OBJECTIVETo analyze the condition of early (≤ 30 d) postoperative pulmonary infection in children after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

METHODThe clinical data of 36 cases undergoing LDLT in Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were analyzed retrospectively from June 2006 to December 2009.

RESULTOf 36 cases without preoperative respiratory disease, 17 were boys, 19 were girls. Their age ranged from 2 months to 14 years. Pulmonary infection developed in 24 patients, of whom 4 cases died (17%) and 3 deaths were related to pulmonary infection. Pulmonary infection occurred in 17 of 20 infants (85%) and 10 of 11 cases (91%) with liver function of Child-Pugh grade C. Twenty cases (83%) developed pulmonary infection within first 2 weeks after LDLT. Totally 65 pathogenic strains of microorganisms were isolated, in which Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and fungi were 46 strains, 5 strains, 14 strains respectively. The most frequently isolated bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14 strains), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8 strains) and Acinetobacter baumannii (8 strains). Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed a resistance rate of almost 100% to cotrimoxazole, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, the first, the second and some of the third generation cephalosporins. Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended spectrum beta-lactamase had a resistance rate of almost 100% to beta-lactams except carbapenems. Acinetobacter baumannii was exquisitely susceptible to carbapenems, but showed a high resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins. Candida albicans, which was the most common fungus, showed a susceptibility rate of 100% to amphotericin B. In the LDLT recipients of pulmonary infection, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections occurred in 2 patients and Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection in 1 patient.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of early postoperative pulmonary infection was high in children undergoing LDLT, especially in infants. And the mortality should not be ignored. The high risk period for infection was within the first 2 weeks after operation. The pathogens were mainly Gram-negative bacteria, which showed high and multidrug resistance.

Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Bacterial Infections ; drug therapy ; etiology ; microbiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Lung Diseases ; drug therapy ; etiology ; microbiology ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo establish a novel Myc gene transgenic mouse model for spontaneously forming B-lymphoma and assessing its tumorigenesis potential.

METHODSFreshly isolated hematopoietic progenitor cells served as the target for Myc gene transfer mediated by a retrovirus vector. These cells were engrafted into C57BL/6 mice with (60)Co-gamma ray radiation in advance. Tumor latency was measured and the tumor loaded mice were followed for survival time. Tumor was identified with histology and immunostaining. The exogenous Myc gene was detected by Western blot (in liver, spleen, tumor tissue) and flow cytometry (FCM) \[in bone marrow (BM)\].

RESULTSMice BM-infected with mutant Myc gene more readily gave rise to B-cell lymphomas than those infected with wild type Myc gene did Myc gene was expressed highly in BM and tumor tissues but not in liver and spleen.

CONCLUSIONOur model will be a tool in assessing the transforming potential of Myc mutants and in studying cooperation between Myc and other oncogenes. Mutant Myc is more effective than wild-type Myc in promoting B cell lymphomagenesis in mice.

Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Flow Cytometry ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Retroviridae Infections

OBJECTIVETo summarize our experience in adult-to-infant living donor liver transplantation (A-ILDLT) and to analyze the efficacy and complications of A-ILDLT.

METHODSThe clinical data, surgical strategies and complications of 28 adult donors and infantile recipients who underwent A-ILDLT from April 2006 to December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. These 28 patients (14 boys and 14 girls) aged from 80 days to 11.5 months with body weights of 3.08 to 10.3 kg at the time of operation . They suffered from biliary atresia with decompensated cirrhosis. The living donors were 15 mothers, 9 fathers, 3 grandma and 1 elder brother with ABO compatible with the infantile recipients. 27 Donor organs were the left lateral lobe grafts (segment II, III) and 1 graft was segment II. All patients were followed up for 5 to 24 months.

RESULTSThese grafts were orthotopically transplanted into the infantile recipients. The average length of stay was 9.3 days for the donor group without any complications. Postoperative immunosuppression included prednisone, Cyclosporin and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). A total of 24 postoperative complications occurred in 20 recipients, including 5 vascular complications, 4 bleeding, 7 pneumonia, 2 bowel obstruction, 4 intestinal perforation and 3 rejection. Three recipients died of hepatic arterial thrombosis (HAT). The perioperative mortality rate of recipients was 10.7% (3/28) and the survival rate was 89.3% in peroperative period. One died of stricture of hepatic vein and 1 of accidental asphyxia during follow-up term. At present, 23 cases are still alive.

CONCLUSIONA-ILDLT has become an effective method to infants with end-stage liver disease. The postoperative vascular complication is the predominant cause of death.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Diseases ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; methods ; Living Donors ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors for hepatoblastoma.

METHODSA case-cohort study using Logistic regression multiple variables analysis of medical record data sets was conducted to examine infant and perinatal risk factors for hepatoblastoma.

RESULTSBirth weight less than 1,000 g was associated with a strongly increased risk of hepatoblastoma (odds risk, OR = 26.0, 95% confidence interval, CI: 14.0 to 65.7). After adjustment of birth weight, a moderately increased risk of hepatoblastoma was found for older maternal age ( > 35 years vs. 20 to 34 years: OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 0.9 to 5.9), maternal smoking (OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1 to 4.2) and higher maternal pregnancy body mass index (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.0 to 6.7).

CONCLUSIONVery low birth weight and maternal characteristics including overweight, smoking are associated with hepatoblastoma risk.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Confidence Intervals ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatoblastoma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Overweight ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects