Immediate postoperative parenteral anticoagulant therapy in patients with mesenteric ischemia after intestinal resection: a retrospective cohort study at a single institute.

Background: Bowel gangrene represents a major fatal event in acute mesenteric ischemia. Intestinal resection is inevitable in patients with peritonitis and bowel gangrene. This retrospective study aimed to elucidate the benefit of postoperative parenteral anticoagulation in patients with intestinal resection.

Concomitant Hepatectomy and Atrial Thrombectomy under Cardiopulmonary Bypass versus Staged Hepatectomy in the Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Large Right Atrial Tumor Thrombi.

(1) Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a large right atrium tumor thrombus (RATT) is a rare and critical presentation. Emergency hepatectomy and thrombectomy under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is life-saving and potentially curative. The aim of this study is to propose an appropriate approach for this condition.

Locoregional therapies in patients with recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after curative resection.

Background: Hepatectomy is one potential treatment for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). Recurrent rate is high after curative resection and most recurrences occur within residual liver parenchyma. The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of different treatment modalities on recurrent diseases in patients with IHCC after primary liver resection.

Hepatitis B virus X protein promotes tumor invasion and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma via phosphorylation of paxillin at Serine 178 by activation of the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase.

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) plays critical roles in hepatocellular tumorigenesis by activating different signaling pathways, including the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Phosphorylation of paxillin (PXN) promotes cell migration via activation of the JNK signaling pathway, but PXN overexpression is not associated with poor outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBx gene manipulation and Western blotting indicated that phosphorylation of PXN at Serine 178 (p-PXN) by HBx may promote invasiveness in HCC cells via HBx-mediated JNK activation.

Liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in oldest old patients.

Background: For hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver resection is a classical curative modality, despite its technical complexity. The incidence of HCC in the oldest old people (aged ≥ 85 years) is rising along with the global increase in life expectancy. Currently, no report has addressed liver resection for HCC in this aged population.

Hepatitis B virus X protein represses LKB1 expression to promote tumor progression and poor postoperative outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein plays critical roles in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular tumorigenesis through different molecular mechanisms, including inactivation of p53, a key transcription factor of liver kinase B1 (LKB1). We hypothesized that p53 inactivation by HBx protein could decrease LKB1 expression, thereby promoting tumor progression and poor outcomes in patients with HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Manipulation strategies for HBx protein and/or p53 were used to verify that loss of LKB1 could promote colony formation and invasiveness in HepG2 and Hep3B cells.

Liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hematological malignancies.

Background: Improvements in antimetabolite drugs have prolonged the survival of patient with hematological malignancies. However, these drugs may have hepatotoxic side effects and may induce acute liver failure, chronic liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, or even hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although liver resection remains a curative option for HCC, its role in HCC with hematological malignancies has never been fully explored.

Progress of liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan.

Taiwan is a well-known endemic area of hepatitis B. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has consistently been the first or second highest cause of cancer death over the past 20 years. This review article describes the progress of liver resection for HCC in Taiwan in the past half century.

Treatment of synchronous adenocarcinoma and lymphoma of the stomach: A case report.

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The majority of gastric cancers are diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stage, with a 5-year survival rate of ~5-20% and a median overall survival of <1 year. Synchronous occurrence of gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma is rare, and thus far there is no consensus regarding their management.

The "right" way is not always popular: comparison of surgeons' perceptions during laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis among experts from Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Background: Generally, surgeons' perceptions of surgical safety are based on experience and institutional policy. Our recent pilot survey demonstrated that the acceptable duration of surgery and criteria for open conversion during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) vary among workplaces.

Methods: A web-based survey was distributed to 554 expert LC surgeons in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

Embedding fistulojejunostomy: An easy and secure technique for refractory external pancreatic fistula.

Background: Refractory external pancreatic fistula (REPF) is a rare but troublesome event. Fistulojejunostomy with direct suture of the fistula wall to jejunal wall has been demonstrated as a solution. However, it is sometimes technically difficult and some cases of failure were reported.

The Hepatitis Viral Status in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Study of 3843 Patients From Taiwan Liver Cancer Network.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading cancer death in Taiwan. Chronic viral hepatitis infections have long been considered as the most important risk factors for HCC in Taiwan. The previously published reports were either carried out by individual investigators with small patient numbers or by large endemic studies with limited viral marker data.

The free inverted omega-shaped flap for circumferential hypopharyngeal reconstruction with simultaneous neck skin defect.

Background: Circumferential hypopharyngeal defect with simultaneous skin defect can pose complicated reconstructive challenge for reconstructive microsurgeons. Our experience with the versatile inverted-omega flap tubing design is proposed to accommodate such problem.

Methods: From 2012 to 2015, 13 anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps and one anteromedial thigh (AMT) flap were harvested for reconstruction of circumferential hypopharyngeal defects with skin defects in 14 patients.

Methylation-silencing RCC1 expression is associated with tumorigenesis and depth of invasion in gastric cancer.

Introduction: Regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (RCC1) is a critical cell cycle regulator. We firstly identified RCC1 gene hypermethylation in gastric tumor tissues using the differential methylation hybridization (DMH) microarray, but the role of RCC1 in the pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma is largely unknown.

Methods: Three gastric cancer cell lines (AGS, MKN45, and TSGH9201) were used to analyze RCC1 gene methylation, mRNA and protein expressions.

DNA methylation markers and serum α-fetoprotein level are prognostic factors in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Hypermethylation of relevant genes may affect the prognosis of patients with cancer. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether methylation of the promoter regions of cell cycle regulators as well as elevated α-Fetoprotein (AFP) levels are useful prognostic factors for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Material And Methods: Nested methylation-specific PCR (nested-MSP) was used to analyze methylation status of the promoter regions of p15, p16, p21, p27, and ras-association domain family 1 (RASSF1A) genes in tumor specimens from 50 patients with HCC.

Akt suppresses DLK for maintaining self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Mouse embryonic stem cells (ES cells) can proliferate indefinitely. To identify potential signals involved in suppression of self-renewal, we previously screened a kinase/phosphatase expression library in ES cells, and observed that inhibition of Dual Leucine zipper-bearing Kinase (DLK) increased relative cell numbers. DLK protein was detected in both the pluripotent and differentiated states of mouse ES cells while DLK kinase activity increased upon differentiation.

Unroofing hepatectomy: a facilitating approach for resection of deep-seated hepatocellular carcinoma adjacent to major intrahepatic vessels in cirrhotic patients.

Background And Objectives: Unroofing hepatectomy, an alternative approach to remove a deep-seated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) adjacent to major intrahepatic vessels by peel-off technique after sacrificing the overlying noncancerous liver, may result in tumor exposure without resection margin. The aim of the study was to examine the value of this approach in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: Between 1998 and 2012, 51 cirrhotic patients underwent unroofing hepatectomy for deep-seated newly-diagnosed HCC adjacent to major intrahepatic vessels (group A).

Is liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients with high preoperative serum alanine aminotransferase level unadvisable?

Background/aims: High operative mortality has been reported after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients with high preoperative serum alanine aminotransferase (sALT) level. Their long-term prognosis has never been investigated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the benefit of liver resection for HCC in this subgroup of patients.

Impact of severe oesophagogastric varices on liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients.

Background: The aim of the present study was to clarify both short-term and long-term results of patients with concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and high-risk oesophagogastric varices (OGV).

Methods: This retrospective study identified 927 cirrhotic patients who underwent curative resection of HCC between 1995 and 2012 in single institution. Patients were separated into 3 groups (A, B, and C) according to general rules for recording endoscopic findings of oesophagogastric varices proposed in Japan in 1991.