Socioeconomic factors as predictors of organ donation.

Background: Despite numerous initiatives to increase solid organs for transplant, the gap between donors and recipients widens. There is little in the literature identifying socioeconomic predictors for donation. We evaluate the correlation between socioeconomic factors and familial authorization for donation.

Liver Transplantation for the Treatment of Complicated Iatrogenic Biliary Injuries: A National Review from the UNOS Data Set.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is rarely indicated in the management of iatrogenic bile duct injuries (IBDI), but occasionally, it becomes the only remaining therapy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate potential complications of IBDI and their impact on perioperative mortality, graft, and patient survival after LT.

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for all LT performed in the United States between 1994 and 2014.

Open Vesicocalicostomy for the Management of Transplant Ureteral Stricture.

A 59-year-old male developed a proximal stricture of his transplant ureter ten years after a living donor renal transplant. Endoscopic management was unsuccessful, and the patient was temporized with percutaneous nephrostomy tubes for months. Eventually, it became clear he would require surgical revision.

Decreased graft survival in liver transplant recipients of donors with positive blood cultures: a review of the United Network for Organ Sharing dataset.

Liver transplantation using blood culture positive donors (BCPD) has allowed a significant expansion of the donor pool. We aimed to characterize BCPD and assess the outcomes of BCPD liver transplant recipients. We retrieved data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry on all adults who underwent primary, single-organ deceased-donor liver transplantation in the USA between 2008 and 2013.

Liver transplantation for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma: A national perspective.

Background: Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma (FL-HCC) is a rare primary liver tumor that usually presents in younger patients without underlying liver disease.

Methods: We queried the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) database between October 1988 and January 2013 to evaluate outcomes in patients with FL-HCC undergoing liver transplantation in the United States compared to patients with conventional Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).

Results: Sixty-three patients were identified (57% female, mean age 30 years).

Kidney Transplant Outcomes in the Super Obese: A National Study From the UNOS Dataset.

Background: We evaluated outcomes of super-obese patients (BMI > 50) undergoing kidney transplantation in the US.

Methods: We performed a review of 190 super-obese patients undergoing kidney transplantation from 1988 through 2013 using the UNOS dataset.

Results: Super-obese patients had a mean age of 45.

Cancer stem cell marker expression alone and in combination with microvascular invasion predicts poor prognosis in patients undergoing transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The cancer stem cell hypothesis provides an explanation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) heterogeneity. We investigated the expression of CD44 and CD133 alone and in combination with microvascular invasion (MVI) as predictors of prognosis in patients undergoing liver transplantation for HCC.

Methods: Explanted livers from 95 patients transplanted for HCC were analyzed.

Long-term outcome of patients undergoing liver transplantation for mixed hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma: an analysis of the UNOS database.

Background: Mixed hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC) have been associated with a poor prognosis after liver transplantation (LT). We aimed to evaluate long-term outcomes in patients undergoing LT for HCC-CC versus patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cholangiocarcinoma (CC).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database from 1994-2013.

A prospective analysis of factors associated with decreased physical activity in patients with cirrhosis undergoing transplant evaluation.

Background: Physical activity (PA) has been associated with improved recovery time after transplantation. Handgrip strength has been related to post-transplant outcomes.

Aim: To evaluate predictors of PA and grip strength in patients with cirrhosis undergoing liver transplant evaluation.

Role of transplantation in the treatment of benign solid tumors of the liver: a review of the United Network of Organ Sharing data set.

Importance: The role of orthotopic liver transplantation for the treatment of benign solid liver tumors (BSLT) is not well defined.

Objective: To analyze outcomes in the United Network of Organ Sharing data set of patients with a diagnosis of BSLT who underwent transplantation.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective analysis of the United Network of Organ Sharing data set was performed for all (N = 87,280) patients who underwent transplantation for BSLT in the United States from October 1, 1988, through January 31, 2013.

Risk factors for 30-day readmissions after hepatectomy: analysis of 2444 patients from the ACS-NSQIP database.

Aims: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with unplanned readmissions after hepatectomies.

Methods: Patients who underwent hepatectomies between January and December of 2011 were identified using the ACS-NSQIP database. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of unplanned readmissions related to the procedure within 30 days.

Targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in liver cancer stem cells and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines with FH535.

Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been observed in at least 1/3 of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), and a significant number of these have mutations in the β-catenin gene. Therefore, effective inhibition of this pathway could provide a novel method to treat HCC. The purposed of this study was to determine whether FH535, which was previously shown to block the β-catenin pathway, could inhibit β-catenin activation of target genes and inhibit proliferation of Liver Cancer Stem Cells (LCSC) and HCC cell lines.

Synergistic inhibition of HCC and liver cancer stem cell proliferation by targeting RAS/RAF/MAPK and WNT/β-catenin pathways.

Background/aim: The aim of this study is to find synergistic effect using FH535 and sorafenib by targeting the RAS/RAF/MAPK and WNT/β-catenin pathways.

Materials And Methods: 3H-Thymidine incorporation assays were performed to address Huh7 and liver cancer stem cell (LCSC) inhibition using FH535 and sorafenib, alone and in combination. Calcusyn analysis was used to calculate the combination index (CI).

PKI-587 and sorafenib alone and in combination on inhibition of liver cancer stem cell proliferation.

Background: Deregulated Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase and PI3 K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways are significant in hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation (HCC). In this study we evaluated differences in the antiproliferative effect of dual PI3 K/Akt/mTOR and Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibition of non liver cancer stem cell lines (PLC and HuH7) and liver cancer stem cell (LCSC) lines (CD133, CD44, CD24, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1-positive cells).

Materials And Methods: Flow cytometry was performed on the resulting tumors to identify the LCSC markers CD133, CD44, CD24, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1.

The role of PI3K/mTOR inhibition in combination with sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

Background: Deregulated RAS/RAF/MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways are found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to test the inhibitory effects of PI-103 (a small molecule inhibitor of PI3K and mTOR) and sorafenib as single agents and in combination on HCC tumorigenesis in an in vivo xenograft model.

Materials And Methods: In vitro study: Huh7 proliferation was assayed by 3H-thymidine incorporation and by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

PKI-587 and sorafenib targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Ras/Raf/MAPK pathways synergistically inhibit HCC cell proliferation.

Background: Deregulated Ras/Raf/MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways are found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to test the inhibitory effects of PKI-587 and sorafenib as single agents or in combination on HCC (Huh7 cell line) proliferation.

Materials And Methods: (3)H-thymidine incorporation and MTT assay were used to assess Huh7 cell proliferation.

Predictors of surgical site infection after liver resection: a multicentre analysis using National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data.

Background:   Postoperative infections are frequent complications after liver resection and have significant impact on length of stay, morbidity and mortality. Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most common nosocomial infection in surgical patients, accounting for 38% of all such infections.

Objectives:   This study aimed to identify predictors of SSI and organ space SSI after liver resection.

Liver transplantation for the treatment of liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors: an analysis of the UNOS database.

Objective: To determine outcomes in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: University of Kentucky Medical Center.

PI-103 and sorafenib inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation by blocking Ras/Raf/MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways.

Background: Aberrant Ras/Raf/MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways are found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study reports how sorafenib (a multi-kinase inhibitor) and PI-103 (a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor) alone and in combination inhibit the proliferation of the HCC cell line, Huh7.

Materials And Methods: Huh7 proliferation was assayed by 3H-thymidine incorporation and by MTT assay.

The transition from laparoscopic to retroperitoneoscopic live donor nephrectomy: a matched pair pilot study.

Background: Retroperitoneoscopic live donor nephrectomy (RetroNeph) offers an intrinsic advantage over conventional transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy (LapNeph) because of the potentially lower risk for early and late intraperitoneal donor complications. RetroNeph, however, is infrequently performed and has not been systematically and directly compared with LapNeph in nonselected donors.

Methods: In November 2007, after 10 years of programmatic experience with transperitoneal LapNeph, we implemented RetroNeph at once for all live donor nephrectomies.

Decreasing disparity in liver transplantation among white and Asian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma : California, 1998-2005.

Background: A preliminary study using national cancer surveillance data from 1998 through 2002 suggested that there were significant differences between non-Hispanic whites ('whites') and Asian/Pacific Islanders (APIs) in the use of liver transplantation as a treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The objective of the current study was to examine whether differences in liver transplantation between whites and APIs with HCC were changing over time. By using a population-based, statewide cancer registry, data were obtained on all HCC cases diagnosed in California between 1998 and 2005, and the study was limited to white and API patients with nonmetastatic HCC who had tumors that measured < or = 5 cm in greatest dimension (n = 1728 patients).