Complications requiring reoperation after gastrectomy for gastric cancer: 17 years experience in a single institute.

Introduction: Morbidity and mortality rates following gastric cancer surgery are still high. The present study documented complications requiring reoperation after gastrectomy for gastric cancer and described surgical management for each complication.

Materials And Methods: Between 1987 and 2004, 8,033 patients underwent gastrectomy at the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, and the records were reviewed.

Diagnosis of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis by transient elastography in asymptomatic healthy individuals: a prospective study of living related potential liver donors.

Background: This prospective study aimed to assess the ability of transient elastography to identify histologic parameters, including steatosis, in asymptomatic healthy individuals such as potential liver donors, and to compare these findings with results in liver disease patients.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with abnormal liver function and/or hepatitis symptoms and 80 living related potential liver donors were consecutively enrolled, and liver biopsy and a Fibroscan test were performed in each subject. Histologic parameters were evaluated according to METAVIR scale by a single pathologist.

Adefovir dipivoxil alone or in combination with ongoing lamivudine in patients with decompensated liver disease and lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus.

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil with or without ongoing lamivudine in decompensated lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B patients. Forty-six hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with decompensated liver function and lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) were assigned to adefovir dipivoxil monotherapy (n=18) or combination therapy with ongoing lamivudine (n=28) according to their own preference. After 24 weeks of treatment, 83% of monotherapy and 86% of combination therapy showed serum HBV DNA below detection limit (<0.

[Usefulness of reagent strips for the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis].

Background/aims: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the potentially life-threatening complications for patients with liver cirrhosis, and it has a mortality rate of over 20%. Early diagnosis of SBP and immediate use of an adequate antibiotic therapy are very important for achieving a better prognosis. The aim of our study was to assess the usefulness of reagent strips for making the rapid diagnosis of SBP.

Autoimmune chronic pancreatitis relapsing despite the maintenance dose of steroid.

Autoimmune chronic pancreatitis is a disease characterized by diffuse swelling of the pancreas, irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct and elevated levels of serum IgG, and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration is observed on histologic examination. Steroid therapy can dramatically reverse the clinical symptoms and the histologic and radiologic findings. It is known that recurrence is very rare after successful steroid treatment.

Recurrences of hepatocellular carcinoma following initial remission by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Background And Aims: The aim of this study was: (i) to define the characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with recurrences following initial remission by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE); (ii) to evaluate the patterns of recurrences; and (iii) find a better surveillance method of detecting recurrent HCC.

Methods: Out of 230 consecutive HCC patients who underwent TACE, 77 with initial remission were followed prospectively for at least 12 months. We compared the recurrence rates according to the characteristics of the tumors and analyzed the locations of the recurrent HCC.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 as a useful serologic marker of small hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Although alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a useful serologic marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it has been reported insufficiently sensitive in detecting small HCCs. Plasma transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1) has been reported to be elevated in HCC patients compared with liver cirrhosis patients. It has been reported that TGFbeta1 mRNA was overexpressed in HCC, especially in patients with small HCC and well-differentiated HCC compared with patients with liver cirrhosis.