To clamp or not to clamp: Inflow occlusion during liver resection

Aim: To review the evidence in using inflow occlusion during liver resection. Other strategies to minimize the untoward effects of inflow occlusion will also be discussed. Methods: Randomized trials evaluating the use of inflow occlusion in hepatectomy and strategies to minimize its associated adverse effects were reviewed in this article. Recent experience showing comparable operative outcomes without the use of portal clamping was also described. Results: Results from randomized trials and meta‐analyses were not conclusive on the benefits of routine inflow occlusion during liver resection. Intermittent inflow occlusion and ischaemic preconditioning had been found to be effective in reducing ischaemic–reperfusion injury to remnant liver. With refined operative techniques and better instruments, routine inflow occlusion in liver resection can now be safely avoided. Conclusion: Vascular inflow occlusion is an important armamentarium during liver resection, but it should not be used indiscriminately. With refined techniques and better instruments, hepatectomy can be performed safely without the need for routine inflow occlusion.     

Laparoscopic Medial-to-lateral Approach for the Curative Resection of Right-Sided Colon Cancer

INTRODUCTION: Our previous randomized clinical trial comparing the laparoscopic medial-to-lateral dissection with the more classic lateral-to-medial approach for resection of rectosigmoid cancer showed that the medial approach reduces the operative time and the postoperative proinflammatory response. Besides the oncologic advantages of an early vessel division and a "no-touch" dissection, we feel that the longer the lateral abdominal wall attachments of the colon are preserved, the better the exposure and the easier the dissection. Encouraged by the above-mentioned positive findings, we therefore further conduct this phase II clinical trial to examine the feasibility and surgical outcomes regarding the utilization of this medial-to-lateral laparoscopic dissection approach for the curative resection of right-sided colon cancer. METHODS: A total of 104 patients (from December 2000 to January, 2005) with advanced right-sided colon cancer (TNM stage II: n = 56; stage III: n = 48) requiring a curative right hemicolectomy were subjected to the laparoscopic medial-to-lateral approach that included initial exploration and ligation of ileocolic, right colic, and middle colic vessels in no-touch isolation fashion, subsequent medial-to-lateral extension of retroperitoneal dissection along Gerota fascia, opening of lesser sac by transection of gastrocolic ligament, and the final mobilization of hepatic flexure and lateral attachments of ascending colon (Fig. 1). This study was approved by the institutional review committee of National Taiwan University Hospital. The surgical details were shown in the video. Postoperatively, adjuvant chemotherapy with Mayo Clinic Regimen was given in patients with stage III diseases. The functional recovery and surgical outcomes were prospectively evaluated. RESULTS: The laparoscopic medial-to-lateral approach for a curative right hemicolectomy can be preformed with acceptable operation time (192.6 +/- 32.8 min, mean +/- standard deviation) and little blood loss (48.4 +/- 14.4 ml) through a small wound (6.0 +/- 0.8 cm). The number of dissected lymph node was 16.0 +/- 2.8. The operative complications represented 5.7% of all cases, including anastomotic leakage in two cases (1.9%) and wound infection in four cases (3.8%). The patients have quick functional recovery, as evaluated by the length of postoperative ileus (60.0 +/- 12.0 h), hospitalization (9.0 +/- 1.5 days) and degree of postoperative pain (4.0 +/- 0.5, visual analogue scale). Besides the expenses covered by the National Bureau of Health Insurance in Taiwan, the patient had to pay an extra-expenses of NT$ 25,000.0 +/- 2,800.0 (1.0 US$ = 32.0 NT$). During the follow-up periods (median: 30 months, range 6-55 months), recurrence of tumor developed in 6 (10.7%) of stage II and 10 (20.8%) of stage III patients, with liver metastasis in six patients, lung metastasis in 4, liver and lung metastasis in 1, intraperitoneal recurrence in 2, bone metastasis in 1, brain metastasis in 1, and port-site recurrence in 1. CONCLUSIONS: By medial-to-lateral dissection method, the laparoscopic right hemicolectomy can be performed with technical efficiency, short convalescence, and acceptable short-term oncologic results. We therefore encourage the use of this approach for patients requiring a curative laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.     

乳腺髓样癌的治疗

目的探讨乳腺髓样癌临床特征、治疗和预后。方法回顾性分析1995年1月至1999年12月收治的乳腺髓样癌的临床资料。结果26例乳腺髓样癌占同期治疗女性乳腺癌616例的4.2%,年龄31~66(45.8±10.6)岁,肿瘤大小1~5 CM,腋淋巴结阳性率23.1%,腋淋巴结转移的发生与乳腺肿瘤的大小无关,免疫组化检测雌激素(ER)、孕激素(PR)和HER-2/NEU的阳性率分别为26.3%、21.1%和5.3%。全组进行手术和辅助化疗(环磷酰胺、甲氨蝶呤和氟尿嘧啶)。5例服用三苯氧胺,3例进行放射性治疗。随访时间5~9年,平均7.5年,总的5年生存率为88.4%。结论乳腺髓样癌的预后较好,手术加辅助性化疗是治疗的重要手段,分子生物学指标在乳腺髓样癌预后中的作用应该受到足够的重视。     

Sharpin蛋白在前列腺癌中的表达及其与Gleason评分、t—PSA关系的研究

目的探讨Sharpin蛋白在人不同前列腺癌细胞株中与前列腺癌组织中的表达及其与Gleason评分、血清PSA的关系。方法采用实时荧光定量PCR法,检测Sharpin在DUl45、PC-3和LNCaP3种常见的前列腺癌细胞株和RWPE．1正常前列腺上皮细胞株中的表达。同时采用免疫组织化学方法检测Sharpin在前列腺增生及前列腺癌组织中的表达,并探讨与临床病理特征的关系。结果Sharpin在3种前列腺癌细胞株中的mRNA水平（1．62±0．31,1．36±0．23,2．1±0．1）要明显高于正常前列腺上皮细胞RWPE-1（0．6±0．11）。免疫组织化学结果示Sharpin在前列腺癌组织中高表达,前列腺癌中的阳性表达率远远高于前列腺增生组织,平均染色得分也要远远高于前列腺增生组织。另外,Sharpin在前列腺癌组织中的表达与患者的Gleason评分和术前血清的t-PSA密切相关,均呈正相关（P〈0．05）。结论Sharpin可能是前列腺癌的肿瘤相关抗原,sharpin的表达可能具有评估前列腺癌患者病情、指导临床治疗方案的指导及判断预后及复发的作用。     

High-mobility group box 1 protein activates hepatic stellate cells in vitro

Objectives

Our previous study noticed remarkably elevated titers of anti-high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) antibodies in sera during the tolerance induction phase of a rat tolerogenic orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) as well as in sera of clinically drug-free patients. We hypothesized that the release of nonhistone nuclear protein HMGB1 during rejection may play a pathogenic role in deteriorating post-OLT graft functions, such as inducing liver fibrosis. This study sought to investigate whether HMGB1 can directly activate hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and drive them toward fibrogenesis.

Methods

The cultured HSCs were treated with recombinant HMGB1. RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis were used to measure α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression. Conditioned media were collected for gelatin zymography to monitor the activities of collagen-degrading matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

Results

HMGB1 at concentrations >1 ng/mL significantly stimulated HSC growth as revealed by proliferation and BrdU assays. α-SMA gene and protein expression were significantly up-regulated by HMGB1, whereas the MMP-2, but not MMP-9, activity was suppressed by HMGB1 treatment.

Conclusion

Our data suggested that HMGB1 protein, once released during the rejection phase of OLT, activated HSCs and exhibited profibrogenic effects on liver grafts either by increasing the HSC population and extracellular matrix content in liver grafts, or by transforming HSCs into myofibroblasts. Neutralization with anti-HMGB1 antibody was suggested to be a therapeutic modality applicable to prevent fibrogenesis in post-OLT liver grafts.     

从血流动力学探讨活血化瘀治疗肝炎,肝硬化和肝癌

通过对肝炎、肝硬化和肝癌患者肝内微循环血流动力学的检测,发现肝内微循环血流动力学的病变贯穿其发病过程。血流动力学病变严重的病例预后较差。故治疗肝炎、肝硬化、肝癌时应重视活血化瘀和使用促进微循环开放的中药。为了使肝内微循环灌流量增加还应考虑使用能增加心脏排出量的中药。