Update on Resection Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Narrative Review.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer, the incidence of which is rising globally. Despite recent advancements in immunotherapeutic and surgical treatment modalities, the prognosis for HCC remains poor. The surgical treatment strategy for HCC comprises a multimodal effort that ranges from ablative therapy and surgical resection to liver transplantation.

Evaluating the efficacy and safety of 2-methoxy-6-methylpyridine: a promising topical agent for gallstone dissolution in a porcine model.

While methyl-tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) remains the sole clinical topical agent for gallstone dissolution, its utility is limited due to side effects, largely stemming from its relatively low boiling point (55°C). In this study, we introduced 2-methoxy-6-methylpyridine (MMP), a novel gallstone-dissolving compound featuring an aromatic moiety and a substantially higher boiling point (156°C), designed to mitigate these side effects. We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and potential toxicities of MMP compared to MTBE using both in vitro and in vivo models.

Evolution of minimally invasive cholecystectomy: a narrative review.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, being a prevalent abdominal surgical procedure, has transitioned through various innovative stages aimed at reducing the procedure's invasiveness. These stages encompass Single-Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (SILC), Mini Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (MLC), Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES), and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (RALC). The purpose of this review is to trace the evolution of minimally invasive cholecystectomy techniques, assess their status, and identify emerging trends and challenges in the field.

Enhancing Pancreatic Cancer Therapy with Targeted CD133-Exosome Delivery of PD-L1 siRNA: A Preclinical Investigation.

Objectives: This study assessed the anticancer potential of genetically modified exosomes engineered to express CD133-binding peptides on their surface and carry PD-L1 siRNA for the treatment of murine model of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Methods: CD133-targeting exosomes (tEx) were generated by harvesting conditioned media from adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) that had undergone transformation using pDisplay vectors encoding CD133-binding peptide sequences. Subsequently, siPD-L1-loaded CD133-targeting Exosomes, referred to as tEx(s), were created by incorporating PD-L1 siRNA into the tEx using Exofect kit.

Remove hydrogen and store it too: an acid-in-clay based electro-chemical solution.

Extracting hydrogen from metallic components can open up a new pathway for preventing hydrogen embrittlement. To this end, we propose an electrochemically driven, all-solid method for hydrogen control, capable of both extracting and storing hydrogen simultaneously. In this approach, we employ acid-in-clay as a proton conducting electrolyte at room temperature.

Surgical outcome and risk scoring to predict survival after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis.

Backgrounds/aims: The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is classified as the advanced stage (BCLC stage C) with extremely poor prognosis, and in current guidelines is recommended for systemic therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes and long-term prognosis after hepatic resection (HR) for patients who have HCC combined with PVTT.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 332 patients who underwent HR for HCC with PVTT at ten tertiary referral hospitals in South Korea.

Colon cancer: the 2023 Korean clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Korea and the third leading cause of death from cancer. Treatment outcomes for colon cancer are steadily improving due to national health screening programs with advances in diagnostic methods, surgical techniques, and therapeutic agents..

Proposal of a Network System to Solve the Problem of Small Volume in Liver Transplantation; Catholic Medical Center Network.

Introduction: Liver transplantation (LT) is a complex and demanding procedure associated with significant perioperative challenges and risks. Concerns have arisen regarding LT outcomes in low-volume centers. We implemented an integrated training and surgical team network to address these concerns within the Catholic Medical Center (CMC) network.

Hepatic artery protection using a polyglycolic acid sheet during pancreaticoduodenectomy: A multicenter study.

Background: Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) is the most feared complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The most common cause is erosion of the gastroduodenal artery stump. Preventive measures have been previously reported, but a consensus is lacking.

The role of natural killer cell activity as a milestone in oncologic outcome after curative resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate differences in oncologic outcomes of patients with pancreas cancer according to natural killer cell activity (NKA).

Methods: A total of 118 patients who underwent curative resection for primary pancreas cancer in two hospitals were analyzed. NKA change pattern was analyzed.

Percutaneous cholecystoduodenal stent as a definite treatment for acute cholecystitis in elderly or comorbid patients: a bicentric retrospective study.

Purpose: To investigate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous cholecystoduodenal stent (CDS) placement to prevent recurrence of acute cholecystitis in patients who were unfit for cholecystectomy.

Methods: Between April 2016 and January 2022, 46 patients [median age (range) = 81 (37-99) years; men = 15] with acute cholecystitis who were unfit for surgery underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy followed by a CDS placement in two institutions. Plastic stents of three different materials were used [polyethylene, polyurethane (PU), and polycarbonate (PCB)-based PU].

Precipitation-based microscale enzyme reactors coupled with porous and adhesive elastomer for effective bacterial decontamination and membrane antifouling on-demand.

Bacterial contamination of water environments can cause various troubles in various areas. As one of potential solutions, we develop enzyme-immobilized elastomer, and demonstrate the uses of enzyme reactions on-demand for effective microbial decontamination and antifouling. Asymmetrically-structured elastomer is prepared by combining two polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layers with different degrees of crosslinking: highly-crosslinked and lightly-crosslinked PDMS layers.

Effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Solid Organ Transplantation.

Background: As the novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has emerged as a viral pandemic, data on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection undergoing solid organ transplant are emerging. The objective of this systematic review was to assess currently published literature relating to the management, clinical course, and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in liver, kidney, and heart solid organ transplant recipients.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to assess currently published literature relating to the management, clinical course, and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in liver, kidney, and heart solid organ transplant recipients.

Radical resection and reconstruction of the sternum for metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma of the sternum is rare and a few cases of surgical resection have been reported. Anterior chest wall reconstruction after radical resection of the sternum and ribs aims to protect the heart and lung from external damage and herniation and restore physiologic stability of the chest wall during respiration. A variety of reconstruction techniques using various materials have been reported, but so far there are no definitive guidelines for the reconstruction of chest wall defects.

Biliary Internal Stents and Biliary Complications in Adult Liver Transplantation.

Background: Biliary complications in liver transplantation (LT) can cause significant morbidity or even lead to a potential graft loss and patient mortality. Oftentimes biliary internal stents (ISs) are used at the time of LT to lower the risk for or prevent these biliary complications; however, their efficacy and outcomes remain controversial.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all of the adult patients who underwent a deceased-donor LT (DDLT) with an end-to-end choledococholedocostomy.

Double Cystic Artery Originating in a Right and a Segment IV Hepatic Artery: A Case Report.

Anatomical variation of the cystic artery (CA) is frequently observed. However, a CA originating in a segment IV hepatic artery (HA) has been rarely reported. We report double CA originating in a right segment IV HA detected during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Intraoperative radiofrequency ablation and distilled water peritoneal lavage for spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (srHCC) is known to be a life-threatening complication with poor prognosis. Although there are various treatment modalities, there is no definite treatment guideline. The purpose of this study was to review the surgical outcome and prognosis of srHCC treated with intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and distilled water peritoneal lavage (DWPL).

In Situ Left Lateral Sectionectomy in Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation: Could This Be Another Solution for a Large-for-Size Graft? A Case Report.

Background: Large-for-size (LFS) graft should be avoided when performing an adult deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) as it is associated with abdominal compartment syndrome, severe graft injury, and primary graft nonfunction. When inadvertently facing with LFS graft intraoperatively, the most commonly reported approach has been a surgical reduction of the right lobe despite its technical difficulty in addition to ongoing coagulopathy after graft reperfusion. We report a case where we performed a left lateral sectionectomy instead of a right lobe modification.

Effect of Converting From Calcineurin Inhibitor- to Sirolimus-Based Immunosuppressant Regimen on Breast Fibroadenoma Among Kidney Transplant Patients.

The incidence rate of breast fibroadenomas is higher among female kidney transplant (KT) patients treated using cyclosporine (CsA) for immunosuppression than in the general population. As such, there is an effort to convert immunosuppression from CsA or tacrolimus to sirolimus. Our aim was to assess the reversibility of a breast fibroadenoma after conversion in a small cohort of female KT recipients.

Data Association for Multi-Object Tracking via Deep Neural Networks.

With recent advances in object detection, the tracking-by-detection method has become mainstream for multi-object tracking in computer vision. The tracking-by-detection scheme necessarily has to resolve a problem of data association between existing tracks and newly received detections at each frame. In this paper, we propose a new deep neural network (DNN) architecture that can solve the data association problem with a variable number of both tracks and detections including false positives.

Organotypic slice cultures of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma preserve the tumor microenvironment and provide a platform for drug response.

Background: /Objective: The conventional models currently used to evaluate various anti-tumor therapeutic agents are not sufficient for representing human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), which has a unique tumor microenvironment. We aimed to produce an organotypic slice culture model from human PDA that resembles the in vivo situation and to evaluate the responses of PDA slices to established cytotoxic drugs.

Methods: PDA tissues were obtained from 10 patients who underwent pancreatic resection.

Comparing Clonality Between Components of Combined Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma by Targeted Sequencing.

Background/aim: Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) is a very rare type of tumor, comprising these two different components in a single mass. Although several studies have determined the genetic characteristics of cHCC-CC, next-generation sequencing (NGS) data for comparing clonality of cHCC-CC are currently unavailable.

Materials And Methods: Four cHCC-CC cases were selected and HCC, CC and normal components from each case were separately micro-dissected.