The Significance of Hepatic Vein Outflow Volume in Hepatic Outflow Insufficiency of Living Right Liver Graft Evaluated by Doppler Ultrasound

The color Doppler ultrasound has been used to evaluate hepatic vein (HV) outflow insufficiency based on flow velocity and waveforms. In our experience, some cases with flat waveforms are clinically asymptomatic. The parameters of HV flow velocity and waveforms are not always correlated with clinical problems. So, we proposed that total HV flow volume (HVFV) may be a more reliable index. From August 2001 to July 2003, 31 cases among 48 adult-to-adult living related transplants of a right liver graft had one HV anastomosis. HV velocity, waveforms, and HVFV were compared both before and after transplantation. We set the minimal HVFV ratio at 80% based on the original HVFV before graft retrieval. There was no significant difference in HVFV before liver graft retrieval between the 2 groups, but there was a significant change after transplantation. There were no cases of HV insufficiency among group A patients (>80%), whose HVFV ranged from 397 to 1181 mL/min with ratios from 75% to 180% (mean 115%). In group B, there were 4 complicated cases with prolonged severe ascites (<80%) with HVFV ratios from 56% to 76% (mean 66%). Fisher exact test showed a great significance (P < .001). Thus the preliminary criteria of 80% minimal HVFV ratio allows detection of HV insufficiency for further interventional management.

Hepatic venous stenosis in partial liver graft transplantation detected by color Doppler ultrasound before and after radiological interventional management

Hepatic outflow insufficiency remains one of the major complications causing postoperative graft failure especially among partial liver graft transplantations (PLT) including living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), reduced size liver transplantation (RLT), and split liver transplantation (SLT). These procedures are different from the whole liver graft transplantations (OLT), which include multiple vascular anastomoses. Color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) was used to evaluate the hepatic venous outflow from grafts before and after radiological interventional management and to document treatment effects. From June 1994 to March 2003, our 136 cases of PLTs included 131 LDLTs, two RLTs, and three SLTs. Seven cases (six children and one adult) showed postoperative hepatic vein outflow obstruction and persistent massive ascites, as detected by color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) and confirmed by interventional angiography. The CDUS showed a monophasic flat waveform with a relatively low hepatic vein average peak velocity (Va) in all cases (mean 11 cm/s). Successful interventional procedures included balloon dilatation in three cases and metallic stent replacement in four cases. CDUS was used with guidance during the procedure to confirm restoration of normal hepatic vein flow with a multiphasic waveform and an objective increase of average flow velocity (high to average 66 cm/s). Ascites disappeared dramatically after the procedure. In conclusion CDUS is the prime modality to diagnose and document a treatment response.

Over-expression of Bcl-2 against Pteris semipinnata L-induced apoptosis of human colon cancer cells via a NF-kappa B—related pathway

Ent-11 alpha-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic-acid (5F), an antitumor component, is a chemical compound isolated from Pteris semipinnata L (PsL), a Chinese traditional herb. We examined whether 5F could affect apoptosis in human colon cancer HT-29 cells, and test whether and how the over-expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL could offset the effect of 5F on cell growth. The result demonstrated that 5F significantly induced apoptosis of HT-29, as shown by MTT assay and DNA fragmentation measurement. Treatment of HT-29 with 5F increased both p38 and iNOS levels, suggesting these two molecules may contribute to the apoptotic effect of 5F. Over-expression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL attenuated the increase of p38 and iNOS induced by 5F. The cells with Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL over-expression showed an elevation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) activity, accompanying a significant reduction of 5F-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibition of NF-kappa B by I k B alpha SR, which is a powerful inhibitor of NF-kappa B, restored the ability of 5F to induce apoptosis in the cells transfected with Bcl-2. These data strongly indicated that the apoptotic effect of 5F on HT-29 was closely associated with the activity of NF-kappa B, which was up-regulated by Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. In conclusion, 5F induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells and this apoptotic effect was associated with the high level of p38 and iNOS expression. The apoptotic effect of 5F could be significantly offset by over-expression of either Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL. Bcl-2, and to the less extent, Bcl-xL, were able to increase the activity of NF-kappa B, which was a known anti-apoptotic molecule in human colon cancer cells.

Induction of colon cancer cell death by 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) is associated with increased p38 MAPK and decreased Bcl-xL

UCN-01, a selective inhibitor of protein kinase C, is known to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Although it is currently undergoing clinical evaluation, information about its effect on human colon cancer is limited and the mechanism responsible is lacking. The objective of this study was to examine the cytotoxicity of UCN-01 to human colon cancer cells in vitro and its effect on the apoptotic molecules. HT-29, a radiation- and chemotherapy-resistant human colon cancer cell, was used in the study. Cell death/apoptosis was determined by the MTT assay and DNA fragmentation measurement. NF-kappaB activity was measured by an enzyme immunoassay method. Western blot was employed to examine the expression of relevant apoptotic molecules. The result showed that UCN-01 could induce apoptosis of human colon cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. It markedly reduced the expression of Bcl-xL, but enhanced the level of p38 MAPK. In addition to Bcl-xL and p38 MAPK, UCN-01 also increased both caspase-3 and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma protein levels. HT-29 cells transfected with exogenous Bcl-xL showed a significant increase in NF-kappaB activity and prevented apoptosis induced by UCN-01. The overexpression of Bcl-xL also reversed other relevant molecular changes observed in UCN-01-treated cells. In conclusion, UCN-01 exerted an antitumor effect in human colon cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. The mechanism responsible appeared to be related to reduction of Bcl-xL and increased p38 MAPK. The overexpression of Bcl-xL can significantly prevent apoptosis induced by UCN-01.

Analysis of rotation-driven electrokinetic flow in microscale gap regions of rotating disk systems

In the present study, a novel theoretical model is developed for the analysis of rotating thermal-fluid flow characteristics in the presence of electrokinetic effects in the microscale gap region between two parallel disks under specified electrostatic, rotational, and thermal boundary conditions. The major flow configuration considered is a rotor-stator disk system. Axisymmetric Navier-Stokes equations with consideration of electric body force stemming from streaming potential are employed in the momentum balance. Variations of the fluid viscosity and permittivity with the local fluid temperature are considered. Between two disks, the axial distribution of the electric potential is determined by the Poisson equation with the concentration distributions of positive and negative ions obtained from Nernst-Planck equations for convection-diffusion of the ions in the flow field. Effects of disk rotation and electrostatic and thermal conditions on the electrokinetic flow and thermal characteristics are investigated. The electrohydrodynamic mechanisms are addressed with an interpretation of the coupling nature of the electric and flow fields. Finally, solutions with electric potential determined by employing nonlinear or linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation and/or invoking assumptions of constant properties are compared with the predictions of the present model for justification of various levels of approximation in solution of the electrothermal flow behaviors in rotating microfluidic systems.

Theoretical analysis of electrokinetic flow and heat transfer in a microchannel under asymmetric boundary conditions

The main theme of the present work is to investigate the electrokinetic effects on liquid flow and heat transfer in a flat microchannel of two parallel plates under asymmetric boundary conditions including wall-sliding motion, unequal zeta potentials, and unequal heat fluxes on two walls. Based on the Debye-Huckel approximation, an electrical potential solution to the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation is obtained and employed in the analysis. The analytic solutions of the electrical potential, velocity distributions, streaming potential, friction coefficient, temperature distribution, and heat transfer rate are obtained, and thereby the effects of electrokinetic separation distance (K), zeta-potential level (zeta;(1)), ratio of two zeta potentials (r(zeta) identical with zeta;(2)/zeta;(1)), wall-sliding velocity (u(w)), and heat flux ratio (r(q) identical with q"(2)/q"(1)) are investigated. The present results reveal the effects of wall-sliding and zeta-potential ratio on the hydrodynamic nature of microchannel flow, and they are used to provide physical interpretations for the resultant electrokinetic effects and the underlying electro-hydrodynamic interaction mechanisms. In the final part the results of potential and velocity fields are applied in solving the energy equation. The temperature distributions and heat transfer characteristics under the asymmetrical kinematic, electric, and thermal boundary conditions considered presently are dealt with.

Healthcare-associated outbreak due to pan-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a surgical intensive care unit

Acinetobacter baumannii is ubiquitous and has recently become one of the most important healthcare-associated (HA) pathogens in hospitals. Infection caused by this organism often leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Outbreaks of pan-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (PDRAB) have rarely been reported. During a two-month period, an outbreak of PDRAB colonization and infection affecting 7 patients occurred in our surgical intensive care unit (SICU). The colonized sites were respiratory tract (N = 7) and central venous catheter (N = 2). One of the patients had a surgical wound infection. Extensive environmental contamination was identified, including sites such as bed rails, bedside tables, surface of ventilators and infusion pump, water for nasogastric feeding and ventilator rinsing and sinks. All of the isolates were analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and showed an identical pattern. After use of strict cohort nursing, hand hygiene environmental cleaning, and replacement of a dysfunctional high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA), the outbreak was controlled.

Fall characteristics, functional mobility and bone mineral density as risk factors of hip fracture in the community-dwelling ambulatory elderly

Hip fracture is the most serious consequence of osteoporosis, frequently occurring in the elderly; however, no research has been performed to identify the fall characteristics, functional mobility and bone mineral density (BMD) concurrently as risk factors. We investigated the risk factors of hip fractures using a multifactorial approach for a further preventive strategy. This age- and sex-matched case-control study was conducted in a community-based general hospital. A total of 252 consecutive community-dwelling ambulatory elderly, aged between 65 and 85 years, were studied: 127 patients (faller with hip fracture) and 125 controls (faller without hip fracture). Body mass index (BMI), predisposing medical conditions, fall characteristics, functional mobility and BMD of the hip were evaluated by direct interview and clinical examination. In the final model of multivariate regression analysis, risk factors for hip fracture were direct hip impact (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 4.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.7-8.8), previous stroke (adjusted OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.3-6.3), sideways fall (adjusted OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.6-3.9), functional mobility (a decrease of 1 SD; adjusted OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5), BMI (a decrease of 1 SD; adjusted OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.8) and femoral neck BMD (a decrease of 1 SD; adjusted OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-2.8). The effect of risk factors remained the same in different analysis sets, and adding or removing femoral neck BMD did not change other risk factors, though BMD was significantly correlated with functional mobility and BMI. Importantly, both sideways fall and direct hip impact are independent predictors of hip fracture. From these results, we suggest a preventive strategy of hip fracture in the elderly: besides the maintenance of BMD, keeping an appropriate body weight and maintaining a physically active lifestyle might be crucial.

Structure and topology of a peptide segment of the 6th transmembrane domain of the Saccharomyces cerevisae alpha-factor receptor in phospholipid bilayers

A detailed analysis of the structure of an 18-residue peptide AQSLLVPSIIFILAYSLK [M6(252-269, C252A)] in 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine bilayers was carried out using solid state NMR and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The peptide corresponds to a portion of the 6th transmembrane domain of the alpha-factor receptor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ten homologs of M6(252-269, C252A) were synthesized in which individual residues were labeled with (15)N. One- and two-dimensional solid state NMR experiments were used to determine the chemical shifts and (1)H-(15)N dipolar coupling constants for the (15)N-labeled peptides in oriented dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers on stacked glass plates. These parameters were used to calculate the structure and orientation of M6(252-269, C252A) in the bilayers. The results indicate that the carboxyl terminal residues (9-14) are alpha-helical and oriented with an angle of about 8 degrees with respect to the bilayer normal. Independently, an attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis on M6(252-269, C252A) in a 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine bilayer concluded that the helix tilt angle was about 12.5 degrees. The results on the structure of M6(252-269, C252A) in bilayers are in good agreement with the structure determined in trifluoroethanol/water solutions (B. Arshava et al. Biopolymers, 1998, Vol. 46, pp. 343-357). The present study shows that solid state NMR spectroscopy can provide high resolution information on the structure of transmembrane domains of a G protein-coupled receptor.

QT interval effects of cisapride in the clinical setting

PURPOSE

The clinical effect of cisapride on QT intervals was prospectively studied.

SUBJECTS

Consecutive adult patients were recruited in whom cisapride was indicated for gastroesophogeal reflux, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, diabetic gastroparesis or chronic constipation refractory to laxatives. Exclusion criteria included disorders and medications affecting cardiac conduction, electrolyte homeostasis, drug clearance and membrane stability.

METHODS

Seventy-five patients were included and followed at 1 to 2 week intervals. Patients took cisapride 5 mg thrice daily for 1 to 4 weeks (lower dose stage), followed by 10 mg thrice daily for another 1 to 4 weeks (higher dose stage). Twelve-lead ECGs were performed before commencing cisapride (group B), at completion of the lower dose stage (group L) and at completion of the higher dose stage (group H).

RESULTS

No patients experienced presyncope or syncope. Seventeen patients failing to comply, and 7 complaining of abdominal discomfort or diarrhea were excluded, leaving 51 participants. Group H's corrected QT interval (QTc) was longer than group B's by 13+/-15 ms (P<0.001), and longer than group L's by 7+/-11 ms (P<0.001). Group L's QTc was longer than group B's by 7+/-21 ms (P<0.05). QT dispersion did not differ significantly among groups. Neither torsade de pointe nor ventricular tachycardia were noted in Holter monitoring of 33 patients during the higher dose stage.

CONCLUSION

cisapride dose-dependently prolongs the QT interval. Further study is needed to examine the arrhythmogenicity of cisapride in higher doses and for longer durations.

The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K) interacts with dengue virus core protein

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K), a component of hnRNP particles, is involved in several steps of gene expression regulation. Dengue (DEN) virus, a member of the Flaviviridae, is the primary cause of illnesses such as dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome. In mature DEN virus particles, the core protein is a structural protein that forms a nucleocapsid complex with genomic RNA. Very little of its biologic functions is known. Here, using an in vitro binding assay and coimmunoprecipitation analysis, we report a protein-protein interaction between the DEN virus core protein and hnRNP K. The C-terminal hydrophilic region of the DEN virus core protein, spanning amino acid residues 73 to 100, is required for such interaction. Results of glutathione-S transferase binding assays indicated that the core protein-hnRNP K interaction might be abolished in the presence of hnRNP K cognate nucleic acids. Furthermore, in a cotransfection experiment, the repressive effect of hnRNP K on C/EBPbeta-mediated transcription activation could be reversed by full-length DEN virus core protein but not by a truncated form containing amino acids 1-72. Our results suggest that, on DEN virus infection, the multiple functions of cellular hnRNP K may be affected by the virus core protein.

Electrophysiologic characteristics of ventricular extrastimulation-induced dissipation of functional bundle branch block associated with supraventricular tachycardia

INTRODUCTION

Linking-related anterograde functional bundle branch block during supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is due to repetitive concealed retrograde conduction of impulses from the contralateral bundle branch and can be eliminated by a critically timed premature ventricular beat (PVB). We assessed the electrophysiologic characteristics of PVB-induced dissipation of functional bundle branch block during SVT.

METHODS AND RESULTS

During SVT with functional bundle branch block, PVB was delivered from the right ventricular apex, scanning the tachycardia cycle length (CL) with 10-msec decrements in the coupling interval in 14 patients (3 AV nodal reentrant tachycardia and 11 orthodromic AV reciprocating tachycardia). Dissipation was achieved in group 1: functional right bundle branch block (RBBB) in 4, functional left bundle branch block (LBBB) in 4, and both functional RBBB and LBBB in 1 with a dissipation zone occupying 4% to 13% (mean 8.5%) of the tachycardia CL. The outer limits were 22+/-16 msec and 68+/-14 msec < tachycardia CL; the inner limits were 56+/-18 msec and 90+/-24 msec < tachycardia CL for RBBB and LBBB, respectively (both P < 0.05). Dissipation could not be achieved in group 2 (4 RBBB and 1 LBBB) due to CL-dependent bundle branch block and/or local ventricular refractoriness.

CONCLUSION

During SVT, functional bundle branch block due to "linking" often can be dissipated by timely PVB delivered from the right ventricular apex within a narrow zone of the tachycardia CL. Our findings suggest that the dissipation zone is affected by the pattern of functional bundle branch block relative to the site of PVB delivery.

Susceptibility of thyroid cancer cells to 7-hydroxystaurosporine-induced apoptosis correlates with Bcl-2 protein level

7-Hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) is a selective protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor and is being developed as a novel anticancer agent. Because of reports that PKC may be involved in the pathogenesis of some forms of thyroid cancers, we examined four thyroid carcinoma lines (FRO, KAT5, NPA, and WRO). These cells were found to have different susceptibility to UCN-01 treatment, and there appeared to be a correlation between UCN-01-induced death and expression levels of endogenous Bcl-2. KAT5 cells, which normally express a low amount of Bcl-2, exhibited significantly higher sensitivity to UCN-01-induced death than the other cell lines. Of interest, susceptibility did not relate to PKC activity or its inhibition by UCN-01. In order to investigate the role of Bcl-2 in UCN-01-induced death, KAT5 cells were transfected to overexpress Bcl-2. KAT5/Bcl-2 cells were capable of conferring resistance to UCN-01-induced death. Furthermore, upregulating of Bcl-2 by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) could protect primary thyroid cell from death induced by UCN-01. Both in situ TUNEL staining and the flow cytometric analysis of cytokeratin-18 (CK18) cleavage confirmed that UCN-01 was indeed inducing apoptosis, and that this effect was inhibited by increased expression of Bcl-2. These results suggest that the Bcl-2 can block the UCN-01-activated cell death pathway and that the expression of Bcl-2 is inversely related to thyroid carcinoma cell susceptibility to UCN-01. Therefore, the analysis of the expression of apoptosis suppressors provides a basis for the use of UCN-01 in the treatment of thyroid cancer.

Interventional radiologic procedures in liver transplantation

Postoperative biliary and vascular complications contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in liver transplantation. Interventional radiologists are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team necessary for optimizing the management of these complications. During a 15-year period, 39 cadaveric and 25 living related liver transplantations were performed at the Chang Gung Memorial hospital, Taiwan. Of 64 liver transplant recipients, 9 (3 adult and 6 pediatric) underwent 13 interventional radiological procedures for the treatment of biliary sludge-casts (n = 2), bile duct occlusion or stenosis (n = 2), hepatic veins thrombosis (n = 1), hepatic veins stenosis (n = 1), portal vein stenosis with splenorenal shunting (n = 1), biloma (n = 1), and infected fluid collection or ascites (n = 4). Antegrade or retrograde interventional approach was used to successfully treat all biliary complications, and all percutaneous drainage procedures were effective in the control of intra-abdominal fluid collections. Portal vein stenosis was treated by balloon dilatation, and the associated splenorenal shunt was closed by metallic coil embolization via transhepatic catheterization of the portal vein. Hepatic vein stenosis was effectively treated by balloon dilatation and expandable metallic stent deployment via transfemoral and jugular venous approaches, respectively. Hepatic vein thrombosis was only partially lysed by transvenous streptokinase administration, and surgical thrombectomy was needed to achieve complete recanalization. The total success rate of the interventional procedures was 92 % with no procedure-related complications. The overall survival rate in this series is 89 %, and all patients who underwent living related liver transplantation maintain to date a 100 % survival rate. We can conclude that interventional radiological procedures are very useful for managing biliary and vascular complications after liver transplantation. These techniques provide a cure in most situations, thus obviating the need for further surgical intervention or re-transplantation.

Superior rectal artery injury following lumbar disc surgery. Case report

Traumatic injury of the aorta, inferior vena cava, and iliac vessels due to penetration of the anterior anulus fibrosus and anterior longitudinal ligament is a recognized complication of lumbar disc surgery. The authors report, to the best of their knowledge, the first case of discectomy-related superior rectal artery injury treated by endovascular intervention.

Collection efficiency and capacity of three samplers for acidic and basic gases

This paper compares the collection efficiency and capacity of a coated porous metal disk with those of a silica gel tube and an impinger at the acid or basic aerosol concentration of two times the permissible exposure limitation (Taiwan IOSH, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health), relative humidity of 80 +/- 5%, and temperature of 30 +/- 3 degrees C in the laboratory. Using 5% sodium carbonate/glycerin coating, the collection efficiencies of the porous metal disk for nitric acid, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen fluoride are found to be higher than those of the silica gel tube and the impinger when the sampling time is less than 3.0 h. The gas collection capacity of the porous metal disk coated with 5% sodium carbonate is calculated to be 3.9, 5.8, and >2.5 mg for nitric acid, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen fluoride, respectively. For ammonia, the porous metal disk coated using 4% citric acid performs slightly better than the impinger, and the corresponding capacity is slightly greater than 33.6 mg.

In vivo measurements of ultrasonic backscattering in blood

Ultrasonic backscattering in blood including its dependence on the hematocrit, plasma proteins, shear rate, and flow disturbance, has been studied extensively theoretically and experimentally in vitro. However, much of the result has never been validated in vivo. To do so, backscattering measurements were made on pigs using a 10-MHz non-focused intravascular transducer in direct contact with blood. The probe was placed in either the abdominal aorta or the inferior vena cava. The backscattering coefficient (BSC) of blood flowing in these vessels as well as downstream from a stenosis was measured using an approach that was originally developed for measurements with focused transducers. With this approach, 6% porcine red cell saline suspensions prepared immediately after each in vivo measurement were used as the reference medium. Result from seven pigs at hematocrits ranging from 29 to 36% (31.9 +/- 2.5%) demonstrated that BSC of blood in the vena cava, (4.62 +/- 2.06) x 10(-5) cm-sr-1, is consistently higher than that in the aorta, (2.65 +/- 1.22) x 10(-5) cm-sr-1. The difference has been attributed to the lower shear rate and the formation of red cell aggregation in venous blood. These in vivo results are in agreement with those obtained in vitro. In response to stenoses created by ligating the aorta, backscattering of the blood measured downstream from the stenosis showed that the closer the site of measurement relative to the stenosis, the higher the backscatter, presumably resulting from the higher degree of flow disturbance. In vitro backscattering results on porcine whole blood were also acquired at 20 MHz with a Diasonics intravascular scanner.

Biliary complications in living related liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

Biliary tract reconstruction has long been considered the Achilles' heel of liver transplantation as biliary complications can increase morbidity and mortality especially in partial liver graft transplantation.

METHODS

Thirty-four living related liver transplants were performed at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Kaohsiung for 33 children and 1 adolescent during a 5.5-year period. All potential donors underwent a detailed preoperative imaging study of the vascular and biliary anatomy, including three-dimensional helical computed tomographic cholangiography (n = 20), magnetic resonance cholangiography (n = 14), and intra-operative cholangiography (n = 31) before graft retrieval. All hepatic artery anastomoses were performed in the standard microsurgery fashion and their patency was confirmed intra-operatively using Doppler ultrasound.

RESULTS

The biliary complication rate was 8.8% (3/34), including multiple intrahepatic biliary stenosis of unknown origin (n = 1), bile leakage from the Roux-en-Y loop (n = 1), and a missed biliary radicle (n = 1) which were treated via interventional radiological and surgical procedures. The overall graft and patient survival rates were 100%.

CONCLUSION

The biliary complication rate in this series was low compared to those of other experienced centers. Complete study of the variations of intrahepatic duct ramification pre-and-intra-operatively provided adequate information on the appropriate transection plane. Furthermore, intra-operative Doppler ultrasound verification of vessel patency helps prevent vascular complications, which has been identified as a cause of biliary complications.

[Development of a canine adenovirus type 1 vaccine strain E3-deleted based expression vector]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate canine adenovirus type 1 vaccine strain (Cannaught Laboratory Limited, CLL) as recombinant vaccine and gene transfer vector.

METHODS

Recombinant virus CLLEGFP which contains enhanced green fluorescent protein(EGFP) reporter gene was constructed. CLLEGFP was used to infect various human derived cell lines(293, Hela, CO, SW, Hep-2 and CAM) by inoculating intraperitoneally(i.p.), intravenously(i.v.) and intramuscularly (i.m.) to Kunming mice other than oral administration. Various tissue samples of the mice were collected at multi-time point for observing EGFP green fluorescence. Anti-EGFP antibodies were detected by Western blot analysis in the sera after 4 weeks.

RESULTS

CLLEGFP can infect various human derived cell lines and express EGFP. EGFP green fluorescence were observed in liver tissue cells after i.p. transducing 3 days. All immune inoculation ways above could induce Kunming mice producing anti-EGFP antibodies which were identified by Western blot analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that CLL possess powerful potential as recombinant vaccine and gene transfer vector.