It is well known that bleeding decreases the sensitivity of H py

It is well known that bleeding decreases the sensitivity of H. pylori diagnostic tests in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding,

but Choi et al. [29] determined that histology is quite a reliable test, regardless of the presence of bleeding. Furthermore, a meta-analysis by Tian et al. [30] showed that histology had a higher sensitivity and specificity than the UBT and the RUT for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection after a partial gastrectomy. Peptide nucleic acid-FISH is a genotypic method for detecting the clarithromycin resistance of H. pylori, based on fluorescent in situ hybridization [31]. The set of probes targeting the point mutations responsible for clarithromycin resistance was applied to H. pylori ABT-888 suspensions, and it showed 100% sensitivity and specificity (95% CI, 79.9–100 and 95% CI, 71.6–100, respectively) [31].

The RUT has an accuracy of >90% in the detection of H. pylori infection, and a positive RUT is learn more sufficient to initiate eradication treatment [19]. RUT is relatively inexpensive, and it provides rapid results. In the case of an active ulcer bleeding, the sensitivity of RUT may be reduced [29]. Koumi et al. [32], in a prospective study, proved that a faster urease test (H. pylori Quick test; Biohit, Helsinki, Finland) is more cost-effective than the CLO test. Furthermore, Li et al. [33] showed that gastric biopsy specimens stored in the RUT gel for 30 days can still be used to confirm the diagnosis of an H. pylori infection and test for clarithromycin susceptibility. According to the Maastricht IV Consensus

Report, H. pylori culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing should be performed if primary resistance to clarithromycin exceeds 20% in a given geographical area [19]. Furthermore, after the first eradication failure, culture should be considered in all regions before providing second-line treatment [19]. Some factors like peptic ulcer bleeding may affect the tests for H. pylori detection. Culture and three other tests (RUT, histology, and anti-CagA IgG) were performed under such circumstances [34]. The sensitivity MCE of the biopsy specimen’s culture, histology, and RUT was 86.4, 68.2, and 65.9%, respectively, and the specificity was 100, 75, and 77.8%, respectively, indicating that culture was the best method for the detection of H. pylori in bleeding patients with peptic ulcer bleeding after nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption. Contrary to these findings, other authors concluded that bleeding decreased the sensitivity of H. pylori tests in patients with peptic ulcer, especially RUT and culture, while histology was found to be the most reliable test regardless of the presence of bleeding [29]. As the decreased density of H. pylori in atrophic gastritis may lead to a low sensitivity of the tests, Sudraba et al.

This was a qualitative study to explore medical experiences of HA

This was a qualitative study to explore medical experiences of HA carriers and their emotional and behavioural responses. Eleven HA carriers and five Haemophilia Treatment Centre nurses were interviewed. Themes were identified using QSR NVivo 8.0. Carriers and nurses reported HA-related bleeding symptoms

in carriers, including life-threatening haemorrhage following injury or medical intervention. Menorrhagia was common and distressing. Negative carrier experiences were related Olaparib in the determination of genotypic and phenotypic status, management, precautions and HCP attitude, including dismissing carriers’ symptoms, concerns or requests for care. Carriers responded with mistrust, lost confidence, disappointment, fear, anxiety, doubt of

self or child, discussing experiences, avoidance of healthcare and self-treatment. Dismissive HCP attitudes, ignorance about bleeding disorders in women and unique aspects of the carrier population appear to make errors more likely. This study indicates that carriers experience inappropriate KU-57788 concentration care and encounter dismissive attitudes, and respond emotionally and behaviourally. Our model suggests that systematic medical errors aggravate a negative feedback loop leading to negative emotional and behavioural responses and worsening carrier care. Improved carrier care policies and increased awareness

of women’s bleeding disorders may improve this situation. Further research is needed to determine whether the themes identified in this study accurately reflect the experiences of carriers in general. “
“The Malignancy in Haemophilia Workshop Group convened a consensus working group of haematologists and oncologists to review topics related to malignancy in haemophilia. The treatment of malignant disease in this population is increasingly relevant as both outcome and lifespan continue to improve. Although adequate guidance exists 上海皓元医药股份有限公司 for control of spontaneous bleeding episodes and of haemostasis in general surgery, information for management of haemostasis in patients with various malignancies is sparse. To date, no clinical guidelines exist for management of complex bleeding problems, diagnosis, therapy and follow-up of malignancies in haemophilia. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether or not morbidity and mortality outcomes associated with malignancies are affected by haemophilia or by its treatment.

We report here the molecular basis of fibrinogen deficiency in a

We report here the molecular basis of fibrinogen deficiency in a large series of patients from India. Twenty-seven patients with clinical features suggestive of fibrinogen deficiency and with prolonged plasma clotting times and low fibrinogen levels were studied. Genomic DNA was screened for mutations in the fibrinogen alpha

(FGA), beta (FGB), gamma (FGG) genes by PCR and conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis. Fourteen different disease-causing mutations including frameshifts (51.9%), splice site (22.2%), missense (18.5%) and nonsense mutation (7.4%) Dabrafenib chemical structure were identified in 27 patients. Thirteen of them were novel, including seven frameshifts (fibrinogen Aα: p.Asp296 fs*59, p.Thr466 fs*17 and p.Lys575 fs*74; fibrinogen Bβ: p.Gly414 fs*2 and fibrinogen γ: p.Ser81 fs*5, p.Lys185 fs*13 and p.Asp278_279 fs*17), three splice site mutations (FGA gene c.364+1G>A; c.510+2 T>G; FGB gene c.851+1G>A), two missense substitutions (fibrinogen Bβ: p.Gly288Ser; p.Arg445Thr) and a nonsense mutation in fibrinogen Aα (p.Tyr127*). Two common mutations (FGA: c.364+1G>A, n = 6, FGG: p.Lys185 fs*13, n = 7) affecting 13 patients were identified in this series, suggesting that these mutations could be screened first in Indian patients with fibrinogen deficiency. The molecular data presented here is the

largest buy GSK1120212 series of patients with fibrinogen deficiency reported so far, adding significantly to the mutation database of this condition. It also helps create an algorithm for its genetic diagnosis in India. “
“Summary.  Intravenous infusion studies in humans suggest that both von Willebrand factor (VWF) and factor VIII (FVIII) remain intravascular in contrast to other coagulation proteins. We explored whether infusion of VWF and FVIII by either intraperitoneal (i.p.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) injection

would result in efficient absorption of these large proteins into the vascular circulation. FVIIInull or VWFnull mice were infused with plasma-derived or recombinant VWF and/or FVIII by i.p., s.c., or intravenous (i.v.) injection. Both VWF and FVIII were absorbed into the blood circulation after i.p. injection with a peak between 2 and 4 h at levels similar to those observed 上海皓元医药股份有限公司 in mice infused intravenously. In contrast, neither VWF nor FVIII was detected in the plasma following s.c. injection. Although i.v. injection achieved peak plasma levels quickly, both human VWF and FVIII rapidly decreased during the first 2 h following i.v. injection. Following both i.v. and i.p. infusion of VWF, the multimeric structure of circulating VWF was similar to that observed in the infusate. These results demonstrate that both VWF and FVIII can be efficiently absorbed into the blood circulation following i.p., but not s.c. injection, indicating that i.p. administration could be an alternative route for VWF or FVIII infusion.

CoH appearance or number in this group also remained indistinguis

CoH appearance or number in this group also remained indistinguishable from normal. All six subject patients who had CoH loss and clinical data available for review were started on treatment with UDCA. Selleckchem FK228 Posttreatment clinical follow-up was available for five of these six patients, all of whom showed normalization of abnormal serum liver

tests and diminished pruritis, results indistinguishable from our 10 PBC control patients. These results, for both subject and PBC control groups, are similar to what is expected to be the known biochemical response rate to treatment for PBC.1-3, 12 One patient each, in study and control groups, had a repeat biopsy showing “autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome.” Both patients were initially diagnosed with PBC based on blood test results and were treated with a favorable response for at least a year. Then, with newly rising transaminases, they underwent repeat biopsy and were found to have emergent autoimmune hepatitis overlapping with the previously assessed PBC. A recent study has shown that 2.4% of PBC patients develop an acute autoimmune hepatitis on top of their PBC.17 Nonetheless, the development of overlap syndrome after the initial biopsy finding as “minimal change” further supports that

the patient already had, at the time of first biopsy, an evolving autoimmune hepatopathy. Other concomitant autoimmune diseases in our study patients further support them as having PBC: one had a sister with PBC, three had thyroid dysfunction which is commonly associated with PBC, often predating find more the liver diagnosis18 and most strongly associated with AMA-negative PBC.19 Where did the CoH go? Prior research suggests two hypotheses. The first is that they were destroyed by immune attack, a possibility supported medchemexpress by our prior finding that they, like the bile ducts in PBC, show de novo human leukocyte antigen DR (HLA-DR) expression and may thus be targets of immune attack.4 An alternate hypothesis is that the cells lining the CoH are not destroyed, but “disappear” by undergoing hepatocellular differentiation,

as suggested by bromodeoxyuridine (BRDU), label-retaining cell assays in a murine model of acetaminophen toxicity.20 In that study, stem/progenitor cells within the CoH appeared to differentiate directly into hepatocytes without cell division. Other reports indicate that K19-positive stem/progenitor cells in the CoH can produce K19 negative/EpCAM-positive hepatocytes.7, 21 For this reason we immunostained our specimens for EpCAM as well; however, no EpCAM staining was seen in any case. This question thus remains unanswered. We conclude that diffuse CoH loss demonstrated by immunostaining for K19 can be considered a “minimal change” diagnostic biopsy feature of PBC in specimens without overt histological features classically associated with PBC.

Additionally, because it was a short-term and nonrandomized trial

Additionally, because it was a short-term and nonrandomized trial, RG7420 more prolonged bevacizumab treatment will need to prove effective and safe in patients

with HHT. Whether bevacizumab might be efficacious in relieving other symptoms related to hepatic vascular malformations, such as portal hypertension, biliary ischemia, or hepatic encephalopathy, is a separate issue that also needs to be explored. The results of this study will likely generate enthusiasm to treat selected patients with off-label bevacizumab. However, recognizing the limitations of this study, caution is appropriate. Individual physicians and patients may decide to use bevacizumab on a compassionate basis, which might be appropriate in highly symptomatic and refractory patients who are not candidates for liver transplantation. In other patients, conservative therapies should be the mainstay of therapy until randomized placebo-controlled trials further test this innovative strategy. “
“Reddish streaks in an intact stomach are an endoscopic feature of duodenogastric reflux. This study aimed to identify www.selleckchem.com/hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase-hsd.html which factors are associated with gastric reddish streaks and thus help prevent mucosal damage from

duodenogastric reflux. Demographic data, personal habits, stressful life events, and psychological distress were compared between subjects with only gastric reddish streaks and those with normal mucosa who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as part of a self-paid physical checkup. Stress

hormones dopamine and cortisol were also checked by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay methods respectively. There were 95 subjects with gastric reddish streaks and 52 subjects with 上海皓元医药股份有限公司 normal mucosa. No significant differences in age, gender, blood groups, education levels, marital status, religion, aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, and intake of tea was found between the two groups, but intake of coffee was borderline more common in subjects with normal mucosa (38.5% vs 22.1%, P = 0.055). Subjects with gastric reddish streaks had lower Helicobacter pylori infection rate (37.8% vs 19.3%, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in psychological distress and stressful life events between the two groups. Multivariate analysis shows that serum dopamine concentrations (odds ratio = 11.31, 95% confidence interval = 2.11–60.48, P = 0.005) and being without the consumption of coffee (odds ratio = 2.97, 95% confidence interval = 1.27–6.94, P = 0.012) were associated with gastric reddish streaks. Elevated serum dopamine and less coffee consumption are associated with gastric reddish streaks. These findings implicate that increased dopamine level plays a role for abnormal duodenogastric reflux.

To date, however, no randomized comparator studies for prophylaxi

To date, however, no randomized comparator studies for prophylaxis with bypassing agents have been carried out and, therefore, it is difficult to substantiate these hypothesized points. To date, effectiveness and safety of prophylaxis with rFVIIa has been described in only a small number of case reports, retrospective studies and a small randomized clinical trial (as discussed). Systematically, obtaining more extensive data on the past

and current use of rFVIIa for prophylaxis in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors would therefore prove useful to clinicians. PROPACT, the Retrospective Prophylaxis Patient Case CollecTion, aims to evaluate the frequency and pattern of bleeding episodes in patients receiving prophylactic treatment with rFVIIa. In addition, the study will assess the selection of patients for prophylaxis, the dose and dosing intervals used, and the safety of rFVIIa in prophylaxis. This international study VX-809 supplier includes approximately 40 centres in 13 countries and aims to include 50–100 patients. Data are expected to be available in early 2010 (Data on file, Novo Nordisk, 2009). A further retrospective study of the use of rFVIIa as secondary prophylaxis in haemophilic patients

with inhibitors is currently underway in France. This analysis aims to evaluate the various rFVIIa secondary prophylaxis dosing regimens used in 14 French treatment centres and will include 15 patients. The study will also determine the profile of patients selected for prophylaxis and compare the effects of prophylaxis Ibrutinib with on-demand therapy during the 6 months pre- and post-prophylaxis. Results from this analysis will be incorporated into the PROPACT database. An additional prospective study MCE公司 addressing the efficacy and safety of rFVIIa has been proposed. The EuropeaN initiative to prevent JOInt damage in Haemophilia A children with inhibitors who are candidates for ITI (ENJOIH®) study will investigate prophylactic rFVIIa treatment

compared with on-demand therapy. Analyses include reducing the frequency of joint bleeds and the development of joint damage (including synovitis), as measured by the Haemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS), in children with haemophilia A and high-responding inhibitors. This study is ready to start in November 2009. This is a crossover study in which patients will be treated with 6 months of on-demand FEIBA® and 6 months of FEIBA® prophylaxis (85 U kg−1± 15% on 3 non-consecutive days weekly) with a 3-month wash-out period between arms. Subjects will be randomly assigned as to sequence of treatment with half receiving the on-demand treatment first, followed by prophylaxis and the other half receiving prophylaxis treatment first, followed by the on-demand treatment period. The primary endpoint is to compare the number of bleeding events in the on-demand and prophylaxis arms. This study is closed and data currently is in examination.

6 years (range 19–78 years), 63% were male and 37% were HBeAg pos

6 years (range 19–78 years), 63% were male and 37% were HBeAg positive at baseline. Responses to treatment in both groups are shown in Table 1. Table 1: Responses to entecavir in patients with cirrhosis and without cirrhosis   No Cirrhosis (n = 70) Cirrhosis

(n = 30) p value BASELINE Age, years 45.7 ± 13.2 48.8 ± 14.6 Ixazomib supplier 0.3029 Gender, M : F 40:30 23:7 0.0740 Positive HBeAg, n (%) 25 (36) 12 (40) 0.8215 Viral load, log10 IU/ml 5.30 ± 2.08 5.49 ± 1.84 0.6976 ALT, U/L 119 149 0.7528 eGFR, mL/min/1.73 m∧2 95.98 94.88 0.8307 AT 12 MONTHS Viral load, mean log10 IU/ml 2.03 ± 0.71 2.03 ± 1.25 0.9791 2 log drop from baseline, n/total (%) 36/36 (100) 13/14 (93) 0.2800 Viral load <1.73 log10 IU/ml, n/total (%) 35/51 (69) 13/23 (59) 0.4305 ALT < 35 U/L, n (%) 20/38 (53) 8/24 (33) 0.1915 HBe-Ag seroconversion, n (%) 5/25 (20) 1/12 (8.3) 0.6409 eGFR, mL/min/1.73 m∧2 92.58 88.70 0.5653 Conclusions: Entecavir 0.5 mg daily is an effective treatment in

patients with and without cirrhosis with 98% achieving 2 log10 reduction in viral load and 65% achieving viral load to below limit of quantification after 12 months. There were no significant differences in virological Selleckchem 3 Methyladenine and biochemical responses to treatment in both groups. Although HBeAg seroconversion is slightly higher in the group without cirrhosis, the difference was not significant. There was no change in renal function after 12 months treatment with entecavir. ZY NG,1 J KONG,1 N KONTORINIS,1 L TARQUINIO,1 J FLEXMAN,2 W CHENG1 Depts of 1Gastroenterology & Hepatology and 2Microbiology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth Western Australia Background and Aims: Virological suppression and HBeAg seroconversion are important objectives in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. HBeAg seroconversion may enable finite treatment with oral nucleos(t)ide analogues. Duration of therapy in these patients may be influenced by the time for HBeAg seroconversion. The aims of the study are (1) To assess

factors predicting virological suppression in CHB patients after treatment with entecavir for 12 months (2) To determine association 上海皓元 between virological suppression and HBeAg seroconversion. Methods: Retrospective study of all CHB patients treated with entecavir 0.5 mg at Royal Perth Hospital between 2007 and 2012. Subjects were identified using pharmacy database for entecavir scripts and data was obtained from electronic database. Data collected included demographics, stage of liver disease, HBeAg status, viral load, ALT and GGT at baseline and during treatment. Virological suppression was defined as suppressed hepatitis B viral load (VL) to < log101.73 IU/ml (lower limit of quantification). T-test was used to compare means and Fischer’s exact test was used to compare between groups with statistical significance determined at p < 0.05. Results: 100 CHB patients were included in the study. Mean age was 46.6 yrs (range 19–78 yrs) with mean length of treatment of 22.8 months.

Conclusion: In a mouse model of ALF, loss of Gab1 in hepatocytes

Conclusion: In a mouse model of ALF, loss of Gab1 in hepatocytes resulted in higher mortality with enhanced mitochondrial dysfunction and hepato-cyte necrosis. Our data further suggested that Gab1 could be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of ALF Disclosures: Tetsuo Takehara – Grant/Research Support: Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., MSD K.K. The following people have nothing to disclose: Kunimaro Furuta, Yuichi

Yoshida, Takashi Kizu, Satoshi Ogura, Mayumi Egawa, Norihiro Chatani, Yoshihiro Kamada, Shinichi Kiso “
“Interleukin-22 (IL-22), a recently identified member of the IL-10 family of cytokines that is produced by Th17 and natural killer cells, plays an important role in controlling bacterial infection, homeostasis, and tissue repair. Here, we tested the effect of IL-22 on alcohol-induced liver injury Neratinib in a murine model of chronic-binge ethanol feeding. Feeding male C57BL/6 mice with a Lieber-DeCarli diet containing 5% ethanol for 10 days, followed by a single dose of ethanol (5 g/kg body weight) by gavage, induces significant fatty liver and liver injury with peak serum levels H 89 manufacturer of approximately 250 IU/L alanine aminotransferase and 420 IU/L aspartate aminotransferase

9 hours after gavage. Moreover, chronic-binge ethanol administration increases expression of hepatic and serum inflammatory cytokines and hepatic oxidative stress. Using this model, we demonstrate that treatment with IL-22 上海皓元 recombinant protein activates hepatic signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and ameliorates alcoholic fatty liver, liver injury, and hepatic oxidative stress. Administration with IL-22

adenovirus also prevents alcohol-induced steatosis and liver injury. Deletion of STAT3 in hepatocytes abolishes the hepatoprotection provided by IL-22 in alcoholic liver injury. In addition, IL-22 treatment down-regulates the hepatic expression of fatty acid transport protein, but up-regulates several antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and antimicrobial genes. Finally, expression of IL-22 receptor 1 is up-regulated whereas IL-22 is undetectable in the livers from mice with chronic-binge ethanol feeding or patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Conclusion: Chronic-binge ethanol feeding may be a useful model to study the early stages of alcoholic liver injury. IL-22 treatment could be a potential therapeutic option to ameliorate alcoholic liver disease, due to its antioxidant, antiapoptotic, antisteatotic, proliferative, and antimicrobial effects with the added benefit of potentially few side effects.

Finally, determination of SPL during playback was simultaneously

Finally, determination of SPL during playback was simultaneously video recorded, and positions of the camera and the observer were the same in both playback and recording trials. Sound recordings were analysed using Cool Edit 2000 (Syntrillium Software Corporation, Phoenix, AZ,

USA) and S_TOOLS-STx 3.7.8 (Acoustics Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria). We analysed 3–10 feeding clicks, Selleck Neratinib 1–12 courtship clicks and 30 sound pulses of growls per animal recorded (sampling rate 44.1 kHz). Pulse duration was analysed in all behavioural contexts. In distress growls, we measured pulse period (time between maximum peaks of consecutive pulses within a growl) and repetition rate (number of pulses s−1). The dominant frequency of the sounds was determined through cepstrum-smoothed power spectra (Noll, 1967). In order to attenuate the effect of tank resonances, all recordings were low pass filtered (3000 Hz) (Akamatsu et al., 2002). All data were verified for normal distribution and homogeneity of variances using Shapiro–Wilk’s and Levene’s tests, respectively. When these assumptions were not met, non-parametric tests were performed. Means of sound characteristics were calculated for each fish and Atezolizumab each behavioural context, and used for further analyses. Differences between sexes

in dominant frequency, pulse duration, pulse period and pulse repetition rate (when applicable), and SPL of sounds produced, were calculated using t-test. Relationships between seahorse height and sound characteristics were determined using Pearson’s (log-transformed growls’ pulse period values) and Spearman rank (for feeding clicks’ SPL values) correlation coefficients. In order to calculate differences in sound characteristics

recorded in different behavioural contexts (feeding, stress, courtship), a Kruskal–Wallis test was performed followed by a Dunn’s post hoc test. The difference in the number of sounds emitted during courtship was compared using the Mann–Whitney U-test (between males and females) and the Friedman test (among courtship days), followed by a Dunn’s post hoc test. Hippocampus reidi produced two distinct sounds (Table 1) in different 上海皓元 behavioural contexts: click sounds – single pulses, recorded during feeding and courtship, frequently audible to the observer during trials; and growling sounds – a series of sound pulses emitted only when handheld and never during intraspecific interactions. Feeding clicks were produced during prey capture and consisted of short broadband sounds that were typically uttered singly (mean duration: 16.1 ms), with the main energy ranging from 50 to 800 Hz. The mean SPL (LLFP re: 2 cm) of feeding clicks was 119.8 dB re 1 μPa (see Table 1). They were produced in all feeding events recorded (Fig. 1a). Click duration [r = −0.

They also targeted inborn metabolic errors (eg,

They also targeted inborn metabolic errors (e.g., Erlotinib in vitro familial hyperlipoproteinemia) whose palliation by portal diversion presaged definitive correction with liver replacement. Clinical use of the Theme II transplant models depended on multiple drug immunosuppression (Theme III, Immunology), guided by an empirical algorithm of pattern recognition and therapeutic response. Successful liver replacement was first accomplished in 1967 with azathioprine, prednisone, and antilymphoid globulin. With this regimen, the world’s longest surviving liver recipient is now 40 years

postoperative. Incremental improvements in survival outcome occurred (Theme IV) when azathioprine was replaced by cyclosporine (1979), which was replaced in turn by tacrolimus

(1989). However, the biologic meaning of alloengraftment remained enigmatic until multilineage donor leukocyte microchimerism was discovered in 1992 in long-surviving organ recipients. Seminal mechanisms were then identified (clonal exhaustion-deletion and immune ignorance) that linked organ engraftment and the acquired tolerance of bone marrow transplantation and eventually click here clarified the relationship of transplantation MCE公司 immunology to the immunology of infections, neoplasms, and autoimmune disorders. With this insight, better strategies of immunosuppression have evolved. As liver and other kinds of organ transplantation became accepted as healthcare standards,

the ethical, legal, equity, and the other humanism issues of Theme V have been resolved less conclusively than the medical-scientific problems of Themes I-IV. HEPATOLOGY 2010 The purpose of this contribution to the Master’s Perspective Series is to describe in detail the provenance of liver replacement. In the absence until now of such an account, liver transplantation often has been characterized as a natural extension of renal transplantation. In reality, liver and kidney transplantation were codeveloped with the liver as the flagship organ, or alternatively the engine, for much of the time. In the process, the rising tide of organ transplantation altered the practice of hepatology, nephrology, and other organ-defined medical specialties; enriched multiple areas of basic and clinical science; and had pervasive ripple effects in law, public policy, ethics, and religion. At first, liver transplantation was a fantasy.