Diagnostic Accuracy and Reliability of CT-based Node-RADS for Esophageal Cancer.

Background/aim: The recently published Node-Reporting and Data System (Node-RADS) can aid the characterization of lymph nodes in cross-sectional imaging. This study investigated the Node-RADS system in computed tomography (CT) to characterize lymph nodes in esophageal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Overall, 126 patients (15 female, 11.

Impact of Hedgehog modulators on signaling pathways in primary murine and human hepatocytes in vitro: insights into liver metabolism.

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is essential for maintaining homeostasis during embryogenesis and in adult tissues. In the liver, dysregulation of this pathway often leads to liver cancer development. Recent studies also suggest that disturbances in the Hh pathway can affect liver metabolism in healthy livers through interactions with other signaling pathways, such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Intraoperative Hyperspectral Imaging Predicts Early Allograft Dysfunction and Overall Survival in Liver Transplantation.

Objective: This study explored the novel application of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for in vivo allograft perfusion assessment during liver transplantation (LT) and its potential value for predicting early allograft dysfunction (EAD), graft, and overall survival (OS).

Background: LT is a well-established therapy for acute and chronic liver diseases, with excellent outcomes. However, a significant proportion of recipients experience EAD, which affects graft and OS.

A new human autologous hepatocyte/macrophage co-culture system that mimics drug-induced liver injury-like inflammation.

The development of in vitro hepatocyte cell culture systems is crucial for investigating drug-induced liver injury (DILI). One prerequisite for monitoring DILI related immunologic reactions is the extension of primary human hepatocyte (PHH) cultures towards the inclusion of macrophages. Therefore, we developed and characterized an autologous co-culture system of PHH and primary human hepatic macrophages (hepM) (CoC1).

Weekday effect of surgery on in-hospital outcome in pancreatic surgery: a population-based study.

Importance: There is conflicting evidence regarding weekday dependent outcome in complex abdominal surgery, including pancreatic resections.

Objective: To clarify weekday-dependency of outcome after pancreatic resections in a comprehensive nationwide context.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study of anonymized nationwide hospital billing data (DRG data).

Impact of IL-8 on survival after TARE in HCC: a comprehensive investigation and external validation from the SORAMIC trial.

Purpose: In the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with transarterial radioembolization (TARE), identifying reliable biomarkers for predicting survival outcomes remains a critical challenge. We aimed to address this gap by investigating the significance of serum cytokines associated with inflammation as potential biomarkers for the selection of patients for TARE.

Methods: Our retrospective study involved 161 patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent Y90 radioembolization at our medical center between 2010 and 2020.

CT Texture Analysis of Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma-Associations With Tumor Grading, Tumor Markers and Clinical Outcome.

Background: Texture analysis derived from computed tomography (CT) may provide clinically relevant imaging biomarkers associated with tumor histopathology. Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant disease with an overall poor prognosis.

Aims: The present study sought to elucidate possible associations between texture features derived from CT images with grading, tumor markers, and survival in extrahepatic, perihilar cholangiocarcinomas tumors.

Deceased donor urinary Dickkopf-3 associates with future allograft function following kidney transplantation.

Predicting future kidney allograft function is challenging. Novel biomarkers, such as urinary Dickkopf-3 (uDKK3), may help guide donor selection and improve allograft outcomes. In this prospective multicenter pilot trial, we investigated whether donor uDKK3 reflects organ quality and is associated with future allograft function.

Sex hormones differently regulate lipid metabolism genes in primary human hepatocytes.

Background: Prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is higher in men than in women. Hormonal and genetic causes may account for the sex differences in MASLD. Current human in vitro liver models do not sufficiently take the influence of biological sex and sex hormones into consideration.

Does Timepoint of Surgical Procedure Affect the Outcome in Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation? A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis over 20 Years.

: Sleep deprivation and disturbances in circadian rhythms may hinder surgical performance and decision-making capabilities. Solid organ transplantations, which are technically demanding and often begin at uncertain times, frequently during nighttime hours, are particularly susceptible to these effects. This study aimed to assess how transplant operations conducted during daytime versus nighttime influence both patient and graft outcomes and function.

Cell atlas of the regenerating human liver after portal vein embolization.

The liver has the remarkable capacity to regenerate. In the clinic, regeneration is induced by portal vein embolization, which redirects portal blood flow, resulting in liver hypertrophy in locations with increased blood supply, and atrophy of embolized segments. Here, we apply single-cell and single-nucleus transcriptomics on healthy, hypertrophied, and atrophied patient-derived liver samples to explore cell states in the regenerating liver.

Clinical management, pathogen spectrum and outcomes in patients with pyogenic liver abscess in a German tertiary-care hospital.

Pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) are life-threatening disorders and require immediate treatment, but structured evidence is sparse and treatment guidelines are not established. In a retrospective observational study of 221 adult PLA patients (mean age 63 years, 63% men) treated between 2013 and 2019 at the Leipzig University Medical Center, we characterized pathogen spectrum, clinical management and outcomes. Biliary malignancies (33%), cholelithiasis (23%) and ischemic biliary tract disease (16%) were most common causes of PLA.

The Apparent Diffusion Coefficient of the Paraspinal and Psoas Muscles Are of Prognostic Relevance in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Transarterial Radioembolization.

Background/aim: Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is a treatment option for early or intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sarcopenia is defined as loss of muscle strength and quality which can be estimated by imaging modalities and has been associated with prognosis and treatment response in HCC patients. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values derived from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can reflect the tissue composition and might be better to determine muscle changes of sarcopenia than the standard method of computed tomography (CT).

The impact of surgical timing on outcome in acute appendicitis in adults: a retrospective observational population-based cohort study.

Background: Acute appendicitis is a global disease with high incidence. The main objective was to assess the association between time from admission to surgery (TAS) and surgery during emergency hours with operative outcome in light of conflicting evidence.

Methods: This is a retrospective population-wide analysis of hospital billing data (2010-2021) of all adult patient records of surgically treated cases of acute appendicitis in Germany by TAS.

Portal venous contrast enhancement ratio of the adrenal glands and spleen as prognostic marker of mortality in patients with acute mesenteric ischemia.

Purpose: Contrast enhancement of the adrenal gland defined by computed tomography (CT) was previously analyzed as a prognostic factor for critically ill patients in various diseases. However, no study investigated this quantitative parameter in patients with acute mesenteric ischemia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the contrast enhancement of the adrenal glands in patients with clinically suspected AMI.

The GALAD score and the BALAD-2 score correlate with transarterial and systemic treatment response and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: The GALAD score and the BALAD-2 score are biomarker-based scoring systems used to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Both incorporate levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive AFP (AFP-L3), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP). Our objective was to examine the relationship between the GALAD score as well as the BALAD-2 score and treatment response to transarterial or systemic treatments in patients with HCC.

Basal MET phosphorylation is an indicator of hepatocyte dysregulation in liver disease.

Chronic liver diseases are worldwide on the rise. Due to the rapidly increasing incidence, in particular in Western countries, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is gaining importance as the disease can develop into hepatocellular carcinoma. Lipid accumulation in hepatocytes has been identified as the characteristic structural change in MASLD development, but molecular mechanisms responsible for disease progression remained unresolved.