ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and localization of midkine (MK) in human hepatocellular carcinoma. MethodsIn situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis for MK were performed on samples of both tumor tissues and paratumor tissues from HCC and benign liver tumors. ResultsThe distribution and localization of the MK transcripts′ signals determined by in situ hybridization were similar to those obtained by immunohistochemical analysis. Most HCC tissues showed enhanced positive reaction within cytoplasm to both MK probe and MK immunostaining. There was no significant difference in clinicopathological parameters between MK negative and positive cases of HCC. ConclusionsHuman hepatocellular carcinoma overexpresses MK at the mRNA and protein level.

Oncogene activation and tumor suppressor gene loss are well known as events that are responsible for the dramatic cell autonomous deregulation of growth that characterizes all malignant cells. Data accumulating more recently indicate that these same genes are also responsible for the development of a second essential characteristic of all malignant cells, the ability to induce angiogenesis on which their progressive growth in vivo depends. Oncogene activation appears to make distinctly different contributions to the angiogenic phenotype of developing tumors. Cells in which an oncogene is activated become more an- giogenic usually because they increase their secretion of inducer of angiogenesis. Inducer enhancement seems to be essential if a normal cell is to develope into a tumor cell able to grow and metastasize in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Recently emerged immunosuppressive scheme combined with basiliximab following liver transplantation, such as the early steroid withdrawal or half amount of steroid. Many studies demonstrated that it would not increase the rejection rate in reducing the use of steroid. However, there were rare reports addressing whether it was safe and effective to replace the steroid by basiliximab. OBJECTIVE: Through the application of non-steroid and early steroid withdrawal immunosuppressive scheme in patients of hepatocellular carcinoma following liver transplantation, to evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of two treatments. METHODS: A total of 80 patients of hepatocellular carcinoma receiving liver transplantation were divided into the experimental and control group. In the experimental group, 33 patients were applied with non-steroid treatment (Tacrolimus+mycophenolate mofetil+basiliximab); additionally 47 patients were applied with early steroid withdrawal treatment (Tacrolimus+mycophenolate mofetil+ steroid). Steroid was reduced gradually from the first day after transplantation to discontinuation after 1 month. The rates of rejection, infection, cancer recurrence and 1 -year survival were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared to the control group, the rates of infection and cancer recurrence were significantly smaller in the experimental group (P < 0.05). However, there was no significantly difference between 2 groups in the rates of rejection and 1 -year survival (P > 0.05). It revealed that the non-steroid treatment can be safely and effectively applied in the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following liver transplantation. The non-steroid treatment can significantly cut down the infection rate and cancer recurrence rate, which has no effect on the rejection and 1 -year survival rate.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for postoperative liver failure of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bile duct tumor thrombus through a risk evaluation model.Methods The clinical data of 107 patients with HCC and bile duct tumor thrombus who received hepatic resection at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital from March 2002 to February 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were divided into the non-liver failure group (98 patients) and liver failure group (9 patients).Risk factors associated with liver failure were analyzed and a risk evaluation model was established.All data were analyzed using the bivariate regression model,and factors with significance were further analyzed using the multivariate regression model.Results Of the 107 patients,105 received hepatic resection + choledochotomy + thrombectomy and 2 received hepatic resection + extrahepatic bile duct resection + cholangiojejunostomy.The operation time was 2.0-5.5 hours,and the intraoperative blood loss was 200-3500 ml.In the non-liver failure group,5 patients had pleural and peritoneal effusion,3 had biliary bleeding,2 had incisional infection,1 had biliary infection,1 had bile leakage,1 had stress-induced ulcer of upper digestive tract and 1 had thoracic epidural hematoma.The bleeding of the patients with thoracic epidural hematoma was stopped after thoracic spinal decompression,but subsequent paraplegia occurred.In the liver failure group,2 patients died of postoperative acute liver failure,and 7 patients died of postoperative subacute liver failure (death caused by tumor recurrence or medicine was excluded).The results of univariate analysis showed that preoperative total bilirubin,albumin,pre-albumin,albumin/globulin ratio,distribution of tumor thrombus,operative blood loss and ratio of postoperative residual liver volume to the total liver volume were correlated with the postoperative liver failure in patients with HCC and bile duct tumor thrombus (OR =3.017,0.191,0.248,2.681,9.048,4.759,13.714,P ＜ 0.05).The results of multivariate analysis showed that preoperative total bilirubin ＞ 256.5 μmol/L,albumin/globulin ratio ≤ 1.3 and postoperative residual liver volume ＜ 50％ were the independent risk factors of postoperative liver failure (OR =5.537,11.107,172.450,P ＜ 0.05).The risk evaluation model was Z =1.77 × preoperative total bilirubin + 2.408 × preoperative albumin/globulin ratio + 5.150 × ratio of postoperative residual liver volume to the total liver volume-17.288.The risk of postoperative liver failure increased as the increase of Z value.The risk of postoperative liver failure ＞ 50％ when the Z value ＞ 0.Conclusions Preoperative total bilirubin ＞ 256.5μmol/L,albumin/globulin ratio ≤ 1.3 and postoperative residual liver volume ＜ 50％ were the independent risk factors of postoperative liver failure.Risk evaluation model is helpful in screening the risk factors so as to decrease the incidence of postoperative liver failure.

Objective To summarize the experiences of a single treatment group in surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma during the past 10 years. Methods From January 2000 to December 2009, 1572 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were admitted to the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, and the clini-cal data of 462 patients in our treatment group were retrospectively analyzed. Among the patients, 314 received surgical treatment, and the remaining 148 received conservative interventions or refused any therapy. Factors that may have influenced the prognosis were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method, Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. The correlation of different factors was analyzed by the chi-square test. Results A total of 314 patients underwent surgical treatment and tumor resection was performed in 237 patients, including 174 with R0 resection, 17 with R1 resection, and 46 with R2 resection. There were 91 patients with postoperative complications and 10 in-hospital deaths. A total of 260 patients had been followed up for 5-113 months, and the overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 71.7% , 32.6% and 10.9% , respectively; the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of patients with R0 resection were 76. 9% , 48. 6% and 32. 7% , respectively, with a median survival time of 35 months. R0 resection, TNM staging, regional lymph node involvement and tumor differentiation were the independent prognostic factors (RR = 2. 1, 1.9,2.2, 1.7, P<0.05). Conclusions Curative resection is the treatment of choice for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Preoperative systematic evaluation and preparation can improve the radical resection rate and reduce postoperative morbidity.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of early postoperative complications in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. MethodsClinical data of 200 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy in our hospital from December 1999 to September 2002 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Nine clinical factors were recruited for the study in relation to surgical complications. ResultsThe overall early postoperative complication rate was 21% (42/200). Logistic regression analysis revealed that no T tube drainage(OR=10.015), preoperative total serum bilirubin level over 171.1?mol/L(OR=7.756), preoperative diabetes (OR=4.086), end-to-end pancreaticojejunostomy (OR=2.616), intraoperative blood transfusion over 1000 ml (OR=2.410), over 65 years old (OR=2.162) were important factors for early complications. ConclusionsT tube drainage, end-to-side mucosa-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy and good surgical expertise can decrease early morbidity rate.

0.05). The mean growth values in AdCMV-tk/GCV- and AdVEGF-tk/GCV-treated tumors were significantly lower than those in untreated tumors and AdVEGF-tk/saline-untreated tumors( P

Objective To analyze the characteristics and prognostic factors of gallbladder carcinoma and investigate the measures of various modus operandi. Methods The clinicopathological data of 181 patients with advanced gallbladder carcinoma treated in our hospital from June 2002 to June 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. SPSS16. 0 software package was used for statistical analysis.Results The overall median survival rate of the 181 patients with gallbladder carcinoma was 6 months. The median survival rate after radical resection for gallbladder carcinoma was 19.5 months,which was remarkably higher than other R1 resection, R2 resection and palliative operation groups (P ＜0. 01) The RO resection rates were 95.5%, 62. 2%, 14.1% and 4.7%, respectively based on different pathological stages of Nevin( Ⅱ , Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ ). There were significant differences among all groups (P＜0.01). The Cox multivariate analysis revealed that pathological stages of Nevin, total bilirubin, CA-199 and therapeutic method had significantly higher risk ratios for gallbladder carcinoma.Conclusion Radical resection may help to improve the survival rate and prognosis of advanced gallbladder carcinoma.

Objective To compare the safety and damage to liver function of 3 methods of hepatic infusive vascular occlusion in hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Retrospectively, the clinical data of patients undergoing curative liver resection with pan- (n=30) and hemi(n= 30) vascular occlusion or hemi-hepatic artery reservation (n= 30) method were analyzed. Results All patients in the 3 groups had similar surgical duration and blood loss. Two and one patients from group 2 suffered from portal vein impairment and hemorrhea, respectively. Patients from group 1 had higher serum alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin on days 1 and 7 after surgery. Conclusion Hepatectomy with hemi-hepatic artery reservation, which was not closely related to hepatic hilum, is safe and convenient for the resection of tumor involving hemi-liver and is especially suitable for the patients with severe liver cirrhosis.

Gallbladder carcinoma (GC) is the most common malignant tumor in bile duct system.Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a benign inflammatory gallbladder disease.It is often misdiagnosed between them.This paper,through reviewing the literature and summarizing our own clinical experience,will give a better understanding on the two diseases,which was summarized as follows:inflammation is important both in the pathogenesis of GC and XGC,and we can make the correct diagnosis and choose an appropriate treatment by analy zing the feature of disease history,image data and rapid intraoperative pathological diagnosis.Radical resection remains the first choice in the treatment of GC,but the extent of resection is controversial.Normally,cholecystectomy is sufficient for curing XGC,but different surgeries are needed according to the specific disease conditions.