Gunda Millonig, Ivo W. Graziadei, Dagmar Eichler, Karl‐Peter Pfeiffer, Gerd Finkenstedt, Petra Muehllechner, Alfred Koenigsrainer, Raimund Margreiter, Wolfgang Vogel – 20 July 2005 – Bone loss is a common complication in patients before and after liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of prophylactic treatment with bisphosphonates after LT in preventing progressive bone loss in LT patients. We included 136 patients with end‐stage liver diseases awaiting LT.

Martin Wolff, Nico Schaefer, Christian Rabe, Ulrich Spengler, Andreas Hirner – 20 July 2005

Peter Schemmer, Rui Liang, Marius Kincius, Christa Flechtenmacher, Hartwig Bunzendahl, Carsten N. Gutt, Arianeb Mehrabi, Martha‐Maria Gebhard, Markus W. Büchler, Thomas W. Kraus – 20 July 2005 – Relevant mechanisms of reperfusion injury after liver transplantation are most likely mediated by activated Kupffer cells. Recently, it has been demonstrated that taurine prevents Kupffer cell‐activation in vitro. Thus, this study was designed to assess the effects of taurine after liver transplantation.

Scott L. Nyberg, Joseph Hardin, Bruce Amiot, Upendra A. Argikar, Rory P. Remmel, Piero Rinaldo – 20 July 2005 – We have developed a novel bioreactor based on the observation that isolated porcine hepatocytes rapidly and spontaneously aggregate into spheroids under oscillation conditions. The purpose of this study was to characterize the influence of oscillation frequency (0.125 Hz, 0.25 Hz), cell density (1‐10 × 106 cells/mL), and storage condition (fresh, cryopreserved) of porcine hepatocytes on the kinetics of spheroid formation.

Robert P. Perrillo, James D. Eason – 20 July 2005

Ian W. Udell, Neal R. Barshes, Theodoros Voloyiannis, Timothy C. Lee, Saul J. Karpen, Beth A. Carter, Milton Finegold, John A. Goss – 20 July 2005

Ran Oren, Yigal Breitman, Eyal Gur, Alexandra Traister, Isabel Zvibel, Eli Brazovsky, David A. Shafritz, Zamir Halpern – 20 July 2005 – We recently developed a novel rat model for liver repopulation, heterografting of microliver slices, aimed at overcoming the limitations inherent in both whole liver and hepatocyte transplantations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of whole fetal liver transplantations to survive and differentiate within the adult liver, using the adult liver slice transplantation model.

Philip M. Ginsburg, Paul J. Thuluvath – 20 July 2005 – Diarrhea is common after liver transplantation (LT). The true incidence of diarrhea in liver transplant recipients is unknown but possibly ranges from 10% to 43% based on a few published studies in other solid organ and bone marrow transplantation. Infectious etiologies, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), Clostridium difficile, and occasional atypical intestinal infections, are the most common causes. Diarrhea is also a frequent side effect of immunosuppressive medications.

Wojciech G. Polak, Shungo Miyamoto, Balazs A. Nemes, Paul M.J.G. Peeters, Koert P. de Jong, Robert J. Porte, Maarten J.H. Slooff – 20 July 2005 – The aim of the study was to assess whether there is a difference in outcome after sequential or simultaneous revascularization during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in terms of patient and graft survival, mortality, morbidity, and liver function. The study population consisted of 102 adult patients with primary full‐size piggyback OLT transplanted between January 1998 and December 2001.

Gianni Biancofiore, Maria L. Bindi, Anna Maria Romanelli, Lucio Urbani, Franco Mosca, Franco Filipponi – 20 July 2005 – The aim of this study was to compare a number of potentially stress‐generating factors related to an intensive care unit (ICU) stay from the points of view of patients undergoing liver transplantation or elective major abdominal surgery and their caregivers in order to identify differences and similarities that may help to optimize patient care.