Activin suppresses the expression of inflammatory genes and signaling proteins in human leukemia monocytic THP-1 cells.

Activin regulates inflammation, cell proliferation, immune response, wound repair, and endocrine function. In this study, we investigated the effect of activin on inflammatory genes in THP-1 cells and the involvement of NF-κB, AKT, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Cell viability was determined using a colorimetric assay with the MTS/PES solution.

Benefit of living donor liver transplantation in graft survival for extremely high model for end-stage liver disease score ≥35.

Background And Aims: Living liver donation with high model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was discouraged despite organ shortage. This study aimed to compare graft survival between living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) recipients with extremely high-MELD (score of ≥35).

Methods: Between 2008 and 2018, 359 patients who underwent liver transplantation with a MELD score ≥35 were enrolled.

Fibrosis-4 index, a predictor for prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative hepatectomy even in hepatitis B virus dominant populations.

Purpose: Liver fibrosis plays an important role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and determining its prognosis. Although many staging systems and liver reserve models have been developed without the intention of predicting prognosis of HCC, some studies have investigated their prognostic values in HCC after curative liver resection (LR). The aim of this study is to evaluate prognostic value of non-invasive biomarkers after curative LR.

Impact of preoperative ultrasonography for predicting the prognosis of deceased donor kidney transplantation.

Purpose: This study evaluated the role of donor kidney ultrasonography (US) for predicting functional kidney volume and identifying ideal kidney grafts in deceased donor kidney transplantation.

Methods: In total, 272 patients who underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation from 2000 to 2020 at Samsung Medical Center were enrolled. Donor kidney information (i.

Primary non-function in a deceased donor kidney transplant even with a Kidney Donor Risk Index less than 1.0: a case report.

Donations from deceased donors have been increasing since the introduction of expanded criteria for donor kidney selection. Several studies have shown that patients receiving deceased donor kidneys using these expanded criteria have improved survival compared to those remaining on the waiting list during hemodialysis. It is important, however, to consider that some of the kidneys classed as usable under the expanded criteria may in fact be unacceptable.

Minimally Invasive Anterior Decompression Technique without Instrumented Fusion for Huge Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Thoracic Spine: Technical Note And Literature Review.

Objective: Several surgical methods have been reported for treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the thoracic spine. Despite rapid innovation of instruments and techniques for spinal surgery, the postoperative outcomes are not always favorable. This article reports a minimally invasive anterior decompression technique without instrumented fusion, which was modified from the conventional procedure.