Marwan S. Abougergi, Sarah J. Gidner, David K. Spady, Bonnie C. Miller, Dwain L. Thiele – 23 December 2004 – After intravenous injection of replication‐deficient adenovirus, hepatocytes are transduced and express high levels of adenovirus‐encoded genes. However, adenovirally encoded gene expression is ablated rapidly by CD8+ T‐cell–dependent mechanisms. Thus, this model is suitable for examining intrahepatic cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effector mechanisms.

Scott W. Biggins, Harry J. Rodriguez, Peter Bacchetti, Nathan M. Bass, John P. Roberts, Norah A. Terrault – 23 December 2004 – With the implementation of the model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD), refractory ascites, a known predictor of mortality in cirrhosis, was removed as a criterion for liver allocation. Because ascites is associated with low serum sodium, we evaluated serum sodium as an independent predictor of mortality in patients with cirrhosis who were listed for liver transplantation and whether the addition of serum sodium to MELD was superior to MELD alone.

Xavier Forns, Eva Martínez‐Bauer, Anna Feliu, Montserrat García‐Retortillo, Marta Martín, Eugeni Gay, Miquel Navasa, Jose María Sánchez‐Tapias, Miquel Bruguera, Juan Rodés – 23 December 2004 – Despite its medical and legal implications, there are no prospective studies analyzing the incidence and mechanisms involved in the nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in liver units. This study prospectively investigates the nosocomial transmission of HCV in the liver unit of a tertiary care center from August 2000 to October 2002.

Motoh Iwasa, Makoto Nakao, Yoshiaki Kato, Yoshinao Kobayashi, Kenji Takagi, Masahiko Kaito, Yukihiko Adaci – 23 December 2004

Jordan J. Feld, T. Jake Liang – 23 December 2004

Alexander L. Gerbes, Veit Gülberg – 23 December 2004

Alexander E. Handschin, Markus Weber, Eberhard Renner, Pierre‐Alain Clavien – 22 December 2004 – The abdominal compartment syndrome is a well‐known complication after abdominal trauma and is increasingly recognized as a potential risk factor for renal failure and mortality after adult orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). We present a case report of a young patient who presented with acute liver failure complicated by an acute pancreatitis. The patient developed an acute abdominal compartment syndrome after OLT.

Maureen M. Jonas, Laura E. Krawczuk, Heung Bae Kim, Craig Lillehei, Antonio Perez‐Atayde – 22 December 2004 – Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been reported in adults with hypothalamic or pituitary dysfunction, and some have progressed to end stage liver disease requiring transplantation. We report a teenager who intially presented with hypoxia due to intrapulmonary shunting, found to have NAFLD and cirrhosis associated with a hypothalamic tumor and panhypopituitarism. The NAFLD recurred very quickly after a successful liver transplant.

22 December 2004

J. Ignacio Herrero, María Lorenzo, Jorge Quiroga, Bruno Sangro, Fernando Pardo, Fernando Rotellar, Javier Alvarez‐Cienfuegos, Jesús Prieto – 22 December 2004 – Immunosuppression increases the risk of posttransplant malignancy and it may increase posttransplant mortality. The finding of factors related to the development of posttransplant malignancy may serve as a guide to avoid those risk factors and to develop strategies of posttransplant surveillance. The incidence and risk factors of malignancy were studied in 187 consecutive liver transplant recipients surviving more than 3 months.