Nurses' Experience of Good Nursing Care for Terminally Ill and End-of-life Patients: The Client-Nurse, Practice, and Environment Domains.

Purpose: This study explored nurses' experience of "good nursing care" in the context of caring for terminally ill and end-of-life patients, providing a foundation for improving patient care.

Methods: We employed a qualitative research approach, integrating both inductive and deductive analysis methods. Data collection occurred from May 1 to August 1, 2023, involving nine nurses from intensive care units, hospice and palliative care wards, and nursing homes.

Safety and efficacy of early corticosteroid withdrawal in liver transplant recipients: A randomized controlled trial.

Backgrounds/aims: Prolonged use of steroids after liver transplantation (LT) significantly increases the risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease, which can adversely affect patient outcomes. Our study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of early steroid withdrawal within the first year following LT.

Methods: This study was conducted as an open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

A Unique Immune-Related Gene Signature Represents Advanced Liver Fibrosis and Reveals Potential Therapeutic Targets.

Innate and adaptive immune responses are critically associated with the progression of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases. In this study, we aim to identify a unique immune-related gene signature representing advanced liver fibrosis and to reveal potential therapeutic targets. Seventy-seven snap-frozen liver tissues with various chronic liver diseases at different fibrosis stages (1: = 12, 2: = 12, 3: = 25, 4: = 28) were subjected to expression analyses.

Strategy for Selective Middle Hepatic Vein Reconstruction in Living Donor Liver Transplantation Using Right Lobe Graft: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to verify the safety and feasibility of our selection criteria for middle hepatic vein (MHV) reconstruction in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using right lobe grafts.

Methods: A total of 153 LDLTs were performed using right lobe grafts in a tertiary hospital from 2006 to 2016. Among them, 52 cases without MHV reconstruction were compared with 101 recipients who underwent LDLT using right lobe graft with MHV reconstruction.

TPRG1-AS1 induces RBM24 expression and inhibits liver cancer progression by sponging miR-4691-5p and miR-3659.

Background & Aims: Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play critical roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Here, by performing RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) profiling, we sought to identify novel ncRNAs that potentially drive the heterogeneous progression of liver cancers.

Methods: RNA-Seq profiles were obtained from 68 HCC specimens and 10 samples of adjacent non-tumour liver tissues.

USO1 isoforms differentially promote liver cancer progression by dysregulating the ER-Golgi network.

Alternative splicing of RNA transcripts plays an important role in cancer development and progression. Recent advances in RNA-seq technology have made it possible to identify alternately spliced events in various types of cancer; however, research on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still limited. Here, by performing RNA-seq profiling of HCC transcripts at isoform level, we identified tumor-specific and molecular subtype-dependent expression of the USO1 isoforms, which we designated as a normal form USO1-N (XM_001290049) and a tumor form USO1-T (NM_003715).

Risk Factors for Beyond Milan Recurrence After Hepatic Resection for Single Hepatocellular Carcinoma No Larger Than 5 Centimeters.

Hepatic resection (HR) is considered a treatment of choice for a single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≤5 cm in patients with preserved liver function. However, it is possible for these patients to develop a severe form of recurrence (beyond Milan recurrence [BMR] criteria). This recurrence could have been avoided if liver transplantation (LT) was performed primarily, as LT is believed to yield a more favorable oncological outcome compared with HR.

Mitochondrial Respiratory Defect Enhances Hepatoma Cell Invasiveness via STAT3/NFE2L1/STX12 Axis.

Mitochondrial respiratory defects have been implicated in cancer progression and metastasis, but how they control tumor cell aggressiveness remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that a mitochondrial respiratory defect induces nuclear factor-erythroid 2 like 1 (NFE2L1) expression at the transcriptional level via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated STAT3 activation. We identified syntaxin 12 (STX12) as an effective downstream target of NFE2L1 by performing cDNA microarray analysis after the overexpression and depletion of NFE2L1 in hepatoma cells.

F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT as an independent predictor for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma combined with major portal vein tumor thrombus.

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with major portal vein tumor thrombosis (mPVTT) complications were generally characterized by extremely poor prognoses. The aim of this study was to explore the role of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET/CT imaging in predicting HCC complicated by mPVTT.

Methods: Five hundred one HCC patients received surgery in our hospital during November 2008 to December 2014, among which 32 patients (6.

Can we delineate preoperatively the right and ventral margins of caudate lobe of the liver?

Purpose: Complete removal of the caudate lobe, which is sometimes necessary, is accomplished via isolated caudate lobectomy or hepatectomy that includes the caudate lobe. It is impossible, however, to confirm the right and ventral margins of the caudate lobe by preoperative imaging. This study was undertaken to determine whether we could identify the right and ventral margins of the caudate lobe preoperatively using Synapse 3D visualization software.

Prognostic Analysis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Hepatitis C Virus Infection Using Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Gene Profiles.

Background: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition genes have prognostic influence on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previously, the following four epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes were considered to be significantly influential: E-cadherin (CDH1), inhibitor of DNA binding 2 (ID2), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and transcription factor 3 (TCF3). A prognostic prediction model, NRISK4 = (-0.

Molecular classification of hepatocellular adenoma: A single-center experience.

Backgrounds/aims: Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is a rare benign tumor that has a risk of malignant transformation into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bleeding. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of HCA by performing molecular classification.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from nine patients who were diagnosed with HCA from 1995 to 2016.

Surgical Outcomes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Bile Duct Tumor Thrombus: A Korea-Japan Multicenter Study.

Objective: To identify optimal surgical methods and the risk factors for long-term survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma accompanied by macroscopic bile duct tumor thrombus (BDTT).

Summary Background Data: Prognoses of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma accompanied by BDTT have been known to be poor. There have been significant controversies regarding optimal surgical approaches and risk factors because of the low incidence and small number of cases in previous reports.

Recapitulation of pharmacogenomic data reveals that invalidation of SULF2 enhance sorafenib susceptibility in liver cancer.

Gene mutations play critical roles during cancer development and progression, and therefore represent targets for precision medicine. Here we recapitulated the pharmacogenomic data to delineate novel candidates for actionable mutations and therapeutic target drugs. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrated that the loss-of-function of SULF2 by mutation (N491K) or inhibition enhanced sorafenib sensitivity in liver cancer cells and in vivo mouse models.

Longterm Analysis of Biliary Complications After Duct-to-Duct Biliary Reconstruction in Living Donor Liver Transplantations.

Biliary complication (BC) is still regarded as the Achilles' heel of a living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). This study aims to evaluate the longterm outcomes of the duct-to-duct (DD) biliary reconstruction using 7-0 suture and to identify the risk factors of BCs after LDLTs. Data of 140 LDLTs between 2006 and 2015 were analyzed.

High spatial resolution navigated 3D T1-weighted hepatobiliary MR cholangiography using Gd-EOB-DTPA for evaluation of biliary anatomy in living liver donors.

Purpose: To determine the feasibility of high-resolution navigated three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted hepatobiliary MR cholangiography (Nav T1 MRC) using Gd-EOB-DTPA for biliary visualization in living liver donors and to assess added value of 3D T1-weighted hepatobiliary MRCs in improving the confidence and diagnostic accuracy of biliary anatomy in complementary to T2-weighted MRCs.

Methods: Twenty-nine right liver donors underwent 3D T2 MRC, 2D T2 MRC, breath-hold T1-weighted hepatobiliary MRC (BH T1 MRC), and Nav T1 MRC. Two readers independently reviewed and compared 3D/2D MRC set, added BH T1 MRC set, and added Nav T1 MRC set for biliary diagnostic accuracy and confidence.

Prognostic significance of microvascular invasion in tumor stage for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The presence of microvascular invasion (McVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been proposed as a cause of recurrence and poor survival, although this has not been officially emphasized in staging systems. Thus, we conducted a retrospective study to investigate the prognostic importance of McVI in tumor staging in patients with HCC who underwent hepatic resection.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC at our center from 1994 to 2012.

Conditional Survival Analysis Demonstrates that Recurrence Risk of Surgically Treated Hepatocellular Carcinoma Evolves with Time.

Objective: The study aim was to investigate long-term change in tumor recurrence risk in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatic resection. Recurrence probability over time was estimated by conditional survival (CS) analysis.

Patients And Methods: Early-stage HCC patients with hepatic resection were selected for inclusion from our surgery database.

Mutations acquired by hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence give rise to an aggressive phenotype.

Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) even after curative resection causes dismal outcomes of patients. Here, to delineate the driver events of genomic and transcription alteration during HCC recurrence, we performed RNA-Seq profiling of the paired primary and recurrent tumors from two patients with intrahepatic HCC. By comparing the mutational and transcriptomic profiles, we identified somatic mutations acquired by HCC recurrence including novel mutants of GOLGB1 (E2721V) and SF3B3 (H804Y).

Plugged percutaneous biopsy of the liver in living-donor liver transplantation recipients suspected to have graft rejection.

Background Percutaneous biopsy is a widely-accepted technique for acquiring histologic samples of the liver. When there is concern for bleeding, plugged percutaneous biopsy (PPB) may be performed, which involves embolization of the biopsy tract. Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of PPB of the liver in patients suspected to have graft rejection after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Risk factor for ischemic-type biliary lesion after ABO-incompatible living donor liver transplantation.

Aim: To evaluate the risk factors for ischemic-type biliary lesion (ITBL) after ABO-incompatible (ABO-I) adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT).

Methods: Among 141 ALDLTs performed in our hospital between 2008 and 2014, 27 (19%) were ABO-I ALDLT and 114 were ABO-identical/compatible ALDLT. In this study, we extensively analyzed the clinico-pathological data of the 27 ABO-I recipients to determine the risk factors for ITBL after ABO-I ALDLT.

Surgical treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct invasion.

Purpose: There is still some debate on surgical procedures for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with bile duct tumor thrombi (BDTT, Ueda type 3 or 4). What is adequate extent of liver resection for curative treatment? Is extrahepatic bile duct resection mandatory for cure? The aim of this study is to answer these questions.

Methods: Between February 1994 and December 2012, 877 consecutive HCC patients underwent hepatic resection at Ajou University Hospital.

Newly Developed Sarcopenia as a Prognostic Factor for Survival in Patients who Underwent Liver Transplantation.

Introduction: The relationship between a perioperative change in sarcopenic status and clinical outcome of liver transplantation (LT) is unknown. We investigated whether post-LT sarcopenia and changes in sarcopenic status were associated with the survival of patients.

Method: This retrospective study was based on a cohort of 145 patients from a single transplant center who during a mean of 1 year after LT underwent computed tomography imaging evaluation.

Quantitative Assessment of the Portal Pressure for the Liver Surgery Using Serological Tests.

Objective: To establish a reliable equation to predict hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) using serological tests for surgical patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Background: Accurate assessment of portal pressure for surgical patients with HCC is important for safe hepatic resection (HR). The HVPG is regarded as the most reliable method to detect portal hypertension.

Risk factors for mortality of severe trauma based on 3 years' data at a single Korean institution.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the mortality rate in patients with severe trauma and the risk factors for trauma mortality based on 3 years' data in a regional trauma center in Korea.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of severe trauma patients admitted to Ajou University Hospital with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15 between January 2010 and December 2012. Pearson chi-square tests and Student t-tests were conducted to examine the differences between the survived and deceased groups.