Successful choledochojejunostomy for choledochal stricture with preservation of the collateral parabiliary venous system following iatrogenic portal occlusion

We surgically treated a patient with biliary stricture and portal vein occlusion, after operation for gastric cancer with lymphadenectomy along the hepatoduodenal ligament, that had led to choledochal stone formation and a dilatated parabiliary venous system. A 57-year-old man without hepatic dysfunction exhibited hepatic duct dilatation with choledochal stone on ultrasonography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, respectively. Pharmacoportography revealed occlusion of the portal vein and dilatation of the parabiliary venous system. Of various preoperative imaging studies used, enhanced computed tomography was most useful for delineating the surgical anatomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament. Complete preservation of the dilatated vessels, which functioned as the main portal collateral pathway, resulted in a successful choledocho-jejunostomy, with an uneventful postoperative course.     

Partial Portal Vein Ligation Plus Thioacetamide: A Method to Obtain a New Model of Cirrhosis and Chronic Portal Hypertension in the Rat

To obtain a new model of chronic portal hypertension in the rat, two classical methods to produce portal hypertension, partial portal vein ligation and the oral administration of thioacetamide (TAA), have been combined. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: 1 (control; n?=?10), 2 [triple partial portal vein ligation (TPVL); n?=?9], 3 (TAA; n?=?11), and 4 (TPVL plus TAA; n?=?9). After 3 months, portal pressure, types of portosystemic collateral circulation, laboratory hepatic function tests (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) and liver histology were studied. The animals belonging to group 2 (TPVL) developed extrahepatic portosystemic collateral circulation, associated with mesenteric venous vasculopathy without hepatic destructurization or portal hypertension. Animals from group 3 (TAA) developed cirrhosis and portal hypertension but not extrahepatic portosystemic collateral circulation, or mesenteric venous vasculopathy. Finally, the animals from group 4 (TPVL?+?TAA) developed cirrhosis, portal hypertension, portosystemic collateral circulation, and mesenteric venous vasculopathy. The association of TPVL and TAA can be used to obtain a model of chronic portal hypertension in the rat that includes all the alterations that patients with hepatic cirrhosis usually have. This could, therefore, prove to be a useful tool to study the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in these alterations.     

门静脉主干缩窄法制备SD大鼠门静脉高压症模型时最佳口径的探讨

目的 探讨缩窄门静脉主干法制备SD大鼠门静脉高压症模型时的最佳缩窄口径.方法 SD大鼠70只,随机分为正常组和6个实验组,每组各10只.正常组行假手术.各实验组分别按照5、6、7、8、9、12号针头的缩窄口径行门静脉主干缩窄术.观察各组大鼠术后累积死亡率,术后状态,术前、术后即刻及术后2周时的门静脉压力,术后2周时的食管组织学变化和脾指数.结果 5、6、7、8、9、12号针头缩窄组术后3 d时大鼠的累积死亡率分别为100%、80%、70%、20%、10%、0%,与缩窄程度正相关.8、9、12号组的大鼠存活状态明显好于5、6、7号组.5、6、7、8、9、12号组术后即刻门静脉压力分别为:(5.836±0.275)、(4.557±0.419)、(3.856±0.576)、(3.343±0.433)、(2.708±0.309)、(1.957±0.358)kPa,7、8、9、12号组术后2周时门静脉压力分别为:(2.163±0.424)、(1.956±0.172)、(1.841±0.202)、(1.232±0.154)kPa,均较正常(0.881±0.165)kPa显著升高(P＜0.05).术后2周,7、8、9、12号组大鼠食管下段黏膜下层平均血管数目分别为:(3.94±0.83)、(3.58±0.63)、(3.14±0.64)、(2.02±0.62)个,与正常组(1.65±0.62)个比较,除12号组外均有增多(P＜0.01);固有层平均血管数目分别为:(2.24±0.64)、(2.05±0.29)、(1.52±0.28)、(0.93±0.19)个,与正常组(0.82±0.18)比较,除第12组外均增多(P＜0.01);黏膜下层血管口径分别为:(4.52±1.51)、(4.05±1.23)、(3.75±1.11)、(2.03±0.86)μm,除第12组外均增大(P＜0.01);脾指数分别为:(4.21±0.93)、(4.06±0.68)、(3.84 4±0.71)、(3.31±0.69)除12号组外也较正常增加(P＜0.01).结论 缩窄门静脉主干可成功制成大鼠门静脉高压症模型;其最佳缩窄口径应该是:大鼠体重200 g左右时用8号针头(直径0.8mm),大鼠体重300 g左右时用9号针头(直径0.9 mm).     

ENDOSCOPIC MICROVASCULAR ARCHITECTURE OF THE PORTAL HYPERTENSIVE GASTRIC MUCOSA ON NARROW BAND IMAGING

Background: We evaluated the endoscopic microvascular architecture of the gastric mucosa in portal hypertension patients using the prototype of narrow band imaging (NBI). Material and Methods: The study included 103 Helicobacter pylori‐negative patients with chronic liver disease (22 without portal hypertension (group 1), 81 with portal hypertension (group 2)). Results: (i) Abnormality of collecting venules, reddening mucosa, red spots, a mosaic‐like pattern, and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) were observed on the gastric mucosa, and an obscure change in collecting venules (73% vs 14%; P < 0.001), reddening mucosa (49% vs 5%; P < 0.001), red spots (36% vs 5%; P < 0.01) and a mosaic‐like pattern (40% vs 5%; P < 0.01) were more frequently observed in group 2 than in group 1. (ii) On magnifying endoscopy with NBI, the mucosa with an obscure change in collecting venules was demonstrated as dilation of the capillaries surrounding the gastric pits in various degrees, and reddening mucosa was observed as extended and swollen gastric pits and various degrees of dilated and convoluted capillaries surrounding the gastric pits. Red spots were demonstrated as extended and swollen gastric pits, dilated and convoluted capillaries surrounding the gastric pits, and intramucosal hemorrhage around these capillaries. GAVE was recognized as partial and marked dilatation of the capillaries surrounding the gastric pits. Conclusion: Abnormality of collecting venules, swelling of gastric pits, dilatation of capillaries surrounding the gastric pits, intramucosal hemorrhage around capillaries, and partial and marked dilatation of the capillaries were observed on the gastric mucosa in portal hypertension patients.     

成人门静脉海绵样变性的诊断和治疗

目的　探讨成人门静脉海绵样变性的诊断方法和治疗。方法　对 31例成人门静脉海绵样变性患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果　 31例患者术前均有出血史 ,术前均经超声检查提示肝脏正常及门静脉海绵样变性 ,经脾穿刺门静脉造影或选择性肠系膜上动脉造影确诊。 12例行脾动脉结扎、胃冠状静脉及分支结扎、肠 腔C型架桥术 ,1例行脾 肾静脉架桥术。 8例已切脾断流后再出血患者 ,结扎冠状静脉主干后 ,6例行肠 腔C型架桥术 ,1例行肠系膜下静脉 下腔静脉C型架桥术 ,1例因静脉曲张和出血部位在空肠上段而行空肠节段切除术。 6例行脾 腔架桥术 ,2例行改良脾 肺固定术 ,脾 肾架桥术和门静脉 下腔静脉架桥术各 1例 ,1例行脾切除加贲门周围血管离断术。术后随访 6个月～ 4年 (随访率 10 0 % ) ,食管胃底曲张静脉均减轻或消失 ,无再出血和肝性脑病发生。结论　多普勒超声检查和经皮脾穿刺门静脉造影是诊断本病的理想方法 ;门 体分流术加门 奇断流术是治疗本病的最佳选择。     

Research review: DNA polymerases as molecular markers of the regenerating capacity of hepatocytes

Hepatocyte regeneration has been widely investigated, with the mitotic index and the incorporation of [³H]thymidine being used as regeneration markers. We focused on the induction of DNA replication enzymes, particularly DNA polymerases (pol) α, δ, and ε. Using rat models, we have shown that the activity of pol α in crude liver extract well represents the regenerating capacity of hepatocytes. Using pol α as an indicator, we analyzed liver regeneration in rat models under various conditions: obstructive jaundice, external or internal biliary drainage, and the obstruction of portal vein branches. It has been revealed that the ligation of the common bile duct alone induces a certain amount of hepatocyte proliferation. It was striking that external biliary drainage suppressed regeneration capacity in cholestatic rat liver after partial hepatectomy. The strong regeneration in nonligated lobes induced by portal branch ligation was similar to the liver regeneration seen after partial hepatectomy with respect to the induction of DNA polymerases. Taken together, the aspects of DNA replication, particularly the induction of DNA polymerases, may contribute to shedding new light on the regeneration of human liver. This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research and for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan, and by grants from the Uehara Memorial Foundation