Neal R. Barshes, G. Douglas Myers, Dean Lee, Saul J. Karpen, Timothy C. Lee, Akash J. Patel, Milton Finegold, John A. Goss – 21 April 2005 – Graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) often occurs after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). GVHD may lead to cirrhosis or complete destruction of the bile ducts, and few effective treatment options exist for such cases. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been described as an option, but to date the patient survival, graft survival, and GVHD recurrence rates after OLT have been unknown.

Maud Bessems, Benedict M. Doorschodt, Arlène K. van Vliet, Thomas M. van Gulik – 21 April 2005 – For experimental machine perfusion (MP) of the liver, the modified University of Wisconsin solution (UW‐G) is most often used. In our search for an enriched MP preservation solution, Polysol was developed. Polysol is enriched with various amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients for the liver metabolism. The aim of this study was to compare Polysol with UW‐G for MP preservation of the liver. Rat livers were preserved during 24 hours with hypothermic MP using UW‐G (n = 5) or Polysol (n = 5).

Alfredo Marzano, Pietro Lampertico, Vincenzo Mazzaferro, Silvia Carenzi, Mauro Vigano, Raffaele Romito, Andrea Pulvirenti, Alessandro Franchello, Massimo Colombo, Mauro Salizzoni, Mario Rizzetto – 21 April 2005 – The combination of lamivudine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) reduces the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT). However, the efficacy of this strategy and the need for combined therapy with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in patients who select lamivudine‐resistant strains (YMDD) before surgery is still unknown.

Hartmut Jaeschke, Cathleen Cover, Mary Lynn Bajt – 19 April 2005

Gaspare Maria Pendino, Andrea Mariano, Pasquale Surace, Carmelo Antonio Caserta, Maria Teresa Fiorillo, Angela Amante, Stefania Bruno, Carmelo Mangano, Irene Polito, Fulvia Amato, Rodolfo Cotichini, Tommaso Stroffolini, Alfonso Mele, ACE Collaborating Group – 19 April 2005 – Serum biochemical liver tests (LTs) (ALT, AST, GGT) and platelet counts are often used to screen for chronic liver disease. Population‐based data on abnormal LTs in Mediterranean areas are lacking.

William B. Coleman, D. Hunter Best – 19 April 2005

Emanuele Durante‐Mangoni, Rosa Zampino, Giuseppe Ruggiero, Luigi E. Adinolfi – 19 April 2005

Stefan Wirth, Heidrun Pieper‐Boustani, Thomas Lang, Antje Ballauff, Ulrike Kullmer, Patrick Gerner, Philip Wintermeyer, Andreas Jenke – 19 April 2005 – Peginterferon plus ribavirin is standard therapy for adults with chronic hepatitis C. As no data are available for children, the aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon alfa‐2b in combination with ribavirin in chronically infected children. Genotypes, alanine aminotransferase levels, and different routes of viral transmission were considered.

Amanda J. Robe, John A. Kirby, David E. J. Jones, Jeremy M. Palmer – 19 April 2005 – The key immunological event in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune liver disease primary biliary cirrhosis is breakdown of T‐cell self‐tolerance to pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). The mechanism resulting in this breakdown of tolerance remains unclear.

José M. Mato, Shelly C. Lu – 19 April 2005