Monoclonal antibody HCV‐AbXTL68 in patients undergoing liver transplantation for HCV: Results of a phase 2 randomized study

Thomas D. Schiano, Michael Charlton, Zobair Younossi, Eithan Galun, Timothy Pruett, Ran Tur‐Kaspa, Rachel Eren, Shlomo Dagan, Neil Graham, Paulette V. Williams, John Andrews – 24 August 2006 – A randomized, double‐blind, dose‐escalation study evaluated the safety and efficacy of hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐AbXTL68, a neutralizing, high‐affinity, fully human, anti‐E2 monoclonal antibody, in 24 HCV‐positive patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Use of the rendezvous technique in the treatment of biliary anastomotic disruption in a liver transplant recipient

Cüneyt Aytekin, Fatih Boyvat, Uğur Yılmaz, Ali Harman, Mehmet Haberal – 24 August 2006 – In liver transplant recipients, the treatment of a biliary leak resulting from anastomotic disruption usually requires surgical intervention. However, reoperation results in significant morbidity in such patients, whose clinical status may preclude a second surgery. Restoring the integrity of a disrupted biliary anastomosis can be difficult, and in some patients with that complication, neither the percutaneous technique nor the endoscopic approach effectively stents the biliary anastomosis.

Hilar early division of the hepatic duct in living donor right hepatectomy: The probe‐and‐clamp technique

Giuliano Testa, Massimo Malagò, Marian Porubsky, Marin Marinov, Howard Sankary, José Oberholzer, Silvio Nadalin, Enrico Benedetti – 24 August 2006 – The division of the hepatic duct is one of the most challenging passages of the donor hepatectomy. We report our experience with the early division, prior to the liver parenchyma resection, of the hepatic duct and the definition of the biliary anatomy with a probe inserted in the proper hepatic duct. From February 2002 to December 2004, 40 donors (25 male, 15 female; mean age 34, range 20‐57) underwent right hepatectomy.

The amazing regenerative powers of the liver

James D. Perkins – 24 August 2006 – The liver can regenerate its volume after major tissue loss. In a mouse model of liver regeneration, thrombocytopenia, or impaired platelet activity resulted in the failure to initiate cellular proliferation in the liver. Platelets are major carriers of serotonin in the blood. In thrombocytopenic mice, a serotonin agonist reconstituted liver proliferation. The expression of 5‐HT2A and 2B subtype serotonin receptors in the liver increased after hepatectomy. Antagonists of 5‐HT2A and 2B receptors inhibited liver regeneration.

Cryptogenic fulminant hepatic failure in infancy: Report of 2 cases with unique vascular obstructive changes in native livers

Naoki Shimojima, Rie Shibata, Ken Hoshino, Shigeyuki Kawachi, Minoru Tanabe, Go Wakabayashi, Motohide Shimazu, Michiie Sakamoto, Yasuhide Morikawa, Masaki Kitajima – 24 August 2006 – Although the causes of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) remain cryptogenic in many cases, a few reports have reviewed the pathological findings of native livers to evaluate the etiology. We report 2 cases of infantile cryptogenic FHF with unique vascular obstructive changes in the native livers.

Subscribe to