MELD-Na Alterations on the Liver Transplant Waiting List and Their Impact on Listing Outcome.

Background: Dynamic MELD deterioration (Delta MELD) during waiting time was shown to have significant impact on post-transplant survival. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of MELD-Na score alterations on waiting list outcomes in liver transplant candidates.

Method: 36,806 patients listed at UNOS for liver transplantation in 2011-2015 were analyzed according to their delisting reasons.

Correction: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 induced resistance to radiation therapy in colorectal cancer.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12099.

FGF8 induces therapy resistance in neoadjuvantly radiated rectal cancer.

Purpose: Therapy response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (nRCT) of locally advanced rectal cancer varies widely so that markers predicting response are urgently needed. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and FGF receptor (FGFR) signaling is involved in pro-survival signaling and thereby may result in radiation resistance.

Methods: In a cohort of 43 rectal cancer patients, who received nRCT, we analyzed protein levels of FGF 8 and its downstream target Survivin by immunohistochemistry to assess their impact on nRCT response.

A siphon-like retrogastric transverse colon: A case report.

Introduction: Intestinal interposition is a term that describes rare anatomic variations where parts of the colon deviate from their normal intraabdominal position, attaching between two organs. Most patients with colonic interpositions are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally by computed tomography or ultrasound. Here we present a case of a symptomatic restrogastric colon, interposing kinked between stomach and pancreas.

Multimodality locoregional treatment strategies for bridging HCC patients before liver transplantation.

Background: It is current practice that patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) listed for liver transplantation should receive locoregional treatment if the suspected waiting time for transplantation is longer than 6 months, even in the absence of prospective randomized data. Aim of this study was the comparison of single versus multimodality locoregional treatment strategies on outcomes after liver transplantation.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 150 HCC patients listed for liver transplantation at our center between 2004 and 2011.

Endoscopic versus surgical management of biliary complications - Outcome analysis after 1188 orthotopic liver transplantations.

Background And Aim: After liver transplantation, the endoscopic approach has become the standard treatment modality for biliary complications. Aim of this study was to compare primary endoscopic with primary surgical management.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review on 1188 consecutive liver transplant patients between 1989 and 2009 was performed.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 induced resistance to radiation therapy in colorectal cancer.

In colorectal cancer (CRC), fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is upregulated and acts as an oncogene. This study investigated the impact of this receptor on the response to neoadjuvant radiotherapy by analyzing its levels in rectal tumors of patients with different responses to the therapy. Cellular mechanisms of FGFR4-induced radioresistance were analyzed by silencing or over-expressing FGFR4 in CRC cell line models.

Long-term oncologic outcomes for simultaneous resection of synchronous metastatic liver and primary colorectal cancer.

Background: Twenty-five percent of patients with colorectal cancer present with simultaneous liver metastasis. Complete resection is the only potential curative treatment. Due to improvements in operative and perioperative management, simultaneous liver and colon resections are an accepted procedure at specialized centers for selected patients.

Impact of dynamic changes in MELD score on survival after liver transplantation - a Eurotransplant registry analysis.

Background & Aims: With restricted numbers of available organs, futility in liver transplantation has to be avoided. The concept of dynamic changes in MELD score (DeltaMELD) has previously been shown to be a simple tool to identify patients with the greatest risk of death after transplantation. Aim was to validate this concept with the Eurotransplant (ET) database.

Simultaneous resection for rectal cancer with synchronous liver metastasis is a safe procedure.

Background: One quarter of colorectal cancer patients will present with liver metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Recent studies have shown that simultaneous resections are safe and feasible for stage IV colon cancer. Limited data are available for simultaneous surgery in stage IV rectal cancer patients.

The difficulty in defining extended donor criteria for liver grafts: the Eurotransplant experience.

Donor criteria for liver grafts have been expanded because of organ shortage. Currently, no exact definitions for extended donor grafts have been established. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of donor-specific risk factors, independent of recipient characteristics.

[Surgical aspects of peritoneal dialysis].

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has wide clinical range since die 70ies. Clinical data report a significantly higher 2 year survival rate for PD compared to patients treated with hemodialysis. Nevertheless, currently only about 10 % of patients suffering from end-stage renal disease are treated with PD.

Dynamic changes in MELD score not only predict survival on the waiting list but also overall survival after liver transplantation.

The predictive value of MELD score for post-transplant survival has been under constant debate since its implementation in 2001. Aim of this study was to assess the impact of alterations in MELD score throughout waiting time (WT) on post-transplant survival. A single-centre retrospective analysis of 1125 consecutive patients listed for liver transplantation between 1997 and 2009 was performed.

Long-term results after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in adolescent patients: follow-up of the Austrian experience.

Background: During the last 30 years a threefold increase in the number of overweight children has been reported in Western countries. More than 15% of adolescents have a body mass index (BMI) higher than the 95th percentile. The use of surgical strategies in adolescent patients is still controversial due to the impact on the continuing maturing process.

Genetically engineered oncolytic Newcastle disease virus effectively induces sustained remission of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a highly aggressive tumor. Alternative treatment strategies such as oncolytic viral therapy may offer promising treatment options in the future. In this study, the oncolytic efficacy and induction of tumor remission by a genetically engineered Newcastle disease virus [NDV; NDV(F3aa)-GFP; GFP, green fluorescent protein] in malignant pleural mesothelioma is tested and monitored by bioluminescent tumor imaging.

A novel endoscopic device for repeated right-side colonic access during colonoscopy (with video).

Background: Megachannel is a newly developed colonic access system allowing rapid and multiple passes of the colonoscope to the right side of the colon.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and clinical feasibility of placing a 100 cm Megachannel prototype in the right side of the colon.

Setting: Six centers, international, both surgeons and gastroenterologists performing endoscopy.

The value of protecting the longitudinal staple line with invaginating sutures during esophageal reconstruction by gastric tube pull-up.

Background: Radical surgery with lymphadenectomy offers the best chance of curing esophageal cancer, but it carries considerable risks. Generally, the resected esophagus is replaced with a gastric tube. Rupture of the gastric tube staple line is a rare but serious surgical complication.

Surgery for gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the main mesenchymal neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract. Tumor size, mitotic rate, and location correlate with potential malignancy and recurrence rate. Results of surgical treatment of gastric GIST are analyzed with emphasis on recurrence of disease after intermediate follow-up.

CC chemokine and CC chemokine receptor profiles in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue are altered in human obesity.

Background/aims: Obesity is associated with a low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and macrophage infiltration of adipose tissue. The role of CC chemokines and their respective receptors in human adipose tissue inflammation remains to be determined.

Methods: sc and visceral adipose tissue of obese patients (body mass index 53.

Design and instrumentation of new devices for performing appendectomy at colonoscopy (with video).

Background: There is increasing interest in natural orifice surgery (NOS). Because the lumen of the appendix is connected to the cecum, a minimally invasive method for removing the appendix by colonoscopy may be feasible.

Objectives: Our purpose was to design, develop, and test new devices for inverting and removing the appendix by colonoscopy.

Osteopontin expression in human and murine obesity: extensive local up-regulation in adipose tissue but minimal systemic alterations.

Obesity is associated with a chronic low-grade inflammation characterized by macrophage infiltration of adipose tissue (AT) that may underlie the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional protein involved in various inflammatory processes, cell migration, and tissue remodeling. Because these processes occur in the AT of obese patients, we studied in detail the regulation of OPN expression in human and murine obesity.

Combination of extended donor criteria and changes in the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score predict patient survival and primary dysfunction in liver transplantation: a retrospective analysis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of extended donor criteria (EDC) and of changes in the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score while waiting for liver-transplantation (Delta-MELD) on patient survival and initial graft function.

Methods: We included 386 consecutive patients with end-stage liver disease who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation at the Medical University Vienna between 1997 and 2003. Primary outcome was patient survival and secondary outcome was initial graft function.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in adolescents: the Austrian experience.

Background: Morbid obesity is a rising problem in adolescents in the industrial nations. Up to 25% of children have a body mass index (BMI) higher than the 85th age- and sex-adjusted percentile. Obesity in youth is associated with increased risk for morbidity and mortality in adulthood.

Is MELD score sufficient to predict not only death on waiting list, but also post-transplant survival?

Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score has emerged as a useful tool in predicting mortality in patients awaiting liver transplantation. There is still, however, discussion as to whether further parameters could improve the sensitivity and specificity of the MELD score. From 1997 to 2003, 621 adult patients with end-stage liver disease were listed for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).