin, Irene Oi‐Lin Ng – 27 September 2006 – Tensins are a new family of proteins that act as an important link among extracellular matrix, actin cytoskeleton, and signal transduction and have been implicated in human cancers. Tensin2 was initially identified in a search for new tensin family members that share extensive sequence homology with tensin1. Tensin2 was highly expressed in liver tissues.

See Ching Chan, Chi Leung Liu, Chung Mau Lo, Banny K. Lam, Evelyn W. Lee, Sheung Tat Fan – 26 September 2006 – Donor right hepatectomy for adult‐to‐adult live donor liver transplantation (ALDLT) is a major surgical operation for the benefit of the recipient. Justification of procedure mandates knowledge of the possible physical and psychological negative effects on the donor. We prospectively and longitudinally quantified donor quality of life using generic and condition‐specific questionnaires up to 1 year.

James H. Sorrell, Jill R. Brown – 26 September 2006 – The effects of end‐stage liver disease (ESLD) on sexual functioning are complex and often overlooked in the context of chronic illness and the transplantation evaluation. The aim of the present study is to report on the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with ESLD presenting for liver transplantation evaluation, as well as to examine a cohort after transplantation. Participants included 173 consecutive adult outpatients with ESLD who presented for orthotopic liver transplantation evaluation.

Jin K. Ho, Hin Hin Ko, David F. Schaeffer, Siegfried R. Erb, Cherise Wong, Andrzej K. Buczkowski, Charles H. Scudamore, Eric M. Yoshida – 26 September 2006 – Many studies have reported improved health‐related quality of life outcomes after orthotopic liver transplantation; however, specific research regarding sexual health in liver transplant recipients is limited. We surveyed liver transplant recipients to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction. Of the 320 adult liver transplant recipients surveyed by mailed questionnaire, 150 responded (42%). The median age was 54 years.

James F. Trotter, Rene Adam, Chung Mau Lo, Jeremy Kenison – 26 September 2006 – The actual risk of death in hepatic lobe donors for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is unknown because of the lack of a comprehensive database. In the absence of a definitive estimate of the risk of donor death, the medical literature has become replete with anecdotal reports of donor deaths, many of which cannot be substantiated.

James D. Perkins – 26 September 2006