Validation and calibration of an electrical analog model of human liver perfusion based on hypothermic machine perfusion experiments.

Purpose: Hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) is reviving as a better preservation method for donor livers than the golden standard of cold storage, but still faces challenges such as the risk for endothelial damage and flow competition between the arterial and portal venous inflow. Therefore, we previously developed an electrical analog model to investigate the effect of HMP settings on the human liver hemodynamics. While the model provided plausible results, it is based on a number of assumptions and its performance was never subjected to experimental validation.

Increased serum phospholipase A2 activity after non-heart-beating donor liver transplantation and association with ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Background: Secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) degrades cell membrane phospholipids and plays an important role in the synthesis of pro-inflammatory lipid mediators (arachidonic acid and cytokines) during inflammatory events such as ischemia-reperfusion injury after liver transplantation (LTx). A role for sPLA(2) in LTx from non-heart-beating donors (NHBD) has never been demonstrated. Furthermore data on the natural sPLA(2) inhibition capacity are scarce.