The formation of boronic esters lowers the LUMO energy of hexamethoxytriphenylene by $1 V, converting the discotic core archetype from electron-rich to electron-deficient. Cyclic voltammetry gives E 1/2 reduction values (ca. À1.2 V vs. Fc/Fc + ) that are comparable to that of C 60 , the standard electron acceptor in organic electronics. Suitable peripheral functionalization imparts large mesophase temperature ranges. Homeotropic, columnar hexagonal phases with good charge carrier mobilities (up to 8 Â 10 À2 cm 2 V À1 s À1 ) are observed.

Background Combined heart-liver transplantation (CHLT) is the only curative option for patients with concomitant pathology affecting the heart and liver. In some cases, the native livers of familial amyloidosis (FA) patients may be suitable for domino transplantation into other recipients. Methods Retrospective analysis (2013 to 2019) of all CHLT at our center was performed. Continuous data were presented as mean with standard deviation and discrete variables as percentages. Results Familial amyloidosis was the indication for CHLT in 5 out of 6 patients. The mean recipient age was 55 ± 5.62 years. Two patients were bridged with total artificial heart. The mean model for end-stage liver disease score at transplant was 17.17 ± 3.7. Two explanted livers were used for transplantation in a domino fashion. The median intensive care and hospital stays were 5.5 and 19 days, respectively. Complications included renal failure (1), groin abscess (1), pulmonary embolism (1), and cardiac rejection (1). Patient and graft survival for both organs was 100% at a median follow-up of 59 (range 20-76) months. Discussion Combined heart-liver transplantation for FA achieves excellent outcomes. The possible use of livers explanted from patients with FA for domino liver transplantation can contribute to the liver donor pool.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading indications for liver transplantation and has been the treatment of choice due to the oncologic benefit for patients with advanced chronic liver disease (AdvCLD) and small tumors for the last 25 years. For HCC patients undergoing liver transplantation, alpha fetoprotein (AFP) has increasingly been applied as an independent predictor for overall survival, disease free recurrence, and waitlist drop out. In addition to static AFP, newer studies evaluating the AFP dynamic response to downstaging therapy show enhanced prognostication compared to static AFP alone. While AFP has been utilized to select HCC patients for transplant, despite years of allocation policy changes, the US allocation system continues to take a uniform approach to HCC patients, without discriminating between those with favorable or unfavorable tumor biology. We aim to review the history of liver allocation for HCC in the US, the utility of AFP in liver transplantation, the implications of weaving AFP as a biomarker into policy. Based on this review, we encourage the US transplant community to revisit its HCC organ allocation model, to incorporate more precise oncologic principles for patient selection, and to adopt AFP dynamics to better stratify waitlist dropout risk.

Hepatic hemangiomas are the most common benign hepatic tumor. Current guidelines recommend surveillance imaging and reserving surgical intervention for symptomatic patients with giant liver hemangiomas (>5 cm). We present the case of a patient with a rapidly enlarging giant hepatic hemangioma initially managed by surveillance. During her observation period, she developed weight loss, constipation, and pancytopenia concerning for Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome. Resection of the hemangioma was complicated by its large size (28.0×18.0×11.4 cm). Patients with rapidly growing giant liver hemangiomas, even when asymptomatic, should be promptly referred to specialized surgical centers for evaluation and management.