Epigenetic-sensitive challenges of cardiohepatic interactions: clinical and therapeutic implications in heart failure patients.

Heart failure and liver dysfunction can coexist owing to complex cardiohepatic interactions including the development of hypoxic hepatitis and congestive hepatopathy in patients with heart failure as well as 'cirrhotic cardiomyopathy' in advanced liver disease and following liver transplantation. The involvement of liver dysfunction in patients with heart failure reflects crucial systemic hemodynamic modifications occurring during the evolution of this syndrome. The arterial hypoperfusion and downstream hypoxia can lead to hypoxic hepatitis in acute heart failure patients whereas passive congestion is correlated with congestive hepatopathy occurring in patients with chronic heart failure.

Compromised nutritional status in patients with end-stage liver disease: Role of gut microbiota.

Background: Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) have a compromised nutritional status because of the liver crucial role in regulating metabolic homeostasis and energy balance.

Data Sources: A systematic review of literature based on extensive relevant articles published from 2001 to 2017 in English in PubMed database was performed by searching keywords such as liver disease, non-alcoholic liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, malnutrition, epigenetics, gut microbiota, and probiotics.

Results: Liver transplantation would be one eligible therapy for ESLD patients, even if, the clinical outcome is negatively influenced by malnutrition and/or infections.

Liver Match, a prospective observational cohort study on liver transplantation in Italy: study design and current practice of donor-recipient matching.

Background: The Liver Match is an observational cohort study that prospectively enrolled liver transplantations performed at 20 out of 21 Italian Transplant Centres between June 2007 and May 2009. Aim of the study is to investigate the impact of donor/recipient matching on outcomes. In this report we describe the study methodology and provide a cross-sectional description of donor and recipient characteristics and of graft allocation.

Sustained virological response to antiviral therapy reduces mortality in HCV reinfection after liver transplantation.

Background/aims: HCV infection recurs almost in all HCV-positive patients receiving liver transplantation and carries a poor prognosis. Aim of this study was to analyze efficacy and effect on survival of antiviral therapy in this clinical setting.

Methods: Pegylated-interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin were administered at a dose of 1 microg/kg of bwt weekly and 600-800 mg/day.

Feasibility and limits of split liver transplantation from pediatric donors: an italian multicenter experience.

Objective: To report the results of a multicenter experience of split liver transplantation (SLT) with pediatric donors.

Summary Background Data: There are no reports in the literature regarding pediatric liver splitting; further; the use of donors weighing <40 kg for SLT is currently not recommended.

Methods: From 1997 to 2004, 43 conventional split liver procedures from donors aged <15 years were performed.

Characteristics at presentation and outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the elderly. A study of the Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP).

Purpose: To describe the characteristics at presentation and the outcome of elderly patients (> or =70 years old) with HCC, a retrospective analysis using a CLIP database was performed.

Patients And Methods: The database included 650 patients. Chi2-test, logistic and Cox model were applied.