Racial and ethnic disparities in post-liver transplant outcomes for patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure: An analysis of the UNOS database.

Background: The incidence of hospitalisations related to acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is increasing. Liver transplantation (LT) remains the definitive treatment for the condition.

Aim: To evaluate the influence of race and ethnicity on LT outcomes in ACLF.

The impact of macro- and micro-steatosis on the outcomes of patients who undergo liver transplant: Analysis of the UNOS-STAR database.

Background And Aims: The presence of steatosis in a donor liver and its relation to post-transplantation outcomes are not well defined. This study evaluates the effect of the presence and severity of micro- and macro-steatosis of a donor graft on post-transplantation outcomes.

Methods: The UNOS-STAR registry (2005-2019) was used to select patients who received a liver transplant graft with hepatic steatosis.

Proton beam stereotactic body radiotherapy and hypofractionated therapy with pencil beam scanning is safe and effective for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A single center experience.

Background: Proton beam therapy (PBT) is a non-surgical treatment that spares adjacent tissues compared to photon radiation and useful for Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). We present a single center experience in HCC and iCCA treated with Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS) PBT.

Methods: Forty-four consecutive patients (22 patients in each group) receiving PBT were included and reviewed.

Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Subtypes on the Post-liver Transplant Outcomes of Patients with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Background And Aims: Liver transplant patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis often present with concurrent inflammatory bowel disease. The effect of comorbid conditions on post-transplant prognosis was evaluated.

Methods: The 2005-2019 United Network of Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research database was used to identify patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

The impact of recipient and donor gender-match and mismatch on the post-liver transplant outcomes of patients with primary biliary cholangitis.

Background & Aims: In this study, we evaluate the effects of donor gender on post-liver transplant (LT) prognosis. We specifically consider patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).

Methods: The 2005 to 2019 UNOS transplant registry was used to select patients with PBC.

Clinical implications of gender and race in patients admitted with autoimmune hepatitis: updated analysis of US hospitals.

Background: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) can result in end-stage liver disease that requires inpatient treatment of the hepatic complications. Given this phenomenon, it is important to analyse the impact of gender and race on the outcomes of patients who are admitted with AIH using a national hospital registry.

Methods: The 2012-2017 National Inpatient Sample database was used to select patients with AIH, who were stratified using gender and race (Hispanics and blacks as cases and whites as reference).

The prognostic relationship between donor age and infectious risk in liver transplant patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: Analysis of UNOS database.

Background & Aims: We investigate the effects of advancing donor age on the prognostic outcomes of patients with NASH who undergo liver transplant (LT), with a specialized attention toward infectious outcomes post-LT.

Methods: The UNOS-STAR registry was used to select 2005 to 2019 LT recipients with NASH, who were stratified by donor age into the following categories: recipients with younger donors (less than 50 years of age-reference), quinquagenarian donors, sexagenarian donors, septuagenarian donors, and octogenarian donors. Cox regression analyses were conducted for all-cause mortality, graft failure, infectious causes of death.

The nationwide trends in hospital admissions, deaths, and costs related to hepatitis C stratified by psychiatric disorders and substance use: an analysis of US hospitals between 2016 and 2019.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a prominent liver disease that often presents with mental illness. We stratify the HCV population and review its healthcare burden on the US hospital system.

Methods: The US National Inpatient Sample was used to select admissions related to HCV between 2016 and 2019.

The differences in post-liver transplant outcomes of patients with autoimmune hepatitis who present with overlapping autoimmune liver diseases.

Background: Patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) may co-present with features of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Using a national transplant registry, the outcomes of patients with these autoimmune liver conditions were compared.

Methods: The UNOS-STAR registry was used to select a study population of AIH, PSC, and PBC liver transplant (LT) patients.

The clinical implications of pre-liver transplant diabetes on post-liver transplant outcomes in patients with NASH: analysis of the UNOS database.

Background And Aims: The presence of perioperative diabetes may lead to increased mortality risks following liver transplant (LT) in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This risk factor was evaluated using a UNOS-STAR national database.

Methods: The UNOS-STAR liver transplant registry 2005-2019 was used to select patients with NASH (including cryptogenic liver disease).

A Systematic Review of Crohn's Disease Case Definitions in Administrative or Claims Databases.

Background: We sought to review Crohn's disease (CD) case definitions that use diagnosis, procedure, and medication claims.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Embase from inception through January 31, 2022, using terms related to CD, inflammatory bowel disease, administrative claims, or validity. Each article was scrutinized by 2 authors independently screening and abstracting data.

Clinical Practice Issues for Liver Transplantation in COVID-19 Recovered Recipients.

The ongoing burden of COVID-19 in persons with end stage liver failure necessitates the development of sound and rational policies for organ transplantation in this population. Following our initial experience with two COVID-19 recovered recipients who died shortly after transplant, we adjusted our center policies, re-evaluated outcomes, and retrospectively analyzed the clinical course of the subsequent seven COVID-19 recovered recipients. There were two early deaths and 5 successful outcomes.

Hepatitis C-positive donor liver transplantation for hepatitis C seronegative recipients.

Background: The opioid crisis has led to an increase in hepatitis C virus-positive donors in the past decade. Whereas historically hepatitis C seropositive organs were routinely discarded, the advent of direct-acting antiviral agents has notably expanded the utilization of organs from donors with hepatitis C. There has been growing experience with liver transplantation (LT) from hepatitis C seropositive donors to hepatitis C seropositive recipients.

Pseudomembranous colitis: Not always Clostridium difficile.

Although Clostridium difficile infection is the cause of most cases of pseudomembranous colitis, clinicians should consider less common causes, especially if pseudomembranes are seen on endoscopy but testing remains negative for C difficile or if presumed C difficile infection does not respond to treatment. Histologic review of colonic mucosal biopsy specimens can provide clues to the underlying cause.

Data regarding M1 muscarinic receptor-mediated modulation of hepatic catalase activity in response to oxidative stress.

We recently demonstrated the role of M1 muscarinic receptors (M1R) in modulating oxidative stress in liver and hepatocytes (Urrunaga et al., 2015) [1]. Here we provide data regarding the effect of a novel M1R agonist, VU0357017 (Lebois et al.

Prevalence, Severity, and Impact of Renal Dysfunction in Acute Liver Failure on the US Liver Transplant Waiting List.

Background And Aims: Although renal dysfunction is a known complication of acute liver failure (ALF), its frequency, severity, and impact among patients with ALF on the US liver transplant list are not well defined.

Methods: Organ Procurement and Transplantation data for ALF patients listed as status 1/1A from 2002 to 2012 were analyzed. The frequency and severity of renal dysfunction at the time of listing [the latter was categorized in 5 stages using estimated GFR (eGFR) according to Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine 2009 equation] were determined and the association between renal dysfunction and waiting list mortality was assessed using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.

M1 Muscarinic Receptor Deficiency Attenuates Azoxymethane-Induced Chronic Liver Injury in Mice.

Cholinergic nervous system regulates liver injury. However, the role of M1 muscarinic receptors (M1R) in modulating chronic liver injury is uncertain. To address this gap in knowledge we treated M1R-deficient and WT mice with azoxymethane (AOM) for six weeks and assessed liver injury responses 14 weeks after the last dose of AOM.

Withaferin-A Reduces Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in Mice.

Withaferin-A (WA) has anti-oxidant activities however, its therapeutic potential in acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity is unknown. We performed a proof-of-concept study to assess the therapeutic potential of WA in a mouse model that mimics APAP-induced liver injury (AILI) in humans. Overnight fasted C57BL/6NTac (5-6 wk.