Tumor Existence and Tumor Size as Prognostic Factors in Hepatitis B Virus–Related Cirrhosis Patients Who Underwent Liver Transplantation

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)–related chronic liver disease is one of the most common indications for liver transplantation (LT). Patient data in our unit were collected to evaluate the impact of liver tumor on outcomes in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis who underwent LT.

Methods

HBV transplantation patients in our hospital from August 2002 to March 2012 were analyzed and compared according to LT indications: decompensated cirrhosis (DEC) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For HCC patients, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the cutoff tumor size for prognosis, namely the maximum tumor diameter. According to the cutoff size, patients were divided into 2 groups: large-size HCC and small-size HCC. The correlations among other clinicopathologic factors were also investigated. Potential prognostic factors were evaluated with the use of Cox proportional hazards model analysis.

Results

The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of the 111 HBV-related patients were 76.2%, 43.2%, and 32.9%, respectively. Patients with HCC had significantly poorer overall survival than those with only DEC (P < .05). The mean tumor size was 5.97 cm, and ROC analysis indicated that the cutoff tumor size for prognosis was 4.25 cm, with sensitivity and specificity of 62.8% and 81.0%, respectively (area under the ROC curve, 0.760; 95% CI, 0.644–0.877; P < .001). According to this cutoff point, 31 patients had large tumor size (≥4.25 cm) and 33 had small tumor size (<4.25 cm). Patients with small tumor size had significantly better overall survival than those with large tumor size (P < .05). Univariate analysis showed that only the tumor size (risk ratio, 1.14; P < .001) was significantly associated with the overall survival.

Conclusions

Tumor existence and tumor size are prognostic factors in HBV-related cirrhosis. With the use of a tumor size cutoff value of 4.25 cm, patients with large-size tumors have significantly poorer overall survival than those with small-size tumors.     

Testicular carcinoid tumor: A case report and literature review

We present a case of a 46-year-old man with an incidental finding of a right testicular tumor on magnetic resonance imaging. He received radical orchiectomy, and the pathological report showed a testicular carcinoid tumor. He has remained in a stable condition 3 years after the operation. Carcinoid tumors of the testis are extremely rare and account for less than 1% of testicular tumors and carcinoids. A painless mass or prominent testis enlargement is the most distinctive presentation. Less than 1–3% of patients demonstrate carcinoid syndrome. Nuclear scintigraphy scan and computed tomography scan have a diagnostic value in excluding carcinoid from other sites. Radical orchiectomy is the treatment of choice, and the prognosis is good for localized carcinoid tumors after resection. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy for advanced disease shows only minimal benefits.     

Suprapubic mini-laparoscopy-assisted transurethral thulium laser excision of intravesical mesh after anti-incontinence sling procedures

ObjectivesWe present our innovative technique of excising intravesically exposed mesh resulting from anti-incontinence sling procedures using transurethral thulium laser assisted by a suprapubic transvesical mini-laparoscopic grasper.MethodsTwo patients agreed to anti-incontinence sling surgery for stress urinary incontinence several years ago prior to presentation. Because of symptom recurrence, they underwent repeat anti-incontinence sling surgery. One patient developed dysuria and mild lower abdominal pain gradually 1 month after the operation. Cystoscopy was performed and revealed exposed mesh at the left anterolateral wall, which might have resulted from missed intraoperative bladder perforation. The other patient presented with dysuria 2 years following the second sling procedure. Cystoscopy demonstrated a calcified mass attached to the right lateral wall. Bladder erosion by a previously implanted mesh was thought to be the cause. Intravesical mesh was removed transurethrally with thulium laser assisted by a suprapubic transvesical mini-laparoscopic grasper for the former patient. Vesicolithotripsy was performed for the latter patient first and the intravesical mesh was removed in the same manner as in the former patient.ResultsThe intravesical mesh was removed smoothly with thulium laser with the assistance of a suprapubic mini-laparoscopic grasper. As the procedure was minimally invasive, both patients recovered well after removal of the intravesical mesh. The irritative voiding symptoms also subsided following removal of the mesh.ConclusionRemoval of eroded or misplaced intravesical mesh after anti-incontinence sling procedures can be accomplished by transurethral laser excision with the assistance of suprapubic transvesical mini-laparoscopic instruments. The procedure is safe, effective, and minimally invasive, with a fast recovery.     

Multiple variants in UGT1A1 gene are factors to develop indirect hyper-bilirubinemia

Most Taiwanese patients with hyper-bilirubinemia have genetic abnormalities in the uridine diphosphoglucuronate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene beyond the variants in the TATA box upstream of UGT1A1 associated with Gilbert’s syndrome. To investigate the role of UGT1A1 in the pathogenesis of indirect hyper-bilirubinemia, we prospectively studied 97 consecutive patients with indirect hyper-bilirubinemia for genotypes of promoter [(TA)₆TAA6, (TA)₇TAA7] and coding region [nucleotide (nt)-211, nt-686, nt-1,091 and nt-1,456] of UGT1A1. Thirty-six of the patients (45.6%) were found to have Gilbert’s syndrome with 7/7 genotype; among them, 14 also carried variants at nt-686. Forty-two patients (43.3%) had the 6/7 genotype; among them, 36 patients were found to have one or more variants in the coding region. Patients with higher serum total bilirubin are associated with higher likelihood of carrying Gilbert’s syndrome genotype: 60.0% (P=0.007) patients with serum total bilirubin level ≥2.5 mg/dL carried the Gilbert’s syndrome genotype, while only 23.9% of patients with serum total bilirubin level <2.5 mg/dL carry the same genotype (P=0.0006). Forty-one of the 61 non-Gilbert’s patients had one homogenous variants or two or more heterozygous variants in UGT1A1. Further studies are necessary to confirm the role of one homo-zygous variant or two or more hetero-zygous variants in UGT1A1 gene as factors for indirect hyper-bilirubinemia.     

Paracrine factors from mesenchymal stem cells: a proposed therapeutic tool for acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome

Despite extensive researches in acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), current pharmacological therapies and respiratory support are still the main methods to treat patients with ALI and ARDS and the effects remain limited. Hence, innovative therapies are needed to decrease the morbidity and mortality. Because of the proven therapeutic effects in other fields, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) might be considered as a promising alternative to treat ALI and ARDS. Numerous documents demonstrate that MSCs can exert multiple functions, such as engraftment, differentiation and immunoregulation, but now the key researches are concentrated on paracrine factors secreted by MSCs that can mediate endothelial and epithelial permeability, increase alveolar fluid clearance and other potential mechanisms. This review aimed to review the current researches in terms of the effects of MSCs on ALI and ARDS and to analyse these paracrine factors, as well as to predict the potential directions and challenges of the application in this field.     

Anaemia management in patients with chronic kidney disease: Taiwan practice guidelines

The introduction of erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents (ESAs) markedly improved the lives of many anaemic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In Taiwan, the strategy of management of anaemia in patients with CKD was different from many other parts of the world. In 1996, the National Health Insurance Administration of Taiwan applied a more restrictive reimbursement criteria for ESA use in patients with CKD. ESA is to be initiated when non‐dialysis CKD patients have a serum creatinine >6 mg/dL and a hematocrit <28% to maintain a hematocrit level not exceeding 30%. The maximal dose of epoetin‐α or β was 20 000 U per month. The target haemoglobin range and dose limitation for ESAs were the same for dialysis CKD patients. Thus, long before randomized controlled trials showing an increased risk for cardiovascular events at nearly normal haemoglobin concentrations and higher ESA doses in CKD, nephrologists in Taiwan had avoided the use of disproportionately high dosages of ESAs to achieve a haemoglobin level of 10–11 g/dL. Moreover, intravenous iron supplementation was encouraged earlier in Taiwan in 1996, when we reached consensus on the diagnostic criteria for iron deficiency (serum ferritin <300 ng/mL and/or transferrin saturation <30%). The experience of CKD anaemia management in Taiwan demonstrated that a reasonable haemoglobin target can be achieved by using the lowest possible ESA dose and intravenous iron supplementation.     

The pre-transplant anemic condition is independent of long-term outcome in living-related kidney transplantation

The relationship between pre-transplant Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and long-term outcome of living-related kidney transplantation is far from well addressed. A retrospective cohort study was conducted by reviewing the medical profile of the patients who received living-related kidney transplantations at our center from January 2006 to January 2013. Patients were divided into two groups: high Hb group (≥10?g/dL) and low Hb group (<10?g/dL). Cox regression model was utilized to analyze the effect of pre-transplant hemoglobin concentration on the patient and graft survival. About 422 patients were of Hb level <10?g/dL (78.30?±?14.18?g/dL), 280 were >10?g/dL (116.2?±?14.43?g/dL) (p?p?=?0.096; and 4.04% vs. 2.14%, p?=?0.165, respectively). Cox regression model revealed that pre-transplant Hb level <10?g/dL was independent of increased overall mortality (HR?=?3.379; 95% CI: 0.706–17.172) and increased death censored allograft failure risk (HR?=?1.556; 95% CI: 0.595–4.069). Pre-transplant Hb concentration <10?g/dL is independent of poor long-term outcome of living-related kidney transplantation.     

Transcystic Approach to Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration

Background and Objectives:

One-stage laparoscopic management for common bile duct stones in patients with gallbladder stones has gained wide acceptance. We developed a novel technique using a transcystic approach for common bile duct exploration as an alternative to the existing procedures.

Methods:

From April 2010 to June 2012, 9 consecutive patients diagnosed with cholelithiasis and common bile duct stones were enrolled in this study. The main inclusion criteria included no upper abdominal surgical history and the presence of a stone measuring <5 mm. After the gallbladder was dissected free from the liver connections in a retrograde fashion, the fundus of the gallbladder was extracted via the port incision in the right epigastrium. The choledochoscope was inserted into the gallbladder through the small opening in the fundus of the gallbladder extracorporeally and was advanced toward the common bile duct via the cystic duct under the guidance of both laparoscopic imaging and endoscopic imaging. After stones were retrieved under direct choledochoscopic vision, a drainage tube was placed in the subhepatic space.

Results:

Of 9 patients, 7 had successful transcystic common bile duct stone clearance. A narrow cystic duct and the unfavorable anatomy of the junction of the cystic duct and common bile duct resulted in losing access to the common bile duct. No bile leakage, hemobilia, or pancreatitis occurred. Wound infection occurred in 2 patients. Transient epigastric colic pain occurred in 2 patients and was relieved by use of anisodamine. A transient increase in the amylase level was observed in 3 patients. Short-term follow-up did not show any recurrence of common bile duct stones.

Conclusion:

Our novel transcystic approach to laparoscopic common bile duct exploration is feasible and efficient.     

Association between nutrition and peripheral artery disease in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Objective To investigate the association between nutrition and peripheral artery disease (PAD) in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Methods One hundred and two stable CAPD patients from a single center were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Automatic ankle-brachial index (ABI) measuring system was applied to examine ABI. Patients were divided into PAD group (ABI＜0.9) and non-PAD group (ABI≥0.9). Clinical data were collected. Biochemical parameters were detected. Nutritional status was evaluated by serum albumin, handgrip strength (HGS) and subjective global assessment (SGA). Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association of PAD with each nutritional marker as well as other potential risk factors. Results The incidence of PAD was 23.53% (24/102). ABI was significantly lower in patients with malnutrition as compared to those without malnutrition [(0.72±0.21) vs (1.04±0.14), P＜0.01]. Compared with non-PAD patients, serum albumin (P＜0.01), HGS (P＜0.01), diastolic blood pressure (P＜0.05), serum creatine (P＜0.05)、blood urine nitrogen (P＜0.01) were significantly decreased, but age (P＜0.01), the incidence of malnutrition [SGA, P＜0.01], diabetic status (P＜0.01), cardiovascular disease history (P＜0.01) were significantly increased in PAD patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that serum albumin (OR=0.762, 95％CI：0.611-0.948, P=0.015), HGS (OR=0.988, 95％CI：0.979-0.997, P=0.013) were independent protective factors for PAD, malnutrition [(SGA), OR=21.101, 95％CI：5.008-88.901, P＜0.01] was independent risk factor for PAD in CAPD patients. Conclusions The PAD incidence of CAPD patients in our center is 23.53%. Nutrition is independent factor associated with PAD in CAPD patients.     

DC-SIGN expression on podocytes and its role in immune and inflammatory responses of lupus nephritis

Objective To explore the expression of DC-SIGN, the phenotype of dendritic cells (DCs), on podocytes, and its role in immune and inflammatory responses of lupus nephritis (LN). Methods DC-SIGN and IgG1 expression in renal tissues of lupus nephritis patients were observed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The 4-week old LN mice were randomly divided into the experimental group and the intervention group. C57BL/6J mice were used as normal control group. Mice of the intervention group were injected anti-DC-SIGN antibody at 6-week old. Mice were sacrificed at 16, 20, 24, 28-week old respectively, to observe the mice renal function and pathological changes. And DC-SIGN and IgG1 expression in renal tissue were observed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. In addition, mice podocytes were treated with serum of LN mice. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the expression of MHC II, CD80 and DC-SIGN expression on podocytes. Mixed lymphocyte reaction was used to detect the ability of stimulating T cells proliferation. IFN-gamma and IL-4 in supernatant were determined by ELISA. Results (1) Expression of DC-SIGN and IgG1 was found in glomeruli of lupus nephritis patients. (2) Accompanied by increased proteinuria of LN mice from 20-week old (P＜0.01), DC-SIGN and IgG1 expression was found in glomeruli, and the renal function deteriorated up to 24 week-old (P＜0.01). Mice with anti-DC-SIGN antibody intervention appeared reduced proteinuria and remission of renal function (P＜0.01). (3) After stimulated by serum of LN mice, the expression of DC-SIGN, MHC II and CD80 was up-regulated, stimulation of T cell proliferation was enhanced (P＜0.01), and IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio increased (P＜0.01). Anti-DC-SIGN antibody treatment down-regulated the expressions of DC-SIGN, MHC II and CD80 on podocytes, decreased the ability of stimulating T cell proliferation and lowered the ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 (P＜0.01). Conclusions Podocytes in lupus nephritis can play DC-like function through the expression of DC-SIGN, which may be involved in immune and inflammatory responses of renal tissue. However, inhibiton of DC-SIGN can depress immune function of podocytes and have prevention and treatment effect.