Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio is a Predictive Factor of Malignant Potential for Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the pancreas.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are cystic neoplasms with the potential for progression to pancreatic cancer. Accurate prediction of the malignant potential is challenging and a proper treatment strategy has not been well established. Preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a biomarker of the malignant potential in patients with several types of malignancy.

Detection of Lymph Nodes Metastasis in Biliary Carcinomas: Morphological Criteria by MDCT and the Clinical Impact of DWI-MRI.

Background/aims: This study was conducted to assess the usefulness of multi-slice CT (MDCT) and diffusion weighted MR images (DWI-MRI) for diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) in biliary carcinomas.

Methodology: Eighteen patients with biliary carcinomas (total 121 LNs) underwent surgical resection were included. In MDCT, the following criteria were measured: the maximum diameter, the enhanced value and the long and short axis (L/S) ratio.

Clinical role of Foxp3+ regulatory T cell in Living donor related liver transplantation for prediction of life-threatening complications.

Purposes: It is no doubt that regulatory T cells (Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+)T cells: Treg) play important roles in transplant immunity. We investigated the significance of Treg expression in acute stage of living donorrelated liver transplantation (LDLT) for the possibility of the sensitive marker for immunological state and homeostatic stress after liver transplantation.

Methods: Peripheral blood was drawn from 5 recipients of LDLT preoperatively and on post operative 1, 4, 7, and 14 days.

Effective use of a vessel-sealing system for laparoscopic unroofing of liver cysts.

Introduction: Liver cysts that present with symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain, and intra-cystic infection require treatment. In laparoscopic unroofing of liver cysts, appropriate treatment is needed in cases where the cystic walls contain vessels or bile ducts. A vessel-sealing system can seal not only vessels, but also bile ducts.

Homing effect of adipose-derived stem cells to the injured liver: the shift of stromal cell-derived factor 1 expressions.

Background: Whether systemically transplanted human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) homed to the injured liver in nude mice under stress with subsequent hepatectomy (Hx) and ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) was investigated in the present study. The types of cells in the liver that were involved in the homing of ADSCs were clarified, with focus on the stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR-4) axis.

Methods: Adipose-derived stem cells were transplanted intravenously immediately after 70% Hx and I/R.

Clinical role of Notch signaling pathway in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas.

Background And Aim: This study was performed to elucidate the expression of the Notch signaling pathway and its correlations to clinicopathological factors of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). It is incontrovertible that regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in tumor immunity. However, the whole mechanism of control of peripheral Tregs remains unclear.

High STAT4 expression is a better prognostic indicator in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.

Background: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) mediates the intracellular effects of interleukin-12, leading to the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and natural killer cells cytotoxicity. However, the clinical significance of STAT4 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains virtually unknown.

Methods: A total of 66 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy were enrolled in this study.

Effect of Twist and Bmi1 on intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas.

Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is a well-established entity among pancreatic neoplasms that ranges from low-grade dysplasia to invasive carcinoma. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to tumor progression in various cancers. Moreover, Notch signaling is one of the important upstream effectors of EMT promotion.

Clinicopathological characteristics of patients with non-B non-C hepatocellular carcinoma: a special reference to metabolic syndrome.

Background/aims: This study was carried out to clarify the clinicopathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arising in patients without viral infection and to confirm the influence of metabolic syndrome (MS) on characteristics in HCC patients.

Methodology: Two hundred and thirty-three hepatectomized HCC patients were enrolled. The status of the hepatitis viral infection was defined; non-B non-C (NBNC) (n = 15), negative for HBs-Ag, HBc-Ab or HCV-Ab; HBV (n = 70); HCV (n = 148).

Role of Fbxw7 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent non-tumor liver tissue.

Background And Aim: Fbxw7 is a tumor suppressor gene through ubiquitination and degradation of multiple oncoproteins. Loss of Fbxw7 expression is frequently observed in various human cancers. In the present study, we examined the role of Fbxw7 expression in both non-tumor liver tissues and tumor tissues on clinicopathological significance.

Bevacizumab improves splenomegaly and decreases production of hyaluronic acid after L-OHP based chemotherapy.

Background: Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy can cause hepatic sinusoidal injury such as sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS). Spleen size is correlated with sinusoidal damage, and serum hyaluronic acid is also a marker of SOS. The aim of the present study was to clarify the impact of the current chemotherapeutic regimen plus bevacizumab against oxaliplatin-associated hepatic damage with serum hyaluronic acid and spleen size.

Gene profile in the spleen under massive partial hepatectomy using complementary DNA microarray and pathway analysis.

Background And Aim: In general, the spleen is one of the abdominal organs connected by the portal system, and a splenectomy improves hepatic functions in the settings of partial hepatectomy (Hx) for portal hypertensive cases or living donor liver transplantation with excessive portal vein flow. Those precise mechanisms remain still unclear; therefore, we investigated the DNA expression profile in the spleen after 90% Hx in rats using complementary DNA microarray and pathway analysis.

Methods: Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were prepared from three rat spleens at each time point (0, 3, and 6 h after 90% Hx).

Expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule are linked with aggressive local recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation therapy.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a widely used therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several reports have demonstrated the aggressive local recurrence of HCC after RFA, suggesting that induction of further malignant transformation of HCC has occurred.

Methods: Eighty-eight (88) patients with HCC who underwent hepatic resection were included in this study.

Loss of FBXW7 expression is associated with poor prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Aim: FBXW7 acts as a tumor suppressor gene by targeting several oncogenic regulators of proliferation, growth and apoptosis for proteasomal degradation. However, the significance of this protein is not yet well understood in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between FBXW7 expression and clinicopathological variables in IHCC patients.

Trophic effect of adipose tissue-derived stem cells on porcine islet cells.

Background: Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs), which are widely known as multipotent progenitor cells, release several cytokines that support cell survival and repair. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ADSC-secreted molecules could induce a trophic effect in pancreatic islet culture conditions in vitro.

Materials And Methods: We cocultured porcine islet cells with ADSCs using a transwell system for 48 h and evaluated the viability of islet cells.

CXC receptor 4 and stromal cell-derived factor 1 in primary tumors and liver metastases of colorectal cancer.

Background: It has been determined that the chemokine receptor CXC receptor 4 (CXCR4) and its ligand, stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1), regulate several key processes in a wide variety of cancers. In this study, we investigate the possible role of SDF-1 (noncancerous liver tissue) and CXCR4 in liver metastases of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Materials And Methods: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine the expression of SDF-1 in noncancerous liver tissues of 16 CRC patients with liver metastasis and in normal liver tissues of six patients with benign liver disease.

Atypically large well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma with extensive fatty metamorphosis: report of a case.

A large well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with fatty change is rare, and to date only a few cases have been reported. Herein, we present a 68-year-old man who developed a well-differentiated HCC with extensive fatty metamorphosis. The patient was referred to our institute because of a rapidly growing tumor in the left lobe of the liver.

Benefits of simultaneous laparoscopic resection of primary colorectal cancer and liver metastases.

Introduction: Recently, consensus on the optimal strategy for resectable synchronous colorectal liver metastases (LM) seems to have shifted toward simultaneous resection. However, there are still relatively few reports about simultaneous laparoscopic resection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent simultaneous laparoscopic resection.

Laparoscopic hepatic resection for metastatic liver tumor of colorectal cancer: comparative analysis of short- and long-term results.

Background: With the progress of surgical techniques and devices, laparoscopic hepatectomy (Lap-Hx) became a realizable option for patients with liver tumors. However, the feasibility of Lap-Hx for metastatic liver tumor of colorectal cancer also should be guaranteed oncologically. This study evaluated the short- and long-term outcomes of Lap-Hx compared with open hepatectomy (Open-Hx) for patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) by matched-pair analysis.

The role of Aurora B expression in non-tumor liver tissues of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Aurora B is a serine-threonine kinase and chromosomal passenger protein involved in the control of chromosome assembly and segregation during mitosis. Aberrant expression of Aurora B has been reported in some tumors, including lung and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the role of Aurora B expression in both HCC and matched adjacent non-tumor tissue.

Specific miRNA expression profiles of non-tumor liver tissue predict a risk for recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: It is reasonable to investigate non-tumor liver tissues to predict a risk for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A molecular analysis of chronically damaged liver tissues may identify specific miRNA expression profiles associated with a risk for multicentric (MC) HCC.

Methods: Twenty HCC patients, who underwent a curative hepatectomy were classified into two groups: a non-MC group (no MC recurrence in more than 3 years, n = 10) and an MC group (MC recurrence within 3 years after hepatectomy, n = 10).

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma accompanied by pancreaticobiliary maljunction without bile duct dilatation 20 years after cholecystectomy: report of a case.

Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is associated with the occurrence of biliary cancer due to pancreatobiliary reflux. From the perspective of carcinogenesis, the treatment for PBM is controversial. We herein report a case of hilar cholangiocarcinoma 20 years after the occurrence of gallbladder cancer.

Changes of immunological parameters with administration of Japanese Kampo medicine (Juzen-Taihoto/TJ-48) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Background: The prognosis of pancreatic cancer is extremely poor regardless of various combination therapies. Immunoaugumentation against tumor cells was recently A focus. We reported that the population of Foxp3(+)CD25(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Foxp3(+)Treg) was the new parameter for the estimation of host immunity and had correlation with tumor aggressiveness.

Role of CD44 expression in non-tumor tissue on intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: CD44 is well known to be one of the cancer stem cell markers and is a cell-surface glycoprotein involved in cell-cell interactions, cell adhesion, and cell migration. We investigated the role of CD44 expression in both tumor and non-tumor tissues on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Forty-eight patients with HCC who underwent hepatic resection at our institution were enrolled in this study.

Impact of a new refrigerator on the preservation of hepatic grafts.

Aim:   Current medical transplantation methods focus on solutions for major problems such as the shortage of donors. To overcome these issues, expanding organ preservation time has become a major concern. A new refrigerating chamber has been recently developed, which can cool the inside of a material to the required temperature by frequently sensing the temperature of both inside and surface of the materials.