Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with argon-helium cryotherapy system (AHCS) for primary hepatic carcinomas (PHC), and to provide references for clinical practice and research. Methods Such databases as The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data were searched, and other sources like the relavant references were also retrieved to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about TACE combiend with AHCS for PHC published by May 1st, 2012. After literature screening, data extraction and quality evaluation performed by two reviewers independently according to the inclusion criteria, the meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.1 software. Results A total of 16 RCTs involving 1 467 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed: a) The TACE+AHCS group was superior to the TACE alone group in total effective rate, complete necrosis rate, 0.5-, 1-, 1.5-, 2- and 2.5-year survival rates, AFP, CD4 and Th/Ts cells, and there were significant differences (Plt;0.05); and b) The TACE+AHCS group was superior to the AHCS alone group in 0.5-, 1.5-, 2- and 2.5-year survival rates, AFP and Th/Ts cells, and there were significant differences (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Compared with the TACE or AHCS alone, TACE combined with AHCS can improve long-term survival rate and short-term curative effect, and improve PHC patients’ immunity. However, its long-term curative effect and safety still needs to be further verified by more large sample and high quality RCTs.
Objective To study the protective effects of pre-storing glycogen on warm ischemia reperfusion injury during partial hepatectomy. Methods Thirty-eight patients were randomly divided into a trial group (n=19) and a control group (n=19). In the trial group, patients were given high concentration glucose intravenously during the 24 hours before the operation. The hepatic lesion was resected after portal triad clamping in the two groups. Liver function of all patients was measured before the operation and the first and fifth days after the operation. Normal hepatic tissue was biopsied to measured hepatic tissue glycogen contents before the operation and the change of superoxide dismutase (SOD) at the point of pre-ischemia, post-ischemia, and reperfusion 2 hour. Bcl-2 mRNA, a well known anti-apoptotic factor, was also detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results The hepatic tissue glycogen content of the trial group was significantly higher than that of the control group before the operation (Plt;0.01). Liver function of the trial group was significantly better than that of the control group on the first and fifth day after operation (Plt;0.05). There was significant difference in SOD activity between the two groups at the end of hepatic vascular occlusion and at the point of 2-hour reperfusion (Plt;0.05). Furthermore Bcl-2 mRNA expression of the trial group was notably up-regulated at the point of 2-hour reperfusion compared to the control group. Conclusion Pre-store storing glycogen might protect liver ischemia reperfusion injury caused by hepatic vascular occlusion during partial hepatectomy. The potential mechanism might be that pre-storing glycogen enhances Bcl-2 expression.
Objective To establish different kinds of reduced size liver transplantation model of rats， and to explorethe optimal marginal size of liver graft in orthotopic liver transplantation， in purpose of providing a kind of animal modelfor the study about mechanism and prevention measures of small-for-size syndrome. Methods One hundred and ninety-two rats were randomly divided into whole liver graft transplantation group （underwent whole liver graft transplantation），half liver graft transplantation group （the median lobe and right lobe of the liver were selected to be the graft）， small size liver graft transplantation group （the median lobe of the liver was selected to be the graft）， and extra-small size liver graft transplantation group （the median lobe and left lobe of the liver were reduced， and remained lobes were selected to be the graft）， each group enrolled 48 rats. After liver graft transplantation， 24 rats of each group were selected to observe the survival situation， 12 rats of each group were selected to measure portal venous pressure at time point of before operation，and 5， 15， 30， 45， and 60 minutes after transplantation. The other 12 rats of each group were test the level of alanine aminotransferase （ALT）. Results Seven-day survival rate of the whole liver graft transplantation group， half liver graft transplantation group， small size liver graft transplantation group， and extra-small size liver graft transplantation group was 100% （24/24）， 87.5% （21/24）， 37.5% （9/24）， and 0 respectively. Portal venous pressure of whole liver graft trans-plantation group was stable after opening the portal vein， although there was slight increase at prophase in half liver graft transplantation group， and then the portal venous pressure would let down， keeping stable at the later stage. But in small size liver graft transplantation group and extra-small size liver graft transplantation group， the portal venous pressure incr-eased and got the top at 15 minutes after opening the portal vein， and then induced， keeping stable during the 45-60 minutes.Portal venous pressure at the point of 5 （r=-0.942）， 15 （r=-0.947）， 30 （r=-0.900）， 45 （r=-0.825）， and 60 （r=-0.705）minutes after opening the portal vein were significantly related to liver graft size （P＜0.001）. The levels of ALT in wholeliver graft transplantation group and half liver graft transplantation group were both lower than those of small size livergraft transplantation group and extra-small size liver graft transplantation group （P＜0.05）， and levels of ALT in small size liver graft transplantation group was lower than extra-small size liver graft transplantation group too （P＜0.05）. Levelof ALT at 24 hours after transplantation were significantly related to liver graft size （r=-0.685， P＜0.001）. Conclusions The minimum graft volume/standard liver volume （GV/SLV） in reduced size liver transplantation in rat is 50%. The liver graft whose GV/SLV is 30%-35% should be considered as marginal size liver graft， and the liver graft whose GV/SLV less than 30% should be considered as extra-small size liver graft in the rat.
Objective To approach the prognosis after liver transplantation （LT） of liver function for Child grade A in patients with portal hypertension， and to compare with periesophagogastric devascularization with splenectomy （PDS）. Methods The data of 195 portal hypertension cases with Child A caused by hepatitis B cirrhosis who received surgical treatment of PDS （152 cases） or LT （43 cases） in division of liver transplantation center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 1999 to 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. The pre-， intra-， and postoperative variables in two groups that including patients’ age， score of Child， score of model for end-stage liver disease （MELD）， total bilirubin （TB），creatinine （Cr）， international normalized ratio （INR）， albumin （Alb）， complications of portal hypertension， amount of intraoperative bleeding and blood transfusion， operative time， and in the ICU and hospital stay time were compared. The postoperative outcomes were statistically analyzed including severe postoperative complications， short-term and long-term survival rates. Results Compared with PDS group， the amount of intraoperative bleeding and blood transfusion of LT group were morer （P＜0.05）， the operative time， in the ICU and hospital stay time of LT group were longer （P＜0.05）. The rate of severe postoperative complications in LT group was higher than that in PDS group 〔18.60% （8/43） vs. 1.97% （3/152），P＜0.05〕. The levels of TB and Cr during the postoperative period in LT group were higher than that in PDS group （P＜0.05）. Although the INR on day 1 after operation in LT group was higher than that in PDS group （P＜0.01）， but the difference disappeared soon on day 7 after operation in two groups （P＞0.05）.The 1-， 3-， and 5-year survival rates of the LT and PDS groups were 90.3%， 86.5%， 86.5%， and 100%， 100%， 100%， respectively， significant difference were observed in both short-term and long-term survival rates between the two groups （P＜0.05）. Conclusion LT offered no significant survival benefit to patients with portal hypertension and Child A due to hepatitis B cirrhosis， whereas PDS could be an effective treatment.
Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of liver transplantation （LT） in treatment of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients with portal hypertension， and to compare the therapeutic effects with conventional operation （CO）. Methods The clinical data of 303 patients with bleeding portal hypertension from Feb. 2009 to Feb. 2012 in the department of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery of First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and one patients received LT procedure （LT group）， whereas the other 202 patients received CO procedure （CO group）. Postoperative follow-up period was 8-44 months （average 26 months）. Results Liver function before operation in CO group was significantly better than that in LT group（P＜0.01）. The mortality of CO group and LT group were 7.4%（14/189） and 3.0%（3/101， P=1.00）， respectively. The rebleeding rate of patients underwent LT was 2.0%（2/101）， significantly lower than that of CO group 〔9.5%（18/189）， P＜0.05〕. The vanish rate of esophagogastric varice in patients underwent LT was 86.1%（87/101）， significantly lower than that of CO group 〔54.5%（86/189）， P＜0.01〕. Conclusions LT treatment for bleeding portal hypertension is feasible and safe. Patients with good liver function despite hemorrhage history may be managed satisfactorily with conventional surgery. LT is the only curative treatment for patients with portal hypertension in end-stage liver disease.
Objective To evaluate the changes of liver function after laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer and analyze related impact factors. Methods Patients with gastric cancer or colon cancer, who underwent radical gastrectomy or hemicolectomy between Jun 2008 and Jun 2010 in General Hospital of PLA, were included in this study. These patients were divided into open gastrectomy （OG group, n=43）, laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy （LAG group, n=35）, and laparoscopic-assisted hemicolectomy （LAC group, n=23）. The serum AST, ALT, TB, and ALP levels of all patients enrolled on the preoperative day and post operative day （POD） 1, POD3, POD5, and POD7, and related impact factors were analyzed. Results Compared with the preoperative results, serum AST and ALT levels of patients increased until POD5 in both LAG and OG groups （P＜0.05）, and there was no changes in liver function after operation of patients in LAC group （P＞0.05）. In addition to that serum AST and ALT levels of patients in LAG group in POD1 were significantly higher than those in OG group （P=0.035 and P=0.041）， and that serum ALT level of patients in LAG group was significantly lower than that in OG group in POD3 （P=0.048）, serum AST and ALT levels of patients in two groups in the remaining time points were not statistically significant difference （P＞0.05）. The serum AST and ALT levels of patients in LAG group were significantly higher than those in LAC group during 5 d after operation （P＜0.05）.There was no significant changes of serum ALP and TB levels of patients in LAG and OG groups on the before and after operation （P＞0.05）. The increased serum ALT level of gastric cancer patients after operation related to body mass index （BMI, P=0.038）, operative time （P=0.011）, intraoperative hepatic injury （P=0.035）, and abnormal ligation of hepatic artery （P=0.048）, instead of the type of operation （OG vs.LAG, P＞0.05）. Conclusions Gastric cancer patients who underwent radical gastrectomy have transient liver dysfunction, which attributes mainly to direct liver manipulation or abnormal ligation of hepatic artery, but not CO2 pneumoperitoneum. Laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy is feasible and safe to the patients without serious liver damage or other vital organs disorders.
Objective To summarize the methods and applications for quantitative measurement of iron in human.Methods The methods and applications for quantitative measurement of iron in human were analyzed retrospectively via reviewing the literatures domesticly and abroad， and summarized the advantages and disadvantages respectively. Results The methods for quantitative measurement of iron included laboratory tests， pathology examinations， CT， superconducting quantum interference device investigation （SQUID）， and MRI. Conclusions Laboratory test is the most simple and economic method for quantitative measurement of iron in human. Percutaneous liver biopsy is the gold standardmethod. Radiologic examinations， especially MRI， may be main methods of measuring liver iron content in future.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of indocyanogen green retention rate (ICGR) measurement and Child-Pugh classification of liver function in the preoperative evaluation of hepatic functional reservation. MethodsThe level of ICGR at 15 min (ICGR15) and the percentage of liver fibrosis in 103 patients with liver cancer were measured before hepatectomy, and the Child-Pugh classification of liver function was evaluated before and after the operations, and their connections were analyzed. ResultsAs the rise of Child-Pugh classification of liver function, the percentage of liver fibrosis increased gradually, there were significant differences between any two Child-Pugh classification (Plt;0.05). There was a linear correlation between the ICGR15 and the liver fibrosis percentage (rs=0.960, Plt;0.05). The value of preoperative ICGR15 in patients with postoperative Child-Pugh classification from grade A to grade B or grade B to grade C was gnificantly higher than that in patients with stabilization of Child-Pugh classification before and after operations (Plt;0.05). ConclusionICGR15 combined with Child-Pugh classification can improve the accuracy for the evaluation of preoperative hepatic functional reservation.
Objective To investigate the reasons and preventions of bleeding after percutaneous microwave ablation for liver cancer. Methods The data of 156 patients with liver cancer between September 2006 and December 2009 treated with percutaneous microwave ablation (226 times) were recorded. The reasons and preventions of bleeding after percutaneous microwave ablation were analyzed. Results Eleven patients (11 times) suffered from bleeding. The rate of bleeding is 4.87% (11/226), including 2 cases of biliary bleeding, 9 cases of intraperitoneal hemorrhage. All patients who suffered from bleeding firstly received medical therapy to control bleeding, 5 cases were successful; in the other 6 cases who failed in medical therapy, 1 case was stopped bleeding with opening procedures, 4 cases received transcatheter embolization to stop bleeding with gelatin sponge, 1 case died due to excessive blood loss. According to Chi-square test result, the bleeding was significantly related with liver cirrhosis, lower platelet count, obvious prolongation of prothrombin time, subcapsular tumor, Child-Pugh B/C grade, and re-ablation （P=0.044, 0.041, 0.028, 0.001, 0.016, 0.016）. The multiple variables logistic regression analysis showed that liver cirrhosis, platelet count, prothrombin time, location of tumor, and Child-Pugh grade were the influential factors of bleeding after microwave ablation （OR=5.273, P=0.036; OR=8.534, P=0.043; OR=4.893, P=0.045; OR=7.747, P=0.010; OR=6.882, P=0.015）. Conclusions There were some factors were significantly related with the bleeding after percutaneous microwave ablation: liver cirrhosis, abnormal blood clotting function （lower platelet count and prolongation of prothrombin time）, tumor located on the surface of liver, and Child-Pugh C grade. When failed to stop bleeding with medical therapy, transcatheter embolization is an effective method to control bleeding.
ObjectiveTo determine the risk factors for recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). MethodsThe clinical data from seventysix consecutive HCC patients who underwent OLT were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into nonrecurrence group (n=53) and recurrence group (n=23) based on recurrence, and the characteristics of tumor recurrence were analyzed. ResultsThe overall recurrence rate of tumor was 30.3% (23/76). By univariate analysis, gender (P=0.449), age (P=0.091), received preoperative therapy or not (P=0.958), tumor numbers (P=0.212), and HBV/HCV infection (P=0.220) were not closely related with tumor recurrence, while the integrality of tumor capsule (P=0.009), tumor stage (P=0.002), tumor diameter (Plt;0.001), vascular invasion (Plt;0.001), and AFP level before transplantation (P=0.044) were significantly related with tumor recurrence. Furthermore, the oneyear recurrence rate of tumor was higher in patients whose AFP level returned to normal within two months after transplantation (Plt;0.001) and tumor diameter was less than 5.0 cm (P=0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor diameter (P=0.001, OR=6.456, 95%CI: 2.356-17.680), vascular invasion (P=0.030, OR=10.653, 95%CI: 1.248-90.910), and AFP level before transplantation (P=0.017, OR=2.601, 95%CI: 2.196-5.658) were independent risk factors for tumor recurrence. ConclusionMore attentions shall be paid to these patients with tumor diameter gt;5.0 cm, vascular invasion, and AFP level before transplantation ≥400 μg/L, in particular AFP level is beyond normal within two months after transplantation, and antitumor therapy shall be given as soon as possible.