Mechanisms linking gut microbial metabolites to insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is the rate-limiting step in the development of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. The gut microbiota has been implicated in host energy metabolism and metabolic diseases and is recognized as a quantitatively important organelle in host metabolism, as the human gut harbors 10 trillion bacterial cells. Gut microbiota break down various nutrients and produce metabolites that play fundamental roles in host metabolism and aid in the identification of possible therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases. Therefore, understanding the various effects of bacterial metabolites in the development of insulin resistance is critical. Here, we review the mechanisms linking gut microbial metabolites to insulin resistance in various insulin-responsive tissues.     

Two hepatic cavernous hemangiomas mimicking colorectal liver metastasis: A rare case report

Introduction¹ Hepatic cavernous hemangioma (HCH) is a common benign lesion of the liver. The radiological features of HCH can resemble those of hepatic malignancies such as metastatic liver cancer, which make the preoperative definitive diagnosis difficult.Presentation of caseWe report the case of a 77-year-old woman who presented with a 2-month history of abdominal pain and per rectum fresh bleeding. The initial diagnosis at the referral hospital, based on computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, was sigmoid colon cancer with liver metastasis. Further evaluation at our hospital, the patient underwent colonoscopy and biopsy. Histopathological examination of the biopsy revealed an invasive moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomy and left hepatectomy. The histopathological examination of the sigmoid colon mass revealed an invasive moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. One out of twenty lymph nodes is positive for metastatic carcinoma. The pathological stage is pT3, pN1a, pM0. The histopathological examination of the left hepatic lobe revealed two hyalinized cavernous hemangiomas with no malignancy is seen. The postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged home with regular follow-up in our outpatient clinic.DiscussionHCH is congenital vascular malformation and is the most common benign hepatic tumors. Fine-needle biopsy during diagnostic laparoscopy for undiagnosed multiple liver tumor can differentiate atypical HCH from colorectal metastasis but can potentially lead to rupture or seeding of cancer cells.ConclusionSurgical resection is necessary to determine if the mass is malignant in some atypical HCH mimicking liver metastasis to confirm the diagnosis with histopathologic examination.     

Pancreaticoduodenectomy combined with splenectomy for a patient with pancreatic cancer and pancytopenia due to liver cirrhosis: Case report

Introduction and importanceThe incidence of patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) is increasing. Patients with LC are known to have a greater risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality than patients without LC. A treatment option such as pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has not been validated to be safe for these patients, especially those with pancytopenia due to portal hypertension (PH). Providing an effective treatment option for these patients is essential.Case presentationHerein, we describe a patient with pancreatic cancer with pancytopenia due to LC that was successfully treated with PD combined with splenectomy. The patient was a 70-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital for evaluation of a mass in the pancreatic head after she developed obstructive jaundice. She was diagnosed with T2N0M0, Stage IB pancreatic cancer and pancytopenia due to PH associated with LC. She received 2 cycles of adjuvant gemcitabine/S-1 chemotherapy and underwent radical subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with splenectomy to improve her pancytopenia. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed an R0 resection showing an Evans grade IIa histological response. Her pancytopenia improved rapidly after surgery.Clinical discussionStrict indications for PD, haemostatic control of intraoperative bleeding, and optimal perioperative management were important for preventing hepatic decompensation in this patient. Splenectomy is effective for thrombocytopenia due to LC; however, attention to postoperative complications such as overwhelming post-splenectomy infection and portal vein thrombosis is required.ConclusionFor patients with pancreatic cancer with pancytopenia due to LC, PD combined with splenectomy plus optimal perioperative management is effective.     

肝硬化患者外周血单个核细胞TLR4表达及其基因多态性的研究

目的：检测肝硬化及其不同Child分级患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs)Toll样受体4（TLR4）表达，分析TLR4基因Asp299Gly、Thr399Ile的多态性及其与肝硬化疾病发生的相关性。方法:分离110例汉族乙肝后肝硬化患者与健康对照者静脉抗凝血的PBMCs，流式细胞、实时荧光定量PCR及PCR-限制性片段长度多态性分别检测PBMCs TLR4蛋白、 mRNA及Asp299Gly、Thr399Ile基因多态性，分析TLR4基因多态性与肝硬化发生的相关性。结果:肝硬化组PBMCs TLR4阳性细胞率与mRNA表达正相关，均显著高于对照组(P<0.01)，且随着Child评分的升高而升高(P<0.01)；但220例受试对象均未检测到TLR4基因Asp299Gly、Thr399Ile的突变型。结论:乙肝后肝硬化患者PBMCs TLR4表达水平明显增高，与肝硬化损伤的严重程度相关；TLR4基因Asp299Gly、Thr399Ile多态性在中国汉族人群中出现频率低，且与肝硬化疾病的易感性可能无关。     

Dysregulation of blood lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cells in schistosomal liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

Immunological factors are important in the pathogenesis of a wide spectrum of hepatobiliary diseases. Using flow cytometry, we determined the changes in lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cells in 123 individuals (81 patients with liver disease and 42 healthy volunteers). The liver diseases included periportal fibrosis (PPF, 10 patients), liver cirrhosis (LC, 31 patients), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 40 patients). Schistosomiasis and viral hepatitis B and C were the putative etiological agents of liver diseases. Immunophenotyping by indirect immunofluorescence was conducted using monoclonal antibodies to CD3 (T-lymphocytes), CD4 (helper/inducer T-cells), CD8 (suppressor/cytotoxic T-cells), and CD57 (natural killer cells) cell surface markers. Immunophenotyping of PPF patients showed no significant changes in all markers compared with the healthy controls. However, there was a significant decrease ( P<0.01) in CD3 and CD4 T-cells, and a highly significant increase ( P<0.001) in CD57 T-cells in patients with LC or HCC. In addition, LC and HCC patients showed no significant change in CD8 T-cells compared with controls. In conclusion, the progression of liver diseases is associated with a dysregulation of cellular immune responses. T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells may play a role in the immunopathogenesis of liver cirrhosis and HCC.