Recipient-Donor Sex Constellation in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma-An ELTR Study.

Background & Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Liver transplantation (LT) is a curative treatment option. We investigated survival outcomes based on recipient-donor sex constellation (RDSC) following LT.

Recipient donor sex combinations in solid organ transplantation and impact on clinical outcome: A scoping review.

Introduction: Solid organ transplantation (SOT) is a lifesaving treatment for end-stage organ failure. Although many factors affect the success of organ transplantation, recipient and donor sex are important biological factors influencing transplant outcome. However, the impact of the four possible recipient and donor sex combinations (RDSC) on transplant outcome remains largely unclear.

Physical activity decreases in patients on the liver transplant waiting list and influences postoperative outcome-a prospective cohort study.

Background: Physical deconditioning affects patients suffering from end-stage liver disease (ESLD). Liver transplantation (LT) is the only curative option for ESLD. Growing evidence suggests that pre-habilitation is beneficial in reducing post-surgical morbidity and mortality.

Evolution of humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine in liver transplant recipients - a longitudinal study.

Background And Aim: Liver transplant recipients show suboptimal vaccine-elicited immune responses to severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination. This study aimed to assess real-world data on SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after the second and third SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in liver transplant recipients in Switzerland.

Methods: We enrolled liver transplant recipients who attended regular follow-up visits between 01/07/2021 and 30/04/2022 at the outpatient clinic of the Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine at Bern University Hospital, Switzerland.

Investigation of Different Library Preparation and Tissue of Origin Deconvolution Methods for Urine and Plasma cfDNA Methylome Analysis.

Methylation sequencing is a promising approach to infer the tissue of origin of cell-free DNA (cfDNA). In this study, a single- and a double-stranded library preparation approach were evaluated with respect to their technical biases when applied on cfDNA from plasma and urine. Additionally, tissue of origin (TOO) proportions were evaluated using two deconvolution methods.

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitors in gastrointestinal cancer: where do we currently stand?-A systematic review.

Purpose: Dysregulated expression of heat shock proteins (HSP) plays a fundamental role in tumor development and progression. Consequently, HSP90 may be an effective tumor target in oncology, including the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers.

Methods: We carried out a systematic review of data extracted from clinicaltrials.

Comparison of methods for donor-derived cell-free DNA quantification in plasma and urine from solid organ transplant recipients.

In allograft monitoring of solid organ transplant recipients, liquid biopsy has emerged as a novel approach using quantification of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) in plasma. Despite early clinical implementation and analytical validation of techniques, direct comparisons of dd-cfDNA quantification methods are lacking. Furthermore, data on dd-cfDNA in urine is scarce and high-throughput sequencing-based methods so far have not leveraged unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) for absolute dd-cfDNA quantification.

Utilization of livers donated after circulatory death for transplantation - An international comparison.

Background & Aims: Liver graft utilization rates are a hot topic due to the worldwide organ shortage and the increasing number of transplant candidates on waiting lists. Liver perfusion techniques have been introduced in several countries, and may help to increase the organ supply, as they potentially enable the assessment of livers before use.

Methods: Liver offers were counted from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors (Maastricht type III) arising during the past decade in eight countries, including Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.

The impact of perceived donor liver quality on post-transplant outcome.

Background: We analysed the impact of perceived liver donor quality on transplant recipient outcomes.

Methods: this prospective cohort study included all deceased liver donors during 2008-2018 in the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study. Perceived low-quality liver donors were defined when refused for ≥5 top listed recipients or for all recipients in at least one centre before being transplanted.

Regression of Graft Steatosis After Liver Transplantation.

Liver grafts with limited steatosis are currently used for liver transplantation, but the natural history of graft steatosis is not well known. This program evaluation aimed at assessing changes of steatosis after liver transplantation. A retrospective chart review was performed assessing presence and severity of steatosis in the liver explant and in time zero donor graft biopsies carried out at the time-point of liver transplantation on histopathology and on imaging one year thereafter in 30 well characterized patients.

Use of statins after liver transplantation is associated with improved survival: results of a nationwide study.

Background: There is limited information on the effects of statins on the outcomes of liver transplantation (LT), regarding either their use by LT recipients or donors.

Aim: To analyse the association between statin exposure and recipient and graft survival.

Methods: We included adult LT recipients with deceased donors in a nationwide prospective database study.

Final safety and efficacy results from a 106 real-world patients registry with an ascites-mobilizing pump.

Background And Aims: Patients with cirrhotic refractory ascites ineligible for transjugular intrahepatic shunt (TIPSS) have limited treatment options apart from repeated large volume paracentesis. The alfapump® is an implantable device mobilizing ascites from the peritoneal cavity to the bladder, from where it can be excreted. The aim of this observational cohort study was to prospectively investigate safety and efficacy of the device in a real-world cohort with cirrhotic refractory ascites and contraindications for TIPSS.

Liver Resection for Primary Hepatic Angiosarcoma: Bicentric Analysis of a Challenging Entity.

Primary hepatic angiosarcoma (PHA) is a rare malignant tumor of the liver, and data on patient outcome after surgical treatment are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative morbidity and overall survival (OS) of patients who underwent hepatectomy for PHA. This is a bicentric retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients who underwent liver resection in curative intent for PHA between 2012 and 2019 at the University Hospital of Muenster and the University Hospital of Bern.

The MELD upgrade exception: a successful strategy to optimize access to liver transplantation for patients with high waiting list mortality.

Background: MELD exceptions are designed to equipoise liver transplant waiting list survival. We aimed to analyze the impact of the MELD Upgrade rule and all other MELD exceptions on the liver transplant waiting list outcomes during 2012-2017 in Switzerland.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide cohort study including all adult patients registered on the Swiss liver transplant waiting list between 2012 and 2017.

Humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 infection among liver transplant recipients.

Objective: Immunosuppressive agents are known to interfere with T and/or B lymphocytes, which are required to mount an adequate serologic response. Therefore, we aim to investigate the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in liver transplant (LT) recipients after COVID-19.

Design: Prospective multicentre case-control study, analysing antibodies against the nucleocapsid protein, spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 and their neutralising activity in LT recipients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19-LT) compared with immunocompetent patients (COVID-19-immunocompetent) and LT recipients without COVID-19 symptoms (non-COVID-19-LT).

Resolution of Precapillary Pulmonary Hypertension After Liver Transplantation for Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: Systematic Review and Case Report.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a known complication of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) in patients with hepatic arteriovenous malformations (HAVM). Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a recognized treatment of HAVM in HHT, but its effect on PH has not been reported in detail before.

Methods: Systematic review on HHT patients with pre- or postcapillary PH who underwent OLT and report of a case.

Cohort profile: The Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (STCS): A nationwide longitudinal cohort study of all solid organ recipients in Switzerland.

Purpose: The Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (STCS) is a prospective multicentre cohort study which started to actively enrol study participants in May 2008. It takes advantage of combining data from all transplant programmes in one unique system to perform comprehensive nationwide reporting and to promote translational and clinical post-transplant outcome research in the framework of Swiss transplantation medicine.

Participants: Over 5500 solid organ transplant recipients have been enrolled in all six Swiss transplant centres by end of 2019, around three-quarter of them for kidney and liver transplants.

Effects of structured intraoperative briefings on patient outcomes: multicentre before-and-after study.

Background: Operations require collaboration between surgeons, anaesthetia professionals, and nurses. The aim of this study was to determine whether intraoperative briefings influence patient outcomes.

Methods: In a before-and-after controlled trial (9 months baseline; 9 months intervention), intraoperative briefings were introduced in four general surgery centres between 2015 and 2018.

COVID-19 in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review.

Liver transplant (LT) recipients are considered a vulnerable population amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, available data have been heterogeneous and scarce. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review identifying English-language articles published in PubMed between November 2019 and 30 May 2021.