Point-of-care ultrasound in the diagnosis of hepatic gas gangrene.

Hepatic gas gangrene (HGG) is a rare but life-threatening condition typically caused by anaerobic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, though Gram-negative bacteria like Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species have also been implicated. Traditionally diagnosed via computed tomography (CT), point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a valuable tool in critical care settings for its non-invasive, bedside utility. We report the case of a 51-year-old female with choledochal syndrome secondary to cholangiocarcinoma who developed HGG following left extended hepatectomy and biliary reconstruction.

Role of CT in Two-Stage Liver Surgery.

Complete resection is the only potentially curative treatment for primary or metastatic liver tumors. Improvements in surgical techniques such as conventional two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) with portal vein embolization and ALPPS (associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy) promote hypertrophy of the future liver remnant (FLR), expanding resection criteria to include patients with widespread hepatic disease who were formerly not considered candidates for resection. Radiologists are essential in the multidisciplinary approach required for TSH.

Choices of Therapeutic Strategies for Colorectal Liver Metastases Among Expert Liver Surgeons: A Throw of the Dice?

Objective: To test the degree of agreement in selecting therapeutic options for patients suffering from colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) among surgical experts around the globe.

Summary/background: Only few areas in medicine have seen so many novel therapeutic options over the past decades as for liver tumors. Significant variations may therefore exist regarding the choices of treatment, even among experts, which may confuse both the medical community and patients.

Prognostic impact of K-RAS mutational status and primary tumor location in patients undergoing resection for colorectal cancer liver metastases: an update.

To determine the impact of KRAS mutation status on survival in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal liver metastases (CLM). Patients with resected CLM and KRAS mutations. Survival was compared between mt-KRAS and wt-KRAS.

IL-8, GRO and MCP-1 produced by hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment determine the migratory capacity of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells without affecting tumor aggressiveness.

New therapies are needed for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) carrying therapeutic genes is a promising strategy. HCC produce cytokines recruiting MSCs to the tumor milieu and modifying its biological properties. Our aim was to study changes generated on human MSCs exposed to conditioned media (CM) derived from human HCC fresh samples and xenografts.

Identifying patients at higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation in a multicenter cohort study from Argentina.

Background And Aim: The Up-to-7 criteria on the basis of the explanted liver features categorize patients at higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this study was to propose a novel pretransplant scoring system to predict recurrence including pre-LT data.

Patients And Methods: From 763 consecutive adult patients who underwent transplantation in four LT centers from Argentina, 124 patients with HCC were included.

Predicting early discharge from hospital after liver transplantation (ERDALT) at a single center: a new model.

Background & Rationale: Limited information related to Liver Transplantation (LT) costs in South America exists. Additionally, costs analysis from developed countries may not provide comparable models for those in emerging economies. We sought to evaluate a predictive model of Early Discharge from Hospital after LT (ERDALT = length of hospital stay ≤ 8 days).

Screening for liver cancer during transplant waiting list: a multicenter study from South America.

Background And Aims: Surveillance during liver transplantation (LT) waiting list has scarcely been reported in South America. We aimed to describe hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance during the LT waiting list in the daily practice.

Patients And Methods: A multicenter retrospective analysis in cirrhotic patients was carried out.

Low molecular weight hyaluronan-pulsed human dendritic cells showed increased migration capacity and induced resistance to tumor chemoattraction.

We have shown that ex vivo pre-conditioning of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) with low molecular weight hyaluronan (LMW HA) induces antitumor immunity against colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in mice. In the present study we investigated the effects of LMW HA priming on human-tumor-pulsed monocytes-derived dendritic cells (DC/TL) obtained from healthy donors and patients with CRC. LMW HA treatment resulted in an improved maturation state of DC/TL and an enhanced mixed leucocyte reaction activity in vivo.

Observational study of patients with gastroenteropancreatic and bronchial neuroendocrine tumors in Argentina: Results from the large database of a multidisciplinary group clinical multicenter study.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) include a spectrum of malignancies arising from neuroendocrine cells throughout the body. The objective of this clinical investigation of retrospectively and prospectively collected data was to describe the prevalence, demographic data, clinical symptoms and methods of diagnosis of NET and the treatment and long-term follow-up of patients with NET. Data were provided by the participating centers and assessed for consistency by internal reviewers.

Neurological events after liver transplantation: a single-center experience.

The aim of this study was to identify potential risk factors linked to neurologic events (NE) occurring after liver transplantation (LT) and use them to construct a model to predict such events. From odds ratios (OR) of risk factors, a scoring system was assessed using multivariate regression analysis. Forty-one of 307 LT patients presented NE (13.

Increased migration of human mesenchymal stromal cells by autocrine motility factor (AMF) resulted in enhanced recruitment towards hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aims: Several reports described the migration of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) towards tumor-released factors. Autocrine motility factor (AMF) is produced by several tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to analyze AMF involvement on MSC migration towards human HCC.

Successful orthotopic liver transplantation and delayed delivery of a healthy newborn in a woman with fulminant hepatic failure during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Severe liver dysfunction during pregnancy implies a serious risk for both mother and fetus, and represents a technical and ethical challenge for treating physicians. We report a case of a previously healthy 32-year old woman who was admitted to our hospital with idiopathic fulminant hepatic failure and underwent successful orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) at gestation week 21. Patient's and fetus' immediate postoperative course were relatively uneventful until week six after OLT, when the mother developed oligohydramnios and preeclampsia.

Is recurrence rate of incidental hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation similar to previously known HCC? towards a predictive recurrence score.

Background: Incidental hepatocellular carcinoma (iHCC) generates uncertainty over risk of recurrence after liver transplantation (LT).

Aim: To compare recurrence between iHCC and confirmed HCC diagnosed prior to transplant based on imaging criteria (cHCC).

Material And Methods: Fifty-four HCC patients were analyzed from a series of 309 consecutive adult transplanted patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma cells and their fibrotic microenvironment modulate bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell migration in vitro and in vivo.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third cause of cancer-related death. Fibrogenesis is an active process characterized by the production of several proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. It involves the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) which accumulate at the site of injury and are the main source of the extracellular matrix deposits.

Model for end-stage liver disease exceptions committee activity in Argentina: does it provide justice and equity among adult patients waiting for a liver transplant?

Background: In 2005, the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD)-based allocation system was adopted to assess potential liver transplant (LT) recipients in Argentina. The aim of the present study was to revise the activity of the MELD Exception Experts Committee.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2009, 1623 patients were listed for LT.

Surgical management of liver hydatidosis: a multicentre series of 1412 patients.

Background: The management of hydatid liver disease (HLD) includes various nonsurgical and surgical treatment options.

Methods: The purpose of the present longitudinal study was to report the changes in surgical management and the consequent outcome of HLD patients in 10 referral surgical centres in Argentina from 1975 to 2007. The study result analysis was divided into two study periods (1975-1990 and 1991-2007).