Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) was first successfully done in pediatric patients and now its application has been expanded to adult patients. Especially in Asian countries, LDLT has become the mainstay of liver transplantation because of a severe shortage of cadaveric organs. The overall survival rate of recipients is almost same as in cadaveric whole organ transplantation. Advantages of LDLT include reduction in waiting time, flexible operation time, good quality of donor organ, and minimal cold ischemic time, etc. But it needs a thorough understanding of anatomy and it is technically more demanding. Recipient morbidity is increased, especially in biliary complications, and donor morbidity and mortality issues should be considered. Many surgical problems have been solved in the field of LDLT. Still the issues of small for size syndrome and biliary complication should be solved in the near future.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cadaver ; Cold Ischemia ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors* ; Mortality ; Organ Transplantation ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

Liver transplantation is the only hope for patients with terminal liver cirrhosis. Liver transplantation has evolved rapidly over the past two dacades, and its indication has been expanded. The most common indication of liver transplantation is terminal liver cirrhosis from any cause (hepatitis B, hepatitis C/non-A,non-B, alcoholic, autoimmune and others). Other indications are hepatic neoplasm, fulminant hepatic failure, biliary atresia, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and some metabolic diseases. Liver transplantation can be always considered as an option for life-saving treatment in case of failure of liver function. So we should consider absolutes contraindications of liver transplantation : active substance abuse, unstableactive cardiopulmonary disease, incurable extrahepatic malignancy, active uncontrolled and untreatable sepsis, active HIV infection (unresponsive to treatment), inadequate social support, extreme psychosocial dysfunction, and extensive vascular thrombosis precluding liver transplantation. For improved survival and better prognosis in cases of liver transplantation much attention is needed for careful long-term follow-up and surveillance for cardiovascular risk factors, de novo malignancy, and metabolic factors.
Alcoholics ; Biliary Atresia ; Cholangitis, Sclerosing ; Hepatitis ; HIV Infections ; Hope ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Liver Neoplasms ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Metabolic Diseases ; Prognosis* ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Survival Rate*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiographical results of triple osteotomy as a treatment for adult hallux valgus with highly increased distal metatarsal articular ankle (DMAA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2003 to April 2005, we retrospectively reviewed 7 hallux valgus patients (3 cases: moderate, 4 cases: severe) treated with triple osteotomy and followed-up for more than 1 year after operation. The mean follow up was 15.1 months. The hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA) and the length of 1:2 metatarsal bone were measured. Proximal chevron osteotomy and distal biplanar chevron osteotomy were done in 1st metatarsal bone. Akin osteotomy was added to the base of the proximal phalanx. The clinical result was assessed using the AOFAS Hallux score, tenderness on the medial eminence, ROM of 1st metatarsophalangeal joint, calluses and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The mean HVA and IMA was improved from 37.5 degrees and 13.4 degrees to 10.5 degrees and 6.2 degrees respectively. The mean DMAA was corrected from 34.2 degrees to 11.2 degrees and mean shortening of 1st metatarsal was 2.4 mm (0.9-5.8 mm). The mean AOFAS hallux score was improved from 66.4 to 92.5 and VAS score (pain on the medial eminence) from 4.3 points to 0.4 points. Metatarsalgia disappeared in all cases and there was no complications such as necrosis of the metatarsal head. CONCLUSION: Triple osteotomy for adult hallux valgus with a highly increased DMAA is effective and should be considered as a part of the treatment armamentarium.
Adult* ; Ankle ; Bony Callus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hallux Valgus* ; Hallux* ; Head ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones* ; Metatarsalgia ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint ; Necrosis ; Osteotomy* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was prospectively carried out to determine the concordance between the immunohistochemical assay (IHC) and the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) assessing estrogen receptor (ER) and progesteron receptor (PR) in breast cancer tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breast carcinoma tissues were obtained from 36 patients. Hormonal receptors were determined by IHC assay using polyclonal antimouse antibody and by EIA. The concordance between two methods and the concordance according to in age, tumor size, stage, and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer patient were analyzed. RESULTS: The concordant rate of ER status was 88.9% between IHC and EIA. ER-IHC(+)/EIA(-) were 3 cases and ER-IHC(-)/EIA(+) was 1 cases. ER-positive was 63.9% in IHC and 53.8% in EIA. The concordant rate of PR status was 86.1% between IHC an EIA. PR-IHC(+)/EIA(-) were 4 cases and PR-IHC(-)/EIA(+) was 1 cases. PR-positive was 61.1% in IHC and 52.8% in EIA. There was high concordance (76.2-100%) in age, tumor size, stage, and lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: There was high concordance between immunohistochemical assay and enzymeimmunoassay determining estrogen and progesteron receptors in the breast cancer. The IHC assay appears to be a resonable substitute for the EIA to determine hormonal receptors.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: Recently, there has been increasing interest in total ankle arthroplasty as an alternative to ankle arthrodesis. This study examined the short-term results of total ankle arthroplasty using an Agility prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study reviewed the results of 11 patients who underwent total ankle arthroplasty using the Agility prosthesis between May, 2003 and May, 2004. With a postoperative follow-up period of 2 years, 10 patients (10 ankles) were available for review at the time of the follow-up. The clinical evaluation included the ankle range of motion, the personal type of preferred shoe, walking pain (VAS score) and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle score. In addition, the patients were asked whether they were satisfied with the outcome and if they would choose to undergo the same procedure again. The radiologic evaluation included the loosening of the prosthesis, osteolysis and syndesmosis union. The anterior surgical approach was used. The syndesmosis area was fixed using 2 cannulated screws inserted percutaneously in 9 cases and a plate in 1 case. RESULTS: The patients consisted of two men and eight women. The average age was 51.8 years (range 41 to 67) with an average follow-up of 30.3 (range 24 to 36) months. The mean preoperative and postoperative AOFAS ankle scores were 38.2 and 73.8, respectively, demonstrating significant improvement. The mean preoperative and final follow-up walking pain was 8.9 and 2.8, respectively. The ankle range of motion was decreased slightly at the final follow-up. Five patients required a cane to walk. Radiographic analysis showed no prosthesis failure, even though osteolysis occurred around the prosthesis in all cases. Only one case showed further progression. Union in the syndesmosis area occurred within 6 months in 5 cases and delayed union was observed in 3 cases, and nonunion was observed in 2 cases. Sensory loss in the area innervated by the deep peroneal nerve and a fracture in the lateral malleolus was encountered in one case, but this recovered with conservative treatment. Subtalar joint arthritis was noted in one case. CONCLUSION: Agility total ankle arthroplasty results in a favorable outcome at the short-term follow-up. However, total ankle arthroplasty is associated with radiographic complications including syndesmosis nonunion and osteolysis. Only syndesmosis nonunion was associated with the clinical results. Therefore, long-term follow-up is considered to be necessary to demonstrate osteolysis and loosening with their clinical association.
Animals ; Ankle ; Arthritis ; Arthrodesis ; Arthroplasty ; Canes ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Male ; Osteolysis ; Peroneal Nerve ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthesis Failure ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoes ; Subtalar Joint ; Walking

Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the lacrimal and salivary glands, leading to dryness of eyes (kerato-conjunctivitis sicca) and mouth (xerostomia). The skin lesions in Sjogren's syndrome are usually manifested as xeroderma, but sometimes appear as annular erythema or vasculitis. Central nervous system symptoms may be presented as one of extraglandular manifestations, though rare in incidence, and need differential diagnosis from multiple sclerosis. We report a case of a 45-year-old woman diagnosed as multiple sclerosis at first but later as neurologic manifestation of primary Sjogren's syndrome, showing signs of multiple sclerosis and cutaneous erythematous lesions.
Case Report ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Erythema/pathology ; Erythema/diagnosis* ; Female ; Human ; Middle Age ; Multiple Sclerosis/pathology ; Multiple Sclerosis/diagnosis* ; Sjogren's Syndrome/pathology ; Sjogren's Syndrome/diagnosis*

Pneumatosis intestinalis is an uncommon disorder characterized by an accumulation of gas in the bowel wall. We described three cases undertaking liver transplantation. The patients developed diarrhea in three cases and high fever in two. An abdominal X-ray and computed tomography scan demonstrated extensive pneumatosis intestinalis in the colon with pneumoperitoneum mimicking hollow organ perforation. However, the patients had no abdominal symptoms and there was no evidence of peritonitis. The infection work-up was negative except one case with cytomegalovirus antigenemia. After one week of conservative management including bowel rest and antibiotic therapy, their pneumoperitoneum resolved spontaneously without any complication. Pneumatosis intestinalis should be considered as a differential diagnosis after adult liver transplantation with patients suffering from watery diarrhea and fever. Pneumoperitoneum, air-density in mesentery and retroperitoneum in patients with pneumatosis intestinalis without signs of peritonitis improved with conservative management, which included bowel rest and antibiotic therapy.
Adult ; Colon ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Fever ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Mesentery ; Mortuary Practice ; Peritonitis ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Stress, Psychological

Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause. It predominantly affects the aortic arch and its branches. Concomitant involvement of coronary and renal arteries is a rare entity. In this report, we described successful treatment of a patient with Takayasu's arteritis associated with coronary and renal arteries stenosis. A 23-year-old woman was presented with chest pain on exertion. Angiographic studies demonstrated left main coronary, bilateral renal, and left subclavian arteries stenosis. She underwent angioplasty and stenting of bilateral renal artery. After one week, coronary artery bypass grafting using greater saphenous veins and aorto-subclavian bypass with PTFE vascular graft were done simultaneously. She was discharged on the 13th postoperative day without any complications.
Angioplasty ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Stenosis ; Female ; Humans ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; Renal Artery* ; Saphenous Vein ; Stents ; Subclavian Artery ; Takayasu Arteritis* ; Transplants ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for CD45RB as a potent tolerogenic target can prolong allograft survival in several animal models. The mechanisms of CD45RB mAb-mediated tolerance are largely unknown. Therefore, the present studies were performed to determine the immunomodulatory effects of CD45RB mAb on T cells in early or late time after allogenic skin transplantation. METHODS: Skin grafts and bone marrows from BALB/c donor mice were transplanted on C57BL/6 recipient mice and Busulfan was administerd. Group 1 was composed of anti-CD154 mAb administerd mice, group 2 was composed of anti-CD154 and anti-CD45RBB mAb administerd mice, and group 3 consisted of anti-CD154 mAb and CTLA4-Ig administerd mice. The proportion of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T cell and range of CD45RB was observed by flow cytometry. Cytokines secreted by CD4+ T cell were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: CD45RB mAb in combination with CD154 mAb enhanced graft survival in allogenic skin transplantation model where CD45RB mAb specific for CD45RB, which was proven mainly expressed by CD8+ T cells, had inhibitory effects on the proportion of splenocyte-derived CD8+ and CD4+CD45RB(high) T cells in early or late time posttransplant. CONCLUSION: The combined therapy showed decreases in the proliferation of CD8+ T cells in vivo and allospecific responses of IFN-gamma-producing cells. Such immunomodulatory effects may be associated with the tolerogenic ability of CD45RB mAb in allogenic skin transplantation.
Abatacept ; Allografts ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Bone Marrow ; Busulfan ; Cytokines* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance* ; Lymphocytes* ; Mice* ; Models, Animal ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants