Effect of Hepatic Lipid Overload on Accelerated Hepatocyte Proliferation Promoted by HGF Expression via the SphK1/S1PR2 Pathway in MCD-diet Mouse Partial Hepatectomy.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is becoming a major health problem worldwide. Liver regeneration is crucial for restoring liver function, and is regulated by extraordinary complex process, involving numerous factors under both physiologic and pathologic conditions. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive sphingolipid synthesized by sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1), plays an important role in liver function through S1P receptors (S1PRs)-expressing cells.

Acceptance of Virtual Reality Simulation Training for Stoma Care by Healthcare Providers: A Pilot Questionnaire Study After Viewing Prototype Imagings.

Objectives:  Educational simulation systems using virtual reality (VR) with head-mounted devices are spreading into the medical field. We developed an innovative training system whereby experienced ostomates can share their proficient stoma self-care techniques with novice ostomates through VR simulations, enabling anytime, anywhere learning. We examined the questionnaire study to assess the acceptance of VR simulation training for stoma care by healthcare providers.

MANGOU (Miyazaki Advanced New General Surgery of University) Wet Lab Training Relieves Anxiety About Surgical Skills in Surgical Education: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: To increase the number of medical students or residents who want to become surgeons, we must evaluate our program that recruits new young surgeons.

Methods: We planned surgical training programs for medical students and residents that we named the MANGOU (Miyazaki Advanced New General surgery Of University) training project in the Department of Surgery, Miyazaki University, Japan. From January 2016 through December 2022, we asked trainees who attended this training to complete questionnaires to evaluate their interest in surgery, confidence in surgical skills, and training.

Questionnaire survey of virtual reality experiences of digestive surgery at a rural academic institute: A pilot study for pre-surgical education.

We developed a prototype VR platform, VECTORS L&M (VLM), aiming to enhance the understanding of digestive surgery for students, interns, and young surgeons by limiting costs. Its efficacy was assessed via questionnaires before implementation in surgical education. The VLM provides nine-minute VR views of surgeries, from both 180- and 360-degree angles.

HMGB2 Promotes De Novo Lipogenesis to Accelerate Hepatocyte Proliferation During Liver Regeneration.

Liver regeneration is a well-orchestrated compensatory process that is regulated by multiple factors. We recently reported the importance of the chromatin protein, a high-mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) in mouse liver regeneration. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear.

The crucial role of SETDB1 in structural and functional transformation of epithelial cells during regeneration after intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury.

Su (var) 3-9, enhancer of seste, trithorax (SET)-domain bifurcated histone lysine methyltransferase (SETDB1) plays a crucial role in maintaining intestinal stem cell homeostasis; however, its physiological function in epithelial injury is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of SETDB1 in epithelial regeneration using an intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) mouse model. Jejunum tissues were sampled after 75 min of ischemia followed by 3, 24, and 48 h of reperfusion.

An unusual presentation of a rare formation of the common hepatic duct and right hepatic artery in a case of pediatric congenital biliary dilatation.

A 15-year-old girl with recurrent upper abdominal pain was diagnosed with congenital biliary dilatation. Abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed the anterior segmental branch of the right hepatic artery (RHA) running across the ventral aspect of the dilated common hepatic duct (CHD). Laparoscopic extrahepatic dilated biliary duct excision and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy were planned.

A case of multifocal sclerosis angiomatoid nodular transformations of the spleen occurring after partial splenic infarction with transcatheter arterial embolization for splenic artery aneurysm.

A 48-year-old woman underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for a splenic artery aneurysm, which resulted in a partial splenic infarction in the middle lobe. Five years after TAE, a 20-mm diameter mass in the noninfarcted area of the spleen was detected on imaging, which grew to 25 mm in diameter after 6 months. MRI after gadolinium administration showed a 35 × 34 mm mass within the superior pole and 15 × 12 mm mass within the inferior pole.

Protective role of estrogen through G-protein coupled receptor 30 in a colitis mouse model.

Estrogen and its receptors are involved in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases such as colitis. However, the role of the membrane estrogen receptor G-protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) in colitis is poorly understood. We therefore investigated the effect of estrogen in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.

A Preliminary Pathological Evaluation of Extracellular Volume Fraction with Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography as a Novel Quantitative Parameter of Pancreatic Fibrosis.

Objective The extracellular volume (ECV) calculated based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) has been reported as a novel imaging parameter reflecting the morphological change of fibrosis in several parenchymal organs. Our retrospective study assessed the validity of the ECV fraction for diagnosing pancreatic fibrosis and the appropriate imaging condition as the "equilibrium phase". Methods In 27 patients undergoing multiphasic CT and subsequent pancreaticoduodenectomy, we investigated pathological fibrotic changes related to the ECV fraction and conducted analyses using the value obtained by subtracting the equilibrium CT value of the portal vein from that of the abdominal aorta (Ao-PV) to estimate eligibility of the equilibrium phase.

An alternative option of the retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach for limited hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma at the transected edge after previous hepatectomy.

Laparoscopic hepatectomy is safely performed with minimal invasiveness on patients with recurrent liver tumors after previous hepatectomy. However, it is still difficult to dissect and expose the operative field at the transected edge or plane after open right hepatectomy, even for limited resection by a laparoscopic approach, due to severe adhesion to the surrounding peritoneum or organs. We herein applied the retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach to limited resection of the dorsal surface at the transected edge of Couinaud's segment 6 after previous repeated hepatectomies in a patient with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by avoiding severe intra-abdominal adhesion.

Extracellular Volume Fraction Calculated Using Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography as a Biomarker of Oxaliplatin-Induced Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome: A Preliminary Histopathological Analysis.

Background: Oxaliplatin (OX)-based chemotherapy induces sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) in the nontumorous liver parenchyma, which can increase the risk of liver resection due to colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). The extracellular volume (ECV) calculated from contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) has been reported to reflect the morphological change of hepatic fibrosis. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the ECV fraction as a predictive factor for OX-induced SOS.

Pivotal role of High-Mobility Group Box 2 in ovarian folliculogenesis and fertility.

Background: High-Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) and HMGB2 are chromatin-associated proteins that belong to the HMG protein family, and are involved in the regulation of DNA transcription during cell differentiation, proliferation and regeneration in various tissues. However, the role of HMGB2 in ovarian folliculogenesis is largely unknown.

Methods: We investigated the functional role of HMGB1 and HMGB2 in ovarian folliculogenesis and fertilization using C57BL/6 wild type (WT) and HMGB2-knockout (KO) mice.

Prognostic Value of Repeat Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.

Background/aim: The potential for repeat hepatectomy has been increasing in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

Patients And Methods: To assess its significance, we examined the clinical features, surgical records, and survival of 279 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy as primary treatment. Patients were divided into three groups: single hepatectomy without HCC relapse in 97 patients (Group 1), single hepatectomy with HCC relapse in 133 patients (Group 2) and repeat hepatectomy for HCC relapse in 49 patients (Group 3).

Relationship of immunonutritional factor with changes in liver volume after portal vein embolization.

Background: To identify predictors of changes in hepatic volumes after portal vein embolization, we examined the relationship with preoperative nutritional and immunological parameters.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-three patients who underwent portal vein embolization were included. The control group comprised 13 patients who underwent right hepatectomy without portal vein embolization.

Using indocyanine green fluorescence in laparoscopic surgery to identify and preserve rare branching of the right hepatic artery in pediatric congenital biliary dilatation.

We describe a laparoscopic surgical technique using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence to identify and preserve rare arterial branching associated with pediatric congenital biliary dilatation. Congenital biliary dilatation with pancreaticobiliary maljunction was diagnosed in a 9-year-old girl, who presented with upper abdominal pain. Abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed that the accessory right hepatic artery (aRHA) branched from the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (PSPDA) and flowed through the right aspect of the dilated common bile duct (CBD) directly into the right lobe of the liver.

Curative remnant total pancreatectomy for recurrent pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) of the pancreas is a rare pancreatic cancer subtype (incidence, 0.5-2%) with unclear epidemiology and prognosis. Sometimes, repeat resection including total pancreatectomy is required for recurrence.

Laparoscopic dome resection for pediatric nonparasitic huge splenic cyst safely performed using indocyanine green fluorescence and percutaneous needle grasper.

Introduction: In recent years, dome resection, which preserves the splenic immunological function, has been the primary technique used to treat splenic cysts. We herein report a surgical technique using a needle grasper and indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence to perform dome resection of a huge nonparasitic splenic cyst in a pediatric patient.

Patient And Surgical Technique: A 13-year-old girl was incidentally diagnosed with a splenic cyst during follow-up for scoliosis.

An adult case of a retroperitoneal isolated enteric duplication cyst with the imaging changes over time.

Background: Adult cases of retroperitoneal isolated enteric duplication cyst (IEDC) are rare, with only 17 case reports in the relevant literature. We herein present a case, which was characterized by changes in intra-cystic density on computed tomography (CT), which was safely resected by laparoscopic surgery.

Case Presentation: The patient was a 60-year-old male who received abdominal CT to investigate the cause of increased serum CA19-9 levels.

Preoperative Prognostic Nutritional Index is a significant predictive factor for posthepatectomy bile leakage.

Backgrounds/aims: It is known that preoperative nutritional status can influence patient outcomes after hepatectomy. Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is a useful parameter to reflect patient outcomes undergoing gastro-intestinal surgery. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate relationships of nutritional parameters, demographics, and surgical records with postoperative outcomes in a cohort study.

Recent Advances in Photodynamic Imaging and Therapy in Hepatobiliary Malignancies: Clinical and Experimental Aspects.

The therapeutic and diagnostic modalities of light are well known, and derivative photodynamic reactions with photosensitizers (PSs), specific wavelengths of light exposure and the existence of tissue oxygen have been developed since the 20th century. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective local treatment for cancer-specific laser ablation in malignancies of some organs, including the bile duct. Although curability for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is expected with surgery alone, patients with unresectable or remnant biliary cancer need other effective palliative therapies, including PDT.