Objective To explore the liver regeneration following partial liver transplantation. MethodsPartial liver transplantation in the rats were established, three experimental groups were: Ⅰ=control, partial liver resection; Ⅱ=orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT); Ⅲ=partial orthotopic liver transplantation (POLT). Liver function test, morphological investigations and liver regeneration were performed in different time after transplantation. The regenerative response of transplanted partial liver graft in rats were evaluated by Flow Cytometry and compared it to liver regeneration following resection.Results The serum concentrations of ALT, BILI increased in one week, but returned gradually to normal level within one month after transplantation. Large numbers of mononuclear cells infiltrating into the portal areas. Hepatocyte necrosis was observed on day 14 after transplantation. On day 30, the parenchyma cell showed a nearly normal appearance, bile duct proliferation was seen in portal areas. In addition, after liver resection and POLT some diploid hepatocytes were found. Dilation of the central veins, adjoining sinusoids and interlobar veins were seen in group Ⅲ. The partial liver graft is capable of regeneration similar to the situation following partial hepatectomy. The peak of liver regeneration was seen on day 1,2,4 following a hepatectomy and POLT and OLT, respectively.Conclusion The transplanted liver shows the same and/or enhanced regeneration compared to controls. There are several possible explanations for the slight delay in achieving the maximal regenerative response in rats undergoing the POLT and OLT. These may include damage that is induced by the operation itself, preservation, and reperfusion injuries. These suggest that this be caused by activation of the immune system and it might be related to the regulation of cytokines and hormone.
Objective To investigate the value of retention rate of indocyanine green at fifteen minutes (ICGR15) during hemihepatectomy for evaluation of residual liver reserve function in patients with primary liver carcinoma. Methods During hemihepatectomy, ICGR15 was tested in 44 patients after the hepatic artery and portal vein of resected side were ligated. Child-Pugh score, Child-Pugh classification, and MELD score before operation were tested. After operation, the liver function condition was estimated. Results The incidence of liver dysfunction was significantly lower in ICGR15lt;10% group (17.9%, 5/28) than that in 10%~15% group (75.0%, 12/16), Plt;0.05. There was no significant difference of Child-Pugh score among normal liver function group, mild insufficiency of liver function group, and severe insufficiency of liver function group （Pgt;0.05）. ICGR15 and MELD score in normal liver function group were statistical lower than those in mild insufficiency of liver function group and severe insufficiency of liver function group (Plt;0.05). ICGR15 was significantly lower in Child-Pugh A group than that in Child-Pugh B group (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Intraoperative residual liver ICGR15 may be more precisely compared with Child-Pugh score in evaluation liver reserve function for the patients with primary liver carcinoma and can help to guide liver resection.
Objective To investigate the effects of different reperfusion sequence on hepatic warm ischemia-reperfusion injury and its related mechanisms. Methods Ninety-six healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups by using random digits method (n=16, each)： Sham operation group, only shammed operation for negative control; the other 5 groups were all experimental groups, which were divided according to different reperfusion sequences of portal vein and hepatic artery: reperfusion first through the portal vein for 1 min with subsequent full reperfusion group, reperfusion first through the portal vein for 2 min with subsequent full reperfusion group, reperfusion first through the hepatic artery for 1 min with subsequent full reperfusion group, reperfusion first through the hepatic artery for 2 min with subsequent full reperfusion group, simultaneous reperfusion through the portal vein and hepatic artery group. Each group was further randomly divided into two subgroups (n=8, each) for sample collection at 2, 4 hours after reperfusion respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathion (GSH) in hepatic tissue were detected respectively. HE staining of histopathologic slides was used to observe the morphological changes of hepatic tissue. TUNEL method was used to assess the apoptosis index (AI) of hepatocytes. Results The liver of rat was approximately normal in the sham operation group with lower levels of ALT, AST, MDA and AI, and higher levels of SOD and GSH as compared with all the experimental groups (P＜0.01). Less hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury was found in reperfusion first through the portal vein for 1 min with subsequent full reperfusion group, whose ALT, AST, MDA and AI levels were significantly lower than those of the other experimental groups (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), and its SOD and GSH levels were higher than those of the other experimental groups (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). HE staining also showed milder hepatic injury in reperfusion first through the portal vein for 1 min with subsequent full reperfusion group as compared with the other experimental groups. Conclusion Hepatic reperfusion first through portal vein for short time with subsequent full reperfusion could depress the synthesis of free oxygen radicals and suppress apoptosis of hepatocytes, thus relieving hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.
We reviewed the clinical studies on drug therapy for gallbladder cancer and expounded on the current situation of conversion therapy for gallbladder cancer. Gallbladder cancer was usually diagnosed late, with high malignancy, low surgical resection rate, and poor prognosis. With the development of conversion therapy, systemic therapy combined with radical resection had effectively improved the surgical resection rate and prognosis of gallbladder cancer patients. At present, most of the published conversion therapies for gallbladder cancer were mainly retrospective researches, lacking large multicenter prospective research, and the treatment plan was still based on chemotherapy, lacking the research of targeted therapy in combination with immunotherapy. It is expected that more high-quality clinical trials can be made first-line recommendations for the conversion therapy of gallbladder cancer.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of heparin binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) on liver regeneration after partial orthotopic liver transplantation. MethodsFourty SD rats were used to establish the model of partial orthotopic liver transplantation with ameliorated two-cuff technique. Then all the rats were divided into 2 groups: experiment group and control group. Twenty rats of experiment group were administered 500 μg/kg HBEGF via vena caudalis immediately after operation twice a day, while the same volume of saline was administered to the rats in control group. Five rats in each group were selected randomly and killed at the 6th hour, day 2, 4 and 7 after operation, respectively. The serum levels of albumin (Alb) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the blood sample were detected. Every liver was removed and weighed. The expression of Ki67 was detected by using immunohistochemistry assay. The regeneration activity of hepatocytes was evaluated by flow cytometry. ResultsThe wet weights of liver in experiment group were all significantly higher than that in control group at the 6th hour, day 2 and 4 after transplantation (P＜0.05). The serum levels of ALT were significantly lower in experiment group than those in control group at the 6th hour, day 2， 4, 7 after operation (P＜0.05), while the levels of Alb were significantly higher on day 4 and 7. The proliferating index and Ki-67 labeling index of graft in experiment group were higher than those in control group on day 2 and 4 after transplantation （2 d: P＜0.01; 4 d: P＜0.05）. ConclusionHBEGF could promote the regeneration of rat hepatocytes after partial liver transplantation.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo investigate whether heme oxygenase-1 can alleviate the ischemiareperfusion injury of the aged donor liver. MethodsThe activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the contents of tocopherol (Vit E), ascorbic acid (Vit C) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in the livers of adult SD rats (n=5) and aged SD rats (n=5). The experimental aged donor group (n=30) received intraperitoneal injection of Hemin 24 hours before operation, the control aged donor group(n=30) received saline. The histologic changes and apoptosis in the donor liver were observed. ResultsThe activity of SOD and the contents of Vit E and Vit C decreased significantly in 5 aged rats（P＜0.05）, but the content of MDA increased（P＜0.05）. Before the harvesting of the grafts, the activity of SOD and the contents of Vit E and Vit C increased significantly in rats pretreated with Hemin （P＜0.05） and the content of MDA decreased（P＜0.05）. The apoptotic cells in the livers pretreated with Hemin also decreased significantly after reperfusion（P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe liver of aged rat presents oxidative stress and peroxidative state. Ischemia-reperfusion injury can be alleviated by the induction of HO-1.
【Abstract】 Objective To study the effects of ischemic preconditioning (IP) on the activity of nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） and the expressions of TNF-α and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) during early reperfusion following liver transplantation in rats. Methods The models of rat orthotopic liver transplantation were established. The donor livers were stored for 2 hours in Ringers solution at 4 ℃ before transplantation. All rats were randomly divided into sham operation group （SO group）， control group and IP group. IP group was achieved by clamping the portal vein and hepatic artery of donor liver for 10 minutes followed by reperfusion for 10 minutes before harvesting. The activity of NF-κB and expressions of TNF-α and ICAM-1 at 1 h, 2 h, 4 h and 6 h after reperfusion were measured. Serum ALT, LDH were also determined. Results The liver function of recipients with IP were significantly improved. Compared with SO group， the graft NF-κB activity increased after transplantation in control group and IP group (P＜0.05), while compared with control group that was significantly attenuated at 1 h and 2 h in IP group. Similarly, hepatic levels of TNF-α and ICAM-1 were significantly elevated in control group and were reduced in IP group. Conclusion IP might down-regulated TNF-α and ICAM-1 expression in the grafts after orthotopic liver transplantation through depressed NF-κB activation， and attenuate neutrophil infiltration in the grafts after reperfusion.
Objective To summarize the changes of serum ceruloplasmin levels and urinary copper excretion in Wilson’s disease （WD） after living-related liver transplantation(LRLT) and orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT). Methods From September 2000 to November 2003, 140 cases liver transplantation were performed in our Liver Transplantation Center, LRLT and OLT were carried out in 26 patients with WD, three of them had fulminant hepatic failure and the others had end-stage hepatic insufficiency. All the recipients had low serum ceruloplasmin levels 〔(124.8±22.8) mg/L〕 and high urinary copper excretion 〔(1 524.8±328.6) μg/24h〕 before transplantation. The serum ceruloplasmin levels and urinary copper excretion were within normal limits in 22 donors 〔(230.4±29.6) mg/L〕 and ＜50 μg/24h〕. Results All recipients recovered satisfactorily. After operation 1, 3, 6,12 months, in OLT group, serum ceruloplasmin level and urinary copper excretion were (320.2±36.8) mg/L, (380.4±45.6) mg/L, (360.5±37.6) mg/L, (356.2±27.6) mg/L and (240.4±22.8) μg/24h, (86.5±10.6) μg/24h, (54.2±6.8) μg/24h, (46.8±3.4) μg/24h; While in LRLT group, serum ceruloplasmin levels and urinary copper excretion were (216.8±20.4) mg/L, (248.5±32.6) mg/L, (285.4±44.3) mg/L, (260.2±36.6) mg/L and (380.8±37.6) μg/24h, (150.6±24.5) μg/24h, (75.5±9.6) μg/24h, (60.3±5.8) μg/24h. Conclusion OLT and LRLT are curative procedure in WD manifested as fulminant hepatic failure and/or end-stage hepatic insufficiency. After liver transplantation, the serum ceruloplasmin level can increase to its normal range while urinary copper excretion decreases.
ObjectiveTo evaluate and summarize the perioperative management experience of living related liver transplantation (LRLT). MethodsA retrospective analysis was made in perioperative management of 13 cases undergoing LRLT (15 times operation, including 2 cases of liver retransplantation) in our department from January 2001 to December 2002. ResultsAll the operations were successful. All the 13 donors were followed up regularly, 12 donors were uneventfully recovered after operation and 1 donor suffered from bile leakage due to T tube. The survival rate of recipients, who achieved longterm survival at 2 months to 2 years, was 92.3%(12/13); the survival rate of graft was 86.7%(13/15). One adult recipient with Wilson’s disease died of serious rejection on the 72nd day postoperatively. Two cases suffered from embolism of hepatic artery, one case received reduced size cadaveric liver retransplantation, the other case received liver retransplantation from cadaver, and they both achieved longterm survival after retransplantation. The other complications included: 1 case of serious rejection, 2 cases of ARDS, 6 cases of infection of microbe, 7 cases of serious hydrothorax, 1 cases of leakage of biliary tract, and so on. ConclusionPerfect preoperative management, which composes one of the key parts of LRLT, is critically important for both donor and recipient.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo find a stable and efficient method for ex vivo concentration of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in rats. MethodsCD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells were separated from the rat splenic cells in two steps by magnetic cell sorting (MACS) system. CD4+ T cells were first negatively sorted by cocktail antibodies and antiIgG magnetic microbeads. And then CD4+CD 25+T cells were positively sorted by antiCD25 PE and antiPE magnetic microbeads. The purity and the cell survival rate of the sorted cells were measured by flow cytometry and trypan blue dyeing respectively, and the immunosuppressive action of CD4+CD25+ T cells on the proliferation of CD4+CD25- T cells was also assessed by in vitro cell proliferation assay. ResultsThe purity of negatively sorted CD4+ T cells were (83.6±2.5)% (79%~87%), and the purity of positively sorted CD4+CD25+ T cells was (90.2±1.8)% (86%~93%) with the survival rate of (92.8±3.4)% (92%~95%). These concentrated cells significantly suppressed the proliferation of CD4+CD25- T cells in mixed lymphocyte culture （CD25+/CD25- versus CD25-, P＜0.01）. ConclusionWe created a twostep procedure of magnetic cell sorting system for CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells sorting, which insures the cells to be satisfactorily purified and well functioned.