Artificial liver systems are used to bridge between transplantation or to allow a patient's liver to recover. They are used in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) and acute‐on‐chronic liver failure. There are five artificial systems currently in use: molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS), single‐pass albumin dialysis (SPAD), Prometheus, selective plasma filtration therapy, and hemodiafiltration. The aim is to compare existing data on the efficiency of these devices. A literature search was conducted using online libraries. Inclusion criteria included randomized control trials or comparative human studies published after the year 2000. A systematic review was conducted for the five individual devices with a more detailed comparison of the biochemistry for the SPAD and MARS systems. Eighty‐nine patients were involved in the review comparing SPAD and MARS. Results showed that there was an average reduction in bilirubin (−53 μmol/L in MARS and −50 μmol/L in SPAD), creatinine (−19.5 μmol/L in MARS and −7.5 μmol/L in SPAD), urea (−0.9 mmol/L in MARS and −0.75 mmol/L in SPAD), and gamma‐glutamyl transferase (−0.215 μmol/L·s in MARS and −0.295 μmol/L·s in SPAD) in both SPAD and MARS. However, there was no significant difference between the changes in the two systems. This review demonstrated that both MARS and SPAD aid recovery of ALF. There is no difference between the efficiency of MARS and SPAD. Because of the limited data, there is a need for more randomized control trials. Evaluating cost and patient preference would aid in differentiating the systems.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and is central to many physiological processes, including immune system activation and maintenance. Studies continue to reveal the intricacies of calcium signalling within the immune system. Perhaps the most well-understood mechanism of calcium influx into cells is store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), which occurs via calcium release-activated channels (CRACs). SOCE is central to the activation of immune system cells; however, more recent studies have demonstrated the crucial role of other calcium channels, including transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. In this review, we describe the expression and function of TRP channels within the immune system and outline associations with murine models of disease and human conditions. Therefore, highlighting the importance of TRP channels in disease and reviewing potential. The TRP channel family is significant, and its members have a continually growing number of cellular processes. Within the immune system, TRP channels are involved in a diverse range of functions including T and B cell receptor signalling and activation, antigen presentation by dendritic cells, neutrophil and macrophage bactericidal activity, and mast cell degranulation. Not surprisingly, these channels have been linked to many pathological conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis, atherosclerosis, hypertension and atopy.

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