Clinical prognosticators and targets in the immune microenvironment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a disease with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. We investigated the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) to identify predictors of disease outcome and to explore targets for therapeutic modulation.

Methods: Liver tissue samples were collected during 2008-2019 from patients ( = 139) diagnosed with ICC who underwent curative intent surgery without neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

A new bicornuate model of rat uterus transplantation.

Introduction: Uterus transplantation has revolutionized reproductive medicine for women with absolute uterine factor infertility, resulting in more than 40 reported successful live births worldwide to date. Small animal models are pivotal to refine this surgical and immunological challenging procedure aiming to enhance safety for both the mother and the child.

Material And Methods: We established a syngeneic bicornuate uterus transplantation model in young female Lewis rats.

Notch Signaling Pathway in Pancreatobiliary Tumors.

The Notch signaling pathway plays an important role both in the development of the ductal systems of the pancreas and the bile ducts as well as in cancer development and progression. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of central proteins of the Notch signaling pathway in pancreatobiliary tumors and its influence on patient survival. We compared the receptors (Notch1, Notch4), activating splicing factors (ADAM17), and target genes (HES1) of the Notch pathway and progenitor cell markers with relevance for the Notch signaling pathway (CD44, MSI1) between pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PDAC, = 14), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC, = 24), and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCC, = 22) cholangiocarcinomas via immunohistochemistry and ImageJ software-assisted analysis.

DNA Cytometry for Differentiation Between Low- and Medium-grade Dysplasia in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms.

Background/aim: The indication for resection of cystic pancreatic lesions is usually performed by sectional imaging criteria, such as the Sendai criteria. The aim of this study was to analyze a possible correlation between DNA cytometry and Sendai criteria for the differentiation between low-grade intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN-A) and medium-grade dysplasia (IPMN-B).

Materials And Methods: Histopathological analysis, DNA index and preoperative Sendai criteria were determined in 16 patients who underwent pancreatic resection for IPMN.

Prognostic significance of DNA cytometry for adjuvant therapy response in pancreatic cancer.

Background And Objectives: The continuous progress in treatment options for pancreatic adenocarcinoma has lead to a re-evaluation of prognostic markers. In this study the prognostic relevance of DNA Index and classical histopathological parameters with regard to disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was analyzed within the CONKO-001 patient population.

Methods: One hundred forty three fresh-frozen paraffin-embedded tissue samples of the resected tumor specimen of the CONKO-001 patient population were available for DNA index analysis to evaluate its impact on patient outcome.

Postoperative bile leakage inhibits liver regeneration after 70% hepatectomy in rats.

Background: Postoperative bile leakage is a typical complication in liver surgery. The influence of small bile leakage and concomitant bile peritonitis on the regenerative capacity of the liver remnant has not yet been investigated thoroughly.

Material And Methods: Fifty-four rats were randomized in the following groups: Sham operation (Sh), 70% liver resection (LR), and 70% LR with simultaneous induction of a small bile leakage.

Safety and efficacy of new integrated bipolar and ultrasonic scissors compared to conventional laparoscopic 5-mm sealing and cutting instruments.

Background: Hemostasis is a central issue in laparoscopic surgery. Ultrasonic scissors and bipolar clamps are commonly used, with known advantages with each technique.

Methods: The prototype of new surgical scissors, delivering ultrasonically generated frictional heat energy and bipolar heat energy simultaneously (THUNDERBEAT(®) [TB]), was compared to ultrasonic scissors (Harmonic ACE(®) [HA]) and an advanced bipolar device (LigaSure(®) [LS]) using a pig model.

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on early liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy in rats.

Background: Curcumin (Cur) is a nontoxic, hepatoprotective antioxidant. Recent investigations have demonstrated a protective effect of curcumin pretreatment during cold ischemia of hepatocytes, but its impact on liver regeneration per se has not been investigated so far.

Material And Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6 per group) underwent sham operation, 70% partial hepatectomy (PH), or PH with curcumin application (100 mg per kg bodyweight per day) starting 48 h before surgery.

Curcumin attenuates oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the early phase after partial hepatectomy with simultaneous intraabdominal infection in rats.

Background: Curcumin is a nontoxic, hepatoprotective antioxidant. It has been shown to efficiently scavenge oxygen free radicals, increase intracellular glutathione concentrations, and prevent lipid peroxidation in rat hepatocytes. Moreover, it has strong anti-inflammatory effects.

Sex-specific differences in the expression levels of estrogen receptor subtypes in colorectal cancer.

Background: Altered expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ERalpha and ERbeta) has been hypothesized to play a role in carcinogenesis. However, little is known about the sex-specific differences of ER expression in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Objective: This study examined ERalpha and ERbeta protein levels in male and female patients with CRC.

Synergistic effect of erythropoietin but not G-CSF in combination with curcumin on impaired liver regeneration in rats.

Introduction: The effect of erythropoietin (Epo) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) alone or in combination with the hepatoprotective antioxidant curcumin (Cur) was evaluated in a model of delayed liver regeneration.

Materials And Methods: Sprague Dawley rats underwent 70% liver resection with simultaneous cecal ligation and puncture and were randomised to five groups: no treatment, G-CSF (100 microg/kg), Epo (1,000 IU/kg), each alone or in combination with Cur (100mg/kg). Twenty-four hours after surgery, blood and tissue samples were collected.

Quercetin protects human hepatocytes from ethanol-derived oxidative stress by inducing heme oxygenase-1 via the MAPK/Nrf2 pathways.

Background/aims: Flavonoids, including quercetin, have been reported to have potent hepatoprotective effects, which may be associated with HO-1 induction. However, since the effect and signaling pathway of quercetin involved in HO-1 induction against alcoholic liver damage are still not fully understood, this is the target of the present study.

Methods: Human hepatocytes were incubated with ethanol (100 mM) and quercetin (10-200 microM), and cellular damage and HO-1 activity were measured.

Fluorometric measurement of nitrite/nitrate by 2,3-diaminonaphthalene.

We describe a step-by-step protocol for measuring the stable products of the nitric oxide (NO) pathway: nitrite, nitrite plus nitrate and nitrate. This described protocol is easy to apply and is about 50 times more sensitive than the commonly used Griess reaction or commercially available assay kits based on the Griess reaction. It also allows the study of minimal changes in the NO pathway.

Intraabdominal bacterial infections significantly alter regeneration and function of the liver in a rat model of major hepatectomy.

Background: No systematic investigations of interactions of postoperative infections and liver regeneration after resection are available.

Materials And Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent sham operation, 70% partial hepatectomy (PH), cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), or synchronous PH + CLP and were killed at regular intervals. Liver regeneration and function were measured by the mitotic index, Bromo-deoxy-uridine labeling, and Ki-67 as well as bilirubin, albumin, and indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate.

Cobalt-protoporphyrin induced heme oxygenase overexpression and its impact on liver regeneration.

Cobalt-protoporphyrin (CoPP)-dependent induction of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 has been shown to protect from ischemia-reperfusion injury, which remains a major source of graft loss after liver transplantation. The impact of HO-1 on liver regeneration, especially in reduced-size grafts, has not yet been evaluated. Using an experimental model, we investigated HO-1 induction by CoPP treatment on postoperative recovery of ischemically injured livers following partial (70%) hepatectomy.

Steroid administration before partial hepatectomy with temporary inflow occlusion does not influence cyclin D1 and Ki-67 related liver regeneration.

Background And Aims: If temporary inflow occlusion is required during liver resection, the postoperative course might be complicated by ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Steroids protect against ischaemia-reperfusion injury; however, due to its anti-proliferative character concerns exist on its use on liver regeneration after resection. We investigated the effects of methylprednisolone on hepatocyte proliferation after partial hepatectomy with temporary inflow occlusion.

Probiotics partly reverse increased bacterial translocation after simultaneous liver resection and colonic anastomosis in rats.

Background: Bacterial translocation is one important cause of nosocomial infections following major abdominal surgery. Oral administration of probiotics has been proposed to diminish bacterial translocation.

Material And Methods: In total 68 rats were divided into seven groups: five of the groups received standard rat chow and were subjected to either sham-operation, 70% liver resection, colonic anastomosis, or a combination of 30 or 70% liver resection with synchronous colonic anastomosis, respectively.