The large volume of adult living donor liver transplantations (ALDLTs) at our center affords a unique opportunity to examine the impact of acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF) among high–Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease MELD score patients. From February 1998 to March 2010, 1958 cirrhotic recipients were analyzed to study the relationship between MELD scores and ALDLT outcomes. A total of 327 high‐MELD score recipients were categorized into ACLF and non‐ACLF groups, and their outcomes were compared. The 5‐year graft and patient survival in the high‐MELD group were 75.2% and 76.4%, respectively, which were significantly worse than the low and intermediate MELD groups. The presence of ACLF associated with higher MELD scores appeared to be the dominant factor responsible for the inferior results of patients with MELD score of 30–34 points. The 5‐year graft survivals in the ACLF group was 70.5% and in the non‐ACLF group it was 81.0% (p = 0.035). Therefore, ALDLT should be performed as soon as possible in high‐MELD score patients prior to ACLF development. Moreover, ACLF patients should be separately categorized when analyzing the outcomes of ALDLT. ALDLT for ACLF patients should not be discouraged because favorable outcomes can be expected through timely ALDLT and comprehensive management.

Aim: This study was designed to investigate whether the protective effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Lcr35) on allergic asthma are associated with the adoptive transfer of dendritic cells (DCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), using a mouse experimental model of asthma. Methods and Results: BALB/c mice were orally administered Lcr35 or intravenously treated with in vivo Lcr35-treated DCs daily and were then sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) in accordance with a model of asthma protocol. Both the oral application of Lcr35 and intravenous administration of Lcr35-treated DCs suppressed all aspects of the asthmatic response, including bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), total cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, the production of OVAspecificimmunoglobulin E (IgE), and pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation. The mechanism of action of Lcr35 is related to Tregs, which suppress the Th2 response in the respiratory organs, and this is mediated by DCs in the mouse model of asthma. Conclusions: These results confirm that the mechanism underlying the effects of Lcr35 on asthma involves the adoptive transfer of DCs. Significance and Impact of the Study: This finding broadens the possibility that Lcr35 has potential as an alternative therapeutic approach to the treatment of human asthma.

The prevalence rate, symptom occurrence rate, clinical presentation, and outcomes of endoscopic treatment were similar in patients with complete PD and incomplete PD. Incomplete PD may therefore have similar clinical implications to those of complete PD.