Animal models for transplant immunology: bridging bench to bedside.

The progress of transplantation has been propelled forward by animal experiments. Animal models have not only provided opportunities to understand complex immune mechanisms in transplantation but also served as a platform to assess therapeutic interventions. While small animals have been instrumental in uncovering new therapeutic concepts related to immunosuppression and immune tolerance, the progression to human trials has largely been driven by studies in large animals.

Positive immunostaining of Sal-like protein 4 is associated with poor patient survival outcome in the large and undifferentiated Korean hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Previous studies have shown the role of Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4) as a biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and some studies have shown the relationship between SALL4 and prognosis. Given the debates in study groups differences in terms of etiologic causes between Western and Asian HCC and detection methods, we attempted to verify the features of SALL4 immunoreactivity and its clinical correlation in Korean HCC patients.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining of SALL4 of tissue microarrays (TMAs) consisting of 213 surgically resected HCC patients' tissue were scored in a semiquantitative scoring system with immunoreactive score and the results analyzed with clinical outcome, in addition to general demographics and clinical characteristics.

One layer end-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy using reinforcing suture on the pancreatic stump.

Background/aims: Pancreaticoduodenectomy is associated with a high incidence of postoperative morbidity, and pancreatic fistulas are the most important complication. We therefore designed a modified method of pancreaticojejunostomy using reinforcing suture on the pancreatic stump.

Methodology: The procedure is performed as follow: first, insert a soft rubber catheter into the pancreatic duct, then make reinforcing sutures with 3-0 vicryl.

What is the optimal time for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in gallbladder empyema?

Purpose: With the accumulating experience in laparoscopic surgery, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is increasingly offered for acute cholecystitis. However, early LC without percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) for gallbladder empyema is still believed to be unsafe. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal time for LC in gallbladder empyema.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the kidney mimicking malignancy on 18F-FDG PET/CT in a patient with diabetes and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is a pseudoneoplastic lesion that most commonly involves lung. We report a case of IPT of kidney associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. CT and PET/CT showed the features of renal cell carcinoma.

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder with production of alpha-fetoprotein.

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAC) is a tumor with aberrant hepatocellular differentiation that occurs in extrahepatic organs. HAC of the gallbladder is rare, and cases of alpha-fetoprotein production are extremely rare. A 61-year-old man was diagnosed with gallbladder adenocarcinoma after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Bladder reconstruction using bovine pericardium in a case of enterovesical fistula.

The use of graft materials in bladder mucosa has been examined in animal models, but debate exists over which materials are effective. Intestine has been used as a substitute in augmentation cystoplasty for patients with neuropathic bladder, but serious adverse effects of the operation have occurred in some instances. We report a case of a successful repair of an enterovesical fistula by use of bovine pericardium.

Pattern analysis of lymph node metastasis and the prognostic importance of number of metastatic nodes in ampullary adenocarcinoma.

The aims of this study were to clarify the distribution and spread pattern of metastatic nodes and to evaluate the importance of the number, ratio, and location of positive nodes in ampullary adenocarcinoma. We analyzed the clinicopathologic data and survival of 52 patients who received curative pancreatoduodenectomy for ampullary adenocarcinoma between June 1994 and May 2009. Metastatic lymph nodes were found in 32 (61.

Carcinoid tumors of the extrahepatic biliary tract: report of four cases.

Carcinoid tumors located in the biliary tree are exceedingly rare, accounting for 0.2%-2% of all gastrointestinal carcinoids. This study describes four cases of carcinoid tumors of the extrahepatic biliary tract.

Significance analysis of histologic type and perineural invasion as prognostic factors after curative resection of ampulla of Vater carcinoma.

Background/aims: Periampullary adenocarcinoma has either intestinal- or pancreatobiliary-type of differentiation. These types and perineural invasion have been shown to have prognostic relevance. The influences of histologic type and perineural invasion on recurrence and survival in ampullar of Vater carcinoma still need to be assessed.

Actinomycosis of the pancreas: a case report and review of the literature.

Actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative and granulomatous disease usually caused by Actinomyces israelii. The pathogen produces a characteristic granulomatous inflammatory fibrosis and mass lesion. Abdominal actinomycosis is often difficult to diagnose before operation because of its rarity and chronic disease progression without any characteristic clinical features.

[Acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas in Korea--clinicopathologic analysis of 27 patients from korean literature and 2 cases from our hospital--].

Background/aims: Acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) of the pancreas is a rare malignancy. ACC has been considered a cancer with poor prognosis due to frequent metastasis, a high recurrence rate, and low resectability. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical, radiologic and pathologic features of ACC in Korean patients, and surgical outcome was also investigated.

Biliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma of the liver: 10 cases of a single center experience.

Background/aims: Biliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma constitute less than 5% of intrahepatic cysts originating from the bile duct. The aims of this study were to characterize the clinical and pathologic aspects of these lesions, and also to discuss the treatment and prognosis of them.

Methodology: We reviewed the clinical records of six patients with intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma and four patients with cystadenocarcinoma who had undergone operation from January, 1990 to January, 2006 at Hanyang University Medical Center.

Effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells in a cirrhotic rat model.

Background/aim: Cirrhosis is a long-term consequence of chronic hepatic injury and no effective therapy is currently available for this disease. Recent reports have shown that the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capacity to differentiate into hepatocytes, and umbilical cord blood is a rich source of MSCs. Hence, we investigated the effect of infusing of human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (HMSCs) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhosis in a rat model.

Successful stem cell therapy using umbilical cord blood-derived multipotent stem cells for Buerger's disease and ischemic limb disease animal model.

Buerger's disease, also known as thromboangiitis obliterans, is a nonatherosclerotic, inflammatory, vasoocclusive disease. It is characterized pathologically as a panangiitis of medium and small blood vessels, including both arteries and adjacent veins, especially the distal extremities (the feet and the hands). There is no curative medication or surgery for this disease.

A new alloantigen-independent control for chronic allograft nephropathy rat models.

Background: Isografts are used as controls in many transplant experiments. Our laboratory and others have noticed histological changes in control isograft groups of rats similar to allograft groups, suggesting alloantigen-independent factors contributing to chronic allograft nephropathy. However, the isograft model as a nonalloantigen control is flawed because of the potential of unrecognized minor antigen differences between rats.

In vitro differentiation of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells.

In addition to long-term self-renewal capability, human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess versatile differentiation potential ranging from mesenchyme-related multipotency to neuroectodermal and endodermal competency. Of particular concern is hepatogenic potential that can be used for liver-directed stem cell therapy and transplantation. In this study, we have investigated whether human umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived MSCs are also able to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells.

Flavin-containing monooxygenase activity can be inhibited by nitric oxide-mediated S-nitrosylation.

Nitric oxide (NO) modifies the functions of a variety of proteins containing cysteine thiols or transition-metal centers, particularly by S-nitrosylation. In inflamed liver, NO is overproduced and hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, the flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) and cytochrome P450s (CYPs), are suppressed. However, the NO-related mechanisms underlying the loss of these activities are not well understood, particularly for FMOs.