Liver transplantation for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine liver metastasis: optimal patient selection and perioperative management in the era of multimodal treatments.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET) often metastasize to the liver. Although curative liver resection provides a favorable prognosis for patients with neuroendocrine liver metastasis (NELM), with a 5-year survival rate of 70-80%, recurrence is almost inevitable, mainly in the remnant liver. In Western countries, liver transplantation (LT) has been performed in patients with NELM, with the objective of complete removal of macro- and micro-NELMs.

Japanese living donor liver transplantation criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma: nationwide cohort study.

Background: Validating the expanded criteria for living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma using national data is highly significant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the new Japanese criteria for living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma patients and identify factors associated with a poor prognosis using the Japanese national data set.

Methods: The study population comprised patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma at 37 centres in Japan between 2010 and 2018.

Challenges in decision-making support processes regarding living kidney donation: A qualitative study.

Background: Previous studies on decision-making of living kidney donors have indicated issues regarding donors' autonomy is inherent in decision-making to donate their kidney. Establishing effective decision-making support that guarantees autonomy of living kidney donor candidates is important.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the difficulties in the decision-making support when clinical transplant coordinators advocating for the autonomy of donor candidates of living donor kidney transplantation and to identify the methods to deal with these difficulties.

f.a., sp. nov., a novel yeast isolated from rotting wood and a lichen sample in Kyushu region, Japan.

Four novel d-xylose assimilation yeast strains were isolated from rotting wood and a lichen sample collected in the Kyushu region of Japan. Species identifications were performed by analysing the internal transcribed spacer 5.8S region sequences and the D1/D2 variable domain of the large subunit rRNA gene.

Development of an in silico evaluation system that quantitatively predicts skin sensitization using OECD Guideline No. 497 ITSv2 defined approach for skin sensitization classification.

The Integrated Testing Strategy version 2 (ITSv2) Defined Approach, which is a reliable skin sensitization hazard and multi-step risk assessment method, does not support quantitative risk assessment such as local lymph node assay EC3 values. In this study, we developed a high-performance in silico evaluation system that quantitatively predicts the EC3 values of chemical substances by combining the ITSv2 Defined Approach for hazard identification (ITSv2 HI) with machine learning models. This system uses in chemico/in vitro test data, molecular descriptors, and distance information based on read-across concepts as explanatory variables.

An Analysis of 10,000 Cases of Living Donor Liver Transplantation in Japan: Special Reference to the Graft-Versus-Recipient Weight Ratio and Donor Age.

Objective: To analyze 10,000 cases of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) recipient data to elucidate outcomes with special reference to the graft-versus-recipient weight ratio (GRWR), based on the Japanese Liver Transplantation Society (JLTS) registry.

Background: The JLTS registry has been accurate and complete in characterizing and following trends in patient characteristics and survival of all patients with LDLT.

Methods: Between November 1989 and August 2021, 10,000 patients underwent LDLT in Japan.

Changes in Physiological Indices Before and After Nursing Care of Postoperative Patients With Esophageal Cancer in the ICU.

Introduction: Various stressors have been identified in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), including postoperative pain, ventilatory management, and nursing care. However, sedated patients are less responsive, and nurses have difficulty capturing their stressors.

Objective: To investigate patient stress caused by nursing care performed in the ICU on sedated patients based on changes in physiological indices.

Japanese national survey on declined liver allografts from brain-dead donors: High decline rate but promising outcomes in allografts with moderate steatosis.

Aim: Liver allografts from brain-dead donors, which were declined and were eventually not transplanted due to accompanying marginal factors, have never been surveyed in Japan. We surveyed the declined allografts and discussed the graft potential focusing on various marginal factors.

Methods: We collected data on brain-dead donors between 1999 and 2019 from the Japan Organ Transplant Network.

Changes in Transcutaneous Oxygen Pressure in the Lower Limb Associated with the Use of Elastic Compression Stockings.

: Elastic compression stockings are used to prevent venous thrombosis in postsurgical patients. However, they have been associated with skin complications, such as medical device-related pressure ulcers. This study aimed to assess the effect of elastic compression stockings on the skin tissue status of the lower limbs.

Development of an oral mucosal irritation test using a three-dimensional human buccal oral mucosal model.

The oral mucosa can become irritated by oral care products and lip cosmetics. Therefore, it is important to determine the irritation potential of their ingredients and products during safety evaluations. We developed a method for oral mucosal irritation test using EpiOral, which is a three-dimensional cultured model.

Development of a risk score model for 1-year graft loss after adult deceased donor liver transplantation in Japan based on a 20-year nationwide cohort.

Aim: Using nationwide data collected over the past 20 years, we aimed to investigate deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) outcomes to develop a unique risk model that can be used to establish a standard for organ acceptance in Japan.

Methods: Data were collected for 449 recipients aged ≥18 years who underwent DDLT between 1999 and 2019. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was utilized to develop an original risk score model for 1-year graft loss (termed the Japan Risk Index [JRI]).

Short- and Long-Term Impacts of Overweight Status on Outcomes Among Living Liver Donors.

Purpose: In recent years, the increasing number of obese individuals in Japan has made transplant teams sometimes forced to select candidates with a high body mass index (BMI) as marginal donors in living donor liver transplantation. However, data are lacking regarding the impact of a high BMI on the outcome for liver donors, particularly over the long term. Here, we aimed to clarify the impact of a high BMI on postoperative short- and long-term outcomes in liver donors.

No impact of donor sex on the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.

Background/purpose: We aimed to verify a recent theory that female donors reduced the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT).

Methods: A total of 1118 recipients registered in the Japanese Liver Transplantation Society database were evaluated for HCC, of whom 446 received a graft from female donors (F-D group) and 672 from male donors (M-D group).

Results: Between the groups, donor age, recipient age and sex, positivity of hepatitis viruses, and graft type were different, whereas tumor-related factors were all comparable.

Clinical Significance of Acylphosphatase 1 Expression in Combined HCC-iCCA, HCC, and iCCA.

Background: Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma is a rare primary liver cancer with histological features of both hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Little is known about the prognostic features and molecular mechanism of cHCC-iCCA. Acylphosphatase 1 is a cytosolic enzyme that produces acetic acid from acetyl phosphate and plays an important role in cancer progression.

Fatty liver disease in living liver donors: a single-institute experience of 220 donors.

We retrospectively reviewed 220 living liver donors, with a focus on the development of postoperative fatty liver. Data regarding demographics, comorbidities, imaging tests, operations and biopsies were obtained from medical records. We used unenhanced CT and USG to diagnose fatty liver.

A case report of hepatocellular carcinoma derived from Rastelli procedure-related congestive liver disease.

The prognosis of congenital heart disease in children has improved, but late complications in adulthood are becoming an important problem. One late complication after congenital heart surgery is congestive liver disease, leading to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The Rastelli procedure is one of the surgical methods for transposition of the great arteries.

Changes in the quality of life score following preoperative chemotherapy in elderly patients with esophageal cancer.

Background: Various functions in elderly patients with esophageal cancer deteriorate easily and their quality of life can be adversely affected by treatment. The age groups covered in previous studies are wide, and the impact on the elderly individuals is unknown. This study examined changes in quality of life scores after preoperative chemotherapy to clarify aspects of physical, psychological, and social quality of life in elderly patients with esophageal cancer.

An analysis of the outcomes in living donor liver transplantation for pediatric malignant hepatic tumors using nationwide survey data in Japan.

Malignant hepatic tumors (MHTs) in children are rare and account for approximately 5% of candidates for pediatric liver transplantation (LT) in Japan. We conducted a national survey of pediatric patients undergoing living donor LT for MHTs between October 1990 and April 2018. In total, 116 children underwent LT for MHTs during this study period: 100 hepatoblastomas (HBLs), 10 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), and six other MHTs.

Outcomes of Pediatric Liver Transplantation in Japan: A Report from the Registry of the Japanese Liver Transplantation Society.

Background: The Japanese Liver Transplantation Society (JLTS), a cooperative research consortium, was established in 1980 to characterize and follow trends in patient characteristics and graft survival among all liver transplant patients in Japan. This study analyzed factors that may affect the current outcomes of pediatric patients who undergo liver transplantation (LT) by evaluating one of the largest pediatric LT cohorts in the world.

Methods: Between November 1989 and December 2018, 3347 pediatric patients underwent LT in Japan.

Incidental intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in patients undergoing liver transplantation: A multi-center study in Japan.

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma had been considered a contraindication for liver transplantation because of poorer outcomes. However, incidental intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in the explanted liver has been reported because of the difficulty of obtaining an accurate diagnosis in cirrhotic livers on preoperative imaging.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide survey to analyze the incidence of incidental intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and outcomes after liver transplantation, in Japan.

Serum exosomal miR-638 is a prognostic marker of HCC via downregulation of VE-cadherin and ZO-1 of endothelial cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. High recurrence rates after curative resection and the lack of specific biomarkers for intrahepatic metastases are major clinical problems. Recently, exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to have a role in the formation of the pre-metastatic niche and as promising biomarkers in patients with malignancy.