Insights into lenvatinib resistance: mechanisms, potential biomarkers, and strategies to enhance sensitivity.

Lenvatinib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor capable of promoting apoptosis, suppressing angiogenesis, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, and modulating the immune response. In multiple cancer types, lenvatinib has presented manageable safety and is currently approved as an effective first-line therapy. However, with the gradual increase in lenvatinib application, the inevitable progression of resistance to lenvatinib is becoming more prevalent.

Association of phenotypic transformation of circulating tumor cells and early recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following liver transplantation.

Background: CTCs play a critical role in the diagnosis and prognosis of liver cancer. However, there are few studies on whether different types of CTCs can predict the prognosis in patients with HCC following LT.

Methods: Retrospective data including CTCs detected by the CanPatrolTM platform combined with RNA-ISH were collected and analyzed on 56 patients from December 2016 to December 2019 at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.

CEUS detection of biliary ischaemia during the first 4 weeks after liver transplantation predicts non-anastomotic biliary stricture.

Background: Biliary ischaemia is an important factor in the pathogenesis of non-anastomotic biliary stricture (NAS) after liver transplantation (LT). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can be used to detect biliary ischaemia, but no study has examined the utility of CEUS in predicting NAS.

Objective: To evaluate whether repeated CEUS as a non-invasive method of biliary ischaemia can identify NAS.

Effect of Hepatic Artery Spasm on a Rat Model of Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Objectives: To investigate hemodynamic changes in the hepatic artery after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats via ultrasound (US) imaging and to discuss the protective effect of phentolamine (PHT) pretreatment on hepatic IRI.

Methods: Fifty rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a sham operation group (n = 10), a control ischemia-reperfusion group (n = 20), and a PHT pretreatment group (n = 20). Color Doppler flow imaging and contrast-enhanced US examinations were performed in each group at 30 minutes (n = 10) and 90 minutes (n = 10) after reperfusion.

Therapeutic potentials of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for ischemic-type biliary lesions following liver transplantation.

Background Aims: Ischemic-type biliary lesions are severe, graft-threatening complications after orthotopic liver transplantation, and a novel and efficient therapeutic strategy is urgently needed. Due to the immunosuppressive and regenerative properties, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) could be an interesting candidate.

Methods: We initiated safety and efficacy of human umbilical cord-derived MSC (UC-MSC) transfusions for patients with ischemic-type biliary lesions after liver transplantation.

Better prognosis of hepatic resection combined with antiviral therapy for HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma with BCLC Stage B/C.

Background: Whether hepatic resection (HR) could be performed for patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) B/C stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is controversial, and the safety and clinical value of HR combined with antiviral therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC with BCLC-B/C stage remain to be investigated.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 126 patients with BCLC stage B/C HCC who underwent HR. These patients were divided into the antiviral group (Group A, n = 86) and the control group (Group B, n = 40).

Contrast-enhanced sonography for quantitative assessment of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Objectives: The clinical utility of contrast-enhanced sonography in portal hypertension remains unclear. We explored the feasibility of using contrast-enhanced sonography for noninvasive assessment of portal venous pressure.

Methods: Twenty healthy individuals (control group; 9 men; mean age, 46.

New diagnosis and therapy model for ischemic-type biliary lesions following liver transplantation--a retrospective cohort study.

Ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBLs) are a major cause of graft loss and mortality after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Impaired blood supply to the bile ducts may cause focal or extensive damage, resulting in intra- or extrahepatic bile duct strictures or dilatations that can be detected by ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and cholangiography. However, the radiographic changes occur at an advanced stage, after the optimal period for therapeutic intervention.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injuries via inactivation of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway in rats.

Background: Primary graft dysfunction or nonfunction after liver transplantation, which is usually caused by ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), is a serious clinical problem. Although bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown great potential in cell therapy for IRI in several organs, the mechanism(s) by which MSCs offer protection is unclear.

Methods: In the present study, we injected MSCs systemically via the tail vein in the rat model of 70% hepatic IRI and measured the biochemical and pathologic alterations to evaluate the therapeutic effect of MSC transplantation.

Prognostic factors for late mortality after liver transplantation for benign end-stage liver disease.

Background: There are increasing numbers of patients who survive more than one year after liver transplantation. Many studies have focused on the early mortality of these patients. However, the factors affecting long-term survival are not fully understood.

[Effects of CD40LIg gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on liver graft rejection in rats].

Objective: To study the effects of cluster of differentiation 40 ligand immunoglobulin (CD40LIg) gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on liver graft rejection in rats.

Methods: The orthotopic liver transplantation models were established with DA rats as the donors and Lewis rats as the recipient. MSCs infected with the recombinant adenoviruses containing CD40LIg gene were infused into the liver graft after transplantation.

[Risk factors predicting late mortality after liver transplantation for benign end-stage liver disease].

Objectives: To find out the risk factors predicting long-term survival, and to explore the measures for further improving the survival outcome of whom underwent liver transplantation (LT) for benign end-stage liver disease.

Methods: The common causes of late death after LT and risk factors were retrospectively analyzed in 221 consecutive patients, who underwent LT from October 2003 to June 2007 and survived more than one year. Twenty-six potential risk factors were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method, and those variables found to be univariately significant at P < 0.

Liver transplantation for end-stage alcoholic liver disease: a single-center experience from mainland China.

There has been a gradual increase in the number of patients with end-stage alcoholic liver disease (ALD) undergoing liver transplantation (LT) in mainland China. However, few studies have focused on the post-transplant outcomes of this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of LT in patients with ALD, mainly focusing on survival rates, complications, and alcohol recidivism.

[Long-term survival after liver transplantation for benign end-stage liver disease in adults].

Objective: To evaluate the long-term survival rates of the adults with benign end-stage liver disease (BELD) after liver transplantation (LT) and the causes of death.

Methods: The common causes of late death (after more than 1 year) after LT were retrospectively analyzed in 203 consecutive patients with BELD who underwent LT from Oct. 2003 to May.

Hepatic artery complications after orthotopic liver transplantation: interventional treatment or retransplantation?

Background: The main therapeutic treatments for hepatic artery complications after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) include thrombolysis, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, stent placement, and liver retransplantation. The prognosis of hepatic artery complications after OLT is not only related to the type, extent, and timing but also closely associated with the selection and timing of the therapeutic methods. However, there is no consensus of opinion regarding the treatment of these complications.

Prophylaxis of hepatitis B recurrence in post-liver transplantation patients with lamivudine-resistant YMDD mutant.

Background: The most frequently used therapy for post-transplantation recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is lamivudine, but this drug is associated with a high resistance rate due to YMDD mutant. In preliminary reports, adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) has been shown to have activity against lamivudine-resistant strains of HBV. However, clinical experience in treatment of HBV infection after liver transplantation (LT) is still not entirely clear.

[Excitatory postsynaptic potential evoked by stimulation of the ventrolateral region of the cerebellum in crucian carp Mauthner cell].

In the present experiments, the characteristics of the electrical responses to stimulation of the cerebellum in crucian carp Mauthner cell were explored with microeletrode intracellular recording technique. A composite excitatory postsynaptic potential (cerebellum-evoked EPSP) could be induced from the soma, the ventral dendrite and the proximal end of the lateral dendrite in crucian carp Mauthner cell (M-cell) on either side by stimulation of the ventrolateral region of the cerebellum. The cerebellum-evoked EPSP presented characteristics of relatively short latency (0.