Liver transplantation following two conversions in a patient with huge hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein invasion: A case report.

Background: Surgical resection and liver transplantation (LT) are the most effective curative options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, few patients with huge HCC (> 10 cm in diameter), especially those with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), can receive these treatments. Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) can be used as a conversion therapy for them because it has the dual benefit of shrinking tumors and increasing residual hepatic volume.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody/tyrosine kinase inhibitors with or without transarterial chemoembolization as first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (CHANCE2201): a target trial emulation study.

Background: The role of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unconfirmed. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) antibody/tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with or without TACE as first-line treatment for advanced HCC.

Methods: This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective cohort study included advanced HCC patients receiving either TACE with ICIs plus anti-VEGF antibody/TKIs (TACE-ICI-VEGF) or only ICIs plus anti-VEGF antibody/TKIs (ICI-VEGF) from January 2018 to December 2022.

Predicting disease progression in cirrhotic patients after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt implantation: A sex-stratified analysis.

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been extensively used to treat portal hypertension-associated complications, including cirrhosis. The prediction of post-TIPS prognosis is important for cirrhotic patients, as more aggressive liver transplantation is needed when the post-TIPS prognosis is poor.

Aim: To construct a nutrition-based model that could predict the disease progression of cirrhotic patients after TIPS implantation in a sex-dependent manner.

Effectiveness of lenvatinib plus immune checkpoint inhibitors in primary advanced hepatocellular carcinoma beyond oligometastasis.

Background: Targeted therapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors is considered a promising treatment for primary advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, the difference between synchronous and asynchronous treatment of lenvatinib with programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor in advanced HCC is still unclear. The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the effectiveness of synchronous and asynchronous of lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitor on the advanced HCC beyond oligometastasis.

Early prediction of survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization plus sorafenib.

Aim: To identify clinical biomarkers that could early predict improved survival in patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with transarterial chemoembolization combined with sorafenib (TACE-S).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of consecutive patients with advanced-stage HCC who underwent TACE-S from January 2012 to December 2015. At the first follow-up 4-6 wk after TACE-S (median, 38 d; range, 33-45 d), patients exhibiting the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST)-evaluated complete response, partial response, and stable disease were categorized as early disease control.

Randomized controlled trial of the prophylactic effect of urea-based cream on sorafenib-associated hand-foot skin reactions in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: To assess whether urea-based cream (UBC) has prophylactic benefits on sorafenib-induced hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients And Methods: In this randomized, open-label trial, 871 patients with advanced HCC throughout China were treated with 10% UBC three times per day plus best supportive care (BSC; n = 439) or BSC alone excluding all creams (n = 432), starting on day 1 of sorafenib treatment, for up to 12 weeks. HFSR was assessed every 2 weeks and at 14 weeks for patients completing the study.

Renal aspergillosis after liver transplantation: clinical and imaging manifestations in two cases.

Renal aspergillosis (RAsp) is a rare complication in liver transplant (LT) recipients. Here we report RAsp in two LT recipients. In both patients, RAsp occurred more than 90 d after allogenetic orthotropic LT, and all the clinical findings were unspecific.

Role of multi-detector computed tomography for biliary complications after liver transplantation.

Aim: To investigate the diagnostic performance of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in detecting biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods: Eighty-three consecutive OLT recipients, who presented with clinical or biochemical signs of biliary complications, underwent MDCT examination. Two experienced radiologists assessed MDCT images in consensus to determine biliary complications.

[Transarterial chemoembolization plus computed tomography-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for small hepatocellular carcinoma in special locations].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in special locations.

Methods: From June 2008 to December 2011, a total of 36 patients with small HCC (39 lesions) received TACE plus CT-guided percutaneous RFA at our hospital. The follow-up period was over 6 months.

Effects of percutaneous transhepatic interventional treatment for symptomatic Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to hepatic venous obstruction.

Objective: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare and life-threatening disorder characterized by hepatic venous outflow obstruction. The management of BCS includes anticoagulation and thrombolysis, percutaneous transhepatic stent angioplasty (PTSA), and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), but the effect of these approaches varies greatly. The aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the medium-term effects of PTSA and TIPS of BCS secondary to hepatic venous outflow obstruction and to determine the critical factors affecting the efficacy.

[Clinical observation of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus sorafenib in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with different types of portal vein tumor thrombosis].

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus sorafenib in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with different types of portal vein tumor thrombosis.

Methods: A total of 32 patients of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombosis in portal vein were retrospectively analyzed. All of them took oral sorafenib after TACE.

The role of transarterial embolization in the management of hematuria secondary to congenital renal arteriovenous malformations.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transarterial embolization (TAE) in the management of hematuria secondary to congenital renal arteriovenous malformations (AVM).

Patients And Methods: Between May 2007 and February 2012, 6 patients with congenital AVM treated with TAE were analyzed retrospectively, followed by a brief review of TAE in the treatment of congenital AVM. Clinical records with respect to general conditions, location, embolic materials, complications and overall outcome were collected from the original hospital charts and outpatient medical records.

Different methods of detaching adherent cells significantly affect the detection of TRAIL receptors.

Aims And Background: As a powerful technique allowing analysis of large numbers of cells, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is used more and more widely. For FACS analysis, adherent cells are usually detached by trypsinization, followed by centrifugation and resuspension. However, trypsinization can cut off some receptors from the cell surface like fine scissors, which will affect the accuracy of FACS results.

Uterine artery embolization combined with methotrexate in the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy: results of a case series and review of the literature.

Purpose: To explore the clinical value of uterine artery embolization (UAE) combined with methotrexate in the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) before and after uterine curettage.

Materials And Methods: From August 2009 to April 2012, 15 patients with CSP treated with UAE (before or after uterine curettage) were analyzed retrospectively. Eleven subjects with a definite diagnosis of CSP were offered preventive UAE combined with methotrexate before uterine curettage.

[Evaluation of graft perfusion in patients with ischemic-type of biliary lesions after liver transplantation].

Objective: To investigate the value of 320-rows CT perfusion (CTP) imaging in the study of hepatic hemodynamic characters in ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBL) after liver transplantation.

Methods: A total of 11 ITBL patients received 320-slice CT angiography (CTA) and CTP after liver transplantation scheduled at 5-10 min away. Four patients underwent liver biopsy While 7 patients with normal liver after transplantation were selected as the control group.

[Diagnosis and treatment of carotid-cavernous fistula: analysis of 28 patients].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of endovascular treatment for different types of carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) via the approach of internal carotid artery (ICA) or inferior petrosal sinus (IPS).

Methods: From April 2005 to June 2010, 28 CCF patients underwent endovascular treatment at our institution. There were 13 males and 15 females with a mean age of 39 years (range: 21 - 71).

The inhibitory effect of MSCs expressing TRAIL as a cellular delivery vehicle in combination with cisplatin on hepatocellular carcinoma.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has been demonstrated to induce cell apoptosis in many types of tumors, while many hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells display high resistance to TRAIL. Another outstanding limitation of TRAIL is the short half-life in vivo. Stem cell-based therapies provide a promising approach for the treatment of many types of tumors because of the ability of tropism.

[Construction and validation of dual fusion reporter gene expression vector for molecular imaging study].

Objective: To construct dual fusion reporter gene expression vector containing enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) and human transferrin receptor (TfR), and validate the reconstructed plasmid, which will provide experimental foundation for in vivo dual-modality optical/Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging.

Methods: Clone TfR into the pEGFP-C1 vector to construct pEGFP-C1-TfR plasmid.pEGFP-C1-TfR plasmid was transfected into 293T cells for 48 h, then investigate EGFP expression under a fluorescence microscope; detect TfR expression through PT-PCR; inspect the subcellular location of EGFP-TfR fusion protein through Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy; evaluate the function of EGFP-TfR fusion protein through Tf probe uptake and competition assays.

[The diagnosis and treatment of isolated celiac and superior mesenteric artery dissection: 2 cases report and literature review].

Objective: To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of isolated celiac artery (CA) dissection and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection.

Methods: Integrating clinical data of 119 cases with isolated dissection of the visceral arteries (IDVA) reported in literature and 2 patients with spontaneous isolated dissections of both CA and SMA treated in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, the diagnosis and treatment of IDVA were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Among 119 cases reported in the literature, 69 cases were symptomatic.

[Labeling of liver cancer cell for fluorescence imaging study by far-red fluorescence protein reporter gene mKate2].

Objective: To create far-red fluorescence protein reporter gene mKate2 lentivirus, label human liver cancer cell line HepG2 with lentivirus and explore the feasibility of in vitro fluorescence imaging of labeled tumor cells so as to provide experimental rationales for in vivo fluorescence tumor imaging.

Methods: mKate2 gene was amplified from pmKate2-N plasmid. Then the fragment was inserted into the lentivirus expression vector pLenti6.

[Evaluation of esophageal varices and predicting the risk of esophageal varices bleeding with multi-detector CT in patients with portal hypertension].

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of 320-row multi-detector CT (MDCT) in the detection and grading of esophageal varices and to evaluate the ability of MDCT in predicting the risk of hemorrhage in comparison with upper endoscopy in patients with portal hypertension.

Methods: A total of 69 patients, with clinically confirmed portal hypertension, underwent epigastric triphasic enhancement scans using 320-row MDCT 1 weeks or less before upper endoscopies were performed. Two blinded abdominal imagers retrospectively interpreted all CT images to detect the presence of esophageal varices and divided EV into large EV (≥ 5 mm) and small EV (< 5 mm).

Cisplatin sensitizes human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, but not hepatocytes and mesenchymal stem cells, to TRAIL within a therapeutic window partially depending on the upregulation of DR5.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the TNF family of cytokines and has been shown to induce cell apoptosis in many types of tumors, but not in normal cells. This tumor-selective property has made TRAIL a promising approach for the development of cancer therapy. However, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells display a striking resistance to TRAIL.

[Enhanced green fluorescence protein reporter gene labeling of mesenchymal stem cells mediated by lentivirus].

Objective: To explore the effect of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) labeling mediated by lentivirus on the biophysical properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and whether the EGFP gene expression is permanent and stable.

Methods: MSC were infected with EGFP lentivirus at different virus multiplicity of infection (MOI). EGFP positive rate was measured with fluorescent-activated cell scanning (FACS) analysis, and EGFP expression in MSC was investigated under a fluorescence microscope.