A Zekry, P Whiting, DH Crawford, PW Angus, GP Jeffrey, RT Padbury, EJ Gane, GW McCaughan – 30 December 2003 – End‐stage liver disease associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is now the leading indication for liver transplantation in adults. However, reinfection of the graft is universal. We aimed to determine predictors of outcome of HCV‐liver transplant recipients in the Australian and New Zealand communities. The following variables were analysed: demographic factors, coexistent pathology at the time of transplantation, HCV genotype, and donor age. Outcomes measures were: 1.

Cohen Sarit, Avinoah Eliezer, Solly Mizrahi – 30 December 2003 – To repair a recurrent strangulated umbilical hernia in a cirrhotic patient with refractory ascites, we used a minimally invasive procedure. The laparoscopic repair included a release of the incarcerated small bowel loop and secure of a dual Gortex mesh onto the fascial rim. Our satisfactory long‐term results should encourage surgeons to adapt this surgical approach

Zhaoli Sun, Tatehiko Wada, Kosei Maemura, Keiichiro Uchikura, Sumito Hoshino, Anna Mae Diehl, Andrew S. Klein – 30 December 2003 – In liver transplantation, the development of tolerance is associated with an increased rate of apoptosis of T lymphocytes in the portal inflammatory infiltrate and the presence of an intragraft Th2‐like T cell population. Underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Kupffer cells (KC), which reside in the hepatic sinosoids, can directly interact with circulating T lymphocytes and thus are uniquely positioned to play a role in immunomodulation.

Guy W. Neff, Marzia Montalbano, Gabriel Slapak‐Green, Thierry Berney, Pablo A. Bejarano, Anand Joshi, Mike Icardi, Jose Nery, Nishida Seigo, David Levi, Debbie Weppler, Peter Pappas, Jose Ruiz, Eugene R. Schiff, Andreas G. Tzakis – 30 December 2003 – Treatment options are limited for orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients suffering from chronic rejection (CR). We performed a retrospective review of OLT recipients diagnosed with CR and treated with sirolimus.

Gokhan Icoz, Murat Kilic, Murat Zeytunlu, Arzu Celebi, Galip Ersoz, Refik Killi, Ahmet Memis, Zeki Karasu, Yildiray Yuzer, Yaman Tokat – 30 December 2003 – Biliary complications appear to be the leading cause of postoperative complications after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The aim of this study is to analyze the complications, treatment modalities, and outcomes of biliary anastomoses in a series of 50 consecutive right‐lobe LDLTs. Median patient age was 45 years, and median right‐lobe graft volume was 740 g. Graft‐recipient weight ratio was 0.69 to 1.80.

Ronan E. O'Carroll, Margaret Couston, Jill Cossar, George Masterton, Peter Clive Hayes – 30 December 2003 – Liver transplantation is a well‐established treatment for liver failure. Prolongation in survival is accepted, but long‐term effects of liver transplantation on cognitive and psychological outcome are unclear. In the present study, psychological data were prospectively collected for 164 patients who were assessed for liver transplantation. Memory impairment, psychomotor slowing, anxiety, and depression were commonly observed.

Mary E. Rinella, Richard McCarthy, Kiran Thakrar, John Paul Finn, Sambasiva M. Rao, Alan J. Koffron, Michael Abecassis, Andres T. Blei – 30 December 2003 – In living liver donation, a fatty liver poses risks for both recipient and donor. Currently, liver biopsy is the standard for assessing the presence and extent of steatosis. The goals of this study were to correlate a steatosis index derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the histologic grade on biopsy as well as to determine the topographic distribution of steatosis within the liver.

Mira Johri, Peter A. Ubel – 30 December 2003 – Objective: To investigate the nature of public preferences in the allocation of donor liver grafts for transplantation. Design: A qualitative study based upon the transcripts of four focus groups. Setting: Derby, Derbyshire, UK. Participants: Twenty‐two members of the public in the Derby locality, recruited to one of four focus groups through local community groups.

Nils R. Frühauf, Susanne Koeppen, Fuat H. Saner, Thomas Egelhof, Gregor Stavrou, Silvio Nadalin, Christoph E. Broelsch – 30 December 2003 – Neurotoxicity is a well‐known side effect of tacrolimus‐based immunosuppression after liver transplantation. Until now, only 31 cases of immunosuppression‐associated leukoencephalopathy in liver transplant recipients reported in the literature are related to tacrolimus therapy. We report a patient who developed a posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome, secondary to tacrolimus‐based immunosuppression, after living donor liver transplantation.

Marv Berkowitz – 30 December 2003