Objective:To explore the effects of graft recipient weight ratio (GRWR) on the early prognosis (within 1 year after operation) of recipients of different ages after split liver transplantation (SLT) in children.Methods:From April 2015 to December 2022, the relevant clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 188 children aged under 12 years undergoing initial SLT. Based upon operative age, they were assigned into groups of L (age≤18 months, 123 cases) and H (18 months< age≤12 years, 65 cases). Draw receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for predicting survival rates in H and L groups using GRWR and determine the cut-off value, and subgroup dassification was based the value. Compare the general condition, intraoperative condition, postoperative condition, and major complications of recipients. Follow-ups were conducted until 12 months post-SLT, death or retransplantation within 12months post-SLT. Kaplan-Meier survival rate analysis was utilized for comparing early postoperative survival rate of recipient/graft. The incidence of major early postoperative complications was examined by χ2 test or Fisher exact probability method. Results:The survival rate of recipients at Month 12 post-SLT was 92.6% (174/188), and graft survival rate was 91.0% (171/188). The survival rate of recipients in group L at Month 12 post-SLT was 94.3% (116/123), and graft survival rate was 92.7% (114/123). The GRWR value determined of 3.1 %. According to the level of GRWR, group L was divided into groups of L-L (GRWR≤3.1%, 36 cases) and L-H (GRWR>3.1%, 87 cases) while group H groups of H-L (GRWR≤3.1%, 55 cases) and H-H (GRWR>3.1%, 10 cases). The survival rates of recipients in groups L-L/L-H were 88.9% (32/36) and 96.6% (84/87) at Month 12 post-SLT. Inter-group difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.077). Graft survival rates were 83.3% (30/36) and 96.6% (84/87 ). Inter-group difference was statistically significant ( P=0.007). The intraoperative cold ischemia time were 479.0 (194.0, 593.0) min and 204.0 (122.0, 495.0) min in groups L-L/L-H. Inter-group difference was statistically significant ( P=0.002 ). The incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis were 13.9 % (5/36) and 2.3 % (2/87) in groups L-L/L-H. Inter-group difference was statistically significant ( P=0.036). The survival rate of recipients in group H at Month 12 post-SLT was 89.2% (58/65), and graft survival rate was 87.7% (57/65). No significant inter-group difference existed during surgery ( P>0.05 ). The survival rates of recipients in group H-L/H-H at Month 12 post-SLT were 92.7 % (51 /55) and 70.0 % (7/10 ). Inter-group difference was statistically significant ( P=0.019). Graft survival rates were 90.9% (50/55) and 70.0% (7/10). Inter-group difference was statistically significant ( P=0.036). No significant inter-group difference existed in the incidence of complications ( P>0.05) . Conclusion:During pediatric SLT, recipients of different ages have different requirements for GRWR. GRWR≤3.1 % implies poor early prognosis of recipients aged ≤18 months and GRWR>3.1% is associated with poor early prognosis of recipients aged between 18 months and 12 years.

Objective:To explore the risk factors and treatments of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in children after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (pLDLT) .Method:From January 2014 to December 2021, the relevant clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 975 LDLT children at Department of Pediatric Organ Transplantation of Tianjin First Central Hospital. Based upon the postoperative occurrence of PVT, they were assigned into two groups of PVT (19 cases) and non-PVT (956 cases). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for screening the risk factors of PVT post-LDLT and discussing the managements and prognoses of PVT.Result:Among them, overall incidence of PVT post-LDLT was 1.9% (19/975), and median time for an initial occurrence of PVT 8 (1-495) day. Single-factor analysis indicated that donor height ( P=0.014), operative duration ( P=0.002) and vascular interposition ( P=0.001) were correlated with the occurrence of postoperative PVT post-pLDLT. Multifactorial analysis revealed that operative duration ( P=0.008) and vascular interposition ( P<0.01) were independent risk factors for PVT post-pLDLT. For 19 cases of postoperative PVT, the measures included surgical thrombectomy (8 cases), urokinase thrombolysis plus warfarin anticoagulation (3 cases), interventional treatment (3 cases), warfarin anticoagulation (4 cases) and retransplantation (1 cases). After treatment, the outcomes were a disappearance of PVT (15 cases), symptomatic improvement (2 cases) and unrelated mortality (2 cases) . Conclusion:During pLDLT, intraoperative placement of blood vessels and operative duration are independent risk factors for the occurrence of PVT. Timely standardized treatment may achieve satisfactory therapeutic outcomes.

Objective:To explore the reconstruction strategy and technical selection of S3 hepatic vein with middle hepatic vein confluence in pediatric liver transplantation(LT)using living donor left lateral segment to lower the risk of vascular complications caused by variant grafts.Methods:From January 2015 to June 2021, retrospective analysis is performed for 840 consecutive cases of pediatric living donor LT using left lateral segment(LLS).There are 32 cases of S3 hepatic vein with middle hepatic vein confluence with an overall incidence of 3.81%.Individualized reconstruction strategies are implemented according to the specific conditions of variation and different interposition vessels available: group I unification venoplasty technique with interposition vein graft is employed for reconstructing HV from grafts, prolonged S3 is formed into a single opening with S2 and then anastomosed with recipient(21 cases); group Ⅱ dual HV reconstructions were performed(11 cases); venoplasty of recipients'LHV, MHV and inferior vena cava(IVC)is performed for creating a large orifice for anastomosis with S2 HV from graft and S3 is anastomosed with stump of recipient right HV directly or interposed blood vessels.Clinical features and prognosis of two groups, the incidence, treatment and prognosis of HVOO and the incidence of HVOO between variant and non-variant groups were compared.Results:The median follow-up time of variant group(32 cases)is 23.8 month with an incidence of HVOO at 15.6%.During the same period, the non-variant group incidence of HVOO is 4.5%.There is inter-group statistical difference( P=0.014).The only statistical difference between groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ is ultrasonic blood flow velocity of S3 HV at 14 POD [(39.15±16.37)vs(20.05±8.52)cm/s, P=0.001].HVOO occurred in 7 cases and 6 cases respectively in groupⅠ and group Ⅱ.There is no statistical difference( P=0.310).There are no intractable vascular complications.Long-term vascular patency of allogeneic and autologous interposition vein is satisfactory and there is no graft failure or mortality related to HVOO. Conclusions:Selecting strategies and techniques for reconstructing S3 hepatic vein with middle hepatic vein confluence at our center are reasonable, safe and effective.And the overall treatment efficacy is satisfactory.Reasonable selection of multidimensional reconstruction methods and accurate application of various technologies are conducive to improving patient prognosis.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of parental liver donation on early acute cellular rejection(ACR)after liver transplantation(LT)in children aged under one year.Methods:From January 2018 to January 2021, retrospective review is conducted for clinical data of living donor LT recipients and donors aged under 1 year at Tianjin First Central Hospital.Donor livers are assigned into two groups of paternal donor liver(156 cases)and maternal donor liver(206 cases)according to the source of donor liver, Clinical characteristics and postoperative ACR occurrence of two groups are analyzed.Results:The rates of ACR during early postoperative period is 14.9%(54/362), 20.5%(32/156)in paternal liver donor group and 10.7%(22/206)in maternal liver donor group.There is statistically significant difference(λ 2=6.763, P=0.009).In analysis of gender matching of donor recipients, the rates of ACR is 22.6% in paternal donor group and 10.3% in maternal donor group.There is statistically significant difference(λ 2=5.411, P=0.020).Median time of initial postoperative ACR is 13.00(8.25~20.25)day in paternal liver donor group and 17.00(9.00~28.25)day in maternal donor group.The difference is not statistically significant( P>0.05). ACR is mostly mild-to-moderate in two groups . Conclusions:In living donor LT for children aged under 1 year, the rates of early ACR is lower for maternal donor than that for paternal donor, especially in female recipients.

BACKGROUND: Currently, more and more infertility couples are opting for combined acupuncture to improve success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, evidence from acupuncture for improving IVF pregnancy outcomes remains a matter of debate. OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively summarized the evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture among women undergoing IVF by means of systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Four English (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Register of Controlled Clinical Trials) and Four Chinese databases (Wanfang Databases, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, and SinoMed) were searched from database inception until July 2, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the acupuncture's effects for women undergoing IVF were included. The subgroup analysis was conducted with respect to the age of participants, different acupuncture types, type of control, acupuncture timing, geographical origin of the study, whether or not repeated IVF failure, and acupuncture sessions. Sensitivity analyses were predefifined to explore the robustness of results. The primary outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR), and the secondary outcomes were ongoing pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate. Random effects model with I² statistics were used to quantify heterogeneity. Publication bias was estimated by funnel plots and Egger's tests. RESULTS: A total of 58 eligible RCTs representing 10,968 women undergoing IVF for pregnant success were identifified. Pooled CPR and LBR showed a signifificant difference between acupuncture and control groups [69 comparisons, relative risk (RR) 1.19, 95% confifidence intervals (CI) 1.12 to 1.25, I²=0], extremely low evidence; 23 comparisons, RR 1.11, 95%CI 1.02 to 1.21, I²=14.6, low evidence, respectively). Only transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation showed a positive effect on both CPR (16 comparisons, RR 1.17, 95%CI 1.06 to 1.29; I²=0, moderate evidence) and LBR (9 comparisons, RR 1.20, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.37; I²=8.5, extremely low evidence). Heterogeneity across studies was found and no studies were graded as high-quality evidence. CONCLUSION Results showed that the convincing evidence levels on the associations between acupuncture and IVF pregnant outcomes were relatively low, and the varied methodological design and heterogeneity might inflfluence the fifindings. (Registration No. PROSPERO CRD42021232430).
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Live Birth ; Fertilization in Vitro/methods* ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Acupuncture Therapy

Objective:To investigate the effects of different donor types on the prognosis of pediatric liver transplant recipients with low-body-weight (≤6 kg).Methods:The clinical data of low-body-weight pediatric liver transplant recipients from the Department of Pediatric Organ Transplantation, Tianjin First Central Hospital from January 2013 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The recipients were divided into living donor group, split donor group and whole liver group according to the donor type.The basic information of donors and grafts, preoperative and intraoperative information of recipients, major postoperative complications and survival rates of recipients and grafts were compared.Results:A total of 244 recipients were enrolled in this study, including 183 cases in the living donor group, 18 cases in the split donor group and 43 cases in the whole liver group.There were no statistical differences in the preoperative data of the three groups, including gender, age, body weight, blood type matching, primary disease, Child-pugh grading, and pediatric end-stage liver disease score (PELD). The incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) in the three groups was 2.2%, 16.7% and 25.6%, respectively, the difference was statistically significant between the living donor group and the split donor group ( P=0.017) as well as the whole liver group ( P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the latter two groups ( P=0.525). The median follow-up time was 37, 31 and 47 months, respectively.The 1-year and 3-year cumulative graft survival rates were 92.9%, 91.3%, 83.3% and 83.3% 76.7%, 76.7% ( P=0.016), respectively.There was statistical difference between the living donor group and the whole liver group ( P=0.004), and no statistical difference between the split donor group and the living donor group ( P=0.212) as well as the whole liver group ( P=0.610). The 1-year and 3-year cumulative recipient survival rates in the three groups were 92.9%, 91.3%, 94.4% and 94.4%, 86.0%, 86.0%, respectively, and there was no statistical difference among the three groups ( P=0.463). Multivariate analysis suggested that donor age and anhepatic phase were independent risk factors for HAT.Cold ischemia time, volume of intraoperative blood transfusion and HAT were independent risk factors for early graft loss (within 3 months). The volume of intraoperative blood transfusion and the duration of anhepatic phase were independent risk factors for recipient death. Conclusions:Living donor liver transplantation is more effective than whole liver transplantation for children with low body weight (≤6 kg). Due to the small sample size and the early exploration stage of split liver transplantation in children, the efficacy of split liver transplantation remains to be explored in clinical practice.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of steatotic donor livers on the safety of donors and the prognosis of donors and recipients in pediatric living donor liver transplantation. Methods: A total of 814 pediatric living donor liver transplantations were performed between January 2013 and December 2020 at Department of Pediatric Organ Transplantation,Tianjin First Central Hospital.The clinical data were collected and a retrospective study was conducted.The recipients and the donors were divided into non-steatotic donor liver group(n=733) and steatotic donor liver group(n=81) according to whether the donor graft had steatosis. The recipients and the donors in the steatotic donor liver group were further divided into mild and moderate steatosis groups based on the degree of liver steatosis.Among the donors of non-steatosis donor group,there were 307 males and 426 females,with a median age of 30 years(range:18 to 57 years);the recipients included 351 males and 382 females,with a median age of 7 months(range:4 month to 14 years).Among the donors of steatosis donor group,there were 41 males and 40 females,with a median age of 31 years(range:22 to 51 years);the recipients included 34 males and 47 females,with a median age of 8 months(range:5 months to 11 years).The donors and the recipients were followed up regularly by means of outpatient reexamination and questionnaire survey after operation.Statistical analysis of data between groups was performed using t-test,Wilcoxon rank-sum test,repeated measures ANOVA,χ² test,or Fisher's exact test,respectively.The survival curves of recipients and grafts in different groups were created by Kaplan-Meier method,and the survival rates of the steatotic donor liver group and the non-steatotic donor liver group were compared by Log-rank method. Results: There was no significant difference in the gender of donors in both groups (P=0.132).There were significant differences in the age and blood type distribution as well as body weight and body mass index(all P<0.05) between the two groups.No significant difference was seen in the recovery of liver function markers ALT and AST at 1,2,5 days and 1 month after operation (all P>0.05) between the two groups.The steatotic donor liver group showed longer operation time ((294±75) minutes vs. (264±81) minutes; t=3.149,P=0.002),increased incidence of postoperative biliary leakage (3.7%(3/81) vs. 0.5% (4/733); P=0.025) and delayed incision healing (7.4%(6/81) vs. 2.0%(15/733); P=0.013).There were no significant differences in gender,age,blood type distribution,height,weight and pediatric end-stage liver disease score of recipients between the two groups (all P>0.05).As compared to the non-steatotic donor liver group,the steatotic donor liver group showed similar levels of ALT, AST and total bilirubin within 2 weeks after operation(all P>0.05). The cumulative recipient survival rates in both groups were both 96.3%,the cumulative graft survival rates were 96.3% and 95.5%,respectively,without significant difference(both P>0.05). No statistical difference was observed in the incidence of major complications between the two groups (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the recovery of liver function markers of donors and recipients between mild and moderate steatosis groups(all P>0.05).The cumulative recipient survival rates were both 95.9% and the cumulative graft survival rates were both 100% in mild and moderate steatosis groups,without significant difference(P=0.592). Conclusions: The application of mild to moderate steatotic donor livers in pediatric living donor liver transplantation may prolong the operation time of donors,increase the incidence of complications such as biliary leakage and delayed incision healing. But there is no significant impact of mild to moderate steatotic donor livers on the overall postoperative recovery of donors and recipients,and the prognosis is ideal.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Bilirubin ; Child ; End Stage Liver Disease/surgery* ; Fatty Liver/surgery* ; Female ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation/methods* ; Living Donors ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tissue Donors ; Young Adult

Adult ; Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome/etiology* ; Middle Aged ; Parks, Recreational/supply & distribution* ; Prevalence ; Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical data* ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Young Adult

Objective:To explore the feasibility of CT angiography (CTA) in investigating vascular dilatation of anterior choroidal artery (AChA) and posterior communicating artery (PComA) in patients with Moyamoya syndrome (MMS).Methods:From July 2017 to July 2018, the clinical and imaging data of MMS patients with brain CTA and DSA performed were analyzed retrospectively. According to DSA results, 71 MMS patients were divided into unilateral MMS group (20 cases, 20 hemispheres) and bilateral MMS group (51 cases, 102 hemispheres). There were 20 cases in unilateral MMS group, 10 males and 10 females, with an average age of (45±9) years; 51 cases in bilateral MMS group, 24 males and 27 females, with an average age of (44±12) years. The hemispheres were divided into dilated group and non-dilated group according to the dilatation of AChA or PComA. Kappa analysis was used to evaluate the consistency of two inspection methods to judge the expansion of AChA. The lumen diameters of PComA, P1 and P2 segments of posterior cerebral artery were measured on CTA images, and the ratio of PComA/P1 and PComA/P2 were calculated. The repeatability of CTA measures was evaluated by intra-group correlation coefficient. Independent sample t-test was used to compare CTA measurement results between PComA dilated group and non-dilated group, and ROC curve was drawn to calculate the best threshold for diagnosis of PComA expansion. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CTA measures were calculated. Results:The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CTA diagnosis of AChA expansion inunilateral MMS were all 100.00%. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CTA diagnosis of AChA expansionin bilateral MMS were 90.00%, 93.90%, 93.14%, 78.26% and 97.47%. Compared with DSA, there was no significant difference in the diagnostic performance of AChA expansion between single and bilateral MMS diagnosed by CTA ( P>0.05). The two methods had strong consistency (Kappa value was 1.00 and 0.79 respectively, P<0.01). A total of 46 patients (69 cerebral hemispheres) were included in the evaluation of PComA. PComA/P1 (1.09±0.41) and PComA/P2 (0.86±0.13) in the dilated group were significantly higher than those in the non-dilated group (0.71±0.21 for PComA/P1 and 0.75±0.23 for PComA/P2). The differences were statistically significant ( t=-4.59, -2.50, P<0.05). The best threshold in diagnosing PComA expansion was 0.87 (PComA/P1) and 0.76 (PComA/P2), and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 84.62%, 83.33%, 84.06%, 86.84%, 80.65% and 79.49%, 60.00%, 71.01%, 72.09% and 69.23%, respectively. Compared with DSA, the Kappa value of CTA measures in diagnosis of PComA expansion was 0.68 (PComA/P1) and 0.40 (PComA/P2), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:CTA has a strong consistency with DSA in evaluating the AChA expansion in MMS. When the PComA/P1 ratio on CTA is greater than 0.87, it can be used as the diagnosis criterion for PComA expansion.

The mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is considered an immune privileged system as it is separated from the periphery by the blood brain barrier (BBB). Yet, immune functions have been postulated to heavily influence the functional state of the CNS, especially after injury or during neurodegeneration. There is controversy regarding whether adaptive immune responses are beneficial or detrimental to CNS injury repair. In this study, we utilized immunocompromised SCID mice and subjected them to spinal cord injury (SCI). We analyzed motor function, electrophysiology, histochemistry, and performed unbiased RNA-sequencing. SCID mice displayed improved CNS functional recovery compared to WT mice after SCI. Weighted gene-coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) of spinal cord transcriptomes revealed that SCID mice had reduced expression of immune function-related genes and heightened expression of neural transmission-related genes after SCI, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis and was consistent with better functional recovery. Transcriptomic analyses also indicated heightened expression of neurotransmission-related genes before injury in SCID mice, suggesting that a steady state of immune-deficiency potentially led to CNS hyper-connectivity. Consequently, SCID mice without injury demonstrated worse performance in Morris water maze test. Taken together, not only reduced inflammation after injury but also dampened steady-state immune function without injury heightened the neurotransmission program, resulting in better or worse behavioral outcomes respectively. This study revealed the intricate relationship between immune and nervous systems, raising the possibility for therapeutic manipulation of neural function via immune modulation.