C Peralta, G Hotter, D Closa, E Gelpí, O Bulbena, J Rosello‐Catafau – 30 December 2003 – The effects of ischemic preconditioning on rat liver integrity, as well as the implication of nitric oxide (NO) and adenosine in this process, has been evaluated. Preconditioning before ischemia‐reperfusion prevented the increases in alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, but did not modify blood flow.

P A McCormick, L Greenslade, C C Kibbler, J K Chin, A K Burroughs, N McIntyre – 30 December 2003 – Aminoglycosides are frequently used to treat sepsis in patients with liver disease. However, it has been suggested that cirrhotic patients are particularly sensitive to aminoglycoside‐induced renal dysfunction. We investigated the efficacy and incidence of renal impairment with netilmicin plus mezlocillin compared with ceftazidime in 128 cirrhotic patients who required empirical treatment for sepsis.

S Matsuzaki, M Onda, T Tajiri, D Y Kim – 30 December 2003 – We studied the hepatic functional reserve in the lobes of the liver in 28 patients with chronic liver disease and 13 controls using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging with a radiolabeled asialoglycoprotein analog, Technetium‐99m‐diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid‐galactosyl‐human serum albumin (Tc‐99m GSA).

C K Leow – 30 December 2003

H Cheng, N S Khairullah – 30 December 2003

H Segal, S Cottam, D Potter, B J Hunt – 30 December 2003 – Cirrhosis is associated with compromised hemostasis and coagulopathy during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). It has been suggested that hemostasis is better preserved during OLT in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) than other cirrhotic states. The aim of this study was to compare coagulation and fibrinolysis in 15 patients with PBC with 31 patients with other liver disease before and during OLT.

N Neveux, J De Bandt, C Charrueau, E Savier, J C Chaumeil, L Hannoun, J Giboudeau, L A Cynober – 30 December 2003 – Among the numerous components of the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution used for organ preservation, the usefulness of hydroxyethylstarch (HES), the colloido‐osmotic support of this solution, is controversial. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of HES on hepatic metabolism and intracellular hydration state during hypothermic preservation and after reperfusion in a model of isolated perfused rat liver.

P Ricci, T M Therneau, M Malinchoc, J T Benson, J L Petz, G B Klintmalm, J S Crippin, R H Wiesner, J L Steers, J Rakela, T E Starzl, E R Dickson – 30 December 2003 – We studied the outcome of 436 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) who underwent orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) at three major liver transplant centers.

D Adawi, F B Kasravi, G Molin, B Jeppsson – 30 December 2003 – In acute liver failure following hepatitis, toxic insults, or after major liver surgery, there is an increased bacterial translocation from the gut. This may explain some of the infectious complications seen in these conditions. To elucidate mechanisms and find possible preventive measures, we investigated the effect of rectal administration of arginine and probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus spp.) on bacterial translocation and the extent of liver failure.

L Lambotte, A Saliez, S Triest, D Maiter, A Baranski, A Barker, B Li – 30 December 2003 – Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a mitogen in vitro for hepatocytes, produces in various cell lines changes similar to those observed very rapidly in hepatocytes after partial hepatectomy (PH). These changes include ion movements, membrane hyperpolarization and proto‐oncogene expression.