Living donor liver transplantation without the use of blood products

We report on two patients who presented with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma complicating hepatitis B liver cirrhosis. After evaluation, both patients were accepted for liver transplantation. Being aware of the scarce availability of cadaveric liver grafts and the long waiting time, family members volunteered to be donors for the two patients. Living donor liver transplantation using right lobe liver grafts, including the middle hepatic vein, was subsequently performed without the use of blood products in both the donors and recipients. All involved recovered uneventfully from their respective operations.

Right-lobe live donor liver transplantation improves survival of patients with acute liver failure

BACKGROUND

Right-lobe live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is used by many liver transplant centres for treating adult patients with terminal liver disease, but its incremental benefit for the intended recipient over cadaveric liver graft transplantation has not been determined. The impact of LDLT as a proactive approach on the outcome of patients with acute liver failure was analysed.

METHODS

From January 1999 to March 2001, right-lobe LDLT was offered proactively to 50 consecutive patients with acute liver failure and their families. The outcome of those who opted for right-lobe LDLT (n = 34) was compared with that of those who did not opt for LDLT (n = 16).

RESULTS

In the group that opted for right-lobe LDLT, 16 patients eventually received a live donor right-lobe graft (14 patients survived) and three patients received a cadaveric liver graft that became available while the potential live donor was undergoing evaluation (all three patients survived). Among the group who did not opt for LDLT, only one patient received a cadaveric liver graft and survived. The former group had a higher overall survival rate (17 of 34 versus one of 16). With a proactive approach, the overall transplant rate was increased from four of 50 to 20 of 50. The morbidity rate among donors was low and none died.

CONCLUSION

Right-lobe LDLT improves the overall survival rate of patients with acute liver failure and should be considered as one of the treatment options for adult patients with acute liver failure.

Aggressive hepatocellular carcinoma complicating pregnancy after autologous bone marrow transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

In the Asia-Pacific region, autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in patients infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) may be complicated by fatal hepatic failure due to viral reactivation. Survivors may suffer from accelerated hepatitis and cirrhosis. We report the first case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after autologous BMT for mediastinal B cell lymphoma. The tumor developed rampantly during a planned pregnancy 5 years after BMT. Less than 40 cases of HCC complicating pregnancy have been reported, and outcome is invariably poor. Immunosuppression and HBV reactivation after autologous BMT, as well as immune tolerance and hormonal changes associated with pregnancy may contribute to the rapid tumor growth. Biochemical and radiological surveillance for HCC should be strengthened in HBV carriers after BMT, especially in patients with the histology of chronic liver disease, or biochemical/ virological evidence of increased HBV activity.

Efficient homolactic fermentation by Kluyveromyces lactis strains defective in pyruvate utilization and transformed with the heterologous LDH gene

A high yield of lactic acid per gram of glucose consumed and the absence of additional metabolites in the fermentation broth are two important goals of lactic acid production by microrganisms. Both purposes have been previously approached by using a Kluyveromyces lactis yeast strain lacking the single pyruvate decarboxylase gene (KlPDC1) and transformed with the heterologous lactate dehydrogenase gene (LDH). The LDH gene was placed under the control the KlPDC1 promoter, which has allowed very high levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, due to the absence of autoregulation by KlPdc1p. The maximal yield obtained was 0.58 g g(-1), suggesting that a large fraction of the glucose consumed was not converted into pyruvate. In a different attempt to redirect pyruvate flux toward homolactic fermentation, we used K. lactis LDH transformant strains deleted of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) E1alpha subunit gene. A great process improvement was obtained by the use of producing strains lacking both PDH and pyruvate decarboxylase activities, which showed yield levels of as high as 0.85 g g(-1) (maximum theoretical yield, 1 g g(-1)), and with high LDH activity.

Biliary complications during liver resection

Biliary complications after hepatectomy may lead to sepsis, liver failure, and death. Measures to detect biliary injury after liver transection may reduce such morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the trend of biliary complications after hepatectomy during the last 10 years and assess the efficacy of intraoperative measures (methylene blue test, cholangiography, fibrin glue application) for reducing postoperative biliary complications. This is a retrospective study of 616 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy in our institution from January 1989 to September 1998. The study period was divided into the first 5 years and the second 5 years for comparison. The hospital mortality rate was 6%. It was significantly reduced during the second 5-year period (3.3% vs. 10.6%; p = 0.0002). The postoperative biliary leakage rate was 5.5% and was also reduced during the second 5-year period (3.5% vs. 9.8%; p = 0.004). Postresection methylene blue tests were performed more frequently during the second 5-year period than the first (63% vs. 28%; p = 0.0001). The postoperative biliary leakage rate was reduced by the methylene blue test (3.6% vs. 7.3%; p < 0.05) but not by application of fibrin glue (7.2% vs. 4.2%) or postresection cholangiography. However, among the 60 patients with a positive methylene blue test, postoperative biliary leakage still occurred in 10% of them after the leakage sites were sutured. In conclusion, the biliary complication rate is decreasing. Only the postresection methylene blue test, but not postresection cholangiography or application of fibrin glue, helps to reduce the postoperative biliary leakage rate.

Endoscopic stenting for malignant biliary obstruction

Use of endoscopic stents to manage patients with malignant obstructive jaundice is a well accepted measure. Interpretation of the results of endoscopic stenting must be made with reference to the level of the bile duct obstruction. Results were generally unsatisfactory for hilar lesions, especially when the intrahepatic ducts were segregated into multiple isolated systems. After deployment, stent dysfunction due to clogging by biliary sludge is apparently an inevitable process for the conventional plastic stent. Considerable efforts had been made to prolong the stent patency by changing its physical configuration, coating the inner lumen, and the choice of material but with little success. The development of a self-expandable metal stent is a major advance, but the benefits derived from a larger stent lumen are compromised by the initial expense and the tumor ingrowth through the wires for all models available commercially. Current data failed to substantiate the value of routine preoperative biliary decompression, as there is no reduction in the morbidity and mortality rates after surgery. Although biased patient selection may have resulted in the negative observations made, repeated clinical trials should probably focus on patients with distal bile duct tumors who are preparing for a major pancreatic resection. As a definitive palliative measure, endoscopic stenting is a more cost-effective option than surgery for patients with limited life expectancy based on data regarding plastic stents. The recommendations are evolving however, as there is progressive refinement of laparoscopic surgery techniques and designs of endoscopic stents.

Detection of choledocholithiasis by EUS in acute pancreatitis: a prospective evaluation in 100 consecutive patients

BACKGROUND

ERCP is the standard for detection of choledocholithiasis in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis, and, if performed early, ERCP decreases morbidity. However, there are procedure-related complications. The aim of the present prospective study was to evaluate the ability of EUS to detect choledocholithiasis in patients presenting with acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

The study group comprised 100 consecutive patients who presented with acute pancreatitis. EUS, and immediately thereafter, ERCP were performed by separate blinded examiners within 24 hours of admission. The diagnostic accuracy of EUS in identifying gallbladder stones was compared with that of transcutaneous US. The diagnostic accuracy of EUS in detecting choledocholithiasis was then compared with that of US and ERCP based on the results of endoscopic instrumentation of the bile duct after sphincterotomy.

RESULTS

EUS was more sensitive than US in detecting gallbladder stones (100% vs. 84%, p < 0.005). The sensitivities of ERCP and EUS for choledocholithiasis were both 97%, and the overall accuracies were 96% and 98%, respectively, with no significant difference. EUS detected the absence of choledocholithiasis in 65 of 66 patients (specificity = 98%). Endosonographic examination was successful in all patients, whereas ERCP was unsuccessful in 5 patients (p > 0.05). Post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding developed in 4 patients; there was no EUS-related morbidity (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

EUS is more sensitive than US in detecting biliary stones in patients with acute pancreatitis. It is as accurate as ERCP in detecting choledocholithiasis. EUS can be used to select patients with acute pancreatitis who require therapeutic ERCP, thus avoiding diagnostic ERCP and its associated potential for complications in the majority of patients.

Stress analysis of the disc adjacent to interbody fusion in lumbar spine

After anterior interbody fusion in the lumbar spine, the accelerated degeneration of the disc adjacent to the fusion levels was clinically observed. To understand the stress distribution of the adjacent disc, this study created a finite element model of the lumbar spine from L1-L5 vertebral body. The fusion model modified from the intact model was used to simulate the anterior interbody fusion. Various loading conditions, which included flexion, extension, lateral bending, and torsion, were applied to the finite element model to study the corresponding stress distribution. From the finite element model calculation, at a lower fusion site or more fusion levels, the stress of the disc adjacent to interbody fusion increased more than upper fusion site or single fusion level under flexion, torsion and lateral bending. Larger stress increase was estimated at the upper disc adjacent to interbody fusion than the lower disc adjacent to interbody fusion. In stress distribution, the upper disc adjacent to interbody fusion had a little alteration under torsion.

Management of spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma: single-center experience

PURPOSE

To report the management of patients with spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a single center over a 10-year period and to evaluate a two-stage therapeutic approach.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was performed on all 1,716 patients with HCC who presented from 1989 to 1998. The two-stage therapeutic approach to manage ruptured HCC consisted of initial management by conservative method, hemostasis by transarterial embolization (TAE) or surgical means, followed by second-stage hepatic resection or transarterial oily chemoembolization (TOCE). Results of definitive treatment were compared with patients with no history of rupture during the same study period.

RESULTS

During the study period, 154 patients (9%) had spontaneous HCC rupture. Initial intervention to control bleeding included TAE in 42 patients, surgical hemostasis in 35 patients, and conservative management only in 53 patients. The 30-day mortality rate was 38%. Independent factors on presentation affecting 30-day mortality were shock on admission, hemoglobin, serum total bilirubin, and known diagnosis of inoperable tumor. After initial stabilization and clinical evaluation, 33 patients underwent hepatic resection and 30 patients received TOCE. Median survival of the hepatectomy patients was 25.7 months; that of the TOCE patients was 9.7 months. Compared with patients with no rupture, survival after hepatectomy (25.7 months v 49.2 months, P =.003) was inferior but still substantially long, whereas survival after TOCE was comparable (9.7 months v 8.7 months, P =.904).

CONCLUSION

Early mortality of spontaneous rupture of HCC was dependent on prerupture disease state, liver function, and severity of bleeding. Although it was a catastrophic presentation, prolonged survival could be achieved in selected patients with second-stage hepatic resection or TOCE.

[Clinical observation on treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with Chinese herbal medicine combined with bronchial arterial infusion chemotherapy]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) combined with bronchial arterial infusion chemotherapy (BAIC).

METHODS

Patients with moderate or advanced NSCLC were randomly divided into two groups, the 39 patients in the treated group treated with CHM plus BAIC therapy and 37 in the control group treated with BAIC alone. The short-term therapeutic effect, long-term survival rate, changes of clinical principal symptoms, quality of life and peripheral blood pictures in the two groups were observed and compared.

RESULTS

After treatment the rate of CR + PR + NC in the treated and the control group was 92.31% and 70.27% respectively, the inter-group comparison showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). The 0.5-, 1- and 2-year survival rate in the treated group was 79.49%, 56.41% and 51.28% respectively and in the control group, 72.97%, 51.35% and 24.32% respectively. The 2-year survival rate in the former was better than that in the latter (P < 0.05). Moreover, the improvement of clinical symptoms, Karnofsky scoring, body weight and peripheral blood picture in the treated group was superior to that in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Therapeutic effect of BAIC could be enhanced by combining it with CHM.

Protein aggregation after focal brain ischemia and reperfusion

Two hours of transient focal brain ischemia causes acute neuronal death in the striatal core region and a somewhat more delayed type of neuronal death in neocortex. The objective of the current study was to investigate protein aggregation and neuronal death after focal brain ischemia in rats. Brain ischemia was induced by 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Protein aggregation was analyzed by electron microscopy, laser-scanning confocal microscopy, and Western blotting. Two hours of focal brain ischemia induced protein aggregation in ischemic neocortical neurons at 1 hour of reperfusion, and protein aggregation persisted until neuronal death at 24 hours of reperfusion. Protein aggregates were found in the neuronal soma, dendrites, and axons, and they were associated with intracellular membranous structures during the postischemic phase. High-resolution confocal microscopy showed that clumped protein aggregates surrounding nuclei and along dendrites were formed after brain ischemia. On Western blots, ubiquitinated proteins (ubi-proteins) were dramatically increased in neocortical tissues in the postischemic phase. The ubi-proteins were Triton-insoluble, indicating that they might be irreversibly aggregated. The formation of ubi-protein aggregates after ischemia correlated well with the observed decrease in free ubiquitin and neuronal death. The authors concluded that proteins are severely damaged and aggregated in neurons after focal ischemia. The authors propose that protein damage or aggregation may contribute to ischemic neuronal death.

Improving survival results after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective study of 377 patients over 10 years

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the survival results after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have improved within the past decade by an analysis of a prospective cohort of patients over a 10-year period.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The surgical death rate after resection of HCC has greatly improved in recent years, but the long-term prognosis remains unsatisfactory. It remains unknown whether the survival results after resection of HCC have improved within the past decade.

METHODS

The clinicopathologic and follow-up data of 377 patients who underwent curative resection of HCC between January 1989 and January 1999 were prospectively collected. These patients were categorized according to two time periods: before 1994 (group 1, n = 136) and after 1994 (group 2, n = 241). The two groups were compared for clinicopathologic data and survival results. The prognostic factors for disease-free survival were further analyzed to identify the factors that might have led to improved survival outcomes.

RESULTS

The overall and disease-free survival results were significantly better in group 2 compared with group 1. Patients in group 2 had significantly higher proportions of subclinical presentation, small tumors, and tumors of early pTNM stage. There were also significantly lower frequencies of histologic margin involvement, less intraoperative blood loss, and a lower transfusion rate in group 2. By multivariate analysis, early pTNM stage, subclinical HCC, and no perioperative transfusion were independent favorable prognostic factors for disease-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant improvement of overall and disease-free survival results after resection of HCC has been achieved within the past decade as a result of advances in the diagnosis and surgical management of HCC. Earlier diagnosis of HCC by better imaging modalities, increased detection of subclinical HCC by screening of high-risk patients, and a reduced perioperative transfusion rate were identified as the major contributory factors for the improved outcomes.

Clinicopathologic features of long-term survivors and disease-free survivors after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma: a study of a prospective cohort

PURPOSE

This study aims to clarify the clinicopathologic features of long-term survivors and disease-free survivors after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The clinicopathologic features of 5-year survivors and disease-free survivors were elucidated in a cohort of 230 patients prospectively observed for > 5 years (64 to 192 months) after curative resection of HCC.

RESULTS

The incidence of 5-year overall and disease-free survivors were 37% (85 of 230) and 20% (45 of 230), respectively. Clinicopathologic features associated with 5-year survivors included female sex (P =.024), preoperative serum albumin > or= 40 g/L (P =.033), AST < 50 u/L (P =.001), tumor < 5 cm (P =.001), solitary tumor (P =.035), encapsulated tumor (P =.021), no venous invasion (P =.001), no microsatellite nodule (P =.001), and early pathologic tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) stage (I or II, P <.001). Features favoring 5-year disease-free survivors were preoperative serum AST < 50 u/L (P =.007), tumor < 5 cm (P =.005), encapsulated tumor (P =.007), no venous invasion (P <.001), no microsatellite nodule (P =.001), and early pTNM stage (I or II, P <.001). By multivariate analysis, pTNM stage was the only significant predictive factor for both overall and disease-free survival.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that long-term disease-free survival > 5 years after resection of HCC can be achieved in patients with favorable tumor characteristics. Early pTNM stage was the most reliable predictor of both long-term overall and disease-free survivors.

The management of gingival and esthetic problems: a clinical case

The coordinated management of gingival and esthetic problems is important in dentistry. In addition, the most difficult variable to control in the treatment of anterior esthetics is the soft tissue. This article discusses the relationship between the surrounding soft tissue and the emerging crown form. The authors introduce a soft-tissue index model technique that will help the technician in fabricating the final crown with a form similar to the provisional. In this case report, provisional crowns are fabricated with enough tissue support to provide for an optimal crown-gingival interface. The present case demonstrates how to manage the gingival margin in the provisional stage and how to transfer the provisional and soft tissue to the laboratory model.

Early release of cytochrome C and activation of caspase-3 in hyperglycemic rats subjected to transient forebrain ischemia

The mechanisms underlying the aggravating effect of hyperglycemia on brain damage are still elusive. The present study was designed to test our hypothesis that hyperglycemia-mediated damage is caused by mitochondrial dysfunction with mitochondrial release of cytochrome c (cyt c) to the cytoplasm, which leads to activation of caspase-3, the executioner of cell death. We induced 15 min of forebrain ischemia, followed by 0.5, 1, and 3 h of recirculation in sham, normoglycemic and hyperglycemic rats. Release of cyt c was observed in the neocortex and CA3 in hyperglycemic rats after only 0.5 h of reperfusion, when no obvious neuronal damage was observed. The release of cyt c persisted after 1 and 3 h of reperfusion. Activation of caspase-3 was observed after 1 and 3 h of recovery in hyperglycemic animals. No cyt c release or caspase-3 activation was observed in sham-operated controls while a mild increase of cyt c was observed in normoglycemic ischemic animals after 1 and 3 h of reperfusion. The findings that there is caspase activation and cyt c relocation support a notion that the biochemical changes that constitute programmed cell death occur after ischemia and contribute, at least in part, to hyperglycemia-aggravated ischemic neuronal death.

[Construction of linkage map and mapping resistance gene of Scterotinia scterotiorum in Brassica napus]

Scterotinia scterotiorum (Lib.) de by is a world-wide disease, which seriously decreases the yield and the quality of oil of rapeseed. Mapping resistance genes of S. scterotiorum is of vital effect to breed new elite cultivars resisting the disease. In this paper, we reported that a RAPD linkage map was constructed, including 193 RAPD markers, 19 linkage groups and covering 1,324 cM, by using Mapmaker 3.0. On the basis of map, and resistance genes, Sc1, Sc2 and Sc3, were located in 4th, 8th and 18th linkage groups. Among three QTLs, Sc2 has the characteristics of major gene with explained 29%. The three QTLs together explained about 56% of phenotypic variation.

Increased expression of iNOS and c-fos via regulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and MEK1/ERK2 proteins in terminal bronchiole lesions in the lungs of rats exposed to cigarette smoke

Epidemiological evidence suggests that smoking is a major cause of human lung cancer. However, the mechanism by which cigarette smoke induces the cancer remains unestablished. To evaluate the effects of cigarette smoke on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear protooncogenes and related mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in rat lung tissue, a histopathological study of the effects of gas-phase cigarette smoke on rat lung tissue were carried out. The terminal bronchioles were found to be infiltrated predominantly by lymphocytes in the peribronchiolar region and a mild to moderate degree of emphysema was noted in the alveolar spaces. The terminal bronchioles also showed marked lipid peroxidation, dilatation, and peribronchiolar fibrosis. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed that the expression of iNOS, NF-kappa B, MAPKs (MEK1, ERK2), phosphotyrosine protein and c-fos was increased in the terminal bronchioles but protein kinase C (PKC), MEKK-1, c-jun, p38 and c-myc showed no change. These results provide evidence to suggest that exposure to cigarette smoke results in oxidant stress which leads to the stimulation of iNOS and c-fos together with the induction of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and MEK1/ERK2 which in turn may promote lung pathogenesis.

Liver transplantation in Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B using lamivudine prophylaxis

OBJECTIVE

To report the results of liver transplantation in 31 Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B using lamivudine prophylaxis in an open-label study.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Chronic hepatitis B is a prevalent cause of end-stage liver disease in Asia, but the results of liver transplantation in these patients are poor.

METHODS

Thirty-one Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B underwent liver transplantation using lamivudine prophylaxis (100 mg daily). Twenty-three (74%) patients had detectable serum hepatitis B envelope antigen (n = 18) or hepatitis B virus DNA (n = 11) before treatment, and seven had associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Lamivudine was continued indefinitely after transplantation, and hepatitis B immune globulin was not used.

RESULTS

The actuarial patient and graft survival rates were 84% and 81%, respectively. Five patients died of causes unrelated to hepatitis B, and 26 patients were alive at a median follow-up of 16 months (range 6-47) after transplantation. One (3.8%) patient developed recurrent hepatitis B resulting from viral breakthrough at week 53 and survived after retransplantation using adefovir and hepatitis B immune globulin treatment. The remaining 25 surviving patients had no biochemical or histologic evidence of recurrent hepatitis, and serum hepatitis B virus DNA remained negative by polymerase chain reaction. In six patients, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) persisted or reappeared in serum. Among 19 patients who became negative for HBsAg from 5 to 431 days after transplantation, 13 developed anti-HBsAb that lasted a median of 6 months (range 1-21). None of the seven patients with hepatocellular carcinoma developed recurrent tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B may achieve a good outcome after liver transplantation using lamivudine prophylaxis.

Management of gallstone cholangitis in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

HYPOTHESIS

The combined endoscopic and laparoscopic approach is safe and effective in managing gallstone cholangitis in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

SETTING

University teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred eighty-four consecutive patients with gallstone cholangitis treated between January 1995 and December 1998.

INTERVENTIONS

The main treatments were endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) followed by interval LC. Open or laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (OCBDE or LCBDE) was used when ERCP or ES failed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Success of various interventions, morbidity and mortality, and long-term incidence of recurrent biliary symptoms.

RESULTS

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was successful in 175 patients (95%), with bile duct stones found in 147 (84%). Endoscopic stone clearance by ES was achieved in 132 patients (90%). Morbidity rate after ERCP or ES was 4.0% (n = 7), and overall mortality rate from cholangitis was 1.6% (n = 3). After bile duct stone clearance, 82 patients underwent LC with a conversion rate of 9.8% (n = 8) and a morbidity rate of 3.6% (n = 3). Eighteen patients underwent OCBDE with a morbidity rate of 33% (n = 6), and 3 underwent LCBDE with 1 conversion and no morbidity. There was no operative mortality. Seventy-eight patients were managed conservatively after endoscopic clearance of bile duct stones. Follow-up data were available in 101 patients with cholecystectomy and 73 patients with gallbladder in situ. During a median follow-up of 24 months, recurrent biliary symptoms occurred in 5.9% (n = 6) and 25% (n = 18), respectively (P =.001). In both groups, the most common recurrent symptom was cholangitis (n = 5 and n = 14, respectively). Gallbladder in situ (risk ratio, 4.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-12.50; P =.01) and small-size papillotomy (risk ratio, 2.94; 95% confidence interval, 1. 07-8.10; P =.04) were significant risk factors for recurrent biliary symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic sphincterotomy for biliary drainage and stone removal, followed by interval LC, is a safe and effective approach for managing gallstone cholangitis. Patients with gallbladder left in situ after ES have an increased risk of recurrent biliary symptoms. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be recommended after endoscopic management of cholangitis except in patients with prohibitive surgical risk.33333333333333333333333

Determining resectability for hepatocellular carcinoma: the role of laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography

We reviewed our experience with preoperative determination of resectability in patients with hepatocel-lular carcinoma (HCC) over the last 10 years, and evaluated the role of laparoscopy with laparoscopic ultrasonography (USG) since we instituted this technique in June 1994. From January 1989 to December 1998, 500 of 1741 patients with HCC (28.7%) were considered suitable for hepatic resection after preoperative assessment. Significantly more contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans and fewer percutaneous USGs or hepatic arteriograms were performed in the 299 patients managed since June 1994 (group 2) than in the 201 patients managed before then (group 1). One hundred and ninety-eight patients in group 2 (66%) underwent laparoscopy with laparoscopic USG. Unresectable disease was found in 41 patients in group 1 (20.4%) (all at laparotomy), and in 68 patients in group 2 (22.7%) (16 at laparotomy without laparoscopic examination, 31 at laparoscopic examination alone, and 21 at laparotomy after an inconclusive laparoscopic examination) (P = 0.5). The most common features of unresectable disease were the presence of bilobar intrahepatic metastases and an inadequate liver remnant with cirrhosis. The adoption of the laparoscopic examination after June 1994 improved the overall resection rate at laparotomy in group 2 from 77.3% to 86. 2%, which was better than that in group 1 (79.6%, P = 0.057). For patients with unresectable disease, the operation time and hospital stay were significantly shorter in group 2. The postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 9.8% and 4.9%, respectively, in group 1, and 5.9% and 2.9% in group 2. There was no operative morbidity in the 31 patients who had unresectable disease detected by the laparoscopic examination alone. Laparoscopy with laparoscopic USG avoids unnecessary laparotomy, and has a definite role in determining resectability in patients with HCC.

[The development of a static water/gas separator]

Objective. To develop a device for separating water from gas in small flow rate under zero "G". Method. Beginning with the study of surface characteristic of materials, a capillary material was developed according to the requirement and the water/gas separator using this single separating material was designed. Result. The water/gas separator worked well in the range of gas flow below 10.0 L/min and water flow below 10.0 ml/min. No gas was found in the separated water and no water was found in the separated gas. Conclusion. The structure of the separator was reasonable and the water/gas separating method using a single separating material was feasible.