Controlled release of hydrogel-encapsulated mesenchymal stem cells-conditioned medium promotes functional liver regeneration after hepatectomy in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Background: Globally, prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing, and there is an urgent need to develop innovative therapies that promote liver regeneration following hepatectomy for this disease. Surgical excision is a key therapeutic approach with curative potential for liver tumors. However, hepatic steatosis can lead to delayed liver regeneration and higher post-operative complication risk.

A classification model for resectability in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Aim: Some patients undergoing liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have poor outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to propose a new resectability classification for patients with HCC.

Methods: We classified patients into three categories: resectable (R), borderline resectable (BR), and unresectable (UR).

Improved Preservation of Rat Small Intestine Transplantation Graft by Introduction of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Secreted Fractions.

Segmental grafts from living donors have advantages over grafts from deceased donors when used for small intestine transplantation. However, storage time for small intestine grafts can be extremely short and optimal graft preservation conditions for short-term storage remain undetermined. Secreted factors from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that allow direct activation of preserved small intestine grafts.

Preoperative diagnosis of adhesion severity between the abdominal wall and intestinal tract with novel abdominal ultrasound methodology to enhance surgical safety.

Background: Adhesions between the abdominal wall and intestinal tract from previous surgeries can complicate reoperations; however, predicting the extent of adhesions preoperatively is difficult. This study aimed to develop a straightforward approach for predicting adhesion severity using a novel abdominal ultrasound technique that quantifies the displacement of motion vectors of two organs to enhance surgical safety. The efficacy of this methodology was assessed experimentally and clinically.

Natural history of asymptomatic cervical internal carotid artery stenosis in diabetes mellitus patients.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to be a cause of cervical internal carotid artery stenosis (ICS). In this study, we investigated the natural history of asymptomatic ICS in DM patients without surgical intervention.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 148 DM patients with asymptomatic ICS treated medically at the Kansai Electric Power Hospital from April 2013 to March 2023, inclusive.

Dietary polyamines promote intestinal adaptation in an experimental model of short bowel syndrome.

Intestinal adaptation does not necessarily recover absorptive capacity in short bowel syndrome (SBS), sometimes resulting in intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD). Additionally, its therapeutic options remain limited. Polyamines (spermidine and spermine) are known as one of the autophagy inducers and play important roles in promoting the weaning process; however, their impact on intestinal adaptation is unknown.

Twig-like middle cerebral artery as a variety of isolated middle cerebral artery disease with new vessel formation: illustrative case.

Background: Twig-like middle cerebral artery (T-MCA) is reported as a rare vascular anomaly characterized by reconstitution of the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) by a plexiform network of small vessels. Although it is generally believed that the etiology of T-MCA is an embryological persistence, some investigators have suggested that T-MCA may be a secondary consequence. Here, the authors report a second case of de novo T-MCA formation and reconsider the concept of T-MCA in connection with isolated MCA disease.

Clinical Outcomes of Administration of Rituximab for Desensitization in Liver Transplant Patients with Preformed Donor-Specific Antibodies: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND The management and fate of liver transplant (LT) recipients with preformed donor-specific antibodies (pDSA) remain controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of rituximab desensitization on pDSA in LT recipients. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective observational study enrolled 120 LT patients aged ≥18 years.

Moyamoya disease presenting with symptomatic ischemic stroke during new-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment: two illustrative cases.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been widely used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia. Nilotinib and ponatinib, which are second- and third-generation TKIs, have been reported to cause cerebrovascular arterial complications. Here, we present two cases of moyamoya disease presenting with symptomatic ischemic stroke during new-generation TKI treatment.

Efficacy of rehabilitation initiated in the early phase after simultaneous deceased donor liver and kidney transplantation: A case report.

Rationale: The purpose of this case report is to describe a case of successful early rehabilitation intervention for simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation (SLKT).

Patient Concerns: A 51-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with Caroli disease 27 years ago. Hemodialysis was introduced due to end-stage renal disease 17 years ago.

Successful living-donor liver transplantation for sustained liver failure even after resolution of infiltrative massive hepatic invasion of stage 4S neuroblastoma: a case report.

Background: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood. Stage 4S neuroblastoma is a unique subset of neuroblastoma characterized by a favorable course and potentially low malignancy with a high rate of spontaneous tumor regression. However, recent reports have shown that there is a subgroup of patients with stage 4S neuroblastoma characterized by MYCN amplification, chromosomal aberrations, age of < 2 months at diagnosis, and significantly poorer outcomes.

Diagnosis of hepatic steatosis based on ultrasound attenuation imaging is not influenced by liver fibrosis.

Aim: Recently, a new technique using attenuation imaging (ATI) was developed to diagnose hepatic steatosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ATI for the evaluation of hepatic steatosis is influenced by liver fibrosis.

Methods: A total of 328 patients with chronic liver disease were enrolled to study the associations between histological hepatic steatosis or liver fibrosis and ATI findings.

Impact of the aberrant right hepatic artery on local recurrence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background: The influence and risk associated with an aberrant right hepatic artery, a common anatomical variation, during pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has not been fully investigated. The present study analyzed the impact of an aberrant right hepatic artery on local recurrence after pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: A total of 169 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy at 2 separate Japanese medical institutions were retrospectively analyzed.

A rare intracranial fusiform thrombosed aneurysm of the distal middle cerebral artery: A case report.

Background: Intracranial aneurysms of the distal middle cerebral artery are rare, and most etiologies are infection or dissection. We present an extremely rare intracranial fusiform thrombosed aneurysm of the distal middle cerebral artery with histopathological confirmation of a pseudoaneurysm.

Case Description: Our patient, a 68-year-old female, was previously healthy and had no history of infection or trauma.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Secretions Enhanced ATP Generation on Isolated Islets during Transplantation.

The success of islet transplantation in both basic research and clinical settings has proven that cell therapy has the potential to cure diabetes. Islets intended for transplantation are inevitably subjected to damage from a number of sources, including ischemic injury during removal and delivery of the donor pancreas, enzymatic digestion during islet isolation, and reperfusion injury after transplantation in the recipient. Here, we found that protein factors secreted by porcine adipose-tissue mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) were capable of activating preserved porcine islets.

Liver stiffness measured by virtual touch quantification predicts the occurrence of posthepatectomy refractory ascites in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: This study assessed the significance of measuring liver stiffness using virtual touch quantification before hepatectomy to predict posthepatectomy refractory ascites.

Methods: A total of 267 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatectomy were prospectively analyzed. Liver stiffness was defined as the median value of the virtual touch quantification (Vs; m/s) by acoustic radio-force-impulse-based virtual touch.

Activation of whole body by high levels of polyamine intake in rats.

Polyamines are important to the survival and activation of organs and tissues via a homeostatic cell-metabolic process, and the polyamine content in cytoplasm decreases with aging. Decreases in cellular polyamine have been known to augment mutagenesis and cell death. Thus, supplementary polyamine in food is important to the prevention of aging.

Bolus Administration of Polyamines Boosts Effects on Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Regeneration in Rats.

Background: It was demonstrated that polyamines ameliorate ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and promote regeneration in the liver. An optimal protocol of polyamine treatment remains unknown in the clinical setting. We examined 2 types of administration methods using rat models.

Impact of pretreatments on outcomes after living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of pretreatments on outcomes after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: From February 1999 to March 2015, 223 patients underwent LDLT for HCC. Until December 2006, there was no restriction in patient selection criteria regarding the number and size of tumors, following which we implemented the Kyoto criteria (tumor number ≤10, maximal diameter ≤5 cm, and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin ≤400 mAU/ml) since January 2007.

Younger Age is an Independent Factor for Graft Weight Overestimation: Analysis of the Clinical Impact on Recipient Outcomes in 340 Japanese Living Liver Donors.

Background: Accurate preoperative estimation of graft weight is essential for improving outcomes in living donor liver transplantation.

Methods: This retrospective study sought to identify factors associated with graft weight overestimation. From April 2006 to August 2015, 340 living donors were assigned to no-overestimate (n = 284) or overestimate (n = 56) groups.

Liver graft preservation using perfluorocarbon improves the outcomes of simulated donation after cardiac death liver transplantation in rats.

The outcomes of liver transplantation (LT) from donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors remain poor due to severe warm ischemia injury. Perfluorocarbon (PFC) is a novel compound with high oxygen carrying capacity. In the present study, a rat model simulating DCD LT was used, and the impact of improved graft oxygenation provided by PFC addition on liver ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) and survival after DCD LT was investigated.

Short-term outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted hybrid living donor hepatectomy: a comparison with the conventional open procedure.

Background: Although minimally invasive living donor surgery has been increasingly accepted, its safety remains to be fully clarified in a large-scale study. This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of our laparoscopy-assisted hybrid living donor surgery (LAHDS) procedure with an upper median incision in comparison with conventional open donor hepatectomy (ODH).

Methods: From 2011 to 2016, 153 adult living donors [right lobe (RL) graft: 80 donors; left lobe (LL) graft: 73 donors] were enrolled and divided into LAHDS (n = 76) and ODH (n = 77) groups.

Impact of Skeletal Muscle Mass, Muscle Quality, and Visceral Adiposity on Outcomes Following Resection of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Decrease in skeletal muscle mass and function, known as sarcopenia, is associated with poor prognosis. Visceral fat accumulation also is related to mortality. This study investigated the impact of preoperative skeletal muscle mass, muscle quality, and visceral adiposity on outcomes in patients undergoing resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).