Artificial referred sensation in upper and lower limb prosthesis users: a systematic review.

Electrical stimulation can induce sensation in the phantom limb of individuals with amputation. It is difficult to generalize existing findings as there are many approaches to delivering stimulation and to assessing the characteristics and benefits of sensation. Therefore, the goal of this systematic review was to explore the stimulation parameters that effectively elicited referred sensation, the qualities of elicited sensation, and how the utility of referred sensation was assessed.

Neurological improvement during bioartificial liver sessions in patients with acute liver failure awaiting transplantation.

Background: Brain edema is the main cause of death in acute liver failure patients awaiting transplantation. We assessed the HepatAssist 2000, a liver-assist system containing porcine hepatocytes, as a bridge to transplantation in patients with acute liver failure.

Methods: Thirteen patients suffering from acute liver failure with criteria for transplantation entered an open baseline-controlled study, with liver-assist treatment sessions at 24-hr intervals until transplantation.

Incidence of hepatitis C in patients receiving different preparations of hepatitis B immunoglobulins after liver transplantation.

Background: Recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after liver transplantation is a clinical problem. Polyclonal immunoglobulins against hepatitis B surface antigen (HBIGs) prevent the recurrence of HBV infection, but no effective prophylaxis is available for HCV infection. Before screening of blood donors was introduced in France, HBIGs may have contained antibody to HCV (anti-HCV).

How to stabilize the level of ionized calcium and citrate during plateletpheresis.

Background And Objectives: Citrate reactions are uncomfortable and potentially dangerous to apheresis donors. Reduction of citrate increases comfort, but may lead to platelet clumping.

Materials And Methods: We describe a protocol for stepwise reduction of the volume of ACD-A injected during plateletpheresis.

De novo and apparent de novo hepatitis B virus infection after liver transplantation.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to clarify the aetiology of apparent de novo HBV infection after liver transplantation.

Methods: Twenty out of 570 HBsAg negative patients (3.5%) became HBsAg positive after transplantation and were studied.