Jean‐Marc Bigourdan, Daniel Jaeck, Nicolas Meyer, Carole Meyer, Elie Oussoultzoglou, Philippe Bachellier, Jean‐Christophe Weber, Maxime Audet, Michel Doffoël, Philippe Wolf – 30 December 2003 – Hepatic resection (HR) is the treatment of choice for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a noncirrhotic liver, whereas liver transplantation (LT) offers better results in patients with impaired hepatic function (Child B and C). However, it is still debated whether HR or LT is the best strategy for patients with Child A cirrhosis.

Maria Rosa Moya‐Quiles, Manuel Muro, Alberto Torío, Francisco Sánchez‐Bueno, Manuel Miras, Luis Marín, Ana Maria García‐Alonso, Pascual Parrilla, Jean Dausset, María Rocío Álvarez‐López – 30 December 2003 – In liver transplantion, rejection is still an important problem, and the role of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) has not been clearly established. At present, the possible involvement of HLA‐C antigen in liver transplantation is still unexplored. The aim of this work was to analyze the influence of HLA‐C polymorphism on the outcome of liver transplantation.

Scott L. Nyberg, Toshikazu Yagi, Takakazu Matsushita, Joseph Hardin, Joseph P. Grande, Lawrence E. Gibson, Jeffrey L. Platt – 30 December 2003 – Pores in the membrane of a bioartificial liver (BAL) allow it to function as a semipermeable barrier between its contents (i.e., liver cells) and components of the recipient's immune system. This study is designed to assess the influence of pore size on immune response to a BAL containing porcine hepatocytes.

Kyung‐Suk Suh, Sang Beom Kim, Seong‐Hwan Chang, Seong Hoon Kim, Kyung Won Minn, Myoung Hee Park, Kyou Sup Han, Kuhn Uk Lee – 30 December 2003 – A positive cross‐match in cadaveric liver transplantation is relatively acceptable, but its role in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is less well known. The aim of this study is to examine the significance of cytotoxic cross‐match in adult‐to‐adult LDLT using small‐for‐size grafts. Forty‐three adult‐to‐adult LDLTs were performed at Seoul National University Hospital (Seoul, Korea) from January 1999 to July 2001.

Gianni Biancofiore, Lucia Bindi, Anna Maria Romanelli, Massimo Bisà, Antonella Boldrini, Giovanni Consani, Augusta Danella, Lucio Urbani, Franco Filipponi, Franco Mosca – 30 December 2003 – There is growing interest in measuring intra‐abdominal pressure (IAP) in postsurgical and critically ill patients because increased pressure can impair various organs and functions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different IAP levels on the postoperative renal function of subjects undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.

Jesús Fortún, Pilar Martín‐Dávila, Santiago Moreno, Emilio de Vicente, Javier Nuño, Angel Candelas, Rafael Bárcena, Miguel García – 30 December 2003 – Aspergillosis is a potential, severe, and usually early complication of liver transplantation. New promising strategies, such as detecting Aspergillus antigenemia, have been used for the diagnosis of aspergillosis in immunosuppressed patients, but the impact in solid organ transplantation is not well known. A case‐control study in 260 adults who underwent liver transplantation from January 1994 to June 2000 was performed.

Barbara Cavalieri, Maria‐Giulia Perrelli, Manuela Aragno, Raffaella Mastrocola, Giovanna Corvetti, Marilena Durazzo, Giuseppe Poli, Juan C. Cutrìn – 30 December 2003 – In an in vivo rat model of liver ischemia followed by reperfusion a consistent appearance of necrosis and activation of biochemical pathways of apoptosis was reproduced and monitored after 30 minutes reperfusion. Preconditioning by application of a short cycle of ischemia‐reperfusion (10 minutes + 10 minutes) positively conditioned recovery of the organ at reperfusion, attenuating both necrotic and apoptotic events.

Connie L. Davis, Thomas A. Gonwa, Alan H. Wilkinson – 30 December 2003 – Renal and hepatic function are often intertwined through both the existence of associated primary organ diseases and hemodynamic interrelationships. This connection occasionally results in the chronic failure of both organs, necessitating combined liver‐kidney transplantation (LKT). Since 1988, more than 850 patients in the United States have received such transplants, with patient survival somewhat less than that for patients receiving either organ alone.

Kimberly L. Beavers, Robert S. Sandler, Roshan Shrestha – 30 December 2003 – The aim if this study is to determine donor morbidity associated with right lobectomy for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) to adult recipients through a systematic review of the published literature. Data sources were English‐language reports on donor outcome after LDLT. MEDLINE (1995 to June 2001) was searched using the MeSH terms “living donors” and “liver transplantation.” Limits were set for human only and English language only.

Alan John McDougall, Leo Davies, Geoffrey William McCaughan – 30 December 2003 – Peripheral and autonomic neuropathies are known but often unrecognized associations of cirrhosis from any cause. The pathogenesis of these effects are ill understood. Liver transplantation has been shown to reverse autonomic manifestations, but little evidence exists for an effect on peripheral neuropathy. This case report documents improvement in peripheral and autonomic neuropathy in a 40‐year‐old man with hepatitis B virus–related cirrhosis.