High mortality associated with gram-negative bacterial bloodstream infection in liver transplant recipients undergoing immunosuppression reduction.

Background: Immunosuppression is an important factor in the incidence of infections in transplant recipient. Few studies are available on the management of immunosuppression (IS) treatment in the liver transplant (LT) recipients complicated with infection. The aim of this study is to describe our experience in the management of IS treatment during bacterial bloodstream infection (BSI) in LT recipients and assess the effect of temporary IS withdrawal on 30 d mortality of recipients presenting with severe infection.

Expression of VEGFR-3 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma correlates with unfavorable prognosis through lymphangiogenesis.

VEGFR-3 has been shown of great significance in lymph node metastasis and some malignancies, however, its expression in tumors and impact on outcome of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the role of VEGFR-3 positive tumors for prognosis of iCCA and tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis. Clinicopathological features, prognostic factors and survival rate were analyzed to evaluate the influence of VEGFR-3 positive expression on prognosis of iCCA.

Diagnosis and outcomes of collateral arterial formation after irreversible early hepatic artery thrombosis in pediatric liver recipients.

Background: Early hepatic artery thrombosis (eHAT) has been recognized as an important cause of graft loss and mortality. However, the incidence, etiology and outcome are not clear, especially for children. The present study was to investigate the formation of collateral artery flow after irreversible eHAT and its impact on patient's prognosis.

Liver transplantation for biliary atresia: A single-center study from mainland China.

Aim: To summarize our single-center experience with liver transplantation (LT) for biliary atresia (BA).

Methods: From October 2006 to December 2012, 188 children with BA were analyzed retrospectively. The stage I group (from October 2006 to December 2010) comprised the first 74 patients, and the stage II group (from January 2011 to December 2012) comprised the remaining 114 patients.

Preoperative hepatic hemodynamics in the prediction of early portal vein thrombosis after liver transplantation in pediatric patients with biliary atresia.

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is one of the main vascular complications after liver transplantation (LT), especially in pediatric patients with biliary atresia (BA). This study aimed to assess the preoperative hepatic hemodynamics in pediatric patients with BA using Doppler ultrasound and determine whether ultrasonographic parameters may predict early PVT after LT.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight pediatric patients with BA younger than 3 years of age underwent Doppler ultrasound within seven days before LT, between October 2006 and June 2013.

Bile duct kinking after adult living donor liver transplantation: Case reports and literature review.

Regeneration of the partial allograft and the growth of children may cause kinking of the biliary tract after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), but bile duct kinking after adult LDLT is rarely reported. We herein presented two patients who suffered from anastomotic strictures caused by severe bile duct kinking after LDLT. The first patient was a 57-year-old woman with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver cirrhosis, who developed biliary stricture 5 months after receiving right-lobe LDLT.

Personalized tacrolimus dose requirement by CYP3A5 but not ABCB1 or ACE genotyping in both recipient and donor after pediatric liver transplantation.

Tacrolimus (TAC) is the backbone of an immunosuppressive drug used in most solid organ transplant recipients. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 6986G>A in CYP3A5 has been notably involved in the pharmacokinetic variability of TAC. It is hypothesized that CYP3A5 genotyping in patients may provide a guideline for TAC therapeutic regimen.

Living-donor or deceased-donor liver transplantation for hepatic carcinoma: a case-matched comparison.

Aim: To compare the surgical outcomes between living-donor and deceased-donor liver transplantation in patients with hepatic carcinoma.

Methods: From January 2007 to December 2010, 257 patients with pathologically confirmed hepatic carcinoma met the eligibility criteria of the study. Forty patients who underwent living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) constituted the LDLT group, and deceased-donor liver transplantation (DDLT) was performed in 217 patients.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma exceeding the Milan criteria: a single-center experience.

Purpose: To establish a prognostic prediction system for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exceeding Milan criteria after liver transplantation (LT).

Methods: A total of 130 patients undergoing LT for HCC exceeding Milan criteria were enrolled into the study. Independent predictors for relapse-free survival (RFS) were adopted to establish a grading system to predict the risk of post-LT tumor recurrence.

De novo hepatitis B virus infection from anti-HBc-positive donors in pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and risk factors of de novo hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection from hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)-positive donors in pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 46 recipients without pre-liver transplantation (LT) HBV infection evidence who underwent LDLT from October 2006 to May 2011 in our center. HBV markers, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs), anti-HBc, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody (anti-HBe) were determined in both donors and recipients before LT and in recipients after LT.

Invasive fungal infection after liver transplantation: risk factors and significance of immune cell function monitoring.

Objective: Monitoring immune status in transplant recipients is essential for predicting the risk of infections. The aims of the study were to identify the correlation of a low ImmuKnow adenosine triphosphate (ATP) value with the development of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) and whether this is an independent risk factor for IFIs in liver recipients.

Methods: We followed up 248 liver recipients who developed 157 infectious episodes.

Molecular aspect of good eating quality formation in Japonica rice.

The composition of amylopectin is the determinant of rice eating quality under certain threshold of protein content and the ratio of amylose and amylopectin. In molecular biology level, the fine structure of amylopectin is determined by relative activities of starch branching enzyme (SBE), granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), and soluble starch synthase (SSS) in rice grain under the same ADP-Glucose level. But the underlying mechanism of eating quality in molecular biology level remains unclear.

The role of entecavir in preventing hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation.

Objective: Although hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation has been reduced to 0%-10% since the application of the combination therapy of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and lamivudine, the viral mutation resistance of lamivudine is still an obstacle to the outcome of liver transplantation. Here we evaluate the role of entecavir in preventing hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation.

Methods: Patients who received a liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related end-stage liver disease in our center from March 2006 to December 2008 were enrolled in this study.

Genetic and QTL analysis for low-temperature vigor of germination in rice.

The quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for low-temperature vigor of germination (LVG) with a germination period of 7 d, 11 d, 14 d, and 17 d at 14 degrees C was identified using F(2:3) population, which included 200 individuals and lines derived from a cross of indica and japonica "Milyang 23/Jileng 1" with microsatellite markers. The correlation coefficient between LVG and other cold tolerance traits was analyzed. LVG and the cold response index for vigor of germination (CIVG) detected when the germination period was 7 d showed a continuous distribution, which was partial to lower LVG and lower CIVG in F(3) lines.

[Prospective study of liver parenchyma volume in hepatectomy of primary liver cancer].

Objective: To explore the secure resection margin (RM) of hepatectomy for primary liver cancer (PLC) with the coexistence of cirrhosis or hepatitis by studying the correlations of the resected liver parenchyma volume with postoperative liver function, complication and RM clinically.

Methods: The volume of tumor and the surrounding liver in resected liver specimen was measured and calculated in continuous 76 PLC patients prospectively, and the total liver parenchyma volume was measured and calculated using computed tomography (CT) images in former 40 patients. Under ideal circumstances, the surrounding liver volume, which would be resected theoretically, was calculated according to various sizes of tumors and RMs.