Mucin 5AC expression is common but unrelated to tumor progression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) belongs to the family of secreted gel-forming mucins. It is physiologically expressed in some normal mucin producing epithelial cells but also in pancreatic, ovarian, and colon cancer cells. The role of MUC5AC expression in cancer is not fully understood.

DOG1 overexpression is associated with mismatch repair deficiency and BRAF mutations but unrelated to cancer progression in colorectal cancer.

Introduction: The transmembrane channel protein DOG1 (Discovered on GIST1) is normally expressed in the gastrointestinal interstitial cells of Cajal and also in gastrointestinal stroma tumors arising from these cells. However, there is also evidence for a relevant role of DOG1 expression in colorectal cancers. This study was undertaken to search for associations between DOG1 expression and colon cancer phenotype and key molecular alterations.

DOG1 is commonly expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma but unrelated to cancer aggressiveness.

Background: DOG1 (ANO1; TMEM16A) is a voltage-gated calcium-activated chloride and bicarbonate channel. DOG1 is physiologically expressed in Cajal cells, where it plays an important role in regulating intestinal motility and its expression is a diagnostic hallmark of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Data on a possible role of DOG1 in pancreatic cancer are rare and controversial.

Mesothelin is Commonly Expressed in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma but Unrelated to Cancer Aggressiveness.

Data on Mesothelin (MSLN) expression in human normal and cancerous tissues is controversial. We employed immunohistochemistry (IHC) on a tissue microarray (TMA) from 599 pancreatic cancers and 12 large tissue sections of pancreatitis. MSLN expression was highest in pancreatic adenocarcinomas (89%) and adenocarcinomas of the ampulla Vateri (79%), infrequent in pancreatitis and absent in 6 acinus cell carcinomas and normal pancreas.

High density of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes is linked to tumoral PD-L1 expression regardless of the mismatch repair status in colorectal cancer.

Background: Immune checkpoint-inhibitors targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 system are FDA approved in microsatellite instable (MSI) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC). PD-L1 expression is tightly linked to features connected to immune checkpoint inhibitor response, but studies on large subsets of cancers analyzing the correlation between different status of MSI/dMMR, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 expression are still lacking.

Methods: More than 1800 CRC were analyzed for PD-L1 by immunohistochemistry in a tissue microarray format.

MMR Deficiency is Homogeneous in Pancreatic Carcinoma and Associated with High Density of Cd8-Positive Lymphocytes.

Background: Microsatellite instability (MSI) has emerged as a predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Cancer heterogeneity represents a potential obstacle for the analysis of predicitive biomarkers. MSI has been reported in pancreatic cancer, but data on the possible extent of intratumoral heterogeneity are lacking.

Management of major postsurgical gastroesophageal intrathoracic leaks with an endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure system.

Background: Endoscopic treatment options for postsurgical intrathoracic leaks include injection of fibrin glue, clip application, and stent placement. Endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure (E-VAC) may be an effective treatment option.

Objective: To demonstrate that E-VAC is an effective endoscopic treatment option for closure of major intrathoracic postsurgical leaks.

Basiliximab induction therapy in kidney transplantation: benefits for long term allograft function after 10 years?

The interleukin-2 receptor antagonist basiliximab has proven in large clinical trials to be safe and effective to reduce acute rejections in the first year after renal transplantation. Since acute rejections are a risk factor for chronic graft loss, their effective reduction might have a positive effect on long term allograft survival. So far data is spares to prove this hypothesis and 10-year follow up on basiliximab induction therapy is not available.

Health-related quality of life in adult transplant recipients more than 15 years after orthotopic liver transplantation.

With continuously rising survival rates following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of transplant recipients becomes increasingly important. Recipients more than 15 years after OLT were studied retrospectively. HRQOL in 104 adult liver transplant recipients surviving more than 15 years after OLT was assessed using the German Version of the 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36).

Renal transplantation today.

Background: The first successful renal transplant was carried out more than five decades ago between identical twins. At these early days, acute rejection was the limiting factor.

Discussion: Due to tremendous progress in immunosuppressive therapy and surgical technique, today, renal transplantation is the gold standard therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease.

Indications for and outcomes after combined lung and liver transplantation: a single-center experience on 13 consecutive cases.

Background: Combined lung and liver transplantation (Lu-LTx) is a therapeutic option for selected patients with coexisting lung and liver disease. For several reasons, Lu-LTx is performed in few centers and information about the technical issues, posttransplant management and long-term outcomes associated with this procedure is limited.

Methods: We analyzed data from 13 consecutive patients who underwent combined Lu-LTx at Hannover Medical School (Hannover, Germany) between April 1999 and December 2003.

Persistence of occult hepatitis B after removal of the hepatitis B virus-infected liver.

Occult hepatitis B is defined as the persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in persons without HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). The primary site for HBV persistence in persons with occult hepatitis B is considered to be the liver. We provide virological and immunological evidence for long-term persistence of HBV, even after removal of the infected liver, in 25 consecutive, randomly selected liver transplant recipients who tested positive for anti-HBV core antigen (anti-HBcAg) and negative for HBsAg at the time of transplantation.

Pancreas transplantation with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution and University of Wisconsin (UW) solution: is there a difference?

Context: In clinical pancreas transplantation the choice of preservation solution may have an impact on graft pancreatitis. Experience with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) is still limited whereas University of Wisconsin (UW) solution is currently the preferred perfusate worldwide.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze our experience with HTK in pancreas transplantation.

Quality of life in adult transplant recipients more than 15 years after kidney transplantation.

Background: With continuously rising survival rates following renal transplantation, health-related quality of life (HQOL) of long-term transplant survivors becomes increasingly important.

Methods: Recipients more than 15 years after successful renal transplantation were studied retrospectively. HQOL in 139 long-term transplant recipients was assessed using the SF-36 and the disease-specific kidney transplant questionnaire (KTQ-25).

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome of the liver after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: decision making for orthotopic liver transplantation.

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a specific complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) that can lead to substantial morbidity and treatment-related mortality. Heparin is frequently used as prophylaxis of and defibrotide as therapy for mild to moderate SOS. In severe cases of SOS these therapies are often ineffective, and orthotopic liver trans-plantation (OLT) may be the only option.

Accidental transplantation of a kidney with a cystic renal cell carcinoma following living donation: management and 1 yr follow-up.

Transmission of cancer is a fatal risk in organ transplantation. We present a case of incidental renal carcinoma in a kidney obtained from a living donor. A 56-yr-old father was evaluated for donation for his 28-yr-old daughter.

Living kidney donors >60 years of age: is it acceptable for the donor and the recipient?

Donors >60 years are now frequently accepted for living kidney transplantation (LKT). We asked whether a donor age >60 years may result in a higher risk for donor and recipient. All adult LKT from May 1996 to June 2005 were included.

Paediatric kidney transplantation in small children-- a single centre experience.

Kidney transplantation (KTx) remains a challenging procedure in small children. This study presents our centre results. From 1983 to 2004, 40 of 442 paediatric KTx were performed in children with a body weight <11 kg.

Quality of life following living donor nephrectomy comparing classical flank incision and anterior vertical mini-incision.

In this study we focused on the quality of life and satisfaction of living kidney donors comparing traditional lumbar (LDN) and mini-incision donor nephrectomy (MIDN). From May 1996 to December 2002, 174 donor nephrectomies including 127 cases of LDN and 47 cases of MIDN were performed. Donors were evaluated using the SF-36 quality-of-life survey as well as a questionnaire dealing with donors' attitude towards kidney donation, financial burdens, pain, cosmetic satisfaction and duration of sick leave.

Surgical experience in splitting donor liver into left lateral and right extended lobes.

Aim: To outline the surgical experience with donor liver splitting in split liver transplantation.

Methods: From March 1 to September 1 in 2004, 10 donor livers were split ex situ into a left lateral lobe (segments II and III) and a right extended lobe (segments I, IV-VIII) in Medical School of Hannover, and thereafter split liver transplantation was performed successfully in 19 cases. The average age, weight and ICU staying period of the donors were 32.

Living donor nephrectomy: flank incision versus anterior vertical mini-incision.

Background: Currently, many centers perform laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (DN). We studied the outcome of donors and recipients following open DN using either flank incision (ODN) or mini-incision (MIDN).

Methods: Data of 196 living kidney donors were recorded prospectively.