Briefly noted:

1. Gastroenterology 2014; 147: 1327-37 (editorial 1216-18).  “Probiotic VSL#3 reduces liver disease severity and hospitalization in patients with cirrhosis: a randomized, controlled trial.” 66 patients received VSL#3 (9 x 10 to the 11th bacteria), 64 patients received placebo -both groups studied for 6 months. Treatment with lactulose and rifaximin were withdrawn a week prior to study entry. Key findings: ‘fewer hospitalizations for severe encephalopathy, better quality of life, and decreases in Child-Turcotte-Pugh class and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease.’  Hazard ratio for preventing hospitalization with VSL#3 was 0.52. However, the findings did not show that VSL#3 reached a statistically-significant reduction in recurrence rate for hepatic encephalopathy. No adverse events were noted.

2. NY Times: Gilead sued over cost of Sovaldi.

3. N Engl J Med 2014; 371:2375-2382.  Link to abstract: Interferon-free Antiviral Regimen for HCV after Liver Transplantation:  “Treatment with the multitargeted regimen of ombitasvir–ABT-450/r and dasabuvir with ribavirin was associated with a low rate of serious adverse events and a high rate of sustained virologic response among liver-transplant recipients with recurrent HCV genotype 1 infection, a historically difficult-to-treat population.”

4. “Transplantation Traffic –Geography as Destiny for Transplant Candidates” NEJM 2014; 271: 2450-52.  Describes ongoing geographic inequality in organ distribution and obstacles to improving allocation.

5. Liver Transpl 2015; 21: 57-62. Immediate Extubation After Pediatric Liver Transplantation –feasible in 67% according to this retrospective review.

Local Law Office –Truth in Advertising?