Pose Estimation for Augmented Reality: A Hands-On Survey

Augmented reality (AR) allows to seamlessly insert virtual objects in an image sequence. In order to accomplish this goal, it is important that synthetic elements are rendered and aligned in the scene in an accurate and visually acceptable way. The solution of this problem can be related to a pose estimation or, equivalently, a camera localization process. This paper aims at presenting a brief but almost self-contented introduction to the most important approaches dedicated to vision-based camera localization along with a survey of several extension proposed in the recent years. For most of the presented approaches, we also provide links to code of short examples. This should allow readers to easily bridge the gap between theoretical aspects and practical implementations.

Left lobe living donor liver transplantation in adults: What is the safety limit?

Small-for-size syndrome (SFSS) is the most significant cause of graft loss after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), especially after left lobe (LL) LDLT in adults. The safety limit of applying LL-LDLT in adults without severe SFSS with a high rate of lethality needs to be determined. A total of 207 LL-LDLTs in adults since September 2005 were evaluated to analyze the risk factors for severe SFSS, defined as a serum total bilirubin concentration of ≥20.0 mg/dL after LDLT. Although there were no significant differences in cumulative graft survival after LDLT between medium grafts (graft volume [GV] to standard liver volume [SLV] ratio ≥ 40.0%), small grafts (35.0% ≤ GV/SLV < 40.0%), and extra small grafts (GV/SLV < 35.0%), patients with severe SFSS showed a significantly lower 5-year graft survival rate than those without (42.9% versus 94.3%, respectively; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis for severe SFSS after LL-LDLT showed that donor age of ≥48 years (P = 0.01), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score of ≥ 19 (P < 0.01), and end portal venous pressure of ≥19 mm Hg (P = 0.04) were the significant and independent factors for severe SFSS after LL-LDLT. Within such high-risk subgroups of patients with a donor age of ≥48 years or MELD score of ≥ 19 before LDLT, operative blood loss volume of ≥8.0 L was a risk factor for severe SFSS. LL-LDLT in adults could be indicated and provide acceptable outcomes for the combinations of donors aged < 48 years and recipients with a MELD score of <19. Smaller grafts might yield acceptable outcomes in appropriately selected donor-recipient combinations. Liver Transplantation 22 1666-1675 2016 AASLD.

Shape and Enhancement Characteristics of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor on Preoperative Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography May be Prognostic Indicators

BACKGROUND

Prognostic indicators of the malignant potential of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) are limited. We assessed tumor shape and enhancement pattern on contrast-enhanced computed tomography as predictors of malignant potential.

METHODS

Sixty cases of PNET patients undergoing curative surgery from 2001 to 2014 were enrolled onto our retrospective study. Preoperative enhanced CTs were assessed, and criteria defined for regularly shaped and enhancing tumors (group 1), and irregularly shaped and/or enhancing tumors (group 2). The relation of tumor shape and enhancement pattern to outcome was assessed.

RESULTS

Interobserver agreement was substantial (kappa = 0.74). Group 2 (n = 24) was significantly correlated with synchronous liver metastasis (23 vs. 0 %), lymph node metastasis (36 vs. 3 %), pathologic capsular invasion (68 vs. 8 %), larger tumor size (30 vs. 12 mm), tumor, node, metastasis classification system (TNM) stage III/IV disease (46 vs. 3 %), and histologic grade 2/3 (41 vs. 0 %). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor grade 2/3 and group 2 criteria correlated with tumor relapse (hazard ratio 6.5 and 13.6, P = 0.0071 and 0.039, respectively), and that only group 2 criteria were independently correlated with poor overall survival (hazard ratio 5.56e + 9, P = 0.0041).

CONCLUSIONS

Irregular tumor shape/enhancement on preoperative computed tomography is a negative prognostic factor after curative surgery for PNET.

The learning curves in living donor hemiliver graft procurement using small upper midline incision

The learning curve for performing living donor hemiliver procurement (LDHP) via small upper midline incision (UMI) has not been determined. Living donors (n=101) who underwent LDHP via UMI were included to investigate the learning curve using cumulative sum analysis. The cumulative sum analysis showed that nine cases for right lobe (case #23) and 19 cases for left lobe (case #32 in the whole series) are needed for stable and acceptable surgical outcomes in LDHP via UMI. The established phase (n=69, since case #33) had a significantly shorter operative time, a smaller incision size, and less blood loss than the previous learning phase (n=32, serial case number up to the last 19th left lobe case). Multivariate analysis showed that the learning phase, high body mass index ≥25 kg/m² , and left lobe graft procurement are the factors associated with surgical events including operative blood loss ≥400 mL, operative time ≥300 minutes, or surgical complications ≥Clavien-Dindo grade II. There is an obvious learning curve in performing LDHP via UMI, and 32 cases including both 19 cases for left lobe and nine cases for right lobe are needed for having stable and acceptable surgical outcomes.

A long survivor with local relapse of hilar cholangiocarcinoma after R1 surgery treated with chemoradiotherapy: a case report and literature review

The treatment outcome of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma remains insufficient because it is difficult to obtain accurate diagnosis of tumor spreading and effective treatment agent is quite limited in spite of substantial current efforts, all of which have been unsuccessful except for gemcitabine plus cisplatin. The patient was a 60-year-old female who had developed hilar cholangiocarcinoma and underwent extrahepatic bile duct resection. Although it was conceivable that it would be the R1 resection, the patient wanted to receive limited resection to avoid postoperative complication mainly because she was depressed. In histology, interstitial spreading of tumor was appreciated at the surgical margin of bile duct. The patient did not accept to receive the additional treatment after the surgery and hardly visited the hospital to take the periodical test for monitoring the residual cancer cells. As expected, the local relapse of tumor was appreciated 1 year after the R1 surgery. She chose radiotherapy and agreed with subsequent S-1 treatment for 26 months. Consequently, elevated CA19-9 was decreased, and local relapse has been successfully controlled for more than 7 years after the relapse of tumor. Here, we report quite a rare case in terms of long survivor after chemoradiotherapy on locally relapsed unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Inquiries About Biomarkers of Acute Liver Failure in Patients Who Underwent Living Donor Liver Transplantation Using a Protein Chip Array

The causative agent of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) has not been identified with certainty. The recovery of consciousness in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) who underwent liver transplantation (LT) is sometimes drastic ; therefore, we thought that the causative agents of HE would change markedly peri-operatively in these patients. We examined the biomarkers including new agents in the serum of patients using the ProteinChip® System 4000 (Ciphergen Biosystems, Yokohama, JAPAN). Sixteen samples were obtained from four patients with ALF who underwent living donor LT (LDLT) at four time points ; pre-operative, one post-operative day (1POD), 3POD, and 7POD. We used three chips made by the Biomek2000 robot. All duplicated samples were assayed and analyzed using the CiphergenExpressTM data manager. We divided the peri-operative changes in the intensity of identified peaks into seven patterns. The number of peaks whose intensity shows significant changes peri-operatively reached 755. Of course, it is difficult to determine each structure in all 755 peaks ; therefore, we should narrow down the candidates for causative agents of HE in further studies. Our own results suggest that many difficulties lie ahead in determining the causative agent of HE.

Graft selection strategy in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation: When both hemiliver grafts meet volumetric criteria

To ensure donor safety in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the left and caudate lobe (LL) is the preferred graft choice. However, patient prognosis may still be poor even if graft volume (GV) selection criteria are met. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of right lobe (RL) donation when the LL graft selection criteria are met. Consecutive donors (n = 135) with preoperative LL graft volumetric GV/standard liver volume (SLV) of ≥35% and RL remnant of ≥35% were retrospectively studied. Patients were divided into 2 groups: LL graft and RL graft. Recipient's body surface area (BSA), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, and the donor's age were higher in the RL group. The donor's BSA and preoperative volumetric GV/SLV of the LL graft were smaller in the RL group. The predicted score (calculated using data for graft size, donor age, MELD score, and the presence of portosystemic shunt, which correlated well with graft function and with 6-month graft survival) of the RL group, was significantly lower if the LL graft were used, but using the actual RL graft improved the score equal to that of the LL group. Six-month and 12-month graft survival rates did not differ between the 2 groups. In patients with a poor prognosis, a larger RL graft improved the predicted score and survival was equal to that of patients who received LL grafts. In conclusion, graft selection by GV, donor age, and recipient MELD score improves outcomes in LDLT. Liver Transplantation 22 914-922 2016 AASLD.

The use of left grafts with a replaced or accessory left hepatic artery in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation: analyses of donor and recipient outcomes

In living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), a left hepatic graft occasionally includes a replaced or accessory left hepatic artery (LHA). The procuring of such grafts requires extensive dissection along the lesser curvature of the stomach to elongate the replaced or accessory LHA on the donor side. On the recipient side, complicated arterial reconstruction is often necessary to use such grafts. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 206 adult recipients who underwent LDLT and their respective donors. The recipients and donors were divided into two groups according to the presence of the replaced or accessory LHA. Twenty-five grafts included a replaced or accessory LHA. Only one hepatic artery-related complication was observed in the current series, in which a pseudoaneurysm arose at the site of anastomosis between the donor accessory LHA and the recipient LHA. There was no increase in the incidence of postoperative complications in the donors with a replaced or accessory LHA in comparison with the donors without these arteries. The use of left hepatic grafts that included a replaced LHA or accessory LHA did not have any negative impact on the outcomes on either the donor or the recipient side.

Living Donor Liver Transplantation in an Elderly Recipient with Preserved Performance Status : A Case Report

BACKGROUND

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in an elderly recipient is controversial.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of LDLT in a 74-year-old female who had decompensated liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). She was the oldest recipient who received LDLT in Japan ever. She was rejected for LDLT at a nearby hospital because of her age.We decided to perform LDLT because her general condition was good (the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 2 ). The surgery was uncomplicated and the postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 35 days after the surgery. Currently she is living at home, and she has maintained a good quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe that a recipient in good general condition is capable of undergoing LDLT despite advanced age.

Effect of Sarcopenic Obesity on Outcomes of Living-Donor Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

We aimed to evaluate the effect of body composition on the outcome of living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed LDLT in 153 patients with HCC and divided the patients into two groups based on skeletal muscle mass-to-visceral fat area ratio (SVR), as assessed by computed tomography (CT) measurement, namely a low-SVR group (n=38) and a not-low SVR group (n=112). We compared surgical outcomes between the two groups.

RESULTS

A low SVR was significantly correlated with a higher body mass index and male sex. No differences were found between the two groups in terms of other factors. The patients in the low-SVR group had a significantly poorer prognosis than those in the not-low SVR group in terms of recurrence-free (p=0.01) and overall (p=0.03) survival. The results of the multivariate analysis showed low SVR to be an independent and prognostic indicator for patients with HCC who had undergone LDLT.

CONCLUSION

Pre-transplant body composition measured by CT is a major determinant of prognosis in LDLT for HCC in Japan.

A case report of bacteremia manifesting as an overwhelming postsplenectomy infection due to Streptococcus pneumoniae post vaccination

A 62-year-old woman was admitted for acute epigastralgia and high-grade fever of over 39 °C. The patient had undergone splenectomy for idiopathic portal hypertension 1 year ago and vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae immediately post operation. She developed localized peritoneal irritation and abdominal distension. Her serum creatinine had increased to 1.5 mg/dL and procalcitonin was 12.5 ng/ml. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed edematous large intestine and increased ascites. From these results, the patient was considered to have spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Vancomycin (VCM) and doripenem (DRPM) were administered to control the infection. Unexpectedly, S. pneumoniae was detected in the blood culture. Hence, ampicillin/sulbactam was administered after discontinuing VCM. The patient recovered without any life-threatening complications and was discharged after 10 days. In conclusion, overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI) due to S. pneumoniae could develop in patient with splenectomy even after vaccination. Although the bacteremia probably due to SBP and acute renal dysfunction was accompanied by OPSI, our patient recovered rapidly.

Living donor liver transplantation indicated for compensated liver cirrhosis with symptomatic gallstone diseases: report of two cases

BACKGROUND

Surgical interventions for symptomatic gallstone disease could be dangerous in patients with severe comorbid conditions including liver cirrhosis. Here, we report our experience of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) indicated for two patients with liver cirrhosis complicated with gallstone diseases.

CASE 1

A 70-year-old woman with a history of hepatitis C virus infection was diagnosed as symptomatic choledocholithiasis. She had open cholecystectomy and choledochotomy with choledocholithotomy, which complicated with postoperative liver failure. Her Child-Pugh score increased from 7 to 12 points and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score from 11 to 36. She underwent LDLT, using the right lobe graft donated by her 47-year-old daughter. The post-transplant graft function was excellent, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 27.

CASE 2

A 46-year-old man with a history of hepatitis B virus infection was diagnosed as cholecystitis. He had cholecystostomy without any complications and his Child-Pugh score remained to be 9 and MELD score 17, followed by LDLT using the right lobe graft donated by his 45-year-old wife. The post-transplant graft function was excellent, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 44.

CONCLUSION

LDLT is one of treatment options when patients with Child-Pugh B cirrhosis accompanied with gallstone diseases, likely to be deteriorating their liver functions in the near future.

Surgical Results of Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: a Multi-institutional Retrospective Study of 174 patients

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains a major complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), and the prognosis of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after PD is poor.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A multi-institutional retrospective study was performed in 174 patients who underwent PD for PDAC from 2007 to 2012. The details of clinical data were examined, and risk factors for POPF and poor prognostic factors after PD were identified.

RESULTS

POPF occured in 26 patients (15%), and 18 patients (10%) were diagnosed as Grade B/C POPF. The independent risk factors for Grade B/C POPF were body mass index (BMI) ≥25 (Odds Ratio [OR]=21.1, p=0.006) and absence of post-operative enteral nutrition (EN) (OR=10.2, p=0.04). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survivals of patients with PDAC after PD were 76%, 35%, and 18%, respectively. R1/2 operation was identified as the only independent poor prognostic factor (Hazard Ratio=3.66; p=0.0002).

CONCLUSION

Patients with BMI ≥25 should be closely monitored for POPF after PD. Post-operative EN might help prevent POPF. Performing R0 resection is an important goal for ensuring patient survival after PD for PDAC.

Relevance of microRNA-18a and microRNA-199a-5p to hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after living donor liver transplantation

There are few reports about recurrence-related microRNAs (miRNAs) after liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to identify novel recurrence-related miRNAs after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for HCC. First, we performed microarray analyses of samples from a liver with primary HCC, a liver that was noncancerous, and a liver that had recurrence-metastasis from 3 patients with posttransplant recurrence. Then we selected miRNAs with consistently altered expression in both primary HCC and recurrence as potential candidates of recurrence-related miRNAs. Expression of the miRNAs in HCC and noncancerous livers was assessed in 70 HCC patients who underwent LDLT. The target genes regulated by the recurrence-related miRNAs were identified. MicroRNA-18a (miR-18a) expression was increased, and microRNA-199a-5p (miR-199a-5p) expression was decreased in both primary HCC and recurrence. Increased miR-18a expression correlated with high levels of tumor markers, large tumor size, and a high recurrence rate. Decreased miR-199a-5p expression correlated with high levels of tumor markers, portal venous invasion, and a high recurrence rate. In HCC cells, miR-18a regulated the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3), and miR-199a-5p regulated the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1A), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, and insulin-like growth factor 2. In conclusion, increased miR-18a levels and decreased miR-199a-5p levels are relevant to HCC recurrence after LDLT. MiR-18a and miR-199a-5p could be novel therapeutic targets of recurrent HCC after LDLT. Liver Transplantation 22 665-676 2016 AASLD.

[CURRENT STATUS OF HEPATOBILIARY PANCREATIC SURGERY FOR ELDERLY PATIENTS]

The aging of Japan’s population is becoming pronounced, and hepatobiliary pancreatic surgery for elderly patients is increasingly performed. Elderly patients generally have extensive comorbidities, the risk of malnutrition, and diminished renal, liver, and cardiopulmonary function. Therefore, the indications of surgery should be individually evaluated considering surgical risk, impaired quality of life, and prognosis after surgery. Japanese insurance allows left lateral segmentectomy and partial resection for liver malignancy to be performed by laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery may prevent sarcopenia, which is a predictor of survival in patients with various malignancies or those with liver cirrhosis. Elderly patients often develop delirium or severe aspiration pneumonia postoperatively. Interprofessional collaboration for pain control and early mobilization is the key to prevent severe complications in elderly patients. Thirty percent of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are older than 75 years of age. Morbidity and mortality rates after hepatic resection in the elderly with acceptable cardiopulmonary function are comparable to those in younger individuals with adequate patient selection. Recipient age does not affect the outcome after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), as long as patient status is relatively good. Therefore, age alone should not be considered a contraindication for LDLT.

Feasible usage of ABO incompatible grafts in living donor liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

The use of ABO incompatible (ABOi) graft in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has not been an established procedure worldwide.

METHODS

Four hundred and eight adult LDLTs, using ABOi (n=19) and non-ABOi (n=389) grafts, were performed as a single center experience.

RESULTS

In ABOi-LDLT group (n=19), median isoagglutinin titer before plasma exchange (PE) at LDLT and after LDLT (max) was ×256, ×32 and ×32, respectively. Rituximab was given at 21.8±6.1 days before LDLT and PE was performed 3.7±1.6 times. Although ABOi-LDLTs had increased rate of splenectomy (89.4% vs. 44.7%, P<0.001) and lower portal venous pressure (PVP) at the end of surgery (13.8±1.1 vs. 16.9±0.2 mmHg, P=0.003), other operative factors including graft ischemic time, operative time and blood loss were not different between the groups. Although ABOi-LDLTs had increased incidence of cytomegalovirus infection (52.6% vs. 22.9%, P=0.007), other post-transplant complications including bacterial sepsis and acute rejection were not different between the groups. The 5-year graft survival rate was 87.9% in ABOi-LDLTs and 80.3% in non-ABOi-LDLTs (P=0.373).

CONCLUSIONS

ABOi-LDLT could be safely performed, especially under rituximab-based protocol.

Diverse Basis of β-Catenin Activation in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Implications in Biology and Prognosis

Aim

β-catenin signaling is a major oncogenic pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Since β-catenin phosphorylation by glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and casein kinase 1ε (CK1ε) results in its degradation, mutations affecting these phosphorylation sites cause β-catenin stabilization. However, the relevance of missense mutations in non-phosphorylation sites in exon 3 remains unclear. The current study explores significance of such mutations in addition to addressing the clinical and biological implications of β-catenin activation in human HCC.

Methods

Gene alteration in exon3 of CTNNB1, gene expression of β-catenin targets such as glutamate synthetase (GS), axin2, lect2 and regucalcin (RGN), and protein expression of β-catenin were examined in 125 human HCC tissues.

Results

Sixteen patients (12.8%) showed conventional missense mutations affecting codons 33, 37, 41, and 45. Fifteen additional patients (12.0%) had other missense mutations in codon 32, 34, and 35. Induction of exon3 mutation caused described β-catenin target gene upregulation in HCC cell line. Interestingly, conventional and non-phosphorylation site mutations were equally associated with upregulation of β-catenin target genes. Nuclear localization of β-catenin was associated with poor overall survival (p = 0.0461). Of these patients with nuclear β-catenin localization, loss of described β-catenin target gene upregulation showed significant poorer overall survival than others (p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

This study suggests that both conventional and other missense mutations in exon 3 of CTNNB1 lead to β-catenin activation in human HCC. Additionally, the mechanism of nuclear β-catenin localization without upregulation of described β-catenin target genes might be of clinical importance depending on distinct mechanism.

Outcomes of adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation in 321 recipients

We conducted a retrospective investigation in order to clarify whether selecting the type of liver graft had an impact on outcomes of adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (AALDLT). Data from the medical records of the donors and the recipients of 321 consecutive cases of AALDLT performed between April 2004 and March 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Our general criteria for selecting the type of liver graft was that a left graft was preferentially selected when the estimated volume of the left graft was ≥35% of the standard liver volume of the recipient, and that a right graft was selected only when the estimated remnant liver volume of the donor was ≥35% of the total liver volume. In this series, 177 left grafts, 136 right grafts, and 8 posterior grafts were used. The left grafts tended to have 2 or more arteries, whereas the right grafts tended to have 2 or more bile duct orifices. The graft survival curves and the incidences of severe complications were comparable between the AALDLT using right grafts and the AALDLT using left grafts. The preoperative estimation of graft size hardly enabled us to predict severe posttransplant complication. Moreover, small-for-size graft syndrome occurred regardless of the estimated graft volumes. Instead, donor age was a significant risk factor for small-for-size graft syndrome. In conclusion, left grafts should be more aggressively used for the sake of donors' safety. The use of hepatic grafts from older donors should be avoided if possible in order to circumvent troublesome posttransplant complications.

Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma within Milan Criteria in the Present Era

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to clarify the outcome of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within Milan criteria.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study comprised of 197 adult patients. One hundred twenty-nine patients were within Milan criteria. The overall and recurrence-free survival rates after the LDLT were calculated.

RESULTS

The 1-, 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 94.5%, 89.9% and 88.6%, respectively. The 1-, 5- and 10-year recurrence-free survival rates were 100%, 97.0% and 94.0%, respectively. Four patients had HCC recurrence. The mean neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (6.75 vs. 2.75, p=0.002) or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (3,239 vs. 197, p<0.001) of these four recipients was significantly higher compared to that of 125 recipients without HCC recurrence.

CONCLUSION

The outcome of LDLT for patients with HCC within Milan criteria was outstanding. Careful follow-up after LDLT is necessary for patients with high NLR or AFP.

Favorable Outcomes of Hepatectomy for Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Retrospective Analysis of Primary R0-Hepatectomized Patients

BACKGROUND/AIM

The rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is defined as a detrimental staging factor. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether the prognosis of surgical patients with ruptured HCC was truly appalling.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The data obtained from the medical records of 1,031 patients who underwent primary R0 hepatecomy for HCC between August 2003 and November 2014 at the Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University Hospital and its two affiliated hospitals, were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-seven patients had ruptured HCC.

RESULTS

The recurrence-free and overall survival for patients with ruptured HCC were favorable. All 19 patients with ruptured HCC who experienced recurrence had intrahepatic recurrence, while only three had peritoneal recurrence. The multivariate risk factor analyses showed that rupture itself was not relevant to recurrence-free survival nor to overall patient survival.

CONCLUSION

Rupture itself does not have much relevance to the outcome for patients who undergo hepatectomy.

Risk factors for hepatitis B virus recurrence after living donor liver transplantation: A 17-year experience at a single center

AIM

The incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) has been reduced by prophylaxis with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and nucleoside analogs, but the factors associated with HBV recurrence are unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with HBV recurrence after living donor LT (LDLT).

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed for 45 patients (28 male and 17 female; median age, 54 years) who underwent LDLT for HBV-related liver disease and were followed up for at least 6 months between October 1996 and June 2013. The virological data, tumor burden, antiviral therapy and immunosuppressive therapy were evaluated and compared between the HBV recurrence ad non-recurrence groups.

RESULTS

Seven of the 45 patients (15.6%) developed post-LT HBV recurrence. The median interval between LDLT and HBV recurrence was 23.7 months (range, 0.8-35.9). Three of the seven patients (42.9%) developed recurrence after cessation of HBIG, and three (42.9%) were cases with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after LDLT. The remaining case underwent transplantation from a donor with positive hepatitis B surface antigen. Based on the univariate and multivariate analyses, HBIG cessation (hazard ratio [HR], 20.17; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.091-194.593; P = 0.009) and HCC recurrence (HR, 30.835; 95% CI, 3.132-303.593; P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for HBV recurrence after LDLT.

CONCLUSION

In LDLT patients, cessation of HBIG and HCC recurrence were risk factors associated with HBV recurrence, so careful monitoring for serological HBV markers is needed in patients with these factors.

Triple therapy using direct-acting agents for recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C viral graft reinfection is almost a universal event after liver transplantation with consequent disease progression.

METHODS

We applied triple therapy (n = 21) with the use of telaprevir (TVR; n = 12) or simeprevir (SVR; n = 9).

RESULTS

TVR was given at the dose 1,500 mg daily (n = 11) with reduced dose of cyclosporine at 25% to 50%, and SVR was given at the dose 100 mg daily with unadjusted cyclosporine, followed by 12 weeks of dual therapy. The early viral response was achieved in 91.7% (n = 11), end of treatment response rate was 91.7% (n = 11), and sustained viral response rate was 83.3% (n = 10) in the TVR group, and respective rates were 88.9% (n = 8), 77.8% (n = 7), and 77.8% (n = 7) in the SVR group. Although granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was not given in the patients with triple therapy, blood transfusion was performed in 7 cases (58.3%) in the TVR group and 1 case (11.1%) in the SVR group. Interferon-mediated graft dysfunction was observed in 4 cases (33.3%) in the TVR group and 3 cases (33.3%) in the SVR group, respectively. The cumulative viral clearance rates in triple (n = 21) and dual (n = 105) therapy were 95.0% and 18.1% at 12 weeks, and 95.0% and 40.0%, respectively, at 24 weeks (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Although careful monitoring for possible adverse events is required during treatment, triple therapy with the use of direct-acting agents are very effective in treating hepatitis C after liver transplantation.