AIM:To study the effect of aprotinin used in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) on the intraoperative requirement for blood products and on the incidence of laparotomy for bleeding, thrombotic ...events and mortality.
METHODS: A systematic review of the literature in the electronic database Medline and the Clinic Trials Registry Database was performed. Literature that did not fit our study were excluded. Patients in the reviewed studies were divided into two groups; one group used aprotinin (aprotinin group) while the other did not (control group). The data in the literature that fit our requirements were recorded. Weighted mean differences (WMD) in the requirements for blood products between the aprotinin group and the control group were tested using a fixed effect model. A Z test was performed to examine their reliability; the Fleiss method of fixed effect model was used to analyze data on postoperative events, and odds ratios (ORs) were tested and merged.
RESULTS: Seven citations were examined in our study. Among them, a requirement for blood products was reported in 4 studies including 321 patients, while postoperative events were reported in 5 studies including 477 patients. The requirement for red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma in the aprotinin group was statistically lower than that in the control group (WMD=-1.80 units, 95% CI,-3.38 to-0.22; WMD=-3.99 units, 95% CI,-6.47 to-1.50, respectively). However, no significant difference was indicated in the incidence of laparotomy for bleeding, thrombotic events and mortality between the two groups. Analysis on blood loss, anaphylactic reactions and renal function was not performed in this study due to a lack of sufficient information.
CONCLUSION: Aprotinin can reduce the intraoperative requirement for blood products in OLT, and has no significant effect on the incidence of laparotomy for bleeding, thrombotic events and mortality.
To evaluate the antiangiogenic property of pigment epithelium-derived factor(PEDF) in heptocarcinoma cell lines and explore its possible application in the gene therapy of human hepatocellular ...carcinoma (HCC).
The gene encoding human PEDF was subcloned into lentiviral vector to generate the recombinant plasmid pLenti-PEDF. The plasmid pLenti-PEDF and two other packaging plasmids were cotransfected to 293T cells by calcium phosphate. Then HepG2 was infected with recombinant lentivirus and the expression efficiency of PEDF was analyzed by western blot. Proliferation and migration assay of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was used to evaluate the biological activity of PEDF in vitro. Murine subcutaneous tumor model was established to investigate the therapeutic effects of Lenti-PEDF on HCC, and the expression of PEDF mRNA in tumor tissues was analyzed by RT-PCR.
Restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing demonstrated that the recombinant plasmid pLenti-PEDF was constructed successfully. HepG2
Portal vein system thrombosis (PVST) is a frequent and potentially life-threatening complication after laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) in cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism. The mechanisms and risk ...factors of PVST are poorly understood. This study investigated risk factors for PVST following LS in cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism.
A total of 56 consecutive cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism who underwent successful LS between 2013 and 2014 were included in this retrospective study. Based on the absence or presence of postoperative PVST on postoperative day (POD) 7, the patients were divided into non-PVST and PVST groups. Demographic and preoperative factors were analyzed.
PVST increased in size in 24 (42.9%) of 56 patients after LS on POD 7. Logistic multivariate regression showed that a portal vein diameter >13 mm (relative risk 35.796, 95% confidence interval 4.534-282.614, and P = .001) and age >50 years (relative risk 20.127, 95% confidence interval 3.598-112.578, and P = .001) were significant independent risk factors for PVST. The incidence of PVST after LS in the portal vein diameter >13 mm group was significantly higher than that in the portal vein diameter ≤13 mm group (P = .001). Similarly, the incidence of PVST after LS in the age >50 years group was significantly higher than that in the age ≤50 years group (P = .001).
A portal vein diameter >13 mm and age >50 years are independent risk factors for PVST after LS in cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism due to portal hypertension.
Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) associated with small-for-size liver transplantation (SFSLT) impairs liver graft regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capability, under specific conditions, ...of differentiating into hepatocytes. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has potent anti-apoptotic and mitogenic effects on hepatocytes during liver injury, and has been utilized in many experimental and clinical applications. In this study, we implanted HGF-expressing MSCs into liver grafts via the portal vein, using a 30% small-for-size rat liver transplantation model. HGF, c-met expression, hepatic injury and liver regeneration were assessed after liver transplantation. Our study demonstrated that MSCs over-expressing HGF prevented liver failure and reduced mortality in rats after SFSLT. These animals also exhibited improved liver function and liver weight recovery during the early post-transplantation period. Using green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene as a marker, we demonstrated that the engrafted cells and their progeny incorporated into remnant livers and produced albumin. These findings suggest that MSCs genetically modified to over-express HGF and implanted in the liver graft, may offer a novel approach to promoting liver regeneration after small-for-size transplantations.
Abdominal drainage was previously recommended as a post-hepatectomy procedure for patients with cirrhosis.This report introduces a simple technique that prevents leakage of ascitic fluid after ...cirrhotic hepatectomy complicated by blockage of the abdominal drain.In 59 patients who had had cirrhotic hepatectomy complicated by leakage of ascites in the drain site after drainage removal between January 2001 and April 2011,31 underwent suture ligation(sutured group) and 28 were given urostomy bag at the abdominal drainage site(drainage group).The mean length of postoperative hospital stay in the drainage group was shorter than in the sutured group(16.11±2.61 vs 34.23±4.86 days,P=0.000).Meanwhile,the drainage group showed decreased postoperative complications,including leakage of ascites,wound infection,and collection of ascites.Drainage by urostomy bag can prevent prolonged leakage of ascitic fluid after the blockage of abdominal drains in patients undergoing cirrhotic hepatectomy.
To study the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features, histogenesis and biological behavior, clinical treatment and prognosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPT).
Routine ...HE and immunohistochemical (SP) stainings were used in the pathological examination of 18 cases of SPT. Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. All the 18 postoperative patients were followed-up for 3 months to 10 years with an average of 29.2 months.
There were 16 females and 2 males, age ranging from 9 to 65 years with mean age of 25.3 years. Abdominal pain and palpable mass were among the major complains. Tumors were encapsulated and mixed with solid and cystic tissues. Histological features were pseudopapillary structure with a fibrovascular core. Immunhistologically, most tumors were positive for alpha-AT, alpha-ACT and Vim, with a high percentage of 94.4%. The eighteen cases were followed-up from 3 to 120 months. Five cases received reoperation after recurrence, and 14 cases were alive. Maximum s
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to isolate, identify, and analyze diabetes-related protein changes that occur in neural retinas in vivo. Methods: Total proteins were extracted from neural ...retinas of normal and 8-weeks diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Some protein spots exhibiting statistically significant variations (p < 0.05) were selected randomly and identified by mass spectrometry (MS or MS/MS). The protein α A-crystallin was chosen as a target for specific immunodetection using Western blot to corroborate the variation found by 2-DE. Results: Twenty protein spots identified included α A-crystallin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), glutamine (Gln) synthetase, and so forth. Western blotting analyses confirmed that α A-crystallin protein expression was upregulated in diabetic retina. Conclusions: In this study, we isolate, identify, and analyze diabetes-related protein changes that occur in neural retinas in vivo. Further investigation of candidate proteins may identify novel pharmacological targets for diabetic retinopathy.
To explore the role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1)-smad signal transduction pathway in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Thirty-six hepatocellular carcinoma specimens were ...obtained from Qidong Liver Cancer Institute and Department of Pathology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. All primary antibodies (polyclonal antibodies) to TGF-beta1, type II Transforming growth factor-beta receptor (TbetaR-II), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), CD34, smad4 and smad7,secondary antibodies and immunohistochemical kit were purchased from Zhongshan Biotechnology Limited Company (Beijing, China). The expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR-II, NF-kappaB, smad4 and smad7 proteins in 36 specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its adjacent tissue were separately detected by immunohistochemistry to observe the relationship between TGF-beta1 and TbetaR-II, between NF-kappaB and TGF-beta1, between smad4 and smad7 and between TGF-beta1 or TbetaR-IIand microvessel density (MVD). MVD was determined by labelling the vessel endothelial cells with CD34.
The expression of TGF-beta1, smad7 and MVD was higher in HCC tissue than in adjacent HCC tissue (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.01 respectively). The expression of TbetaR-IIand smad4 was lower in HCC tissue than in its adjacent tissue (P<0.01, P<0.05 respectively). The expression of TGF-beta1 protein and NF-kappaB protein was consistent in HCC tissue. The expression of TGF-beta1 and MVD was also consistent in HCC tissue. The expression of TbetaR-IIwas negatively correlated with that of MVD in HCC tissue.
The expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR-II, NF-kappaB, smad4 and smad7 in HCC tissue, which are major up and down stream factors of TGF-beta1-smad signal transduction pathway , are abnormal. These factors are closely related with MVD and may play an important role in HCC angiogenesis. The inhibitory action of TGF-beta1 is weakened in hepatic carcinoma cells because of abnormality of TGF-beta1 receptors (such as TbetaR-II) and postreceptors (such as smad4 and smad7). NF-kappaB may cause activation and production of TGF-beta1.