David A.J. Neal, Alexander E.S. Gimson, Paul Gibbs, Graeme J.M. Alexander – 30 December 2003 – Hypertension and hyperlipidemia are more prevalent after liver transplantation with cyclosporine as the primary immunosuppressive agent compared with tacrolimus. To determine whether blood pressure, serum lipid level, or weight improves when patients switch immunosuppression therapy, we retrospectively studied 26 liver transplant recipients with stable graft function who had been converted from cyclosporine to tacrolimus therapy with a median follow‐up of 8 months.

Ryuta Nishitai, Iwao Ikai, Hiroaki Terajima, Akiyoshi Kanazawa, Osamu Takeyama, Takehiko Uesugi, Hiroshi Okabe, Nagato Katsura, Takakazu Matsushita, Satoshi Yamanokuchi, Koichi Matsuo, Shinichi Sugimoto, Tomohiro Shiotani, Yoshio Yamaoka – 30 December 2003 – The aim of this study is to detect and analyze risk factors of direct cross‐circulation between porcine liver and nonhuman primates before a clinical application of extracorporeal liver perfusion (ECLP) as a liver‐assist method. Porcine livers were perfused with baboon blood in an ECLP system.

J. Ignacio Herrero, Bruno Sangro, Jorge Quiroga, Fernando Pardo, Maite Herraiz, Javier A. Cienfuegos, Jesus Prieto – 30 December 2003 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may recur after liver transplantation (LT), mainly in patients with multinodular and large tumors. However, factors predictive of outcome after LT in patients with small tumors remain ill defined.

Russell H. Wiesner, Sue V. McDiarmid, Patrick S. Kamath, Eric B. Edwards, Michael Malinchoc, Walter K. Kremers, Ruud A.F. Krom, W. Ray Kim – 30 December 2003

Brian G. Keeffe, Hannah Valantine, Emmet B. Keeffe – 30 December 2003 – Patients with end‐stage liver disease and coronary artery disease (CAD) being considered for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) present a difficult dilemma. The availability of multiple screening tests and newer treatment options for CAD prompted this review. Recent data suggest that the prevalence of CAD in patients with cirrhosis is much greater than previously believed and likely mirrors or exceeds the prevalence rate in the healthy population.

S. Breanndan Moore – 30 December 2003

Robert J. Porte, Maarten J.H. Slooff – 30 December 2003

James Y. Findlay, Steven R. Rettke, Mark H. Ereth, David J. Plevak, Ruud A.F. Krom, Ronald P. Kufner – 30 December 2003 – The effect of an aprotinin infusion on blood and blood product transfusion during adult primary orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was investigated in a prospective, randomized, double‐blind study. Sixty‐three patients were enrolled; 33 patients were administered an aprotinin regimen of a 1,000,000‐KIU loading dose, followed by a 250,000‐KIU/h infusion during surgery, and 30 patients were administered equivalent volumes of normal saline.

Nina Singh, Marilyn M. Wagener, Timothy Gayowski – 30 December 2003 – Seasonal variation has been documented in the frequency and attributable mortality of a number of medical illnesses and infections in the nontransplantation setting. Whether similar trends exist in transplant recipients is not known. Seasonal rates of overall and early mortality and contributory variables stratified by season were assessed in 190 consecutive liver transplant recipients who underwent transplantation over a 10‐year period.

Jawad Ahmad, S. Forrest Dodson, A. Jake Demetris, John J. Fung, A. Obaid Shakil – 30 December 2003 – Liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection often have histological hepatitis, and in some patients, graft failure develops. The aim of this nonrandomized study is to determine the efficacy and tolerability of interferon alfa (IFN alfa) alone and IFN alfa and ribavirin combination therapy in such patients.