NY-ESO-1 is an important member of cancer-testis antigen family and is widely distributed among many cancer types. As a tumor-specific antigen with the strongest immunogenicity so far identified, it can induce spontaneous antibody and T-cell responses in patients with NY-ESO-1-positive tumors. Therefore, it has been a good vaccine candidate in the immunotherapy against many malignancies. This article reviews the recent research advances in NY-ESO-1 and its relevant vaccines.
Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; therapy

Living related liver transplantation (LRLT) has been developed as a rescue for the ever deteriorating shortage of cadaveric donor liver, especially in Asian countries and areas where the concept of brain death has not widely been accepted. Inclusion criteria for the biologically suitable potential donor of LRLT should be strict and approved by the ethical committee of the hospital before clinical evaluation is taken. Anatomical, physiological and clinical practices have proved that donor mortality is acceptably very low. The early and middle-long term results for the recipient of LRLT is comparable with and even better than those of cadaveric liver transplantation. In mainland China, interest in LRLT is surging with the volume ever increased and donor's safety guaranteed.
Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors

Abdomen/surgery* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy/methods* ; Pelvic Floor/surgery* ; Perineum/surgery* ; Proctectomy ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of Shenfu Injection (SI) on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

METHODSPartial liver ischemia-reperfusion model under room temperature was established in 60 rats, which were divided into the control group and the treated group randomly and each group was again classified into 3 subgroups with 30 min, 60 min and 90 min hepatic ischemia time rspectively. Rats in the treated group were injected with SI 10 ml/kg every day, while the control group treated with normal saline. Survival rate after 1 week was observed, the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialde hyde (MDA), surperoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor nicrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) and endothelin (ET) were detected, and hepatic biopsy was performed with light and electronic microscope.

RESULTSThe survival rate in the treated subgroup with 90 min' ischemia after 1 week was 90%, higher than that in the control subgroup significantly (P <0. 05), which was 60% ; and serum levels of AST, MDA, TNF-alpha and ET were lower and SOD was higher significantly (all P <0.05), as well as the degenerative and necrotic degree of hepatocyte and sinusoidal endothelial cells was lighter in the 3 treated subgroups, compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONShenfu injection can eliminate oxygen free radical during hepatic ishemia-reperfusion so as to has a protective effect and attenuate hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury.

Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelins ; blood ; Injections ; Liver ; blood supply ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Protective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo construct dendritomas by fusion of human dendritic cells with HLE cells, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line.

METHODSHLE cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 with 15% FCS. Human dendritic cells (DCs) were obtained from peripheral blood monocytes cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 for 7 days, matured with TNF-alpha and PGE(2) for 2 days. The DCs and HLE cells were labeled with green fluorescence dye PKH67-GL and red fluorescence dye PKH26-GL, respectively, and fused in 50% polyethylene glycol (PEG) + 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to generate dendritomas for rapid fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).

RESULTSDendritomas with dual red-green fluorescence were constructed successfully, and FACS analysis showed the effective fusion rate was 16.8%.

CONCLUSIONWith fluorescence dyes PKH67-GL and PKH26-GL as fusion markers, dendritomas for rapid fluorescence-activated cell sorting are constructed, which may throw new light on immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cancer Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Fusion ; methods ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Hybrid Cells ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of portaazygous disconnection (PAD), portacaval shunt (PCS) and distal splenocaval shunt (DSCS) on the portosytemic shunting (PSS), hepatic function (HF), hepatic mitochondrial respiratory function (HMRF), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and arterial ketone body ratio (KBR) in order to provide a sound basis for selecting suitable operations for patients.

METHODSUsing a cirrhotic portal hypertensive model induced by CCl4/ethanol in Wistar rats, the PSS, HF, HMRF, OGTT and KBR were determined three weeks after PCS, DSCS and PAD.

RESULTSIt was revealed that: (1) In the cirrhotic portal hypertension rats, the PSS increased significantly, HMRF and hepatic reserve function (HRF) decreased significantly when compared with the control rats. (2) At the time of first postoperative week, the mean blood glucose value in the 120-minute OGTT in each PAD, PCS and DSCS groups had significant differences compared with the cirrhotic control group. But during the second and third postoperative weeks, the mean blood glucose values in the 120-minute OGTT in both PAD and DSCS groups had no significant differences compared with the cirrhotic control group except for the PCS group. The values of KBR in the three operative groups decreased significantly compared with the cirrhotic control group during the two postoperative weeks. In the third postoperative week, only the values of KBR in the PCS group had a significant difference compared with the cirrhotic control group. (3) After PCS, the PSS was further increased; HF and HMRF were significantly decreased. Little improvement was found in the third postoperative week. (4) After DSCS and PAD, the above mentioned indices were less influenced, and they were restored more quickly than those in the PCS group.

CONCLUSIONWe found that PAD and DSCS are more desirable than PCS.

Animals ; Hypertension, Portal ; etiology ; surgery ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; complications ; surgery ; Portacaval Shunt, Surgical ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effects to block the TGF-beta1 (transforming growth factor beta1) signal transduction by antisense Smad4 gene on experimental fibrotic liver.

METHODSUsing the rat model of liver fibrosis induced by Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4)/ethanol, we transfected antisense Smad4 gene mediated by adenovirus via portal vein infusion into the liver, and observed the expression of Smad4 by Retro-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blot. We also investigated the pathologic features and collagen expression.

RESULTSIn the non-therapeutic cirrhotic liver, the expression of Smad4 mRNA was significantly increased than normal liver, and so was the collagen I. After antisense Smad4 gene being transfected, the expression of Smad4 mRNA and that of collagen I in the therapeutic liver was significantly decreased, compared with the non-therapeutic cirrhotic liver. The fibrous degree of therapeutic liver was also reduced compared with the non-therapeutic fibrous liver.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that because antisense Smad4 gene could block TGF-beta1 signal transduction by reducing the expression of Smad4, so it could inhibit the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) and improve hepatic fibrosis.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Antisense Elements (Genetics) ; therapeutic use ; Collagen Type I ; analysis ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; Smad4 Protein ; Trans-Activators ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVESTo summarize hemodynamic and metabolic changes during bypass, and to evaluate the bypass in liver transplantation.

METHODSFifty-four patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation with venovenous bypass from May 2000 to May 2002. Their clinical features were analysed.

RESULTSSHR, MAP, CVP, CO, PaO(2), PaCO(2), serum K(+), Na(+), Ca(2+), BUN values were not significantly changed during bypass. Compared to the pre-bypass stage, pH was decreased in the post-bypass stage (P < 0.05), serum lactic acid value was increased in the bypass and post-bypass stage (P < 0.05), active clotting time was increased in the bypass stage (P < 0.05), serum creatinine value was increased on first postoperative day (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSVenovenous bypass could improve hemodynamic and metabolic stability in the anhepatic phase, but it also could increase operation duration, liver ischemic time and cost.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Liver Transplantation ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the variations type of hepatic artery and discuss the method of how to protect hepatic artery from injury during the quick harvest of the donor liver.

METHODSA retrospective review of the variations of hepatic arteries of the donor livers and the course of excision and reconstruction of 200 donor livers was performed, and the aberrance and reconstruction method of hepatic arteries were summarized.

RESULTS37 out of 200 hepatic arteries varied and 2 patients suffered biliary complications because of improper preservation of aberrant hepatic arteries.

CONCLUSIONSMost aberrant liver arteries come from superior mesenteric artery or left gastric artery. Proper quick harvest of multiple organs is the basis of the integrity of hepatic arteries, and all the aberrance must be reconstructed.

Female ; Hepatic Artery ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Liver Transplantation ; methods ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue and Organ Harvesting ; methods ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo investigate reason and the management of portal vein thrombosis in patients with portal hypertension postoperatively.

METHODS329 patients with portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis who had splenectomy was reviewed from 1992 to 2001. In whom 43 (13.1%) patients with portal vein thrombosis postoperative were analyzed.

RESULTSIn these patients, except 1 died for portal vein phlebitis, all patients were recovered. There are 138 patients who underwent splenectomy or splenectomy and devascularization, 26 (18.8%) of them had thrombosis. 191 patients underwent splenectomy and portacaval or portasplenic shut, 17 (8.9%) of them had thrombosis. The data of these two groups have significant difference (chi(2) = 8.44, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThrombocytosis postsplenectomy as well as the changes of portal hemodynamics is the main reason of portal vein thrombosis. Portal vein thrombosis is also in association with the operative ways. Operation standardization, dynamic examining platelet count, routine color ultrasonography examining and early anticoagulation therapy are the effective methods in preventing and managing portal thrombosis postoperation for portal hypertension.

Adult ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Postoperative Complications ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods