This study aimed to comprehensively examine the association of gallstones, cholecystectomy, and cancer risk. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to estimate the observational associations of gallstones and cholecystectomy with cancer risk, using data from a nationwide cohort involving 239 799 participants. General and gender-specific two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was further conducted to assess the causalities of the observed associations. Observationally, a history of gallstones without cholecystectomy was associated with a high risk of stomach cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-4.28), liver and bile duct cancer (aOR=2.46, 95% CI 1.17-5.16), kidney cancer (aOR=2.04, 95% CI 1.05-3.94), and bladder cancer (aOR=2.23, 95% CI 1.01-5.13) in the general population, as well as cervical cancer (aOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.56) in women. Moreover, cholecystectomy was associated with high odds of stomach cancer (aOR=2.41, 95% CI 1.29-4.49), colorectal cancer (aOR=1.83, 95% CI 1.18-2.85), and cancer of liver and bile duct (aOR=2.58, 95% CI 1.11-6.02). MR analysis only supported the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer. This study added evidence to the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer, highlighting the importance of cancer screening in individuals with gallstones.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Gallstones/complications* ; Female ; Male ; Cholecystectomy/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Aged ; Adult ; Neoplasms/etiology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology*

With the accelerated aging society in China, the incidence of biliary surgical diseases in the elderly has increased significantly. The clinical characteristics of these patients indicate that improving treatment outcomes and realizing healthy aging are worthy of attention. How to effectively improve the treatment effect of geriatric biliary surgical diseases has attracted widespread attention. This paper reviews and comments on the hotspots and difficulties of biliary surgery in older patients from six aspects: (1) higher morbidity associated with an aging society, (2) prevention and control of pre-operative risks, (3) extending the indications of laparoscopic surgery, (4) urgent standardization of minimally invasive surgery, (5) precise technological progress in hepatobiliary surgery, and (6) guarantee of peri-operative safety. It is of great significance to fully understand the focus of controversy, actively make use of its favorable factors, and effectively avoid its unfavorable factors, for further improving the therapeutic effects of geriatric biliary surgical diseases, and thus benefits the vast older patients with biliary surgical diseases. Accordingly, a historical record with the highest age of 93 years for laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration has been created by us recently.
Humans ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures ; Gallstones ; Laparoscopy ; Treatment Outcome ; Aging ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic transcystic drainage and common bile duct exploration in the treatment of patients with difficult biliary stones. METHODS: Between April 2020 and December 2021, eighteen patients with difficult biliary stones received laparoscopic transcystic drainage (C-tube technique) and common bile duct exploration. The clinical characteristics and outcomes were retrospectively collected. The safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic transcystic drainage and common bile duct exploration were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the eighteen patients with difficult biliary stones, thirteen patients received traditional laparoscopic transcystic drainage, and the remaining five received modified laparoscopic transcystic drainage. The mean surgical duration were (161±59) min (82-279 min), no bile duct stenosis or residual stone was observed in the patients receiving postoperative cholangiography via C-tube. The maximum volume of C-tube drainage was (500±163) mL/d (180-820 mL/d). Excluding three patients with early dislodgement of C-tube, among the fifteen patients with C-tube maintained, the median time of C-tube removal was 8 d (5-12 d). The duration of hospital stay was (12±3) d (7-21 d) for the 18 patients. Five C-tube related adverse events were observed, all of which occurred in the patients with traditional laparoscopic transcystic drainage, including two abnormal position of the C-tube, and three early dislocation of the C-tube. All the 5 adverse events caused no complications. Only one grade one complication occurred, which was in a patient with modified laparoscopic transcystic drainage. The patient demonstrated transient fever after C-tube removal, but there was no bile in the drainage tube and the subsequent CT examination confirmed no bile leakage. The fever spontaneously relieved with conservative observation, and the patient recovered uneventfully with discharge the next day. All the 18 patients were followed up for 1-20 months (median: 9 months). Normal liver function and no recurrence of stone were detected with ultrasonography or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). CONCLUSION Laparoscopic transcystic drainage combined with common bile duct exploration is safe and feasible in the treatment of patients with difficult biliary stones. The short-term effect is good. Modified laparoscopic transcystic drainage approach may reduce the incidence of C-tube dislocation and bile leak.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures/adverse effects* ; Gallstones/etiology* ; Drainage/methods* ; Laparoscopy/adverse effects* ; Common Bile Duct/surgery*

Benign gallbladder diseases are common in surgery department,and the incidence rate is increasing in recent years.Currently,nonstandard treatment existed in the surgical management of benign gallbladder diseases in China.Based on relevant domestic and foreign literature,guidelines,and expert consensus,this consensus expounds on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of common benign gallbladder diseases such as gallstone,cholecystitis,gallbladder polypoid,gallbladder adenomyosis,gallbladder variation and deformity,complications after cholecystectomy.Further,recommendations related to diagnosis and treatment were presented to improve the standardization of surgical diagnosis and treatment of benign gallbladder diseases in China,so as to eliminate the clinical harm of gallbladder diseases and reduce the incidence rate of gallbladder cancer and prevent the occurrence.
Cholecystectomy ; Consensus ; Gallbladder ; Gallbladder Diseases/surgery* ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/surgery* ; Gallstones/surgery* ; Humans

Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in the treatment of common bile duct stones. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted for 158 patients with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis admitted to the Number One Hospital of Zhangjiakou from January 2015 to December 2019.The patients were assigned into three groups according to the diameters of cystic duct and common bile duct,degrees of abdominal infection and tissue edema,and operation method.Group A(16 cases):laparoscopic cholecystectomy,transcystic choledochoscopic exploration for stone removal;Group B(94 cases):laparoscopic cholecystectomy,common bile duct incision exploration combined with choledochoscopy for stone removal,T tube drainage;Group C(48 cases):laparoscopic cholecystectomy,common bile duct incision exploration combined with choledochoscopy for stone removal,primary closure of the common bile duct.The operation time,residual rate of stones,and complication(bleeding,bile leakage,and wound infection) rate were compared between groups. Results The operation time of groups A,B,and C was(95.1±14.7),(102.2±18.1),(110.1±16.4) minutes,respectively,which showed no statistical difference between each other(F=0.020,P=0.887).One case in group A had residual stones,while no residual stone appeared in groups B and C.The overall stone clearance rate was 99.4% and the overall complication rate was 1.9%.There was no perioperative death. Conclusion It is generally safe and effective to carry out laparoscopic cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration for stone removal in suitable populations.
Choledocholithiasis/surgery* ; Common Bile Duct/surgery* ; Gallstones/surgery* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Although osteopontin (OPN) is expressed in the liver and pigment gallstones of patients with hepatolithiasis, its role in pigment gallstone formation remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the function of OPN in pigment gallstone formation. METHODS: Rats were fed a chow diet (CD) or lithogenic diet (LD) for 10 consecutive weeks; blocking tests were then performed using an OPN antibody (OPN-Ab). Incidence of gallstones and levels of several bile components, OPN, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) were analyzed. To determine TNF-α expression in hepatic macrophages and both CYP7A1 and bile acid (BA) expression in liver cells, recombinant rat OPN and recombinant rat TNF-α were used to treat rat hepatic macrophages and rat liver cells, respectively. Chi-square or Fisher exact tests were used to analyze qualitative data, Student t-test or one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze qualitative data. RESULTS: Incidence of gallstones was higher in LD-fed rats than in CD-fed rats (80% vs. 10%, P < 0.05). BA content significantly decreased in bile (t = -36.08, P < 0.01) and liver tissue (t = -16.16, P < 0.01) of LD-fed rats. Both hepatic OPN protein expression (t = 9.78, P < 0.01) and TNF-α level (t = 8.83, P < 0.01) distinctly increased in the LD group; what's more, CYP7A1 mRNA and protein levels (t = -12.35, P < 0.01) were markedly down-regulated in the LD group. Following OPN-Ab pretreatment, gallstone formation decreased (85% vs. 25%, χ2 = 14.55, P < 0.01), liver TNF-α expression (F = 20.36, P < 0.01) was down-regulated in the LD group, and CYP7A1 expression (F = 17.51, P < 0.01) was up-regulated. Through CD44 and integrin receptors, OPN promoted TNF-α production in macrophage (F = 1041, P < 0.01), which suppressed CYP7A1 expression (F = 48.08, P < 0.01) and reduced liver BA synthesis (F = 119.4, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS We provide novel evidence of OPN involvement in pigmented gallstone pathogenesis in rats.
Animals ; Diet/adverse effects* ; Gallstones/etiology* ; Lithiasis ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Osteopontin/genetics* ; Rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS: An excessive inflammatory response is typical in acute pancreatitis and a significant cause of early mortality in severe acute pancreatitis. This is believed to be caused by inflammatory molecules or upregulated cytokine levels in the serum of patients. The aim of this study was to identify the serum-mediated apoptosis-inducing effects in acute pancreatitis patients. METHODS: A skin tissue-derived cell line, BJ, was treated for 24 hours with the sera of 22 healthy volunteers (control) and 71 acute pancreatitis patients (22 with gallstone pancreatitis, 16 with alcoholic pancreatitis, and 11 with pancreatitis with other causes) collected at the time of hospital admission (active) and discharge (resolved). Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The average percentage of living cells, early apoptotic cells, and late apoptotic cells ranged from 78.8% to 85.0%, 5.5% to 7.3%, and 7.7% to 13.1%, respectively. The number of live cells increased significantly using the serum from the resolved state of gallstone-induced pancreatitis. In addition, the number of early apoptotic cells increased significantly using the serum from the resolved state of pancreatitis with other causes. The number of late apoptotic cells decreased significantly with the serum from the resolved state compared to the active state of gallstone- and alcohol-induced pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Serum samples from patients with pancreatitis induced a change in the apoptosis profiles of skin-derived cells. These results indicate changes in the serum components in patients with acute pancreatitis.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Flow Cytometry ; Gallstones ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Alcoholic ; Skin

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the comet tail artifact on ultrasonography can be used to reliably diagnose benign gallbladder diseases. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the clinical findings, imaging findings, preoperative ultrasonographic diagnoses, and pathological diagnoses of 150 patients with comet tail artifacts who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with pathologic confirmation. The extent of the involved lesion was classified as localized or diffuse, depending on the degree of involvement and the anatomical section of the gallbladder that was involved. This study evaluated the differences in clinical and imaging findings among pathologic diagnoses. RESULTS: All gallbladder lesions exhibiting the comet tail artifact on ultrasound examination were confirmed as benign gallbladder diseases after cholecystectomy, including 71 cases of adenomyomatosis (47.3%), 74 cases of chronic cholecystitis (49.3%), two cases of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (1.3%), and three cases of cholesterolosis (2.0%); there were two cases of coexistent chronic cholecystitis and low-grade dysplasia. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the clinical and ultrasonographic findings, with the exception of gallstones (P=0.007), among the four diseases. There were no significant differences in the average length, thickness, or number of comet tail artifacts among the four diagnoses. No malignancies were detected in any of the 150 thickened gallbladder lesions. CONCLUSION: The ultrasonographic finding of the comet tail artifact in patients with thickened gallbladder lesions is associated with the presence of benign gallbladder diseases, and can be considered a reliable sign of benign gallbladder disease.
Artifacts ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cholecystitis ; Diagnosis ; Gallbladder Diseases ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tail ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Although an increased incidence of gallbladder (GB) stone formation after gastrectomy has been reported, its etiology remains uncertain. The goal of this study was to explore the incidence of gallstone formation after gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients and investigate the risk factors therein.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent curative gastrectomy, performed by a single surgeon between August 2012 and December 2015 at the Asan Medical Center, were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline characteristics and surgical outcomes, including GB stone gallstone formation after gastrectomy, were analyzed.RESULTS: Of 561 patients included in the study, 36 presented with GB stone formation after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The incidence of gallstone formation was 6.4%. The mean interval between gallstone formation and gastrectomy was 21.9 months. In multivariate analyses, the incidence of gallstone formation increased in patients 63 years or older, with greater than 6.2 kg weight loss in the first 6 months after the procedure, a preoperative serum total bilirubin level greater than 0.5 mg/dL, and in patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy.CONCLUSIONS: This study presented risk factors for GB stone formation after gastric cancer surgery, and special attention should be afforded to patients with such risk factors.
Bilirubin ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cholecystolithiasis ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Differentiating extraluminal compressions from true subepithelial tumors in the duodenum by endoscopy alone is difficult. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is one of the most useful diagnostic modalities for this purpose. Extraluminal compression in the duodenum is occasionally observed, but its clinical significance has not been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of extraluminal compression in the duodenum according to lesion location. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 22 patients diagnosed as having extraluminal compression in the duodenum based on EUS findings between January 2006 and December 2017. Some patients underwent abdominal computed tomography for accurate diagnosis. RESULTS: The location of the extraluminal compression was the duodenal bulb in 10 cases, the superior duodenal angle in 10 cases, and the second portion of the duodenum in 2 cases. Of the 22 cases, 12 were caused by normal structures, including vessels, the right kidney, the gallbladder, and the pancreas, and 10 were caused by pathological lesions, including the hepatic cyst, remnant cystic duct and dilated common bile duct after cholecystectomy; gallstones, gallbladder polyps, remnant cystic duct cancer, and pseudomyxoma peritoneii. The anterior wall of the duodenum was the most frequent location of extraluminal compression. However, the lesions in the anterior wall of the duodenal bulb and superior duodenal angle showed a high frequency of pathologic lesions, including malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: If the extraluminal compression is found in the anterior wall of the duodenum, EUS is needed because of the high frequency of pathological lesions.
Cholecystectomy ; Common Bile Duct ; Cystic Duct ; Diagnosis ; Duodenum ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Kidney ; Pancreas ; Polyps ; Retrospective Studies