Predicting early allograft failure and mortality after liver transplantation: The role of the postoperative model for end‐stage liver disease score

Gebhard Wagener, Brian Raffel, Andrew T. Young, Moury Minhaz, Jean Emond – 6 March 2013 – Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) is a serious complication after liver transplantation (LT). There is no uniform definition of EAD, and most definitions are based on arbitrary laboratory values. The aim of this study was to devise a definition of EAD that maximizes the predictive power for early death and graft failure.

Reduction of hepatitis B surface antigen levels and hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance in chronic hepatitis B patients receiving 10 years of nucleoside analogue therapy

Wai‐Kay Seto, Danny Ka‐Ho Wong, James Fung, Fung‐Yu Huang, Ching‐Lung Lai, Man‐Fung Yuen – 6 March 2013 – The profile and clinical significance of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels during long‐term nucleoside analogue (NA) therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is undetermined. From 1994 to 2002, 322 Chinese CHB patients were started on lamivudine in our center. Patients were recruited if they were continuously treated with lamivudine for at least 10 years and maintained favorable virologic responses throughout therapy (HBV DNA <2,000 IU/mL).

MicroRNA‐195 Suppresses Angiogenesis and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Inhibiting the Expression of VEGF, VAV2, and CDC42

Ruizhi Wang, Na Zhao, Siwen Li, Jian‐Hong Fang, Mei‐Xian Chen, Jine Yang, Wei‐Hua Jia, Yunfei Yuan, Shi‐Mei Zhuang – 6 March 2013 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by active angiogenesis and metastasis, which account for rapid recurrence and poor survival. There is frequent down‐regulation of miR‐195 expression in HCC tissues. In this study, the role of miR‐195 in HCC angiogenesis and metastasis was investigated with in vitro capillary tube formation and transwell assays, in vivo orthotopic xenograft mouse models, and human HCC specimens.

New horizons in hepatitis C antiviral therapy with direct‐acting antivirals

Alessio Aghemo, Raffaele De Francesco – 6 March 2013 – Most direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) that are being developed as therapy against hepatitis C virus target the NS3/4A protease, the NS5A protein, and the NS5B polymerase. The latter enzyme offers different target sites: the catalytic domain for nucleos(t)ide analogues as well as a number of allosteric sites for nonnucleos(t)ide inhibitors. Two NS3/4A protease inhibitors have been approved recently, and more than 40 new NS3/4A, NS5A, or NS5B inhibitors are in development.

New horizons in hepatitis C antiviral therapy with direct‐acting antivirals

Alessio Aghemo, Raffaele De Francesco – 6 March 2013 – Most direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) that are being developed as therapy against hepatitis C virus target the NS3/4A protease, the NS5A protein, and the NS5B polymerase. The latter enzyme offers different target sites: the catalytic domain for nucleos(t)ide analogues as well as a number of allosteric sites for nonnucleos(t)ide inhibitors. Two NS3/4A protease inhibitors have been approved recently, and more than 40 new NS3/4A, NS5A, or NS5B inhibitors are in development.

High incidence of treatment‐induced and vaccine‐escape hepatitis B virus mutants among human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis B–infected patients

Karine Lacombe, Anders Boyd, Fabien Lavocat, Christian Pichoud, Joel Gozlan, Patrick Miailhes, Caroline Lascoux‐Combe, Guy Vernet, Pierre‐Marie Girard, Fabien Zoulim – 6 March 2013 – Anti–hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleos(t)ides analogs (NA) exert selective pressures on polymerase (pol) and surface (S) genes, inducing treatment resistance and increasing the risk of vaccine escape mutants. The rate of emergence for these mutations is largely unknown in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HBV undergoing dual‐active therapy.

Preparing for the inevitable: The death of a living liver donor

Charles Miller, Martin L. Smith, Masato Fujiki, Teresa Diago Uso, Cristiano Quintini – 6 March 2013 – Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is associated with a low but finite and well‐documented risk of donor morbidity and mortality, so organizations and individuals involved in this activity must accept the fact that a donor death is a question of when and not if.

Subscribe to